Brighton is well known as a modern and progressive city, but it also has a rich and interesting history. Originally known as Brighthelmstone, it became the popular and busy city of Brighton & Hove that we all know and love in the 18th Century and was loved by many famous names, including King George IV, Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, and Oscar Wilde. It’s also home to some incredibly old pubs with a fascinating history. If you want to know what the oldest pub in Brighton is, here are the oldest and most interesting pubs that are well worth visiting.
Looking for the oldest pub in Brighton? Here are 9 you NEED to visit…
| The Cricketer’s Inn | The oldest pub in Brighton, dating back to 1547 & featuring a classic Victorian interior. |
| Black Lion | 500-year-old pub near the seafront with a wonderful roast menu and equally brilliant nightlife. |
| The Druid’s Head | A beautiful 16th-century pub that is reportedly haunted. |
| The Bath Arms | One of the city’s oldest licensed pubs with a great food menu. |
| The Dorset Bar & Kitchen | A 200-year-old pub that is perfectly placed for people-watching in North Laines. |
| The Victory Inn | A busy pub established in the late 19th Century that is at the heart of Brighton’s nightlife. |
| The Seven Stars | Over 100 years old, this pub has live music and DJs playing multiple times a week. |
| The Pump House | Rustic 18th Century pub specialising in traditional pub food. |
| The Prince Albert | Iconic and much-loved pub & live music venue that was built in the 1840s. |
The Cricketer’s Inn
The Cricketer’s Inn, situated in the famous South Lanes of Brighton, is the city’s oldest pub, dating back to 1547. Featured in Graham Greene’s novel Brighton Rock and even allegedly playing host to Jack the Ripper, this pub’s fascinating history is already a fantastic reason to visit. The rich history of Cricketer’s is only one of many things that makes it wonderful.
Its cosy, Victorian-inspired interior is perfect for enjoying one of their many draught beers, ciders, wines, or spirits, and their ‘courtyard bar’ draped with fairy lights is wonderful in Summer. They also have ‘The Greene Room’ upstairs for private functions, perfect for parties, weddings, or anything in between.
Hosting regular live music events every Tuesday & Friday, as well as late-night house bands playing soul, funk & jazz every other week, The Cricketer’s Inn is a fascinating spot where you’re guaranteed a memorable visit.
Address: 15 Black Lion Street, Brighton, BN1 1ND
Website: https://cricketersbrighton.co.uk
Black Lion
Although the exact dates of Black Lion’s history as a pub are hard to establish, it remains one of the oldest institutions in the city as it dates to at least 500 years ago. Its location in the Lanes, only moments from the seafront, makes it a popular location for tourists and locals alike and is often a hub of activity for Brighton’s nightlife.
They offer a fantastic food menu, including a great roast menu on Sundays, and their evening entertainment varies from live bands during the week to DJs playing till late every weekend. Black Lion has it all; interesting history, regular & exciting events, a good variety of drinks and great food, so be sure to visit soon.
Address: 14 Black Lion Street, Brighton, BN1 1ND
Website: https://www.blacklion.pub
The Druid’s Head
The Druid’s Head is a gorgeous pub in Brighton’s historic Lanes that dates all the way back to the 16th Century. Named after a druid stone circle that once existed nearby, this ancient pub is also reportedly haunted and features as a stop on Brighton’s ‘Ghost Walks’.
If this fascinating history wasn’t already enough of a reason to visit, The Druid’s Head is well and truly beautiful. Its warm, welcoming interior is perfect for a Winter’s night, while the outside seating area is a perfect place to people-watch and enjoy a drink in the Summer months. This beautiful, historic pub is well worth a visit no matter the occasion.
Address: 9 Brighton Place, Brighton, BN1 1HJ
Website: https://www.greeneking.co.uk/pubs/east-sussex/druids-head
The Bath Arms
The Bath Arms, situated in the Lanes, is one of the city’s oldest licensed pubs, dating back to 1868. However, with a fantastic range of beers, wines, and spirits, and an extensive food menu, you can still enjoy all of the delights of the 21st Century in a historic and traditional setting.
