Robin Hood

The Robin Hood really lives up to its name. There were no men in tights (not during my visit anyway), but they are Britain’s only charity pub. After paying their overheads, the rest of their profits go to local charities. Very noble indeed.
Having received a lick of fresh blue paint before Christmas, I thought it deserved an updated review. I’m pleased to say that the outside may have changed, but inside they are still offering the same great service. Oo-​De-​Lally! Sorry. Sorry. All Robin Hood references stop here.
Balancing the old and the new you can challenge your friends to board games and Wii games alike. Or impress everyone at the charity pub quiz. You can also catch live sport here if that’s your thing. Check out Gemma G’s review for a real feel of its community atmosphere.
Serving up fresh pizza from the pizza oven is its niche, but a bit more choice would be nice. Due to its positioning it doesn’t have a smoking area so revellers congregate on the street outside and give local residents a bit of a noisy commentary at the weekend.
It does however, tick so many boxes. It’s wonderfully cosy, friendly, good selection of ales, great furnishings, dog friendly, free WiFi, disabled access, and just up the road from the city centre and the seafront.
The Robin Hood really is all for one and one for all! Oh no, that’s the Three Musketeers isn’t it? I’m sure they’d like it in here too.

We found ourselves Googling «bars with games in Brighton» after an awkward exchange with a nearby group of drinkers while enjoying pints at the Fishbowl. We eyed the unused set of dominoes on their table and, assuming they were the bar’s and open to all, jovially asked the group at said table to use them if they weren’t going to. One rather shocked and appalled group member informed us that these were their own dominoes that they brought with them. From home. To the bar. And to not use. Um, OK.
So, off we slinked away to Robin Hood, a bar that promised much better merrymaking not just by name, but also by coming up in the aforementioned Google results. Happily, it was even better than we hoped! A bit of a walk from the Lanes area, but it beckoned us with vibrant pink exterior paint and that jaunty little name.
This had the vibe and look of a locals’ haunt, and there wasn’t a screeching hen do-​er in sight. Lovely.
Classic pub décor includes big, red velour curved booths, small tables with little stools scattered about, a big TV (at the time showing tennis, but a sign invited Wii playing as well), not one but TWO scrappy little pups running about and causing general ruckus by jumping into laps and trampling purses, a piano — and of course a pile of board games stacked high.
And these weren’t even the usual busted up bar games with dog-​eared cards, missing pieces/​instructions and torn playing boards, either. Robin Hood’s has taken from the rich and given to the board game poor.
But wait, there’s more!
Friendly bar staff and a perfectly placed outlet by a corner booth to charge up your phone because you left London for Brighton six hours ago at 25%.
And yet … more? Just read another reviewers note that this is a non-​profit pub?! I’ve never even heard of such a thing. Amazing. ‘Bout time my drinking went to some good.

Had to visit this pub after reading its review in TheTelegraph. Well what a pleasant experience. and what a unique theme of a Peoples Pub. We could with more of this throughout the land. Everybody in good spirits and although I’m getting a little long in the tooth, I felt very welcome and comfortable here. Great stock of ales/​lagers obviously firm faqvourite pizzas. Well done and Bön Chance.

The Robin Hood is a fantastic pub, not only in the fact that it is a great place to visit for a drink and a homemade pizza, but mainly for the fact it is a non-​profit making establishment which donates all its proceeds to charity. Yep, you heard me, in this capitalist world in which we live, someone out there still cares enough to set up and run a business for reason’s other than self-​gain.
The website is quite out of date but talks about setting up other ventures, I’m not sure if they have seceded with this but they have managed to donate large sums of money to many local Brighton charity’s, as well as raise money for international causes such as the tsunami appeal.
As a pub its beautifully set out with mix-​matched chairs and tables, friendly staff and tasty (although small) pizza’s on offer, made in the pizza oven behind the bar. They offer free wifi and power points to plug in computers and phones making it an ideal place to come and work in during the day, as well as partake in a few alcoholic beverages in the evening.
It can get very busy on a Friday and Saturday. Its fairly small and I have been in here and been barely able to move. Monday night is pub quiz night and everyone is encouraged to enter for the measly price of £1 per person. Rounds included current affairs, food and drink, a picture round, and a plasticine modelling round! Winners then get to pick an envelope to determine if they win the cash prize (£350 on my last visit), a bottle of wine or a pickled egg (to chants of «eggs, eggs, eggs!» from the rest of the punters!) its all very light-​hearted and pretty much sums up the attitude of the pub that’s trying to give something back.
A great place to enjoy a pint while taking the moral high ground!

