The story
In the heart of Brighton's famous Lanes, The Flint House brings modern cuisine to a setting that balances counter-level dining with a glamorous first-floor restaurant and cocktail bar. The Gingerman Restaurant Group’s Ben and Pamela McKellar run the show here, and the place has already earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its good quality, good value cooking.
The menu leans into small plates, designed for sharing alongside beautiful wines by the glass. Jay Rayner, writing in October 2019, called it “solid dishes that don’t sacrifice substance for looks.” The cooking is confident, seasonal, and precise — expect fresh flavours that change regularly. A lunch menu runs Monday to Friday, offering two courses for £15 or three for £22, making it an accessible entry point.
Beyond the food, the space itself is worth the visit. There’s a rooftop terrace for sunnier days, and a first-floor cocktail bar that feels polished and welcoming. The ground floor counter dining keeps things casual and direct, letting you watch the kitchen work. The Flint House is open Tuesday to Sunday from 12pm to 10pm, with wheelchair access, outdoor seating, and a takeaway option. Whether you’re in for a quick lunch or an evening of small plates and cocktails, this Brighton spot delivers substance without fuss.
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good quality, good value cooking
One of Brighton's most striking restaurants is a light and airy space, housed in a handsome purpose-built two-storey brick building in the Hannington's 'retail and cultural quarter' development in the Lanes. Part of Ben McKellar's Gingerman group, the Flint House deals in small and sharing plates – nothing new, but with its enthusiastic and imaginative take on the concept, the kitchen keeps the idea fresh. Exuberantly eclectic, the food investigates a multitude of culinary traditions, perhaps serving East Asian-influenced miso and chilli emulsion with tender braised ox cheek fried in a crisp breadcrumb coating, and offering a rustic assembly of roasted aubergine, coconut yoghurt and curried lentils finished with a sprightly Middle Eastern-style dukkah spice mix. Go easy though, portions can be on the generous side, but don't miss the signature sweetcorn fritters with jalapeño mayonnaise, a staple since the restaurant opened in 2019. They go perfectly with a glass of locally made Ridgeview English sparkling from the concise but globally spanning wine list, especially when sitting at the counter by the open kitchen or on the first-floor rooftop terrace overlooking the Lanes. Not everything hits the mark, although the front-of-house team are efficient and professional but pleasantly relaxed, with a knack for creating a lively, upbeat atmosphere.
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