'Bigger and even better' steak house is 'a fab foodie experience'

THE COAL SHED Clarence House, North Street, Brighton PHONE: 01273 322998 GO TO: coalshed-restaurant.co.uk OPEN: Monday to Saturday, noon to 12am; Sunday, noon to 9.

30pm. WHAT IS IT? The hot new steak house in Brighton. OK, it’s not a new venue as such, more a new twist on an old favourite.

This is the bigger and, yes, better Coal Shed in North Street. You may have been to the original, round the corner in Boyce’s Street, which won plaudits for its robata cooking in an intimate, cosy setting. The robata process is where you cook well-aged cuts of meat on an open charcoal fire, searing the outside but leaving the inside tender and juicy with rich, smoky flavours.

Anyway, the Coal Shed has outgrown its original address and the move to North Street means it can handle 142 people. It is the latest move by Brighton restaurateur Razak Helalat, the man behind local favourites The Salt Room and Burnt Orange. WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL? Brighton isn’t short of high end restaurants but The Coal Shed is upping the ante here.

It’s a stylish upmarket space that resembles a New York steakhouse, with dark wood interiors, leather seating, curved booths and a vaguely industrial look with exposed brickwork. It also has a great bar, where you can perch on a stool and enjoy a drink while you’re waiting for your table. Or just come and have one of their exclusive cocktails - see below.

SO WHAT’S THE FOOD LIKE? Flaming good, as you would expect. There is always a slight fear when a favourite.