The Basketmakers Arms — Restaurant in Great Britain

Part of my Brighton landscape since I move here in 1985 and a pub that hasn't had it's authentic English pub atmosphere updated over the years. The previous owners even remounted the tobacco tins in the same places on the walls after redecoration prior to 2020!

Unfortunately, the pub was purchased by a local chain in around 2020 (lockdown pressure?), and the appointed manager, Robyn turned out not to be what she appears.

This may be a unique personal experience but I suspect other men will have faced her uncompromising prejudice when it comes to resolving conflicts between patrons.

On two occasions, a few years ago, I was in the pub and got invited to join groups of people and join their conversations. On both occasions a person I wasn't talking to in the group was offensive by rudely cutting across my conversation with their friend, causing embarrassment and humiliation to all involved, and testing their "loyalty" to "the group". One actually said "we don't want to talk to you any more", as if their friend was a member of some "hive-mind" consciousness😁. It is actually bullying your mate and being obnoxious to me.

I guess it is driven by violent jealousy when they judge their friend is enjoying my company more than theirs - I am engaging and funny but hey, why not celebrate that rather then upset me and your friends?

On both occasions, the abusive female escalated their behaviour to the extent that it became threatening, one even standing over me, before going to the management with false allegations about me! Robyn, rather than listen to my account, took the view that as I was male, and they female, I needed to be bared.

Being lonely and feeling isolated, it was a massive additional emotional blow for me because it was my regular place to mix with others and, yes, maybe even chat with others - remember when pubs welcomed that?

It still makes me angry every time I pass the place and hope a new manager is appointed and restores the balanced vibe and inclusive atmosphere. It is never OK to support bad behaviours of a minority by punishing lone drinkers, seeking escape from isolation at home, especially after lockdown.

I guess this is a symptom of the rise of violent feminism, where women feel emboldened to be violent towards men, make false allegations too, then be supported by society. It creates monsters and further entrenches distrust between the sexes, not mend the battles, but perhaps that is the aim?

Being a victim of female stalking, and not receiving any support when I tried to report it, my experience is that it is a very bad time to be male and be treated with empathy and respect. I actually faced false allegations of stalking myself, which has caused untold suffering. Then you go to the pub to seek relief from your feelings of isolation and get yet more aggression...

We’ve always liked this pub and the food has been very enjoyable in the past. Unfortunately our meal last night wasn’t up to standard. My friends Christmas dinner was room temperature and mine and my husbands was ‘warm’ at best. 2 of our meals were meant to come with gravy which we had to ask for, having already had to ask for the ‘brown bread and sea salted butter’ that was meant to come with the starter but didn’t. What arrived when I reminded them was white toast. For an £11 starter I’d expect something to be as advertised and not have to chase up the other half of it. A pub serving food should of course have tomato ketchup (surely a necessity for everyone eating chips etc..) but the pub had a few bottles with dregs in the bottom which the waitress said ‘was all they had in the building’ and it made us wonder why someone wouldn’t just pop to the many shops within a 1 minute walk to get some more instead of watching all the customers aggressively shake the ketchup bottles and if their lucky, get splats of it on the edge of their plate. The bar staff were as helpful and friendly as could be and you could tell the food was nice but unfortunately let down by either the temperature or missing elements that I imagine is even more frustrating for waitstaff having to go back and forth when they’re already busy. Between 4 of us and 1 child we spent £155 and a bit disappointed by our experience last night and I doubt we will be...

Okay, ready for this?…

So, I’ve always liked this pub. Things changed drastically on a recent Sunday visit.

Quote: “The best thing I’ve done with my clothes on in a long while” - Fuff (local chick)

After unsuccessfully trawling a few local places hoping for some late Sunday food, we were repeatedly told that kitchens had closed. To cheer ourselves up, we stepped into the Basketmakers.

ENTER TRUMPET FANFARE HERE!

The kitchen was open, and roasts were being served! Naturally, we excitedly perched at a table with Molly our westie (yep, dog friendly too). The staff are brilliant, and soon roasts were placed in front of us, and on high sided plates no less. Those who know, will appreciate that this plate design feature allows for near soup levels of delicious gravy. And this particular rich, robust, joyous gravy accompanied what could easily be one of Brightons best pub roasts.

Perfect potatoes!!! Let’s high five perfect potatoes!

Proper homemade Yorkshires! And the size you want. Just shy of a babies head!

And so continued the relentless brilliance and banter from the bar staff. (Irish gal, if you’re reading this…. Thank you 🙏❤️).

Fancy a roast? In a pub? Then,...