Brighton's Best Drinks in the Sun
From seafront classics to rooftop terraces and secret beer gardens, these are the Brighton and Hove spots that do a sunny afternoon properly. Big-group friendly, bride-approved, and very much tried and tested.
By Stephen · 6 min read · June 2026
There is a particular kind of magic to a sunny day in Brighton. The sea glitters, the Lanes fill up, and the whole city quietly agrees the to-do list can wait. For a hen weekend that is exactly the brief: find the right terrace, the right round, and a spot that will happily take all of you. Here are the fourteen we send our groups to first.
Fortune of War
4.4 ★Brighton's oldest and most famous seafront pub sits right on Kings Road with the beach at your feet, and on a sunny day there is nowhere better to start a hen afternoon. It is tiny inside, so the trick is to claim a stretch of sea wall, get a round in, and watch Brighton stroll past. Time it for golden hour and the views down the coast will have someone suggesting just one more. A proper Brighton classic, and an easy first stop before you move along the front.
The Setting Sun
4.6 ★Perched at the top of Windmill Street in Hanover, The Setting Sun earns its name every evening. The south-facing garden catches the sun all afternoon, and when it finally dips, the view across Brighton's rooftops to the sea is genuinely spectacular, exactly the backdrop the bride will want a photo against. It is a proper community pub with well-kept ales, good food and an easy, local feel. Get there early on a sunny weekend with a big group, because word has well and truly got out.
Rockwater
4.1 ★Built into the Hove seafront over several levels, Rockwater feels like a holiday in its own right. The rooftop terrace pours cocktails, prosecco and seafood sharing plates with nothing between you and the horizon, and it is made for a hen group settling in for the afternoon. Book ahead in summer, because the terrace fills fast and a table for ten will not appear by luck. Worth the planning every single time.
Bison Beach Bar
4.4 ★Right on Madeira Drive with the sea a few steps away, Bison is Brighton's answer to a proper beach bar. The open terrace faces south, so you get sun from morning until it slips behind you, and the own-brewed Bison beer is excellent. The food keeps a long session on the rails, which matters when there are a dozen of you. Easy by day, livelier by evening, and very happy to have a group.
The Eagle
4.4 ★A Gloucester Road favourite with one of Brighton's best beer gardens. The south-facing terrace is a sheltered sun trap, and it is big enough that a hen group will usually find space even on a busy weekend. The food is a cut above the usual pub plate and the ales are thoughtfully chosen. One of our go-to picks the moment the sun comes out.
Shelter Hall
4.5 ★Shelter Hall is a whole food market in the arches on Kings Road, which makes it ideal when your hen group can never agree on one menu. The kitchens run from sushi to woodfired pizza, you grab a cocktail or local beer from the bar, then take the lot out to the seafront terrace looking over the beach. Everyone gets exactly what they want and nobody has to compromise. Claim a long table and settle in for the afternoon.
The Windmill
4.4 ★At the top of Upper North Street, The Windmill's garden catches the afternoon and evening sun beautifully. It is a warm, welcoming local with good ales, solid pub food and a garden roomier than you would expect, all lovely golden light as the day wears on. The Sunday roasts are worth planning the weekend around. A relaxed spot for a group that wants the city without the crush.
Plateau
4.5 ★One of our all-time favourites for a glass of something special. Just off Bartholomews in The Lanes, Plateau pours natural wines and small plates in an intimate, candlelit room, and the tartare is a ten out of ten every visit. On warm evenings they open up the front so you can sit outside with a glass of something nobody has tried before. Better suited to a smaller, wine-loving hen group than a big rowdy one, but unforgettable if that is your crowd.
The Basketmakers Arms
4.6 ★A Brighton institution on Gloucester Road, the Basketmakers has been pulling pints since long before craft beer was a thing. The pavement terrace catches the afternoon sun and the whole street comes alive around it on a warm day. Inside is all low ceilings, real ales and the lived-in charm you simply cannot fake. With over 1,500 Google reviews it is one of the city's best-loved pubs, and a brilliant warm-up before dinner.
Babble
4.4 ★Right on the beach at Kingsway, Babble is Hove's take on a Mediterranean beach bar, and on a sunny day you could convince the group you are somewhere in the south of France. The decked terrace sits straight on the seafront, the cocktails are the strong suit, and the sharing plates turn a long lunch into an even longer afternoon. If your house is over in Hove, this is a must the moment the sun is out.
Grand Central
4.2 ★One of Brighton's best rooftop spots, right by the station on Surrey Street. The terrace catches the sun all afternoon and takes no bookings, so it is perfect for a spontaneous sunny session the minute the group arrives. The prosecco is kind on the kitty and the views across the city are lovely. If you have just stepped off the train, this is the best possible way to start the weekend.
The Garden Bar
4.4 ★Hove's largest beer garden, and it lives up to the billing. Decking, heated private booths, picnic tables and even a BBQ section mean The Garden Bar on Portland Road can swallow a hen group of any size without anyone fighting for a table. The list runs from craft ales to frozen cocktails, and you can book a booth so the whole party stays together. The easy choice when you want guaranteed space and sunshine.
The Brick
4.8 ★Stubbornly independent and genuinely friendly, The Brick is all about quality over scale. You will not find the big-brand lagers here; instead there is a carefully chosen line-up of keg and cask beers from nearby breweries. If beer is not everyone's thing, the natural wines and small-batch spirits are just as thoughtfully picked, so a mixed group is well looked after. A relaxed, in-the-know stop for a smaller hen crowd.
Oculist
4.5 ★The roof terrace is the showstopper. The Oculist is the kind of place where the just one drink plan quietly collapses, because the playlist is too good and the sun is hitting the Pavilion chimneys just right. Inside, the decor nods to its optician past, all rich textures and golden accents, and the cocktail list is creative without trying too hard. Every corner is built to look beautiful, which makes it a dream for the group photos that end up in the wedding guest book.
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