Quick info
About The Better Half Pub
The Better Half Pub is a pub in Hove, at 1 Hove Pl, with a live jazz set on Friday afternoons for anyone looking to start the weekend with music and a drink. The kitchen runs a gastro-style menu with both vegan and meat dishes. Sunday roast offers beef sirloin, lamb or pork belly, or a nut roast, and each plate comes with roast potatoes and a large Yorkshire pudding. Behind the bar, the gin menu includes a Japanese gin and tonic, and the drinks list also carries pints, cocktails and non-alcoholic cocktails. Artwork and decor give the rooms a quirky look. Dogs are welcome, and the pub is open Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Mondays.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingPaid street parking · Usually somewhat difficult to find a space
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, restroom
- Good for kidsGood for kids
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention sunday roast, dog friendly, japanese gin and tonic and chicken and ham pie.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention sunday roast, dog friendly, japanese gin and tonic and chicken and ham pie.
Customer Review Summary
Sunday roast is the most frequent draw, with roast sirloin of beef and roast lamb described as soft and tasty, served with crispy roast potatoes, seasoned veg and a large Yorkshire pudding. The pork belly is singled out as a standout. One diner says the chef came over to check the beef was cooked to their liking. Close behind is the home cooked food beyond the roast, including a chicken and ham pie with smooth, creamy mash and chicken described as perfectly crispy. Drinks earn praise too, from a Japanese gin and tonic to good pints and non alcoholic cocktails. Reviewers describe a cozy pub with quirky artwork, friendly staff, a live jazz set on one Friday afternoon and a welcome for dogs, though one reviewer says the dog friendly garden needs an update. The one food complaint came from a roast diner whose nut roast was slightly overcooked and solid on the inside. Staff took half the bill off for it and stopped serving it to other customers.
Customer Review Summary
Sunday roast is the most frequent draw, with roast sirloin of beef and roast lamb described as soft and tasty, served with crispy roast potatoes, seasoned veg and a large Yorkshire pudding. The pork belly is singled out as a standout. One diner says the chef came over to check the beef was cooked to their liking. Close behind is the home cooked food beyond the roast, including a chicken and ham pie with smooth, creamy mash and chicken described as perfectly crispy. Drinks earn praise too, from a Japanese gin and tonic to good pints and non alcoholic cocktails. Reviewers describe a cozy pub with quirky artwork, friendly staff, a live jazz set on one Friday afternoon and a welcome for dogs, though one reviewer says the dog friendly garden needs an update. The one food complaint came from a roast diner whose nut roast was slightly overcooked and solid on the inside. Staff took half the bill off for it and stopped serving it to other customers.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“Great place. We were 3 families in need of somewhere to escape the weather for a late lunch and they couldn’t have been more accommodating. Great food. Great service. Great pints!”
- Google user
“Wonderful choice of vegan and meat dishes available: very tasty food in a gastro style. Dog friendly garden needs an update”
- Google user
“A lovely hidden gem. We booked a table in advance to watch the football and had a fantastic time. The pub has lots of character with quirky artwork and a great atmosphere. The food was amazing too – especially the chicken which was PERFECTLY crispy. We'll definitely be back, thanks so much😁”
- Google user
“An absolute gem of a pub! Stumbled across it one Friday afternoon and walked into a live jazz set. Beautiful decor, but more than that the food is sublimely good. All home cooked - if only I cooked that well at home! Freshly made and the seasoning totally spot on. I hate going to places and thinking ‘well that was a waste of money I could do it better myself’. That won’t happen here. Thoroughly recommend. Oh and they are very dog friendly.”
- Google user
“Fantastic Food and Unique Drinks! I had a wonderful visit to The Better Half in Hove recently. It’s got such a great, welcoming atmosphere—perfectly balancing that cozy local pub feel with a bit of a modern edge. The Experience: The Food: I ordered the chicken and ham pie with mash, and it was exceptional. Truly "lovely" comfort food—the pastry was perfect and the mash was smooth and creamy. The Drinks: Instead of a standard pint, I tried a Japanese gin and tonic. It was a beautiful touch! It’s rare to find such a refined spirits selection in a neighborhood pub, and it paired surprisingly well with the hearty meal. The Vibe: The staff are friendly, and the decor makes it feel like a real hidden gem tucked away near the seafront. If you’re in Hove and want a step up from your average pub grub, this is the spot. I’ll definitely be back to try more from their gin menu! 🥧🍸”
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“Charming tavern featuring pints, cocktails, & classic English dishes, including Sunday roast events.”
- Great beer selection
- Great wine list
- Live music
- Live performances
- Popular for solo dining
Amenities
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Paid street parking
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
- Dine-in
Show more amenities
- Good for kids
- Food at bar
- Cozy
- Beer
- Food
- Table service
- Offerings· 4
- Alcohol
- Cocktails
- Hard liquor
- Wine
- Facilities· 1
- Restroom
- Parking· 1
- Usually somewhat difficult to find a space
- Highlights· 4
- Great beer selection
- Great wine list
- Live music
- Live performances
- Crowd· 1
- Groups
- Dining options· 1
- Seating
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Atmosphere· 2
- Casual
- Trendy
- Accessibility· 1
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
Location
Bars near The Better Half Pub
- 0.3 miWheelchair accessible
scallops, oysters, lobster
- Bottom's Rest4.74250.8 miWheelchair accessible
sunday roast, lamb roast, vegan wellington
- Tempest4.31,6201.4 miWheelchair accessible
cave-themed interior, beach terrace seating, beers on tap
| Place | Rating | Distance | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Better Half PubReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.6933 | — | sunday roast, dog friendly, japanese gin and tonic |
| The Urchin Brewery & Shellfish PubWheelchair accessible | 4.61,078 | 0.3 mi | scallops, oysters, lobster |
| Bottom's RestWheelchair accessible | 4.7425 | 0.8 mi | sunday roast, lamb roast, vegan wellington |
| TempestWheelchair accessible | 4.31,620 | 1.4 mi | cave-themed interior, beach terrace seating, beers on tap |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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