This wonderful pub is not to be missed if you’re interested in Brighton’s history or even just want a pint in a cosy traditional pub, so make sure to give them a visit.
Address: Meeting House Lane, Brighton, BN1 1HB
Website: https://www.batharms.pub
The Dorset Bar & Kitchen
A classic pub that has stood for over 200 years in the North Laines, the Dorset is a wonderful place for any occasion. Its warm and welcoming interior makes it a great spot for any time of year, be it a drink inside during the colder months or a refreshing one outside while people-watching in Summer.
They have a fantastic food menu that offers everything from small plates to traditional pub meals, as well as an impressive range of beers, wines, spirits, cocktails, and soft & hot drinks. Whatever the occasion, the Dorset is a wonderful central pub that everyone is sure to enjoy.
Address: 28 North Road, Brighton, BN1 1YB
Website: https://www.thedorset.co.uk
The Victory Inn
This busy pub in the Lanes is another one of Brighton’s oldest, dating back to the late 19th Century and even retaining some of the bar fittings from this time. These days, however, it’s at the heart of Brighton’s nightlife and has a reputation for being a fantastic party & live music venue.
They also have a wonderful food menu, serving traditional pub grub alongside some Lebanese-inspired dishes that are certain to make you want to come back for more. The Victory has it all, so make sure to visit soon.
Address: 6 Duke Street, Brighton, BN1 1AH
Website: https://www.victory.pub
The Seven Stars
Another Lanes pub, the Seven Stars (formerly known as O’Neil’s) dates back to roughly 1900. Its elegant façade certainly hails back to bygone eras of glamour, but this wonderful pub is cosy and welcoming inside.
They host live music every Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, and have DJs playing from 9 pm to 2 am on weekends, so you’re sure to be entertained no matter when you visit. As well as an impressive drinks menu, offering a great range of beers, wines, and spirits, the Seven Stars also has a fantastic food menu.
Their standard dinner menu offers everything from burgers to small plates to suit any appetite but they also have a menu exclusively comprised of delicious vegan food, and their roast dinners have inspired rave reviews from countless customers. Be it for casual drinks, a night out, or a sit-down meal, the Seven Stars is worth a visit.
Address: 27 Ship Street, Brighton, BN1 1AD
Website: http://seven-stars.pub/
The Pump House
This pub’s rustic façade is more than fitting of its steep history. The Pump House, opening in 1776, is named after the pump house that fed seawater to a local bathhouse. It’s famous in Brighton for its collection of real ales and traditional pub grub, specialising in hearty fare such as pies.
They also have an impressive array of gins on offer, so you’re sure to find something you love when visiting. Situated minutes away from the beach, the Pump House is a traditional Brighton pub that is proud of its heritage and is a fantastic venue for any occasion.
Address: 46 Market Street, Brighton, BN1 1HH
Website: https://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/restaurants/southeast/thepumphousebrighton#/
The Prince Albert
The Prince Albert is another of Brighton’s most iconic venues. Built-in the 1840s, this officially listed pub is impossible to miss due to the Banksy mural on its side showing deceased iconic musicians.
The Prince Albert’s icon status in Brighton culture has been cemented, however, by its massive part in the local music scene. This pub and live music venue has seen countless acts take the stage, from local bands to international DJs and Brighton local Fatboy Slim.
With an upstairs stage as well as a colourful, atmospheric downstairs bar area, The Prince Albert has plenty of space for customers to enjoy themselves, be it for live music or just a couple of drinks, and has well & truly earned its reputation as one of Brighton’s best-loved venues.
Address: 48 Trafalgar Street, Brighton, BN1 4ED
Website: https://princealbertbrighton.co.uk
