Review

If you happen to be walking along East Street in Brighton you can’t help but notice The Fishbowl due to the loud turquoise paint job on the outside and the 3D fish that hangs as the pub sign. Inside, as the sign and the name suggest, it’s all a bit fishy. Your first task upon entering the pub, ordering your beverage of choice, is made more difficult than you would expect because open mouthed fish sculptures sit in front of each of the pumps, requiring you to peer around them to see what they hide. A glance around the downstairs bar will identify more of the fishy touches, pictures of fish on the walls, pictures of fish on the blackboards and unsurprisingly, fish on the menu.

Fishy bits aside, the pub can be described as not particularly big and featuring a lot of wood; floor, tables and chairs - possibly the most uncomfortable wooden chairs you are ever likely to come across, without padding and with high, straight backs. You can imagine a death row criminal sitting in one of these before the electricity is applied and he does the sit down dance.

Maybe not fish, but certainly beach related, are a couple of supporting columns that seem to be made of pebbles held together by a wire mesh, one hopes that they’re hiding a beam that has more load bearing potential, for if you wish to see the real fish it’s upstairs that you must venture. Here you will find a large fish bowl on the hearth by the (fortunately for the fish) unlit fire. If you peer through the murky water you can just about spot a couple of large goldfish. A large fish tank also makes up the supporting structure of the bar, which must be great for the fish as they get nothing but a view of people’s groins as they line up to purchase their drinks. The upstairs bar is certainly the preferred location for an extended session, with views over the crowds below on East Street and more importantly, sofas that you can sit on in comfort for more than 10 minutes. Alternatively, if the weather is favourable, there’s the option of sitting on one of the picnic benches outside that offer not only a view of the sea but also a view of a rather insignificant looking alleyway nearly opposite the pub; insignificant that is, except to knowledgeable fans of the classic film Quadrophenia who will be able to tell you that the album cover for the movie soundtrack was taken in this alleyway and it was here that Phil Daniels got to shag Leslie Ash (when she was in her prime) the lucky boy.

Back to the pub - The Fishbowl has interesting décor, but doesn’t go much for providing traditional pub entertainment; no jukebox, TVs or quiz machines, but if it’s just a pint you’re after in an interesting pub this is as good a place as any. And if you like this one, give the Mash Tun a go, they’re both part of the Zelgrain chain of pubs and have a similar vibe.

Review by AJS