Brighton ref nit-picking — hosts raised hell (7)
I believe the answer is:
inferno
'hell' is the definition.
(inferno can mean hell as in Dante's Inferno)
'brighton ref nit-picking hosts raised' is the wordplay.
'hosts' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'raised' says the letters should be written in reverse (going up in a down clue).
'onrefni' is hidden in the letters of 'brighton ref nit picking'.
'onrefni' in reverse letter order is 'INFERNO'.
(Other definitions for inferno that I've seen before include "Dante's work" , "A raging fire as in hell - ask Dante" , "Fierce fire" , "Large dangerous fire" , "Nine Circles here" .)