Saint James

Nice environment, good selection of beers. They often have DJs during the weekends which is a nice vibe so I really enjoy a beer in there, be it if I’m passing through or staying for a long night.
The St James has some of the best Thai food I’ve had, so you can never go wrong with their Thai green curry.

Popped in here for the end of a Brighton scavenger hunt for the final clue and a quick drink. Nice atmosphere and good selection of drinks.

The best Thai food in Brighton! Just amazing all washed down with a variety of rums. What could go wrong. It also has a nice cosy traditional pub feel, open fire often on in the winter. Ideal for lunch time jollies and after work shenanigans.

Great pub in Kemptown — the amount of Rum they stock is incredible! They also have a great Thai menu.
I used to go here quite a lot for after work drinks, and being the Rum lover that I am, I have sampled my way through a lot of their menu.
I was very pleased to see that they stock a spiced rum from Grenada (I’m half Grenadian, and have been told by family members that Grenada Rum really is quite something!) So when my Dad came to visit, I made sure that The St James was on the list of places to take him. Needless to say, he enjoyed many a glass of Grenadian Rum with me!
I am also quite partial to a hot toddy at St James in the winter!
If you like Rum, this is the place to go.

Cool little local pub that is great value for money for both drinks & food. Specialising in rum & awesome cocktails & authentic Thai food … We ended up eating here 3 nights in a row whilst we were staying in Brighton, it was great & the locals very friendly :)

Hier gibt es eine Rumauswahl die ich in dem Umfang noch nicht gesehen habe. Aber da ich nicht der große Rumtrinker bin, hab ich mich nach meinem ersten Getränk wieder auf Bier konzentriert. Auch dieses ist abwechslungsreich, denn es gibt verschiedenen lokale Marken aus kleinen Brauereien aus Brighton und Umgebung.
Zum Essen gibt es, aussergewöhnlich für einen Pub, Thailändisch. Das musste ich probieren. War jetzt keine kulinarische Erleuchtung, aber gutes bodenständiges Essen und mal was anderes! Die Barkeeper waren freundlich und für einen kurzen Ratsch immer aufgelegt, vielleicht daher nicht immer die Schnellsten. Die Atmosphäre ist bisschen alternative und das Publikum ist sehr entspannt und bunt. Zu späterer Stunde wird auch die Musik lauter, aber bei der guten Musikauswahl hat hat mich das nicht gestört.

I think i must have been living under a rock for a while, as i’ve been in here a few times over the years, but only recently found out that it’s now a Rum pub and as i’m a Rum man i feel like i’ve been missing out !
They do a great little deal on Rums, you can get three for £6,£8 or £11, the landlady who served took the time to explain them all and even write which was one which on a bit of paper, a nice touch for someone who’s memory is a poor as mine.
It was only a Thursday night, but it was a nice mixed, easy going crowd, well worth popping in even if you don’t like Rum.

Worst pub I’ve had the misfortune to have come across the bar staff can barely be bothered to serve in between helping themselves to the jars of nuts and what would seem a constant flow of free drinks. No eye contact from any of the staff once you finally get served and the toilets are probably your worst nightmare avoid this hole like the plague.

Great atmosphere in this very ‘Brightonian styley’ pub. Good Thai menu, good food at a good price and served promptly even when busy.
Dog friendly too!
Definitely worth a visit to this lively, friendly little pub.

Two weeks back from Cuba, my blood-​rum levels have plummeted to dangerously low levels, where better to go to get my fix than the Saint James — a pub that has over 80 (yes 80) different types of rum on the menu!
First up I tried an XM12 year — straight up, it’s a beautifully smooth drink and a pretty fabulous rum. Next I tried a Kraken, a dark spiced rum, cheaper, younger and consequently a little rougher on the palate. You can order tasting plates of the rums if you are interested in trying a few, and the staff are very knowledgeable and quick to make recommendations if you know what sort of rum you like.
Next up, onto the cocktail list. I went for a cocktail that was akin to a dark and stormy, although I forget its actually name. Tasty, but maybe a little on the weak side (either that, or my taste buds have been stunted by the strong Cuban stuff!)
I wanted to finish off with my favourite rum — Havana Club 7 year, but alas they were all out of Havana Club, every type except the ludicrously expensive 15 year! A rum bar out of Havana Club? — that’s just sacrilege! I was offered an alternative but it wasn’t quite as nice.
The people that run this bar also have other bars that specialise in gin and whisky — I think this is a really great concept and I definitely have plans to try the gin bar, although I may give the whisky bar a miss, it’s not my favourite tipple.
The Saint James also serve Thai food although I didn’t get to try any on this occasion.

We stopped by for an afternoon pint on a Saturday.
There weren’t too many people in, but I liked what I saw. Traditional wooden décor, with big tables. I opted for a decent local Sussex ale and the Mrs tucked into a Red Stripe. Plenty of adverts about their rum club on the walls, and the menu I found backed this up — a big old list of well over 50 rums. They didn’t serve my favourite Belizean rum but I had a good chat with the guy behind the bar about it. Knows his rums.
Not sure he knows how to welcome people though — he did seem a bit feisty and managed to annoy the lady within 2 minutes of arriving!
Liked the music he had on though. I suspect this is a decent spot for a night out!

