A vast pub painted in don't-miss-me yellow, The Gladstone is famous for both its live music and its giant beer garden.

The Venue
A giant yellow landmark on a corner of Lewes Road, this 400-capacity pub attracts a wide range of people from shoppers to students and the atmosphere can change from area to area as you move your way through the pub. The Gladstone has three main spaces: the main bar area with around a dozen tables; the backroom bar which hosts live music and DJ nights; and then there's the ginormous beer garden with its canopy and overhead heaters.

The People
When you've got 400 capacity then you really can attract a diverse crowd and that's exactly what The Gladstone does. From local shoppers and nearby workers to regulars that have been going here for years they all prop up the bar at some point during the week. However, it's the swarms of students who are the real key to the pub's success, frittering away their student loans on boozy nights quicker than you can say, I've decided to drop out and live the life of Riley's poor relation.

The Food and Drink
The Gladstone has a great range of beers and ciders both on tap and in bottles. Becks, Carling, Heineken, Kronenbourg, Summer Lightning, Guinness, Stowford Press, Old Rosie and Harveys are all on draught whilst in bottles there's also Kopparberg, Corona, Tiger, Budweiser and Weston's organic cider. Foodwise there are paninis, jacket potatoes, lasagne, sausage and mash, risottos and curry, with prices ranging from £6-£9: typical student stodge in fact albeit at young professionals' prices.

The Last Word
A vast local boozer that's heaving with students. Live music and solid DJs make it worthwhile checking out if you're a local too though.