The Royal Albion Hotel,
35 Old Steine,
Brighton,
BN1 1NT
0872 148 5886
The ViewBrighton Review
When you decide to go to a bar named Bar Rogue you're expecting to drink alongside a few rakish sorts. You know the type, a raised eyebrow, a chin full of six o'clock shadow, a smile that suggests an inside joke and a devil may care attitude. Sadly, the only thing rogueish about Bar Rogue is its name.The VenueOn the seafront, Bar Rogue is the Royal Albion Hotel's bar. It has a couple of tables on the raised patio area outside to tick the all-important outdoor drinking box but it's a half hearted affair. Inside, it houses some very brightly coloured armchairs with handy wooden armrests where you can rest your drink but unfortunately that's as exciting as the bar gets. No devastating smiles from handsome strangers or sexy stockinged legs attached to a lonely femme fatale in town on her own for the night, just some quirkily designed chairs to comment on.
The PeopleDuring the week you'll mainly be drinking alongside cooing couples and bored businessmen more interested in laptops than lapdancing. However, at weekends the bar is injected with a little more energy courtesy of a younger crowd and a DJ.
The Food and DrinkThere's San Miguel, Kronenbourg and Fosters on draught and Corona, Peroni and Becks in bottles. However, it's the two-for-one drinks deals, as well as selected spirits with mixers for £2.90 that are the most popular choices. Sandwiches cost around £3-£4 and there's comfort food in the form of fish and chips and lasagne for £6-£7.
The Last WordA bit of an off-beat retreat, Bar Rogue is the kind of place you may stumble into as a visitor not really knowing where to go. At least those armchairs are memorable even if your fellow drinkers are less rogueish, more run of the mill.