Pub Review: Shakespeare’s Head, Brighton

At BitterSweet Partnership, we’ve been visiting pubs all over the UK to investigate t how female-friendly they are - it’s a hard task, but someone has to do it! On a recent trip to Brighton, we discovered the Shakespeare’s Head. Located up a hill near the Seven Dials area, it’s a fair walk from the constant hustle and bustle of the city centre and is surrounded by residential streets.

In a place like Brighton, though, that really isn’t a bad thing; unlike the majority of centrally-located pubs which are packed with students and weekend tourists, ‘Shakies’ is an unassuming but charming place which attracts a solid core of friendly regulars. A bright turquoise building with outside seating and floral hanging baskets, it’s not only the exterior that’s inviting; wandering inside, visitors are greeted with antique-looking wooden floors and panelling, Tudor portraits, warm candlelight and quaint wooden tables and benches. The friendly owners are always ready to greet you for a chat and there’s a wide range of drinks behind the bar including some great beers – pick from a large selection of Hall & Woodhouse brews, including the excellent Badger and Tanglefoot ales. Or if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, you can try a pint of Hofbrau lager, produced in the Hofbrauhaus Bier Keller in Munich and available from the hand pumps.

Another great thing about this pub is undoubtedly the food – well, that is, if you like sausage and mash - A great British classic! Our research has highlighted that women who are occasion drinkers, prefer to order a beer with a meal, making the great range of food on offer at ‘Shakies’ the perfect environment where women can do just that. They can choose from pork and cider, wild boar or vegetarian sausages; four cheese, mustard or swede mash and red wine or onion gravy, to name only a few of the many options. And if you’re not a sausage and mash fan? Never fear; the Sunday roasts here are amazing as well!

The Shakespeare’s Head is a welcoming, quaint pub with a charming interior and a great menu; perfect for relaxed drinks and most definitely for an evening meal, this is most probably one of the best pubs you’ll find in Brighton.