Best Start and Finish Points on a Black Cat Treasure Hunt in Brighton. Including Brighton`s Top Pubs!!.
Posted on: 23/02/2024By Tim Carter (Owner of Black Cat Treasure Hunts)
Choosing suitable start and finish points for a treasure hunt can be important. These choices will influence the route and as importantly the atmosphere setting off and at the conclusion of the hunt. Is your team building treasure hunt going to be a round trip back to the hotel bar or will it finish at a pub in the middle of Brighton? Is your hen party treasure hunt going to start at your accommodation and finish at Brighton Pier? Do you not really know Brighton very well and are happy to leave those big decisions up to Black Cat? After extensive research and statistical analysis Black Cat can reveal all the results and trends in those decisions from the start of Black Cat Treasure Hunts up to and including 2023. Not only are there some good pointers for your own choice on where to start, but also the coveted `Top Pub in Brighton` award for the most popular hostelry to finish at!
The early days (2012-2016) saw The Cricketers (Black Lion St) and The Hop Poles (nearby Middle St) take the plaudits. However, from 2017/18 (assessed together) everything started to change as the choices became shared between Black Cat and those of you making the bookings.
2017/2018:
The starting point was dominated across these two years by groups` accommodation. This would reflect the dominance of hen party bookings in this period. The train station was a healthy second place and was influenced by Black Cat`s preference for a starting point just before the North Laine. Back in those years was the `heyday` of the Clock Tower being chosen as a good starting point. Central and easy to locate were the main factors for this.
The end point saw the Black Lion usurp its next-door neighbour, The Cricketers, as the number one. Accommodation for the hen party groups split the two pubs too. The other pubs making up the minor placings at this time were OHSO Social--Brighton Music Hall and Mesmerist (in that order)...and there will be more about these three later...The Grand Central should also get an honourable mention being handily placed next to the train station and with rather a nice rooftop terrace too.
2019:
Accommodation (not inc hotels) held onto its number one spot for starting points. Starting at your base allows enough time to get up and have breakfast after a big night the night before! Hotels was a similar story in second place as companies on a team building day or conference could seamlessly transition into their treasure hunts. However, in third place was Brighton Pier. Conveniently situated that is for sure.
Talking about the Pier, it became the new number one for finishing points. Three pubs... Mesmerist, OHSO Social and....The Cricketers shared second place. The Black Lion was nowhere to be seen as The Cricketers came back into the reckoning alongside a couple of significant pubs in Black Cat Treasure Hunts` history. Brighton Music Hall managed 4th, but still trailing its` beachfront rival, OHSO Social.
2020:
And so to the Covid hit time of 2020 with bookings down. The Pier retained it`s place as an excellent starting spot whilst a very quiet year saw the finishing points for the most part shared around. The Mesmerist, by default really, was the top of the pubs.
2021:
This year saw the start of a recovery and the re-establishment of the train station as a primary starting point. The Pier was knocked out of the top three by hotels (2nd) and all other accommodations (3rd)
Hotels placed in top spot for a place to gather at the end (especially for team building treasure hunts) whilst OHSO Social got to the top of the pubs list on its own but sharing second place with the Pier and group accommodations.
Brighton Music Hall was second bar, but still unable to topple OHSO Social of course and in 3rd was The Lion and Lobster. A slight surprise this one, but it is an excellent choice for hen party accommodation on the western side of Brighton.
2022:
I can feel the tension rising as we approach 2023! Firstly, it should be noted that group accommodations were back at number one for the first time since 2019 ahead of the train station, and then the Pier, for starting point choice.
Group accommodations did the double in this year as they were top of preferred finishing points too. It`s nice to draw breath and then go again in the afternoon or before going out in the evening. OHSO Social held onto its top bar billing (and second overall as per 2021). Other bar/pub placings saw a temporary re-alignment with The Old Ship hotel (outside bar) in 2nd and Shelter Hall (one for the future I feel) in 3rd.
2023:
Big drum roll please, and I know you have raced through the other years! Who are the current number ones? Time to put you out of your misery then...
The train station was back at the summit as a starting point followed by group accommodations and then the Pier in 3rd. An honourable mention must also go to the bandstand on the seafront (= with hotels) as a stunning place with superb view in 4th most popular starting point.
And now the moment of truth...yes...in first place (and on its own) Brighton Music Hall has taken top finishing spot quite easily ahead of OHSO Social (and the Pier) in second. The live music, large, seated area and easy access to the beach has finally paid off. Lots of other venues featured, but it should be noted that Shelter Hall (and All Bar One/The Old Ship) were in the = bronze medals position for bars.
What does this mean then for 2024? It really is down to you, although I`m always happy to choose for you. I can see the usual suspects of the train station, accommodations and the Pier battling it out, but what for the ending points? A sensational win for Brighton Music Hall in 2023, but can it hold on. The Mesmerist has scored a couple of visits already in 2024 due to its excellent heaters on the beer garden/terrace and fine choice of music next to the downstairs bar. However, I`m not sure it`s going to hang on during the Summer. Can Shelter Hall make the big breakthrough? We shall see.
