Type and hit ENTER

Commonly used tags...

Brighton Festival Brighton Fringe Brighton Pride British Sea Power Cinecity Lewes Psychedelic Festival Locally Sourced Lost & Found Love Supreme Festival Mutations Festival Nick Cave Poets Vs MCs Politics Rag'n'Bone Man Record Store Day Save Our Venues Six Of The Best Source Virgins Streets Of Brighton Street Source Tattoos The Great Escape Tru Thoughts Unsung Heroes
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Advertise
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
Food

Jamaica Inn Review

Jun 6, 2013
-
Posted by James Kendall

THE PLACE
We don’t seem to see as many traditional landlords around these days – you know, the men and women who rule their pubs with an iron fist. Landlords have a duty to be characters, to pull pints from their soapboxes. The Jamaica Inn at the Rose Hill Tavern, off London Road, has a proper landlord in Stacey, the man who puts the Jamaica in the Jamaica Inn. As we put our order in everything is too much trouble, but in a very amusing way. “It’s like Fawlty Towers in here,” laughs one of the regulars at the bar. The banter flows as Stacey tackles the subjects of the day – Thatcher’s death, the racial progress of Star Trek, and music. “Back in the 70s we had The Clash and 2-Tone. Thatcher took all that and left us with the Style Council,” he says with mock fury.

THE MEAL
The problem with going out for Jamaican food is that as enthusiastic as one person is, another doesn’t really fancy it. Jamaica Inn solves the problem by serving both English classics and Jamaican staples. Tempted as we are by the goat burger, we simply have to try the jerk chicken (£7.50). With huge piece of chicken, a decent portion of rice and peas and a coleslaw side dish it’s good value for money, and the chicken is so tender it does that falling off the bone thing brilliantly. Gently spiced, it tickles the palette rather than blasts it. On the Brit side, the bangers and mash (£7.50) comes in a massive homemade Yorkshire, with a satisfying portion of garlic mash and three very spicy organic lamb sausages. If that isn’t tempting enough there are also the famous Reggae Roasts on Sundays.

VERDICT
Even if the food wasn’t good we’d still recommend the Jamaica Inn. Just being there is fun. But the option to get proper jerk chicken and goat curry alongside good English pub grub means that everyone’s happy. Good food, good prices, good banter.

WERE WE SUSSED?
No. Stacey recognised one of us but couldn’t work out where from. We didn’t help him remember – we really didn’t want to get caught reviewing.

Jamaica Inn at The Rose Hill Tavern, Rose Hill Terrace
(01273) 695068
Tues-Sat 4pm-9pm, Sun for Reggae Roasts, 1pm til done

Jun 6, 2013
Email
James Kendall
James Kendall was the co-owner and editor of SOURCE. He’s been a music journalist since 1992 and spent over a decade travelling the globe covering dance music for DJmag. He’s interviewed a range of subjects from Bat For Lashes, Foals and James ‘LCD Soundsystem’ Murphy to Katie Price and the Sugababes. He’s a keen photographer and has work featured in The Guardian.
← PREVIOUS POST
The Flaming Lips Review
NEXT POST →
Dr Martens Competition
Mailing List

Recent Posts
  • Brighton Psych Fest 2025 Review
    Sep 26, 2025

    The second Brighton Psych Fest was a beauty as we got down with Getdown Services as the evening sunlight glowed through the Concorde Stained Glass.

  • David Devant & His Spirit Wife, Friday 12th December
    Sep 23, 2025

    One of Brighton's greatest live bands returns for a pre-Xmas homecoming party.

  • Nick Cave To Play Exclusive Brighton Show Next Summer
    Sep 15, 2025

    Nick Cave returns to Brighton next Summer for an exclusive show with The Bad Seeds in Preston Park.

  • Death Comes to Pemberley Review
    Sep 3, 2025

    Set six years after the marriage of Elizabeth to Mr Darcy, a murder on their estate takes this story into thriller territory.

  • The Lightning Thief Review
    Sep 1, 2025

    A high octane modern musical coming of age adventure about demi-god teens, complete with committed performances, stunning voices, and brilliantly inventive staging.

  • Betty Boo, Sunday 23rd November
    Sep 1, 2025

    The legendary Betty Boo is going on her first ever solo UK tour and you can catch her at The Green Door Store in November.

  • Mutations Festival 2025 Line Up Announcement
    Aug 28, 2025

    FORM are treating us to a Bonfire Weekend full of warm goodness, bangers and fireworks!

  • Pride And Prejudice Review
    Aug 27, 2025

    A beautifully realised adaptation of one of Jane Austen’s best loved books: giving us a grounded, real and hilarious retelling in perfect balance.

Website developed in Brighton by Infobo
Copyright © Brighton Source 2009-2023
Jamaica Inn Review - Brighton Source