The White Rabbit

The White Rabbit have (dare I say it...) the best bouncers in Brighton!

An odd review perhaps, however last weekend I rather stupidly misplaced my purse at the White Rabbit - the bouncers were helpful, didn't have it immediately but took down my name and telephone number promising to get in touch as soon as it showed up. Being fairly distressed and having heard this from bars before (I'm far too forgetful...) I didn't expect to ever hear anything back.

But the next morning I woke up too a text from Mark the bouncer saying he'd found it so not to worry and that he'd make sure it was behind the bar so I could come grab it whenever I liked. I was obviously over the moon! But even more impressed that I'd had a personal text from the bouncer who seemed to really care that I got it back - BIG thumbs up to Mark & the White Rabbit!

Aside from world class caring bouncers, the White Rabbit is a really reliably good pub. In the evenings its busy with people milling around chatting (not so easy to get a table), they have great drinks behind the bar with friendly and pretty amusing bar staff (I love a joke with my beverage!) and the food is pretty good - pub grub done well.

Top tip would be to come to the White Rabbit on a sunny day, get a cold beer and sit and watch the world go past outside on Kensington Gardens - you could sit there for hours. My other top tip would be not to loose your purse and have to rely on the lovely bouncers!!

This is a bit of an enigma of a pub. Previously, this was Gardens, a strange but intriguing place with a kind of indoor/outdoor garden, that seemed like a good idea but never quite hit the mark.
As the White Rabbit, it's similar. There's defnitely a, reasonably effective, attempt to be cool and a bit different,. with some funky artwork and,. when I visitied, a roaming magician.
I haven't eaten there, but the menu looked pretty enticing when I went. I'd really love to like this place more, but it just feels like there's something intangible missing.

I'm not really a big fan of The White Rabbit.

I like to be able to hear myself think when I'm having a nice chat with some friends, and unfortunately this pub feels the need to pump up the volume come a certain time in the evening.

Drink and food prices are about average for Brighton, the menu is... edible but won't go winning any awards, and they have a nice collection of ciders to sample. Alas these are the only positive things I can say.

Avoid this place like the plague at peak times if you don't like overcrowded noisy pubs, but by all means go for brunch. Just don't stay for the evening entertainment!

The White Rabbit lives up to its fantastical name in some respects, with its attention to decor but its more a cool muso bar displaying pop artwork of music icons. Its a little expensive but it has its amazing North Laines location to thank for that.

They serve gorgeous pub grub, including deep fried camembert and cheesey chip butties for you cheese fiends. A nice touch is the cute lil cupcakes for sale on the bar.

The pub is situated right on the most narrow street in the n.laines where visitors are overwhelmed with amazing independant stores, stalls and cafes. They have outside seating right on Kensington Gardens which is fab for watching the crowds go by.

The White Rabbit is one of Brighton's nicer drinking locales, with loads of character, a pretty great ambiance and a nigh-on perfect location at the top of Kensington Gardens. However, it seems to have its priorities all over the place, and some strange decisions made about how it is run make it more of a now-and-again drinking establishment than a fast favourite.

Most people will recognise the outside of the White Rabbit: a pretty penny has been spent to make it look funky and cool on the outside, with lots of bold colours and artwork drawing in the punters. However, on the inside it's a little more seedy: a bit of a disappointment after the great outside look. The drinks selection is also a little sparse, and it looks none too clean: not exactly enticing! Also, the nice drinking area out the front is a little squished into the little lane that is Kensington Gardens: sitting out here feels like an inconvenience to all passers-by. It's nice, but awkward. The soundtrack indoors is mostly rocky and punky: nice if you like that sort of thing, although I could do without the old rockers and punks: not my scene at all!

The rock-focus may have lost the White Rabbit some of its clientele: the remainder can seem a little gruff and grimy, and it isn't always a pleasant atmosphere in here. That, plus the slightly grotty looking bar, have certainly lowered my esteem of the White Rabbit: if you can look past it, it's not bad in here, but that's a big 'if' I feel.

I love the white rabbit, it could easily become my go to local bar. The clientele are usually pretty alternative and the music they play is really good.

The White Rabbit is a quirky little pub situated in the pedestrian area that is Kensington Gardens, it's a little off the beaten track and consequently the tourists struggle to find it.

The name is intriguing and so is the interior and the clientele, a real mish mash in every way possible, with a hint of grime, in a good way.

It's one of those pubs in which you can while away the hours just staring at the decor - one wall is covered with clocks, all set at different times, and none of them working; there is an eclectic mix of art work ranging from black and white portrait photos, to an modern art take on Elvis.

The toilets are a bit grim but you can amuse yourself with the grafiti while you pee!

All in all, its eclectic, grimy and fun, a pleasant change from the sterility of many a modern drinking establishment.

To some Yelpers, Brighton is a Wonderland and The White Rabbit is as good a place as any for your adventures. But be careful if you sink into the uber comfty leather recliner, you might be late, late, for a very important date.

With a cider in one hand and the company of another Yelper I was more than happy to Drink Me some of The White Rabbit's chilled ambience. They even played soundtracks, my favourites 'Alice' (of course ;-P) and 'Juno'.

When it comes to Eat Me, it's comfort food with fish finger sandwiches, mash, chips and doorstop sandwiches.

The staff didn't do much to dispel the Wonderland vibe, dancing a waltz behind the bar and dressed in brightly coloured clothing, I'm ready to escape down the rabbit hole here any time.

The White Rabbit is a bit of a strange one I think. It is quite nice inside, and I happily sat for hours using the free wireless, and felt pretty cosy. But at the same time the atmosphere of the place is not particularly individual and unique, it seems like it's trying for some reason.

The food though is really nice, and seemingly come wind, rain and a little bit of shine, there will be people lining the tables outside, and adding to the open and involved feeling of the North Laines.

Another student fave of mine, it's right in the middle of the North Laines but yet many people seem to have trouble finding it. I'd walked passed many times and, amongst the Laines hustle and bustle, completely missed it.

My guess is that given the name and the huge collection of clocks on the wall they were going for an Alice in Wonderland theme, but aside from the clocks this is a pub, not a tea party, although I did once have a rather delish hot chocolate here when I was giving my liver a well earned break.

There is some some funky artwork on the walls and one or two rather comfy arm chairs to lounge in. It's most definitely not an old man's pub nor would I make it my local but it is very Brighton, very central and very cool.