Another day, another pub. We’d walked past this pub a couple of times but most recently on the way back from a doctor’s appointment, both mentally bookmarking it as a place we wanted to check out.

The Actors is set back slightly from the junction of St James’s Street and Old Steine and for this reason you’d have to be looking for it to find it. A quick chat with the bartender told us that this site has been a pub for over 300 years, previously as The Marlborough and has recently had a refurb and rename becoming The Actors.

On a cold but dry and sunny afternoon it was reasonably empty but it’s a decent size pub with plenty of nooks to settle yourself into with one of the many great beers on tap. As a lover of bitter I went for a pint of Bluebell by 360° Brewing Company, a Sussex (local) brewery.

For anyone looking to grab a bite to eat there’s evidence of a pizza oven behind a Punch and Judy scene, the perfect accompaniment to any pint.

I’ll be totally honest, this place took a while to grow on me. It was a little bit too cold for my liking and it felt more style over substance but I can admit when I’m wrong. And I was wrong.

The Actors is a beautifully decorated with rich red velvet seating, dark teal green walls and huge oversized theatre masks above a fireplace. I’m sad I’ve missed the Christmas decorations, it takes little imagination to picture the tree and fairy lights which would make it a super cosy hideaway as a break from shopping.

I headed to the bar to choose my next tipple and I saw a poster with the pub’s Code of Conduct. As a woman who enjoys going to pubs on her own the pleasure can quite often be overshadowed by the atmosphere, the clientele and the fear for my own safety. Now you might say I’m being melodramatic and I will tell you to piss off. It’s scary being a woman and it can be especially scary being a woman on her own in a pub. When I saw the rules displayed it told me the establishment I was in cared about me and my safety. Always a win for me.

Anyway back to the drink. This time I went for a cider, Orchard Thieves, Apple Cider and my partner in crime opted for a Mangolicious by Laine’s Brewery. Getting fruity on a Thursday afternoon. The cider was good but I think I was looking for more of a still scrumpy-esque cider and this wasn’t it. Mangolicious split us in opinion, I think this will become a firm favourite for my partner but it wasn’t the ticket for me. I’m going to try more of the beers by Laine’s Brewery, not only because they all look delicious but the artwork is top notch.

I’ll have to make a conscious effort to go back to The Actors as it isn’t on my route to the station or as I head into town but this just adds to it’s charm. The people who are there have chosen to be there.

Here’s my verdict of The Actors:

Draught selection – solid selection with plenty of local beer choices, 3 Laine’s Brewery beers on tap plus the delicious bitter I had.

Staff – Wonderful, helpful and knowledgeable. Plus they gave us a taste of a Twisted Lips Rhubarb IPA which was absolutely superb.

General vibe – as pubs go it was slightly quieter than I normally feel comfortable with but once I’d settled in (about half a pint down) I felt relaxed and at home. I’m building up to going to pubs on my own again and this might be the place I head to first with a good book.

Toilets – unisex, clean and accessible for all. Plus there’s baby changing. This is how pubs should do toilets.

Outside space – There’s plenty of seating out the front and a small courtyard smoking area to the back of the pub.

The Actors is located on 4 Prince’s Street in Brighton, it’s a few yards behind the Sainsbury’s at the bottom of St James’s Street and just off Old Steine. We visited on a Thursday afternoon, it was cold, sunny and dry (aka the perfect winter day in Brighton).