It’s summer and there’s international football on the television. This can only mean one thing: a trip to the pub to watch England. And what we learned this week is that nowhere is better to do so in Brighton than in the King and Queen.
Situated on Marlborough Place, just down the road from the Brighton Dome, this pub stands out due to its statues of the eponymous King and Queen. So this certainly makes the front of the establishment quite a treat for the eyes, but its beer garden is also something to behold.
Fittingly it has the feel of a royal courtyard, hidden away through between the pub’s outer walls and a pseudo-portcullis. Benches lie scattered around but still retain space for those who wish to stand, and, for Euro 2016 matches, an outside food truck replaces the understandably limited menu (only reduced for the busy England matches).
There is a television outdoors too, which is a real treat for when the sun is beating down and all you wish to do is watch the football with a cool pint in the beer garden. The football-watching experience this week, however, was all about what was happening indoors.
A large expanse of comfy sofas and chairs, as well as large tables for bigger groups, makes up much of the bottom floor. Pub essentials such as pool tables and quiz machines are placed throughout, while the bar stretches the length of the hall with a dizzying array of beers and ciders on tap. Upstairs is much the same, but if you’re lucky enough to grab a place by the banisters then you’ll be able to savour the football on the big screen from an aerial perspective.
The food, while not available during England games, is comprised of English pub dishes as well as flavours from further afield if you fancy it – sausage and mash might not always appear on the same menu as a lamb rogan josh but at around £8 you wont find much better value around the city.
So if you’re wondering where to watch England’s next game, there really should be only one thought on your mind: God Save the (King and) Queen.
