There are a few pubs in Brighton – you might have noticed – but none to our knowledge that have a warren of caves at their heart. Well, that’s about to change with The Tempest Inn. We’ve been inside, and it’s pretty amazing – we did feel completely lost at one point. That was a surprise to us, as we’ve spent plenty of time in its former incarnation of Life (and Arc before that).
The main thing to note is that this is a pub, not a nightclub. Let’s be honest, nightclubs on the seafront aren’t much of a pull right now, but there is a real revival of bars and pubs. The Fortune Of War is really firing with some killer parties (Brighton’s home of disco say Go Bang), and we’re a little bit in love with the coastal arm of the Jamaican-themed Riki Tik.
But let’s get back to The Tempest Inn, which is going to be one of the most arresting pubs the sea has ever seen. The caves form a dozen snugs (that you can book out) which already look authentic, even without the low light that will come from the lanterns. Some of the caves are really private and intimate.
There’s also a big room above with an incredible view over the sea and the remains of the West Pier. It’s going to be used for live music, supper clubs and we can imagine a fair bit of dancing at the weekend (it’s not a nightclub, remember). In summer you’ll be able to buy drinks from the front, like in the Life days, and the patio will be covered in bad weather and protected by plants imported from the Outer Hebrides.
Great food and drinks are promised, including Laine’s Pale Ale and IPA on the bar, plus there will be craft lagers on offer such as Caledonian Three Hop, and a range of cask conditioned ales from local Sussex brewers. Cocktails will include espresso martinis and seagrog, a glass tankard of Kraken and ginger ale topped with ale foam. Food will be local-til-death, with bread from The Flourpot Bakery, Brighton and Sussex cheese from the Cheeseman, plus a catch of the day from local fishermen.
The whole thing aims to be a little disorientating, like coming round from a shipwreck (the Shakespeare play of the same name is the inspiration). It’s certainly ambitious, but from what we’ve seen so far, we think they’re going to pull it off. And if they do it’s going to be the spot this summer.
Opens Thursday 19th March 2015
