Last Updated on 11 May 2026 by Dave King
Finding the right vet matters more than finding the cheapest one. Prices, opening hours, emergency cover and how staff handle your animal all vary significantly between practices, and switching vets mid-crisis is something you want to avoid.
This guide covers the main vets in Brighton and Hove with honest notes on what each offers, typical consultation costs, emergency arrangements and what to check before registering.
Table of Contents
Brighton vets at a glance
| Practice | Area | Consultation fee | Emergency / out-of-hours | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coastway Vets | Multiple locations | £68.50 | Own 24-hour service | Group practice, VetPartners | Comprehensive care, emergencies |
| Wilbury Vets | Hove | Check direct | PETS / New Priory | Independent practice | Personal service, flexible bookings |
| Beech House Vet | Preston Park | Check direct | New Priory Vets | Group practice | Cats, rabbits, small animals |
| New Priory Vets | Patcham / Brighton hospital | £57 | Own 24-hour PETS service | Group practice, IVC Evidensia | Specialist capabilities, emergencies, exotics |
| Medivet Brighton | Central Brighton | Check direct | New Priory Vets | Chain practice | Central location, Saturday opening |
| Acorn Vets | Hove and Hangleton | £70 | PETS / New Priory | Local group practice | General small animal care |
| Vets4Pets Brighton | Hollingbury, inside Pets at Home | £66 | Out-of-hours referral | Vets4Pets / Pets at Home network | Convenience, parking, routine care |
| PDSA Brighton Pet Hospital | Preston Park | Free or low-cost if eligible | Check direct | Charity | Eligible pet owners on qualifying benefits |
Consultation fees shown are based on published practice prices where available. Always confirm directly with the practice before booking, as fees can change and additional treatment will cost extra.
The practices in detail
Coastway Vets
Coastway is one of the largest veterinary groups serving Brighton and the surrounding area, with a Brighton hospital and branches across East and West Sussex.
Coastway is part of VetPartners and offers its own 24-hour emergency service from the Brighton hospital, which is a genuine advantage. If your pet needs urgent care at night, you are not automatically being sent to a completely separate provider.
Services cover general practice, routine surgery, diagnostics, dental care, senior pet wellness and care for small and exotic pets. If you want broad facilities and emergency support under one group, Coastway is one of the most comprehensive options among vets in Brighton.
Wilbury Vets
Wilbury Vets is an independent practice in Hove with a strong focus on personal service and continuity of care.
Wilbury positions itself as a clinician-led business rather than a corporate chain, and reviews often mention personal attention, unhurried consultations and genuine warmth from the team. They also offer referral services for orthopaedic cases, including cruciate and joint conditions.
Out-of-hours care is handled by PETS at New Priory Vets. If you value a personal relationship with your vet over the scale of a larger group, Wilbury is worth the call.
Beech House Vet Brighton
Located near Preston Park, Beech House is a well-regarded practice known for its friendly, approachable team.
They welcome cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets and hamsters, and have Rabbit Friendly status, which matters if you keep small animals. Not all practices have the same confidence with rabbits and smaller pets, so this is worth checking before registering.
Beech House also holds RCVS Practice Standards accreditation and offers a pet health plan to spread routine costs. Emergency care is provided through an out-of-hours provider at New Priory Vets.
New Priory Vets
New Priory Vets runs an RCVS-accredited Brighton hospital in Patcham, alongside its Peacehaven clinic.
It offers routine care as well as referral and specialist services, including ultrasound, endoscopy, orthopaedic surgery, soft tissue surgery and exotic pet care. It also runs Priory Emergency Treatment Services, known as PETS, from the Brighton hospital.
That emergency setup is a major advantage if you want 24-hour cover and referral-level capability in one place. New Priory is part of IVC Evidensia, so it has the scale and systems of a larger veterinary group rather than the feel of a small independent practice.
Medivet Brighton
Medivet Brighton is part of the national Medivet network and is centrally located, making it convenient if you live or work in central Brighton.
The practice is open on Saturdays and offers routine small animal veterinary care. Consultation fees should be checked directly before booking. Out-of-hours care is currently listed through New Priory Vets, so check the emergency arrangements before registering.
The chain setup means you get established systems, online information and a wider network behind the practice. It may not feel as independent as somewhere like Wilbury, but it is practical for central Brighton pet owners.
Acorn Vets
Acorn Vets serves Brighton and Hove from its Hove and Hangleton locations.
It focuses on general small animal care, including routine consultations, vaccinations, pet health checks and nurse clinics. Published pricing shows a standard consultation at £70, so it is not the cheapest option on the list, but it does make pricing reasonably clear.
Its out-of-hours number points to PETS, so emergency care is separate from the daytime practice. Acorn is a sensible option if you want a local general practice in Hove or Hangleton and prefer being able to see published appointment pricing before booking.
Vets4Pets Brighton
Vets4Pets Brighton is based inside Pets at Home at Hollingbury Retail Park.
The main benefit is convenience. There is parking, it is easy to find, and it works well for routine appointments such as vaccinations, check-ups, microchipping and minor issues. Published pricing currently lists a vet consultation at £66.
This is a practical choice for straightforward small animal care, especially if you already use Pets at Home. For emergency arrangements, check the practice’s out-of-hours information before you need it.
PDSA Brighton Pet Hospital
PDSA Brighton Pet Hospital is based in Preston Park and provides free or low-cost veterinary support for eligible pet owners.
You usually need to live within the correct postcode catchment area and receive qualifying benefits. The PDSA eligibility checker is the best place to start, as eligibility depends on both where you live and which benefits you receive.
This is a lifeline for pet owners on lower incomes, but it is not open to everyone. If you may qualify, apply early and check exactly what is covered before you need urgent help.
