The Sussex Cricketer, Hove

The Old Sussex Cricketer was demolished to make way for a nine storey apartment block. The new Sussex Cricketer sits at the bottom of this block still a stone’s throw from the Sussex County Cricket Club. To the left of the entrance are some long picnic benches on a raised patio area that was busy during a recent sunny Saturday afternoon visit. The vast interior is open plan with an island bar with a large projector screen as the back bar. More television screens are found throughout for showing all things sport, muted rugby being the choice while some background music played during my visit. Long high tables run up the right-hand wall and banquettes run up the left to a slightly raised lounge area with a fake burner in the left rear corner. Premium and mainstream craft keg options were available at London prices and the two banks of two hand pumps were doubled up with an unused pump and Gun Brewery’s Scaramanga. Food is also available with a kitchen hatch in the rear wall. I wouldn’t go out of my way to revisit, but this place is ok for a pub at the bottom of a block of flats.

Official site of The Sussex Cricketer - thesussexcricketer.pub

Official site of The Sussex Cricketer - thesussexcricketer.pub

I never managed to visit the old Sussex Cricketer, which has now been demolished. However, I did manage to get to its latest incarnation, which is still very close to the cricket ground and occupies the ground floor of a block of flats. Inside is modern and spacious with seating all around a large central bar area. There is an open kitchen to the rear. Children and dogs are welcome. On the bar, there were a couple of handpulls, with a solitary Gun Scaramanga on our Wednesday lunchtime visit. Keg beers included Franciscan Well Chieftain, Sharp's Atlantic, Beavertown Neck Oil, UnBarred Joosy, Northern Monk Eternal & 360° Brighton Session IPA. Service was quick, but the atmosphere all felt very sterile.