The best gay bars in Brighton

Revenge was established in 1991 and has been partying ever since, becoming one of the foremost LGBTQ-friendly clubs in the region. Spread across three floors, the inclusive club features a spacious main floor, a more intimate Berlin-inspired dance floor with LED lighting and dancing cages, and a rooftop terrace with spectacular views across the city. Themed parties covering different music genres are held here several times per week.

The Legends Hotel is known for providing comfortable LGBTQ-friendly accommodation in Brighton, but it offers more than just lodging. In addition to a spectacular terrace bar with panoramic views of the sea, the hotel houses a basement club that's one of the most popular gay nightlife venues in the city. The inclusive party spot hosts resident club nights that bring diverse DJ line-ups to the prime beachfront location.

R-Bar is the younger sibling of Revenge, bringing an inclusive setting and fun nights to the seafront. The Brighton gay bar hosts various events throughout the week, from karaoke and cabaret shows to DJ nights, fuelling the entertainment with cheap drink deals. The inclusive venue boasts marvellous views of the sea and has been recently refurbished with artwork by queer UK artists. There's a pool table as well, you can play boardgames, and if you get hungry, you can munch on pizza.

With a programme featuring everything from drag brunches, karaoke nights, and cabaret shows to showtune singalongs and bingo, the fun never stops at Bar Broadway. This leading musical theatre bar in Brighton Gay Village is an inclusive venue serving drinks, small plates, and oodles of campy fun throughout the week, in a setting paying tribute to its theatrical fandoms.

The Kemptown Klub is only open to members, but sorting that out at the door is easy and membership is free. Once you've signed up, you'll be welcomed into a cosy bar run by a pair of locals highly knowledgeable about the Brighton LGBTQ+ scene, gossip and all. The cocktails are excellent, there's a Scottish-themed speakeasy in the basement, and the service is friendly and personable.

This iconic Brighton gay pub is unmissable – in part thanks to its eye-catching pink façade and in part thanks to a regular programme of drag and cabaret shows, featuring some of the best acts in the UK. The so-called “pink pub” has been around for more than 40 years, so its glittering pink-hued walls have experienced many a wild night. It's been a mainstay of gay nightlife in Brighton for so long for a reason.

Affinity Bar is a lively Brighton Gay Village hangout with a strong commitment to the city's wider queer community. Known for well-crafted cocktails and regular drag cabaret, the bar, open daily, provides a welcoming, inclusive setting for socialising, nights out, and casual meet-ups. Inside, it's contemporary and polished, with colourful neon lighting counterbalanced by sharp black-and-white furnishings.

Theatre pub The Actors has been a firm supporter of the LGBTQ+ community as well as the arts in general for over half a century, hosting a varied and regular programme of events throughout the years. These include casual gatherings like pub quizzes or DJ sessions, as well as focused theatrical performances, open mic nights, spiritual workshops, and more, held across the pub's different spaces. Inclusive and community-oriented, The Actors is generally considered one of the best pubs in Brighton by locals.

The Bulldog is a landmark gay bar in Brighton, welcoming guests since 1979 with its classic boozer charms, unfussy setting, and hospitable, inclusive approach. It's been refurbished over the years, but retains a traditional interior, complete with disco ball. Themed nights and karaoke add to the fun atmosphere, and once the dance floor kicks off, there's no telling how long the night will go.

Charles Street Tap is a friendly, down-to-earth gay pub run by the Stonegate Group. Featuring all the hallmarks of a proper local boozer, it hosts a regular programme of pub quizzes, drag nights, cabaret, and other fun events, along with comforting pub grub favourites, including Sunday roasts. The bar pours a robust selection of craft beers and gins, and the party goes late at weekends.

Though reports of hauntings on its premises might give you chills, The Marine Tavern is a warm and welcoming gay pub. Its roots go back to the 19th century, so some paranormal activity should be par for the course, after all. It's also one of the smallest pubs in Brighton, so expect a snug, cosy ambiance where rubbing elbows with strangers is a given. Live entertainment like drag shows is on regularly.

The Zone Bar is a welcoming place to drink and dance right in the heart of Brighton Gay Village. While the interiors are straightforward and pared back, the gay bar more than makes up for it with a busy weekly line-up that spans bingo, karaoke, drag acts, live music, and cabaret. Drinks are sensibly priced as well, making it an easy spot to settle in for the night.