The Thai food might not be to the standard of establishments such as Sawadee just up the road, but we shouldn’t forget that this is just a pub, not a restaurant, and that it is much cheaper. I definitely find it good enough to go inside now and again when I need a quick and energising meal, and have so far not been disappointed.
They have a huge choice of rum, and I am sure that rum lovers will feel exceptionally comfortable here. Not sure what the place is like in the evenings as I’ve only been in the daytime to save myself from starving during my various journeys through town. For that purpose it’s always suited me fine.

A really good pub — particularly if you like them old school and quirky!
The real selling point for me are the 80 odd rums, I always have a flight of 3 or two and sometimes a cocktail — never any complaints. The barman knows his rums (as he should) and is happy to recommend a more unusual one from the huge selection — some a better for sipping and some for mixing so some guidance is much appreciated.
The Thai food is a great accompaniment, full of flavour and a good heat. Portions are a good size — drinking portions, they leave room for a drink or two but you’re not hungry afterwards.
The music is great, not cheesy and mostly relaxed, décor is old pub, toilets are clean. Overall I’d recommend it without hesitation.

A firm favourite of St James’ Street, if not the whole the whole town — not many can beat this bar for atmosphere, food and drink. Coming to life in those bleak winter months, it’s damn near impossible to avoid a sneaky one if you’re walking up St James’ — the fogged-​up windows telling their own story of packed drinkers, swilling dark stout or knocking back a rare rum or two. Boasting the biggest selection in town, they take their rum very seriously indeed. And rightly so, there’s much more to the spirit than pirates and barcardi — and if that tickles your taste buds, check out the monthly rum club, with tasters and illuminating discussions from independent and major rum-​makers. With music to match, there’s a Latin house band on the 1^st and 3^rd Sunday of each month.
Cosy, a little bit boisterous, but always friendly — watch out for cavorting on the bartop — St James’ also have a Thai kitchen to rival the best street cafes of Bangkok.

I came here after a recent gig at Concorde 2. After purchasing a pint, I sat down to peruse the food menu only to discover that not only this a nice looking British pub, but it also the biggest rum specialist you might ever come across.
They sell over 50 different types of rhums. If that is too much for you, for £5 you can get a selection of three rum tasters to help you develop a bit of knowledge.
They also sell a variety of Thai dishes, all costing £5.95. I’ve had the pad thai, always worth a recommendation.

I’ve been drinking in this pub for a long time and always found it a good laugh. The staff can be a bit hit and miss depending when your in but usually really friendly.
You get a good mix of people inside due to its proximity between Brighton and Kemp Town so there’s always a really good atmosphere here. It can get really busy in here on a Saturday night especially when they have a DJ playing so if you want a table, best to get there at around 7pm.

St James is a great pub throughout the week and especially (as you would expect) over the weekend. A pint can be thoroughly enjoyed if you managed to get yourself in amongst it.
I always seem to find myself in here on a Sunday afternoon, mainly due to a reckless abandon in cahoots with the amount of silly rums and whiskeys that they serve.
The staff are always extremely accommodating and will often make concoctions new to the world as well as them.

One of Kemp Town’s busiest pubs, situated on (yep, you guessed it), St James Street.
A traditional old pub with the usual dark interior and wooden floors and tables, it prides itself on its wide selection of rums, although I’m more of a bitter drinker myself, so usually indulge in a nice dark ale.
As well as a fantastic Sunday roast, there’s a well-​reputed Thai menu which has locals raving. The perfect place for a quiet daytime tipple or a lively evening with friends as the music gets cranked up when the sun goes down.

A lovely, very popular pub right on St James Street.
It isn’t the biggest of places, so can get busy in the evenings, but if you can’t get a table, just perch yourself on a bar stool and chat to the ever-​friendly staff.
The décor is old-​school pub, just as it should be, with lots of shiny glass behind the bar and wood floors.
Like so many pubs, they serve Thai food, but the quality here is a cut above. There is also an excellent roast on Sundays.

The St. James is one of the more popular pubs in Kemp Town and is best known for specializing in rum– they have a vast collection and I think they even have a ‘rum club’. Sounds messy to me! The atmosphere is friendly and it can get pretty packed, so I’d recommend getting in there quick if you want a table. They have a good selection of cider and lager and they do Thai food, which is okay, but nothing to rave about. A major drawback to this place is that the music is often LOUD making everything else inaudible, meaning conversation can sometimes become a bit of a joke! Of course this is good if you’re up for a lively night, but not if you’re trying to have a deep and meaningful! Also, and maybe this is a petty quibble, but the layout of the pub means that all of the tables are in a row, following the length of the bar, which feels a bit unsociable somehow. This also means that it’s not the best pub for large groups, as there just isn’t a great deal of space and you can often end up hovering around with your pint. If you’re in need of a bigger pub with a nice outdoor area, head up the hill to the Sidewinder.

This is one of the best pubs on St James’ Street, made evident by always being rammed at the weekend. With its liveliness and traditonal pubby-​feel, this is must for a pit stop if you’re pub crawling in this area (if you’re staying in a Kemp Town B&B, you’ll find it on your walk into town). The alcohol is great, and the pub prides itself on a ginormous variety of dark rums. You’ll also find Westons cider, good beers, Thai grub and a roast on Sudays.