Hanover, Brighton: The Pubs and Where to Eat
Brighton's steepest, most colourful neighbourhood has a pub on almost every corner. Here is how to drink and eat your way up the hill.
By Only Brighton Editorial
The best pubs in Hanover are the Constant Service on Islingword Road, a Harvey's house serving the area since about 1871; The Geese and the Sir Charles Napier on Southover Street; The Greys, a live music pub for around 30 years; the Dover Castle with its graffiti garden; and Haus on the Hill, the Brighton Bier tap at the top of Southover Street. For food, The Hanover does stone-baked pizza, the Napier has Pungkoo Thai Kitchen, the Islingword has Moyo's Burgers, and The Geese does bangers and mash and a Sunday roast that once won the city's BRAVO award. Details were checked in October 2026. Wear comfortable shoes: everything in Hanover is uphill, both ways.
Where is Hanover?
Hanover is the steep, tightly packed grid of Victorian terraces that climbs the hill east of the Level towards Queen's Park, with Elm Grove to the north and Sussex Street to the south. Many of the cottages are painted in bright colours, the cats are famous enough to have had their own BBC moment, and Brighton station is about a 15-minute walk away. The Hanover Community Association has its centre on Southover Street and runs a beer festival every autumn. It has a reputation for packing in more pubs per street than anywhere else in the city, and after a night here you will not argue.
Constant Service, Islingword Road
The Constant Service, at 96 Islingword Road (BN2 9SJ), has been serving Hanover since around 1871 and is a Harvey's of Lewes pub. CAMRA lists Harvey's Sussex Best and Olympia as regulars, usually with a Harvey's seasonal alongside. Expect live music, DJs and vinyl nights, an award-winning garden, and pub grub with vegetarian options, handmade pies and Sunday roasts.
The Geese, Southover Street
The Geese, at 16 Southover Street (BN2 9UA), is a cosy, friendly pub that is popular with locals and students from the nearby halls. It is known for bangers and mash and won Best Sunday Roast at the 2023 BRAVO awards. Harvey's Best is the regular cask beer. It is closed on Mondays.
Sir Charles Napier, Southover Street
The Sir Charles Napier, at 50 Southover Street (BN2 9UE), is a Fuller's-backed pub with a well-kept cellar and popular quiz nights; Gales HSB and Harvey's Best are on the bar. The food comes from Pungkoo Thai Kitchen, which serves in the pub and does takeaway.
The Greys, Southover Street
The Greys, at 105 Southover Street (BN2 9UA), was a greengrocer before it became a pub in 1864. It has been a music venue for around 30 years, hosting local, national and international acts, and it has reopened under new owners. It has a garden and is dog friendly.
The Dover Castle, Southover Street
The Dover Castle, at 43 Southover Street (BN2 9UE), is quirky and eco-minded, with local art on the walls, a graffiti garden, live music, DJs and parties. The kitchen does hearty pub food, tapas and burgers.
Haus on the Hill
Haus on the Hill sits at the top of Southover Street and is the tap house for Brighton Bier, with German lager, wheat beer and guest ales too. It is child and dog friendly, which makes it the reward at the end of the climb for the whole family.
The Hanover, The Islingword and The Village
The Hanover is a big pub with a local's bar on one side and a separate pizzeria and restaurant doing stone-baked pizzas on the other, so drinkers and diners do not have to share. The Islingword, on Queen's Park Road, is a Laine Pub Company pub with outdoor tables, a function room, bingo and music nights, and Moyo's Burgers in the kitchen. The Village, once the Horse and Groom, was saved from redevelopment by the community and is now a cafe and bar by day, with brunch, and a performance space by night.
Just outside the middle
The Hartington, known locally as the Harty, has a large heated beer garden with a tiki bar, a log fire and quiz nights, plus Sunday roasts and burgers. The Independent is a freehold gastropub with a restaurant-style menu and ever-changing beers. The Cobden Arms is an unpretentious family local on a quiet residential street, with a darts team. The Lewes Road Inn, just beyond Hanover proper, does music, quizzes, craft beer and stone-baked pizza. The Restaurants Brighton Hanover pub guide has profiles of each.
Doing Hanover properly
Start at the bottom: the Geese on Southover Street is a short walk from the Level. Work your way up Southover Street via the Dover Castle, the Napier and the Greys, cut across to the Constant Service on Islingword Road, and finish at Haus on the Hill, at the top, with the city behind you. Most Hanover pubs open from late afternoon on weekdays and from noon at weekends, so this is an evening or weekend plan. It is a residential area, so keep it friendly on the walk home.
