The Black and White Bar
Hotel Seattle
Brighton Marina
East Sussex
01273 679799

Is Brighton Marina some kind of fashionable destination, then?

Not really. Cocktail Girl had rather hoped it might be, but in fact, it's a bit like an all-inclusive resort for aspiring fortysomethings with year-round tans and lots of money, who like Brighton's free-and-easy bawdy spirit in principle, but find it all a bit unfragrant and real in practice. So they've closeted themselves away on this waterside complex, full of posh boats and discount designer outlets and Pizza Expresses, a good mile or two outside the centre of the town.

Oh dear. That doesn't sound much fun. What on earth inspired you to go?

The Black and White Bar of the Hotel Seattle, which is the latest addition to the Alias Hotel Group's generally flawless collection of boutique affairs, all of which are renowned for their fabulous cocktails. Stories of award-winning barmen and balconies facilitating cocktail-by-sunset moments had reached Cocktail Girl's ears.

Fair enough. Was it pretty?

As the name suggests, it had a (very modern) black and white theme going, as well as a John Lennon and Yoko Ono motif, and a nice view out to sea. Because the joint was purpose-built, unlike all the other Alias bars which sit in very clever conversions of cool, weird buildings, it lacked a bit of character. But nonetheless: nice proportions, witty objets scattered about, nice ashtrays and a nobbly bar with matching stools.

And how was the drinking?

The cocktails are the real point of Black and White. Chris, the bar manager, and Rachel, the visiting bar manager, are fiercely anal in a completely charming fashion about their drinks, which is fair enough, because they are works of art. Chris's Grey Goose Martini in particular was more than enough to make the most dedicated authentic Brighton devotee brave the Marina. (Chris also insisted on referring to Cocktail Girl only as Cocktail Girl, which pleased me no end.)

But probably not a lot of drunken flirtation and dancing-on-table action?

Not a lot. Cocktail Girl had a very nice chat with Marina regulars Rob and Sandy about Rob's plans to develop property in southern Spain, but that was about it.