The Cuthbert Pub & Kitchen

I am thrilled to have this so close to my home. They have done very well with this place. People had been raving about it so I simply HAD to check it out.
In the past this place had gone from being a really rough pub, to another with a totally incapable owner — running down to Mulberry’s every hour, to a smug restaurant that only took bookings. All were hopeless! So I was surprised to hear good things since it switched owners. Kind of seemed cursed! Not no more bebeh!
We arrived late but still had our choice of a table in the dining area which was buzzing and full of atmosphere or the brightly lit other half of the pub which seemed a bit stark in contrast. We opted for the dining area but stopped to have a couple of cocktails at the bar first and a natter with the lovely manager. Our new MATE! I’d recommend the honey bee — if you’re a fan of bourbon!
We then took to our seats and settled for a Pinot Noir. To start I opted for the mussels in a bacon and leek sauce which were tasty and G went for the pigs head which he said was delicious there just wasn’t enough black pudding!
For mains I had the lamb which was exceptional — if a little on the cool side and G went for the steak. He said it was the best meal he’d had since living in Brighton. Praise indeed! Especially from a man who’s of few words when it comes to food. Grunts are the praise norm.
After, we stayed for a few more drinks with the manager, the service is delightful, really down to earth, easy going staff which gives this place such a local, friendly feel.
I shall be back. Big thumbs up!
Oh and P. s, next time I’m gunning for the chicken and chorizo pie with sweet potato mash and kale! They’d all sold out by the time we’d got there…

Ladies and Gentleman, there is a new kid in town. Well, actually an old kid with an extreme make over. Regardless of how they got there, I now have a new favourite restaurant in Brighton.
Tucked out of the way on Freshfield Road, this is a less than likely place to find such a gem. Unbelievably, I’ve probably walked past it on the way to work most days for the past year and have taken no notice what so ever, mainly due to the fact that you don’t expect to find a gastropub on this residential street in Brighton.
Anyhow, having heard good things about it from colleagues I decided to book up for my birthday. There were nine of us in total but there was no problem getting a booking on a Friday night. Slightly worrying, but I’m hoping that once word gets out, they will be packed to the rafters!
On arrival, we had a drink in the bar, an aptly named pint of Gem ale! We were not rushed to go through to our table which was nice. Bread and water were already on the table when we sat down. I’d like to comment more on the bread but most had been demolished by the hungry teenagers in our party by the time the rest of us had taken our seats! The menu is quite rustic, using good, simple, local food to amazing effect. They class themselves as ‘just a pub’ on their website but I think that they are hugely underestimating themselves. Yes, there is certainly no pretentiousness here, but what they produce is tasty, innovative and fabulous.
Anyway, enough of the waffle, on to the food. For starter I went for the crispy pigs head — who’s not going to choose this when it’s on offer! it was served similar to a terrine along side a black pudding scotch egg, chicory and maple syrup. The taste was rich and divine, a great dish using an unusual product. Other starters at the table included slow cooked squid and shin of beef, all of which received rave reviews. For main, I went for the rabbit pie, served with green veg and tonnes of mash. Another delicious dish, although all the food looked fab. Other favourites included pork belly, a curried fish dish, and the steak.
The meal was finished off with the blood orange and ricotta cheesecake served with stem ginger ice cream, a very delicious finale to a fabulous meal.
The service was friendly, attentive and down to earth. The prices were also very reasonable for what we had. If you want even more of a bargain, they do a fixed price set menu early in the evening. I can certainly see myself popping in here on the way home from work on occasions.
I really hope that they manage to build up a great reputation to draw in the customers as they are slightly vulnerable in this location. I, for one, will certainly be back for many a repeat visit.