This was a great little pub, super packed with people. The prices for drinks were fair and I was really glad to see they carried one of my favorite Bourbons «Bulleit»
The off parts wer ethe seating is a bit awkward, and if you sit on the couch near the front door, you will feel like you have sunk right in. The bathrooms are a bit awkward too, but it is pretty nifty that the stalls are like you are in your own private bath.
I would like to come back here some time when it isn’t so packed in with people. This leans more toward a 3.5 than a 3 star review.

nice vibes: o)

As many of my friends will know and attest to: I’m not the most conscientious person, and when it comes to alcohol, that certainly applies. I couldn’t really care less where the profit from a bar goes, so for me, Robin Hood’s profit-​for-​the-​charities set up doesn’t mean it deserves any more or less of a rating as a pub, and as a pub, it;s OK but nothing special.
The atmosphere in here is quite arty: there’s plenty of prints and the like on the wall, and the lights always remain low: certainly a good place to sit on one of the couches and slowly sink away at best. At worst, it’s just a bit dim and hard to see where anything is, which attributes to the slightly gruff and quiet mood: not the nicest drinking environment. Still, the selection isn’t bad, with a lot of different wines (much appreciated) as well as the ubiquitous lager selections. There really just isn’t anything exciting going on here, and that’s its main fault.
I suppose the whole not-​for-​profit thing does give Robin Hood some kind of identity, I just don’t think it’s quite something that’ll keep me coming back: I just don’t care enough about charitable donations to feel a jot better about buying a drink here. If that’s your bag, maybe a pint here will taste all the sweeter…

Great pub with some really comfortable seating inside and serving some really tasty pizzas for only £5! They have a really good selection of beers on tap and especially pour a good pint of Harveys.
There’s some excellent photography prints up on the walls by a local guy which really add to the atmosphere. The staff are down to earth and always happy to chat away at the bar.
I didn’t realise it was a non-​profit organisation until glancing over at the previous couple of reviews and that has made me want to pop down there now for a pint!

The Robin Hood is my fave pub in the Western Road area of Brighton/​Hove. It’s slightly away for the main roads so tends to avoid passing trade of hoards of tourists in summer, but still keeps busy with locals. It has a really homely décor with traditional and modern elements, as well as open fires and wood carved tables sand chairs. I won’t bore you by repeating the fact it’s a charity pub blah blah. Its just really nice pub for a relaxed pint and deffo worth trotting out of town for…

I like the Robin Hood ethos, too much swill goes down never to see a good use of the profits. This great little social enterprise, as well as being set up to benefit a host of charities, is also one of the most comfortable pubs in Brighton with plenty of space, very friendly staff and nice booze. I didn’t know about its enterprise until after many drinks, they don’t really shout about it, I always just liked it for its unpretentious interior and relaxed feel, there is something typically Brighton and typically ‘pub’ about it, with pubs being something Brighton does very well this place still gets extra marks for being extra nice.

In that middle ground between Kingsway and Western road there are a glut of pubs that need to be better publicised. Among these, the Robin Hood offers such an honest, good value service you’d think it would be better known. However, for some reason it still remains a place popular mostly with locals and those in the know and, as it’s slightly off the beaten track, it’s rarely bursting at the seams, which is surprising considering its quality. Serving a decent range of beers, ciders, ales and wines it’s a great place for a chilled drink. The décor and atmosphere is very relaxed and there’s a selection of board games available for those wishing to relive some childish moments. If you’re hungry you can order a pizza at any time of day, all of which are fairly decent although a little over-​priced. Finally the staff are totally social so all in all I’d say it’s just a safe place.

Having lived in Brighton for five years, and having spent a lot of time and money in many different pubs, can honestly say that the Robin Hood is amazing, and my personal favorite.
It has a shelf full of boardgames, a Wii and they sometimes show rugby, which are all great, but above all it is just a brilliant pub. It’s cosy without feeling cramped, warm without being sweaty, and dark without being dingy. Good selection of beer, pizzas made from scratch for £6/​7, and a solid music selection.
A good pub for escaping windy weathers, it’s one of those pubs where one beer becomes five, and i’ve had amazing nights in there with family, colleagues and good friends; a friend of mine even says it’s a great first-​date location.
It’s not perfect; bar staff are sometimes less than friendly, and the boys toilets are really shabby, but neither of these would put off thoroughly recommending it.
ps. as others have stated, profits from this pub go to local charities, which always makes paying for a large round less of a burden.

