After a successful residency at Shelter Hall on the seafront, Ox Block by Kenny Tutt is taking over a cosy wing of the Lord Nelson pub on Trafalgar Street. A meat-lovers paradise the menu features The Full Nelson Burger and Gunpowder Chicken Thighs flatbread. Where I think it shines, is the bar snacks paired with a proper pub and ales. We enjoyed a Harvey’s brewery flight with our starters and the flavours just went so well together from the briny olives to the devils on horseback with horseradish ricotta and the three-cheese toastie with truffled mustard mayo.

As a non-meat eater I took a carnivore guest who had a field day, she enjoyed the Karaage chicken starter and the Gunpowder chicken thighs flatbread and said the sauce ratio was spot on, and you could really taste the flame-finished flavour. But that isn’t to say non-meat-eaters aren’t catered for, far from it. There was the delicious-sounding and tasting King Oyster Mushroom Kebab and the vegan burger which was a double-stacked Miami burger, complete with applewood cheese and my favourite dill pickles. I do love the thin double patty style, and while they haven’t 100% nailed the vegan bun, it really was delicious. I also have to give a special mention to the watermelon salad which was spicy and so refreshing on a summer’s day when a protein-heavy menu can be a bit overwhelming, the elote corn was also great as a side on the menu.

The puddings deserve a whole review by themselves, Ox Block’s deep-fried oreos covered Instagram like paint when it launched at Shelter Halls and they didn’t disappoint here either with dulce de leche ice cream. Although I bet the waffle with maple ice cream and bacon would be amazing too. They kindly made me a vegan skillet of blueberry bakewell, and Ivana, my guest, told me it was made the ‘proper way’ that bakewell’s are traditionally made, and so delicious, so I hope it makes its way onto the final menu.

They’re open now at the famous Lord Nelson Inn and I believe it’s a great addition to Kenny’s growing empire including Pitch, Bayside social in Worthing and his new Patty Guy burger-focused residency at Shelter Hall. We can’t wait to see what the team does next.

Lord Nelson Inn is located in the Brighton Laines at 36 Trafalgar St, Brighton BN1 4ED