Emergency and out-of-hours care
Not all vets in Brighton provide their own emergency cover.
Coastway runs its own 24-hour emergency service from its Brighton hospital. New Priory Vets runs PETS, a dedicated 24-hour emergency service from its Brighton hospital. Several other local practices refer out-of-hours cases to PETS.
This matters because an emergency appointment may not happen at your normal daytime practice. You may be asked to travel to another location, speak to a separate emergency team and pay emergency fees directly to that provider.
Key things to know about emergency vet visits:
- They cost significantly more than a standard consultation
- You may need to travel to a different practice
- Some providers ask you to call before attending
- Payment is usually required at the time
- Notes are normally sent back to your daytime vet afterwards
PETS provides 24-hour emergency care from New Priory Vets’ Brighton hospital. Brighton Veterinary Referrals provides referral services, but it should not be treated as a general walk-in emergency vet.
If your pet is experiencing breathing difficulty, uncontrolled bleeding, seizures, suspected poisoning, collapse or severe pain, do not wait. Call your vet’s emergency number or go straight to the emergency provider they direct you to.
Typical costs for common services
Prices vary by practice, species, size, treatment and time of day. These figures are based on published prices from local practices where available.
| Service | Typical cost range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard consultation | £57 to £70 | Based on published Brighton practice fees |
| Urgent in-hours consultation | Around £85 to £114 | For urgent cases during normal hours |
| Out-of-hours emergency consultation | Around £160 to £323+ | Depends heavily on provider and time of day |
| Puppy or kitten vaccination course | Around £116 to £146 | Varies by species and vaccine type |
| Annual booster vaccination | Around £85 to £101 | Some health plans include boosters |
| Microchipping | Around £36 where published | Sometimes discounted through health plans |
| Cat neutering or spay | Around £132 to £197+ | Male and female procedures differ |
| Dog neutering | Quote required | Usually varies by sex, size and weight |
Brighton practices often sit at the mid-to-upper end for routine care, especially where emergency cover, hospital facilities or referral services are involved.
Always ask for an itemised estimate before agreeing to treatment. For larger procedures, ask what is included, what could cost extra, and whether follow-up appointments, medication, blood tests or imaging are separate.
How to choose the right vet
Start with practical questions before comparing reviews.
How close is the practice to your home? This matters more than people think, especially in emergencies or if your pet gets stressed in the car.
Then check:
- Whether they provide their own out-of-hours care or refer elsewhere
- Whether they are open on Saturdays
- Whether they treat your type of pet
- Whether they publish consultation fees
- Whether they offer health plans for routine care
- Whether they can process insurance claims directly
- Whether they explain treatment options clearly
- Whether your pet seems calm with the team
RCVS Practice Standards Scheme accreditation is also worth looking for. It is voluntary and shows that a practice has chosen to meet standards above the basic legal requirements.
Visit before registering if you can. The waiting room, how staff interact with animals, and whether the vet explains things clearly all tell you more than a website ever will. Reviews are useful, but read recent ones, because teams and standards change.
FAQs
Do all vets in Brighton offer emergency care?
No. Coastway has its own 24-hour emergency service. New Priory Vets runs PETS from its Brighton hospital. Several other practices refer out-of-hours cases to PETS or another provider. Always check emergency arrangements before registering.
How much does a vet consultation cost in Brighton?
Published standard consultation fees among the practices checked range from £57 to £70. Some practices do not publish a standard consultation fee online, so you will need to call or book online to confirm.
Can I get free vet care in Brighton?
Possibly, if you qualify for PDSA support. You usually need to live within the eligible catchment area and receive qualifying benefits. Use the PDSA eligibility checker before relying on it.
Which Brighton vet is best for cats?
Beech House Vet is worth considering because it treats cats and small animals and has RCVS accreditation. Wilbury Vets is also a strong option if you want a smaller independent practice with a more personal feel. The best choice depends on your cat’s temperament, your location and whether you need emergency cover nearby.
Are there vets in Brighton that see exotic pets?
Yes. Coastway and New Priory both mention exotic or specialist pet care. For more unusual pets, always call before booking to confirm the right vet is available, because exotic appointments may only be handled by specific clinicians or branches.
Should I get pet insurance before registering with a vet?
It is strongly worth considering. Insurance is usually easier to arrange while your pet is young and healthy, as pre-existing conditions are normally excluded. Ask your vet which insurers they commonly work with and whether they can process direct claims.
What should I ask before registering with a vet?
Ask about consultation fees, emergency arrangements, opening hours, insurance claims, health plans, repeat prescriptions and whether they treat your type of pet regularly. Also ask where your pet would be sent if something happened at night or on a Sunday.
Is the cheapest vet always the best choice?
No. Price matters, but emergency cover, experience, communication and how comfortable your pet feels are just as important. A slightly higher consultation fee may be worth it if the practice offers better continuity, clearer advice or stronger emergency arrangements.
Final thoughts
The best vets in Brighton for your pet depends on what you need: comprehensive emergency cover, a personal independent practice, specialist capability, routine convenience or charity support.
Register before you need urgent help, check emergency arrangements upfront, and do not be afraid to visit a practice before committing. Your pet cannot choose their vet, so take the time to choose well.
If you are new to the city with a dog, our dog-friendly Brighton guide is also useful for beaches, walks and local rules. You may also want our guide to parks in Brighton for easy local walking spots after routine appointments. cover, a personal boutique experience, specialist capabilities, or budget-friendly charity care. Register before you need urgent help, check emergency arrangements upfront, and don’t be afraid to visit a practice before committing. Your pet can’t choose their vet, so take the time to choose well.
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