Page 58 - BN1 July-Aug 2019 web

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BN1 THE CLOAK ROOM
TRIES... By Meganne Gerbeau

Tucked down St. James Street you’ll find a new bar that Dip them into their homemade hot sauce, ‘Wendy’, for an
boasts crafts beers from their own brewery, along with a extra kick.
tasty menu filled with “filthy” bar bites and soul food from
award-winning Lost Boys Chicken. The crisp and light kriss-kross fries (£4.00) are good
enough to convert you from curly fries according to
They have developed a party vibe in the evenings with Tucker. You can choose what buffalo sauce it comes with,
DJs and live music, the Cloak Room recently hosted the and there are a lot: 'Wendy', 'Thuddbutt', 'Rufio' and 'No
afterparty to this year’s Brighton Beer Festival and they Name', ranging from mild to XXX hot. They also have
have 14 taps of craft beer, four to five of them being from vegan hot sauces and vegan mayonnaise, catering for all
their own brewery Cloak + Dagger. lovers of American spice.

Two of the house beers brewed by Cloak + Dagger will The chicken in both dishes was full of flavour. The juicy
generally stay put, a hoppy session pale called Komodo fried pieces of chicken are sprinkled with chili and herbs
Bozo and a fruity super fly-PA named Never Dug Disco, and come with a choice of sauce, we tried ‘Thuddbutt’
Ben Hucker (Tucker), co-owner explains. A range of other which had a good level of spice. They come in sets of
craft specialties regularly rotate the bar from different three (£6), six (£11), or twelve (£22). Slathered in sauce,
breweries across the UK. you are not going to want to share these!
House beers are brewed locally in Franklins Brew Co. The portion size for the burgers are also very generous, we
in Ringmer and cans of Cloak + Dagger can be found tried the fried chicken parm with a lavish chunk of chicken
elsewhere at pubs and restaurants such as Brewdog, enclosed in a light bun soaked in Ruffio’s pizza sauce and
Prince Albert and The Salt Room as well as retailers like basil mayo. This burger is perfect for summery lunches
Seven Cellars. After being voted the Best New Brewers in due to its light sauce and tantalising deal of burger with a
East Sussex in the Rate Beer Best Awards last year, make side or beer for £10.
sure you grab a can or two.
The music, aesthetic and general atmosphere of the Cloak
Rufios run the kitchen with their mouth-watering buffalo Room is very inviting, relaxed and welcoming. The artwork
style fried chicken and American influenced menu. The in the pub is inspired by Cloak + Dagger’s bright and bold
Lost Boys have already caught the attention of Brighton branding, the paintings plastered across their booths and
foodies after they took over the kitchen at The Joker in prints featured around the venue were designed by co-
Preston Circus two years ago. owner Leigh Pearce.

With a menu brimming with comforting soul food and bar With homely heart-warming food, a fantastic selection
bites, there is a lot of choice. Tucker recommends the mac of craft beers on hand and friendly staff who are very
and cheese balls, kriss-kross fries, fried chicken dunks, attentive, the Cloak Room is an interesting and tasty
and a fried chicken parm burger. Whilst we were definitely addition to Kemp Town’s bar scene. Beers and other
ordering with our eyes, the prices and combo deals allow beverages are available every day of the week, and the
you to overindulge without breaking the bank. Lost Boys menu is available Thurs – Sun. Currently the
guys at the Cloak Room are preparing to be a brand-new
The mac and cheese bites (£4.50) are stuffed to the brim venue in the Pride Village Party zone in August.
with rich cheesy goodness and sealed in a crispy coating.
THE CLOAK ROOM
81-82 ST JAMES'S ST, BRIGHTON