If you know of a good place for a treasure hunt to finish at or you own a bar that is in central Brighton or on the beach, then let me know. You could be the new home for Black Cat Treasure Hunts when I am along your way! Contact me (Tim) on info@blackcattreasurehunts.co.uk
Choosing suitable start and finish points for a treasure hunt can be important. These choices will influence the route and as importantly the atmosphere setting off and at the conclusion of the hunt. Is your team building treasure hunt going to be a round trip back to the hotel bar or will it finish at a pub in the middle of Brighton? Is your hen party treasure hunt going to start at your accommodation and finish at Brighton Pier? Do you not really know Brighton very well and are happy to leave those big decisions up to Black Cat? After extensive research and statistical analysis Black Cat can reveal all the results and trends in those decisions from the start of Black Cat Treasure Hunts up to and including 2023. Not only are there some good pointers for your own choice on where to start, but also the coveted `Top Pub in Brighton` award for the most popular hostelry to finish at!
The early days (2012-2016) saw The Cricketers (Black Lion St) and The Hop Poles (nearby Middle St) take the plaudits. However, from 2017/18 (assessed together) everything started to change as the choices became shared between Black Cat and those of you making the bookings.
2017/2018:
The starting point was dominated across these two years by groups` accommodation. This would reflect the dominance of hen party bookings in this period. The train station was a healthy second place and was influenced by Black Cat`s preference for a starting point just before the North Laine. Back in those years was the `heyday` of the Clock Tower being chosen as a good starting point. Central and easy to locate were the main factors for this.
The end point saw the Black Lion usurp its next-door neighbour, The Cricketers, as the number one. Accommodation for the hen party groups split the two pubs too. The other pubs making up the minor placings at this time were OHSO Social--Brighton Music Hall and Mesmerist (in that order)...and there will be more about these three later...The Grand Central should also get an honourable mention being handily placed next to the train station and with rather a nice rooftop terrace too.
2019:
Accommodation (not inc hotels) held onto its number one spot for starting points. Starting at your base allows enough time to get up and have breakfast after a big night the night before! Hotels was a similar story in second place as companies on a team building day or conference could seamlessly transition into their treasure hunts. However, in third place was Brighton Pier. Conveniently situated that is for sure.
Talking about the Pier, it became the new number one for finishing points. Three pubs... Mesmerist, OHSO Social and....The Cricketers shared second place. The Black Lion was nowhere to be seen as The Cricketers came back into the reckoning alongside a couple of significant pubs in Black Cat Treasure Hunts` history. Brighton Music Hall managed 4th, but still trailing its` beachfront rival, OHSO Social.
2020:
And so to the Covid hit time of 2020 with bookings down. The Pier retained it`s place as an excellent starting spot whilst a very quiet year saw the finishing points for the most part shared around. The Mesmerist, by default really, was the top of the pubs.
2021:
This year saw the start of a recovery and the re-establishment of the train station as a primary starting point. The Pier was knocked out of the top three by hotels (2nd) and all other accommodations (3rd)
Hotels placed in top spot for a place to gather at the end (especially for team building treasure hunts) whilst OHSO Social got to the top of the pubs list on its own but sharing second place with the Pier and group accommodations.
Brighton Music Hall was second bar, but still unable to topple OHSO Social of course and in 3rd was The Lion and Lobster. A slight surprise this one, but it is an excellent choice for hen party accommodation on the western side of Brighton.
2022:
I can feel the tension rising as we approach 2023! Firstly, it should be noted that group accommodations were back at number one for the first time since 2019 ahead of the train station, and then the Pier, for starting point choice.
Group accommodations did the double in this year as they were top of preferred finishing points too. It`s nice to draw breath and then go again in the afternoon or before going out in the evening. OHSO Social held onto its top bar billing (and second overall as per 2021). Other bar/pub placings saw a temporary re-alignment with The Old Ship hotel (outside bar) in 2nd and Shelter Hall (one for the future I feel) in 3rd.
2023:
Big drum roll please, and I know you have raced through the other years! Who are the current number ones? Time to put you out of your misery then...
The train station was back at the summit as a starting point followed by group accommodations and then the Pier in 3rd. An honourable mention must also go to the bandstand on the seafront (= with hotels) as a stunning place with superb view in 4th most popular starting point.
And now the moment of truth...yes...in first place (and on its own) Brighton Music Hall has taken top finishing spot quite easily ahead of OHSO Social (and the Pier) in second. The live music, large, seated area and easy access to the beach has finally paid off. Lots of other venues featured, but it should be noted that Shelter Hall (and All Bar One/The Old Ship) were in the = bronze medals position for bars.
What does this mean then for 2024? It really is down to you, although I`m always happy to choose for you. I can see the usual suspects of the train station, accommodations and the Pier battling it out, but what for the ending points? A sensational win for Brighton Music Hall in 2023, but can it hold on. The Mesmerist has scored a couple of visits already in 2024 due to its excellent heaters on the beer garden/terrace and fine choice of music next to the downstairs bar. However, I`m not sure it`s going to hang on during the Summer. Can Shelter Hall make the big breakthrough? We shall see.
If you know of a good place for a treasure hunt to finish at or you own a bar that is in central Brighton or on the beach, then let me know. You could be the new home for Black Cat Treasure Hunts when I am along your way! Contact me (Tim) on info@blackcattreasurehunts.co.uk
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