112 Church Street (which can, unsurprisingly, be found at 112 Church Street) is a relatively new addition to the Brighton pub scene, and seems to have had some trouble finding its legs. Perched across the road from the Brighton Dome, not even a minute from old favourites Fitzherberts, The Mash Tun and the Waggon and Horses, it is currently more likely to go under than become a smash success. What is on offer is great, but not special enough to make it stand out in this area: something to be added here.
I think part of 112 Church Street's lack of success is its unimaginative name: hardly a great start. I've walked past it for months without realising what it is, until I poked my head around the door. It used to be an old, smoky Irish pub, and the changes that have been made here are all great: a new bar, a white paintjob to make the space seem bigger and more open, and the new smoking garden out the back is another great Brighton hidden location. However, all of these changes don't make up for the deafening silence indoors, and the smoking area, while well looked after, borders on the noise and bustle that is the Waggon and Horses smoking area: it feels like you've gone to the wrong party.
Apart from that, this is a pretty bog-standard pub. The events advertised are not particularly exciting, nor is the selection of drinks out of the ordinary, nor is there anything particularly special on offer here. It's just not good enough in this area.
My advice would be a new name, and something to help 112 Church Street stand out. As it is, it's a pale attempt to shine alongside some traditional Brighton watering holes. If 112 Church Street wants to be the overflow for these hotspots, fine by me, but they need something to make me come back. Anything. read more