Bootlegger – 78 Middle Street, Brighton, BN1 1AL
The Bootlegger bottomless brunch in Brighton is a fun afternoon built around cocktails, comfort food and a soundtrack of party favourites. The drinks arrive quickly, the staff are attentive without hovering and there’s a good range of dishes.
The venue has a relaxed atmosphere, with party hits playing while groups settle in for their brunch, receiving a welcome glass of Prosecco each. It’s a sociable setting without feeling too formal, which suits the occasion. Conversation flows easily between rounds of drinks, although the volume does pick up as more groups get into the afternoon.
The cocktail list at Bootlegger is one of the main attractions. The Cosmo combines Absolut Vodka, Triple Sec, lime and cranberry juice, offering a delicious fruity option. The Passionately Peachy takes a sweeter, tropical route, mixing Absolut Vodka with Peaches de Vigne, passion fruit syrup, mango syrup and pineapple juice. Both are easy drinking choices, particularly for anyone who prefers fruitier cocktails.
The Elderflower and Gin Spritz is another favourite, combining Beefeater Gin, elderflower liqueur and lime before being topped with Prosecco. There’s also an Aperol Spritz made with Aperol, Prosecco and soda water, alongside a glass of Prosecco and bottles of Asahi.
For something less sweet, the Gin and Tonic keeps things simple with Beefeater Gin and Double Dutch Tonic. The Espresso Martini is a richer option, mixing Absolut Vodka, Blend Coffee Liqueur, coffee, vanilla syrup and chocolate bitters. It’s the cocktail that stands out for anyone who enjoys coffee flavours.
There are alcohol-free choices on the menu as well. The Virgin Smash combines Crème de Mure with mint leaves, blueberries, raspberries, Demerara sugar and soda. The Virgin Mojito keeps things fresh with lime, mint, Demerara sugar and soda. They offer a good alternative for anyone who isn’t drinking or wants to alternate between alcoholic and alcohol free drinks.
The service is, without a doubt, one of the best parts of the brunch. Drinks are topped up quickly by friendly staff, so there’s little waiting around between orders. The team are attentive throughout the meal and they keep an eye on tables without interrupting conversations. Food arrives around halfway through the brunch, rather than immediately after sitting down. This gives us time to get settled with the first drinks before the plates arrive.
The Meat Bootleg comes with chicken wings, a mini beef burger, chilli cheese bites and potato croquettes, with a choice of BBQ, blue cheese or hot sauce for dipping. The chicken wings are juicy and the burger has good flavour, while the chilli cheese bites bring a little heat to the plate. The potato croquettes add a crisp element and work well with the selection of dips.
The Veggie and Vegan Bootleg follows a similar format, replacing the meat options with vegan chicken wings, a mini Quorn fillet burger, falafel and potato noisettes. The same choice of BBQ, blue cheese or hot sauce comes with the plate. It’s a straightforward alternative that gives vegetarian and vegan diners a similar style of meal to everyone else at the table.
The food is designed more for grazing than a formal three-course meal, which works well with the bottomless format. We can pick at different items while chatting and drinking, rather than having to stop the conversation for a full sit down meal.
As the afternoon continues, the music becomes a bigger part of the experience. Party hits provide the soundtrack and the atmosphere gradually gets louder as groups get further into their brunch. It’s still possible to chat, although this isn’t a quiet dining experience. What works really well is the combination of a varied drinks menu and simple, satisfying food. There’s enough choice to keep the drinks interesting, while the food provides something substantial to eat alongside them.
The Bootlegger Brighton bottomless brunch is a great choice for groups looking for food and drinks in a relaxed party setting. The cocktails are varied, the food is tasty and the service is consistently attentive and friendly. We even got a round of freestyle cocktails from their talented mixologists. It’s a straightforward brunch experience that knows exactly what it wants to be, and for a fun afternoon in Brighton, that works brilliantly.
Bootlegger bottomless brunch review – 5 stars
