“We pride ourselves in serving seasonal, fresh, uncomplicated food with the emphasis on ingredients & great local produce.” Busby & Wilds
One of the highlights of spending my summers in the UK is the Sunday tradition of the great pub roast. I’m always on the hunt for a great roast and this year I think I found the ultimate one served at Busby & Wild, a cool little family owned gastro pub located in Kemp Town.
Best pub roast I’ve sampled is a bold statement, but in the case of Busby & Wild it’s well deserved, so much so that I went three times with family and friends. The bistro style menu focuses on local, seasonal produce from Sussex and neighbouring counties Surrey and Kent. The menu may be small overall but it’s definitely quality over quantity at this friendly establishment.
The roasts are simply delicious, there’s plenty of food and I love that the seasonal vegetables are served in one bowl for the whole table. The roast potatoes (the measure of a high scoring meal), parsnips, carrots were perfectly cooked and the creamy leeks and cauliflower cheese were divine. Big yorkshire puddings are always a winner, there was plenty of meat (beef, lamb and pork) for the carnivores and a veggie option is available. Another winning factor is always the gravy, extra was also given at no extra cost. I love that smaller portions can be ordered for under 16’s and over 70’s too as well as gluten and vegan options.
Again the dessert selection is small but there’s no complaints with the options. The lemon posset with homemade shortbread was a winner (had it twice) and the hazelnut & chocolate brownie served with ice-cream is hard to resist. Great selection of local and international draft & bottled beers, ciders and wines too. I’m really keen to return to try the Thursday burger night and sample the halloumi burger and more of the desserts choices. 
The pub, named after the Georgian architects who designed many of the area’s iconic houses, has a simple but inviting interior with muted grey tones, plenty of wooden tables and a nice cosy area with benches (my preferred place to sit). A large black map fills one wall showing where some of the ingredients are sourced. Outside there’s a newly refurbed intimate, walled garden, not the most attractive area looking towards the building but a nice courtyard to grab a drink on a warm day.
I discovered this little gem after looking for somewhere new to try and it featured highly in a number of local Brighton foodie blogs. Kemp Town itself is definitely on the up with house prices rising and with Busby & Wild and popular cafe Marmalade as local popular and trendy hotspots. The Sunday roast is very popular so it’s advisable to book in advance. The service is great too, friendly and attentive. Families are welcome as are fur babies too.
Busby & Wilds
Location: 8/9 Rock Street, Brighton, BN2 1NF
Telephone: 01273 696135
All bookings and enquiries: info@busbyandwilds.co.uk
Website: busbyandwilds.co.uk/
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Opening Times: Friday 5pm – 11pm, Saturday 1pm – 11pm and Sunday 12 noon – 8pm (Currently closed on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)
All views are my own based on my experience. Unless otherwise stated all photos © Jo Brett 2020. All rights reserved. Two additional photos used with courtesy of Busby & Wilds.