Last Updated on 20 May 2026 by Dave King
Brighton has been a drinking city since it was a fishing village. Several of its historic pubs in Brighton date back centuries, and a few pub sites in the Lanes trace their histories back to the 1500s. This guide covers the pubs with the most genuine history, what makes them interesting, and what they are actually like to drink in today.
Table of Contents
Quick Reference
| Pub | Location | Approximate age | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Cricketers | Black Lion Street, The Lanes | Site from 1547 | Oldest pub in Brighton, Graham Greene connection, Victorian interior |
| The Black Lion | Black Lion Street, The Lanes | Brewery site from 1546, current building 1974 | Rebuilt using original materials from the Black Lion Brewery |
| The Druid’s Head | The Lanes | Late 18th-century house, converted into a public house in 1825 | Historic listed pub in The Lanes |
| The Pump House | The Lanes | 1776 | Named after the pump that fed seawater to a bathhouse, real ales and pies |
| The Prince Albert | Trafalgar Street, North Laine | 1840s | Listed building, live music venue, exterior street art |
| The Dorset | North Road, North Laine | Over 200 years old | Open fire, traditional pub atmosphere |
| The Old Ship Hotel | Kings Road, Seafront | Documented as inn in 1665 | Brighton’s oldest hotel, possibly older origins |
| The Regency Tavern | Regency Square | 1830 | One of two surviving Beerhouse Act pubs, ornate interior |
The Lanes Pubs
The Lanes is where Brighton’s pub history is concentrated. Three of the most historically significant pubs sit within a few minutes’ walk of each other.
The Cricketers on Black Lion Street claims to be the oldest pub in Brighton, with a site history dating to 1547. It was originally called the Laste and Fishcart and served the town’s fishermen before becoming a coaching inn. The current bar has been in place since 1904 and the Victorian interior has dark wood panelling, red velvet seating and framed prints covering the walls. Upstairs is the Greene Room, a function room named after Graham Greene, who was a regular and referenced the pub in Brighton Rock.
The pub also claims a connection to Jack the Ripper suspect Robert Donston Stephenson, who allegedly lodged upstairs, though this is pub folklore rather than established historical fact. There is a converted stable courtyard at the back.
The Black Lion, next door on Black Lion Street, looks ancient from the outside but the current building dates to 1974. It is a reconstruction of part of the Black Lion Brewery, which tradition dates to 1546, established by Deryk Carver, a Flemish brewer who was burnt as a Protestant martyr at Lewes in 1555. The rebuild used original flints and slates from the brewery. Inside it is modern and stripped back with white walls, large sharing benches and heated outdoor booths. It serves food including Sunday roasts and has regular live music.
The Druid’s Head in the Lanes was originally an 18th-century detached house with its own garden. Historic England lists it as a late 18th-century house that was converted into a public house in early 1825. The Beerhouse Act 1830 later changed pub licensing across Brighton, with the Regency Tavern still describing itself as one of two pubs still standing in Brighton that applied for the original Beer Shop Licence in 1830. The Druid’s Head later became a focus for postal carrier arrivals and departures. It is a traditional pub with a warm interior and outside seating for watching the Lanes go by. Ghost stories are associated with the building but these are folklore rather than documented history.
The Pump House in the Lanes dates to 1776. It is named after the pump house that once fed seawater to a local bathhouse. It is known for its collection of real ales and pies, and also has an extensive gin selection. A straightforward, traditional Brighton pub that takes its heritage seriously.
North Laine Pubs
The Prince Albert on Trafalgar Street near Brighton Station was built in the 1840s and is a listed building. It is best known for its exterior street art, including the large deceased-musicians mural by local artists Req and Sinna One, and its association with Banksy’s Kissing Coppers, whose original was later removed and sold. Inside it is a small, characterful venue with a strong live music programme. If you are arriving by train, it is the first historic pub you will pass.
The Dorset on North Road has been a pub for over 200 years. It has an open fire, a good atmosphere and a reputation as a proper locals’ pub in the middle of North Laine. It draws a mixed crowd of residents, shoppers and students.
The King and Queen in North Laine was rebuilt in 1931-32 by local architects Clayton and Black in a striking Mock Tudor style. The half-timbering and decorative timberwork make it one of the most architecturally distinctive pubs in Brighton. Inside there are segmented private rooms, polished wooden bar counters and etched glass.
Seafront
The Old Ship Hotel on Kings Road is documented as an inn from 1665 and may have even older origins. The Gilham family, who owned it in the 17th century, also owned a property in Brighton recorded in 1559. It is now a hotel but has bar and pub spaces open to non-guests.
Other Notable Historic Pubs
The Regency Tavern in Regency Square describes itself as one of two pubs still standing that applied for the original Beer Shop Licence in 1830. Its ornate interior is one of the most distinctive in Brighton.
The Bath Arms in the Lanes dates to 1868 and retains a traditional pub atmosphere with original features.
The Basketmakers Arms on Gloucester Road was popular among local artisans and craftsmen in the 19th century and still draws a diverse crowd.
A Walking Route
You can cover the key historic pubs in Brighton on foot in about 90 minutes, excluding drinking time. The route is all downhill from Brighton Station.
Start at The Prince Albert near the station. Walk down Trafalgar Street into North Laine. Pass The King and Queen and The Dorset. Continue south into the Lanes to The Cricketers and The Black Lion on Black Lion Street. Walk a few doors to The Druid’s Head and The Pump House. Finish at The Old Ship Hotel on the seafront. The whole route is downhill from the station.
FAQs
What is the oldest pub in Brighton?
The Cricketers on Black Lion Street claims the title, with a site history from 1547. The Black Lion next door has brewery origins from 1546, though the current building is a 1974 reconstruction.
Are there any haunted pubs in Brighton?
The Druid’s Head and The Cricketers both have ghost stories associated with them, and they feature on local ghost walk routes. These are folklore rather than documented historical events.
Which historic pubs in Brighton serve food?
Most of them. The Cricketers, The Black Lion, The Pump House, The Dorset and The Old Ship all serve food. The Pump House is particularly known for pies and real ales.
Can I do a pub crawl of the historic pubs in Brighton?
Yes. The walking route above covers the main ones in about 90 minutes. Start at the station end and work your way down to the seafront. All the Lanes pubs are within a few minutes of each other.
Final Thoughts
The historic pubs in Brighton are mostly concentrated in the Lanes, within a few minutes’ walk of each other. The Cricketers and the Black Lion sit side by side on Black Lion Street and between them cover nearly 500 years of Brighton’s drinking history. The Druid’s Head and the Regency Tavern are both closely tied to Brighton’s early 19th-century pub history. For architecture, the King and Queen’s Mock Tudor rebuild is worth seeing. For atmosphere, the Dorset and the Pump House are hard to beat.
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