ON THE BEACH

GENERAL QUESTIONS

What are your opening times?

Our opening times are 12-10pm Sunday-Friday and 11.30-10.30 on Saturdays.

How do I get a table at the Beach?

Tables at the beach can be booked online for groups up to 6. We require a £25 holding fee person, which is only taken from your allocated card in the case of a no show, or without giving us 3 hours notice. 

We do accept walk-ins at The Beach where possible. If we cannot seat you straight away, we will add you to a waitlist and you will be notified by text when your table is ready.

Can I book a separate/specific table?

Our beautiful Beach restaurant offers panoramic views across Brighton Beach for every table. Whilst we understand that some guests prefer to sit by the window, we cannot take any requests for window tables. Table allocation is done on arrival to the restaurant. 

Can I book a low table?

Our inside Beach seating is all high, fixed tables with stools. We do have more traditional, low tables on our terrace, however, these cannot be booked. 

Can I sit in a quiet area of the restaurant?

Due to our communal tables and restaurant layout we do not have any “quiet” areas, we love the buzz of The Beach.

Can I make a booking for outside?

We do not taking bookings for our outside seating area due to the unpredictable British weather. Our terrace operates on a first-come first-serve basis. When making a booking, there is a note section, where you can write your preference for an outside table if possible- this is not guaranteed.

Can I make a group booking?

During our summer season we do not take any bookings over 6. Off-season, all larger bookings must be completed over the telephone. First enquiries can be done via email at info@riddleandfinns.co.uk. Please give as much information as possible, date/time etc.

Do you do exclusive/private hires?

Yes, we do accommodate exclusive hires, corporate or personal. Please get in touch via email at info@riddleandfinns.co.uk. Hires are priced for each individual request.

Is there disabled access?

Our Beach restaurant is all on one floor, with a disabled toilet as well. Whilst we understand the high tables may not always be appropriate, we will do our best to assist with any disabilities. Please give us a call on 01273 821 218 to ask any questions relating to disabled access.

Are you family friendly?

Yes! At Riddle & Finns we are all about family values and love seeing people of all ages! We provide children’s menus with colouring crayons & highchairs. Our children’s menus include healthy and delicious options for your little ones. Space can be tight, we will always try and accommodate buggies, however, we may ask you to store these away where possible. We have a portable baby change, please ask a member of staff if you require this. 

Do you allow dogs?

We do not allow dogs inside either of our venues due to our open kitchens, with the exception of service dogs. We do allow dogs on our outside terrace, however, these cannot be booked.

Can I buy a voucher?/Can I use a voucher at The Beach?

Vouchers can be purchased both online via our website and in person at both of our venues. The vouchers can be for any value and are valid for a year after purchase. I am afraid that any vouchers that are not redeemed during the year cannot be extended. You can redeem them at both restaurants at any date or time. Please advise your waiter that you have a voucher when you ask for the bill.

What are the terms of the loyalty cards?

Our loyalty cards are given out at both restaurants at the end of your meal if you spend a minimum of £75. For every £75 spent, you will receive 1 lobster stamp. When you have 6 stamps and a full card, you are then able to redeem the card on your next visit, giving you your cheapest main course for free. Only one loyalty card can be redeemed per meal. If you have any old loyalty cards, we can collate these for you.

Where is the nearest parking?

Parking in Brighton can be a little challenging, however we do have car parks local to both of our restaurants. The closest ones are:

 – NCP Car Park Brighton Centre, Russel Road
 – Metropole Parking, St. Margaret’s Place 
– The Lanes Car Park, Black Lion Street
– Regency Square Car Park, Regency Square

Are you open on NYE?

Yes, we open on NYE! We always announce any special events via our newsletter, which can be joined via our website. 

When are your busiest times?

Whilst we cannot answer this plainly, our busiest times are weekends, including Friday evenings and Saturday & Sundays. Wait times on tables at The Lanes may be extend during these periods.

MENU QUESTIONS

Do you cater for allergies?

We offer separate gluten & dairy free menus at our restaurants. We take allergies very seriously at Riddle & Finns and do our upmost to cater for all dietary needs. However, our kitchens are both small and, whilst we do everything in our power to avoid it, we cannot guarantee 100% that cross-contamination will be avoided.

Is the menu the same at both restaurants?

Yes, both of our food menus are the same at The Beach and The Lanes. There may be different specials at each restaurant, your waiter will let you know of any specials during your visit.

Our drinks menu is slightly different at The Beach, we have more cocktails and spirits on offer!

Do you offer takeaway?

We do not do takeaway orders from The Lanes or The Beach. However, when dining with us, we do have takeaway boxes available for leftover food. We regret to say that some items, including opened oysters, cannot be taken away due to health & safety. 

Do you serve food all day?

Yes, we serve all day in both of our restaurants.

Where is your seafood from?

Where possible, all of our seafood is local, and comes from Brighton & Newhaven Fish Sales, based down on Shoreham Harbour. We also source our mussels, langoustine & smoked salmon from Scotland. Our oysters come from Rossmore, which is based in Crawley, sourcing their oysters from Jersey and the Irish Coast.

What is the right way to eat an oyster?

The answer is… however you like! Some people like to chew their oysters, and others get it down in one. We serve our oysters with lemon and shallot vinaigrette, and also offer a range of hot and cold toppings. Find your favourite today.

SPECIAL OCCASIONS

Do you do anything special for birthdays/anniversaries?

Yes, of course! When making a booking there is the option to add a booking tag, e.g. “Birthday”. We look at all the booking notes so nothing gets missed. After your dinner we will send our a celebration plate with our homemade R&F truffles.

Can I bring my own cake?

If you would like to bring your own cake, that is absolutely fine. We do charge a cakeage fee of £3 per person when bringing in your own cake.

Can I pre-pay for Champagne/dinner?

Yes, it is lovely having Champagne on the table for you to arrive, or to pre-pay for someone else’s dinner. You can either buy a fixed amount online voucher and email us over the code with the details of the booking, or get in touch via email and we can send you a payment link. It is quick and easy.