Brighton and Hove’s natural wine scene stretches from small neighbourhood bars to restaurants where the wine list is as much a reason to visit as the food. There are bottles to take home, wines on tap, regular tastings and places where vinyl and guest kitchens shape the evening.
In the Lanes, Plateau brings together natural wine, cocktails and modern European small plates that change with the seasons. Exposed brick, low lighting and a tiled bar give it an intimate feel, with space to stop for a glass or sit down for dinner.
Near Brighton station, Patio takes a different approach to food, with rotating guest chefs bringing their own menus to the kitchen. The small, candlelit wine bar also hosts weekend DJs, while its house wines, As Above, So Below, are made in collaboration with Sussex producer Titch Hill. It’s a connection between the city’s bars and the vineyards a little further along the coast.
Around Preston Circus, Curio Café Bar moves from morning coffee and lunch into small plates, wine and cocktails. Its corner position means tables outside when the weather allows, while inside there’s wine on tap, bottles to browse and a menu that gives you plenty of reasons to stay for food. Regular wine tastings and Friday DJs are part of the calendar, too.
Music takes a more central role at On Air in Hove. The listening bar pairs wine on tap with vinyl, hi-fi speakers and mid-century furniture. Label nights, album playbacks, radio takeovers and listening sessions give the programme its shape, making it worth checking what’s on before you visit.
The Well has two neighbourhood homes: St George’s Road in Kemptown and Western Road in Hove. Both combine a natural wine bar with a bottle shop, so you can drink in or choose something to take away. Alongside the wine are craft beers and bar snacks, with tastings and vinyl nights adding to the mix.
Back in North Laine, Vine Street Tap occupies a converted garage just off Trafalgar Street. The small bar serves natural wine and rotating craft beer, with bottles and cans available to take home. Its sister venue, Outgrown, brings a similar combination of natural wine, cocktails and beer to Elm Grove. Guest chef pop-ups give the neighbourhood bar a changing food offering, adding another option to an area better known for its pubs.
Between them, these places offer several ways into Brighton and Hove’s wine scene: a tasting to learn a little more, dinner built around a bottle, or a glass at a neighbourhood bar.