The Robin Hood is a little off the beaten track just off Western Road. Inside you’ll find a modern twist on a very traditional décor with dark wood tables, open fires and generally a very cosy atmosphere. It attracts all sort of customers from local bohos to business people, I’ve even see a couple of local celebs… Preston anybody?
The difference with the Robin Hood is that all profits, (that they don’t need to run the joint) go to local charities!?! Its the first of hopefully many more establishments of it’s kind created by ‘People’s Pubs’. I guess they’re trying to keep overheads down by not having a proper kitchen but you can get pizza from the oven behind the bar. Its a great little venue and its for a good cause so get down there for a cosy pint or two.

Being a Midlander, Robin Hood is a local hero, so seeing this name on a pub is not uncommon. It is a little less common in the south, but I guess in some ways, the name drew me in, as it offered a small reminder of home.
Like many of my local pubs in the Midlands, The Robin Hood has a homely vibe, cheery bar staff and good booze. I was surprised by how busy it was, but it was definitely a nice busy. I was only there for a couple of drinks when catching up with a friend, but it was perfect for this, as the mood was uplifting and lively, without being too intrusive, so a good old natter was still possible!
I wasn’t aware of their charitable intentions, but this only increases the Robin Hood’s appeal to me… I think I might go there more often!

I love what the Robin Hood does: it turns a British mainstay– the local pub– into a thriving business and community service. The Robin Hood is a social enterprise, meaning that after all the staff have been paid a decent salary and the overheads paid off, any and all profits go to charity. I think it’s excellent and I wish more places would take heed and follow in their footsteps– you don’t have to make a business all about profits for the individual. I bet the staff are happier pushing for profits when they know it’s going somewhere specific and useful. The revolutionary, but oh-​so-​simple take on business aside, this is also a brilliant pub which balances well between dark wood old man pub and young funky dub playing pub. The music flows back and fore between classic motown, crooners, modern indie, and dub. The beers and ales on offer are generally local or independents and the staff are relaxed and fun. Go and spend your money guilt free! It’s going to a good cause, beyond beer.

The Robin Hood certainly lives up to its name! This is Britain’s first charity pub, with all net profits being donated to local community projects and good causes — £40,000 was donated last year alone-​. The staff are very friendly, and the ambience and vibe is fun and relaxed. The clientele is a mixture of locals, students, and laptop wielding youths intent on using the place’s free wifi. Drink prices are average — not expensive nor super cheap -, they offer a different ale here every week — often from local breweries -, and there’s some great home-​made flavoured vodka available for £1.50 a shot — I recommend the skittles flavour -. Food choices are limited, but there are a number of nice pizzas purchasable for £4, that are certainly worth trying.

Just after moving house recently and this place is literally across the road from us so it would have to be our new local. From the moment I walked inside the door, I knew it was something special. It has a lovely cosy feeling about the place and a great vibe as you lounge away your afternoons playing one of the their many board games on their leather couches. Their selection of cider is incredible as well as they are one of the only few that I have come across that sell Kopparberg Pear. The staff are friendly to top it all off and to top that off, all the profits go to charity!!! It was only yesterday that I understood why they called themselves the Robin Hood-​takes from the rich and gives to the poor. What else can I say. Love it!

One of the best pubs in Brighton, with a fantastic scheme behind it (all profits go to local charities). A decent selection of lager, ale and wine: with a good deal of pizza + bottle of wine, to boot.
A busy, fun atmosphere, full of people having a good — if loud — time. It’s a place to drink and feel good with where your money going — either to the charming bar staff or to a local charity.

Yes, I like this place too. They’ve recently got in a draught white beer (says weiss on the label, I forget who produces it) that is fantastic with a slice of lime (though it’s around £4 a pint). They also do one or two real ales (usually Harveys).
I do like the simplicity of their food operation: all they do is a small range of pizzas which they simply stick into a pizza cooker by the bar. And a few minutes later they bring it out to you (with proper pepper, chili oil etc.) on a simple wooden board. Very pleasing.
They have a PC in the corner which you are free to use to browse t’Internet. Also, they claim to have free wi-​fi (you have to ask at the bar for the code), but the one time I tried to make use of it, it didn’t allow me to connect.
There are newspapers on the bar for people to browse through. Gents’ toilets are OK for a pub. Very good staff.