The Regency Tavern – lunch that won’t break the bank
It’s January (meh) but fear not, we have unearthed one of the best-value and most delicious lunch deals (yay)…
Situated a stone’s throw from the Brighton i360, this delightful pub really is one of the city’s hidden gems. Opulence is the order of the day and its interior is kitsch in a really good way, with stunning chandeliers, chaise longues, leopard print accents and one of the biggest disco balls in the city.
You might be surprised to learn that The Regency Tavern also holds one of the best and most authentic Thai kitchens in Brighton (an educated statement). The Golden Elephant offers a fabulous lunch deal from 13:00–15:00 and you can have a main for £8 or a starter and a main for £9.50.
We wanted to see what all the fuss was about so went along to find out. What followed was a succession of expertly cooked starters: vegetable spring rolls, sesame prawn toast, vegetable tempura and chicken satay surrounding a steaming hot bowl of king prawn pad Thai. (We know how to order).
What can we say? The food was everything you’d want it to be. Soft chicken with a slightly spiced peanut sauce that we wanted to bathe in. Crispy spring rolls and tempura veg, and heavily laden prawn toast dusted with black and white sesame seeds. But the star was the king prawn pad Thai, full of flavour – sticky, sweet, with plump perfectly cooked king prawns and a small bowl of peanuts to scatter on top. Many pad Thais have been tried across the city and this is a firm favourite.
In short, the food was colourful, utterly delicious and amazing value for money. Even the evening menu is impressively affordable. The Regency Tavern also hosts some of the UK’s top drag performers every Saturday night from 9pm, so we plan to grab some more Thai food (dinner is available from 17:00–21:00) and catch a show. The small stage is situated directly in front of the bar, so you can see the performance from most angles of the pub. Get involved!
www.regencytavern.co.uk / 32–34 Russell Square, Brighton BN1 2EF
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