UPSD # 3- The Cricketers - insert pun about sticky wickets. or sumthin’.

15 Black Lion Street, Old Lanes

Confession time. I’ve been avoiding this post simply because I think that the Cricketers is one of the best pubs in Brighton. I love the red velvet-y interior. You almost feel like Liberace himself gave counsel when they were designing it. Of course since it’s about 300-odd years old, he probably didn’t. I believe that it’s on record as the oldest pub in Brighton. They always have a good selection of beers available and it’s just so wonderfully cozy. There’s so much bric-a-brac all over the walls along with loads of mirrors. It all feels very brassy. I’ve never been upstairs but I have been through the doors and out into their garden area which spills out the back and also out the front so you can people-watch to your heart’s content all the livelong day. So when I decided that my quest for the Ultimate Pub Sunday Dinner was seriously lacking in its questness, I took a big step out of the North Laine and suggested that we go to the Cricketers.

Now. As you can see here the Cricketers are guilty of one of my biggest pet peeves-PACKETS of condiments. Who wants to be tearing apart 6 packets of ketchup just so they can get started on their meal?? And they’re never EASY to open either. I’ve highlighted the packet of tartare sauce here on the right simply because I can not comprehend why any eating establishment would have out on the table a condiment that is usually kept refrigerated. I went against my better judgment and squirted a bit on my fish. I had a quick flashback to my days of waiting tables, when at the end of the night the line (pick-up area) in the kitchen would be strewn with abandoned condiment cups. The tartare sauce always had a lovely yellow film and had gone the consistency of snot. Nice, isn’t it? That’s what you want on your fish, ladies and gents! Snot.

So as you might’ve guessed, I ordered the fish n’ chips and Stephen ordered the chili con carne. My camera was acting up so I didn’t get any actual photos of the food. It wasn’t exactly publishing-worthy. The food is pretty much your less-than-average overpriced pub fare, complete with above-mentioned annoying condiment packets. The fish was most definitely frozen and not even as good as the kind I get from Waitrose. Stephen’s chili portion was quite mean and pretty average as well. I was so disappointed. I really wanted to rave about the food here but it’s just….bad.

Alas, the Cricketers will always be one of my favourite drinking holes in Brighton but I will never ever attempt to eat there again.