If you are looking for fun things to do in Brighton, you are in for a bit of an adventure on our Brighton pub tour. You learn about some pub history and get to taste some beer and have a few bites too. While The Bingley Arms in picturesque Bardsey in north Leeds is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest pub in Britain, Brighton has without a doubt some golden oldies too. Not only has the city over 900 pubs, but it is also the host of some historical ones that date back to the first half of the 16th century. With this in mind, on this tour, you get to know the oldest public houses, taste some beer and pamper your taste buds with good pub food.
Any reason is a good reason to visit Brighton. ‘London by the sea’, as the city is often referred to, is a great destination for a city trip. Not only is it close to the capital, but there are also a lot of great things to do. Besides, whether you travel solo, with a group of friends or your family, Brighton is the number one seaside destination in the UK. Top attractions include the Royal Pavilion, the Dome, Brighton Pier and not to forget the North Laine and the labyrinth of the Lanes.
Moreover, the city has a great food and drink scene and a lot of hidden gems. On our Brighton pub tour, you discover some of the city’s must-sees and scratch a bit of the surface of this quirky and interesting place. By train, it takes only 1 hour from London Victoria and 1 hour 20 minutes from St. Pancras. Gatwick Airport is very close too – only a 35 min. ride.
On this Brighton pub tour, you learn about the development of Brighton’s pubs. Moreover, you will also get familiar with some of the city’s oldest established ones. In the beginning of the 19th century, Brighton had already a lot of inns. 1 for every 30 houses. One of the most important inns at the time was The Old Ship. Over time, the better inns became hotels and others turned into public houses. For the most part, the pubs were especially popular with working people because they could socialise and have a drink.
While purpose-built venues were built in the 1860s for music and theatre, pubs continued with live entertainment. Therefore they grew rapidly. As a result, Brighton had 479 pubs in 1860. This was more than all the shops in town together. On the whole, these were situated in the poorer areas. For instance, around Edward Street in Kemptown.
After WWI, pubs wanted to attract a broader audience, including women. Despite making efforts to make pubs more attractive by creating lounges, for example, there was competition from both cinemas and dance-halls. Consequently, the number of pubs decreased and many breweries closed down smaller establishments. In the latter half of the 20th century, ?national breweries started with setting up large pubs with special themes. Today, there are about 900 pubs in Brighton, and they continue to be places for people to enjoy themselves and socialise.
This tour starts outside the main entrance of Brighton Station. First, you get a brief introduction and what you can expect on this pub tour. Secondly, we make our way through the buzzing streets of this vibrant city and discover its history, as well as that of some of the oldest pubs. Last but not least, we make a stop at each of the pubs for some food, beer and chats. This is a walking tour, so you need to be comfortable moving around between places. Apart from the breaks in the pubs, there will be stops for photos too, when the opportunity arises. For any tour related questions, please get in touch.
It is possible to do a private Brighton pub tour. Therefore, if you are a group of friends or hen party, and want to do this tour without other guests, or if you wish to choose a different time, a private booking offers a great solution. Equally, if the minimum number is not met, click ‘Book a Private Tour’ upon checkout. An additional fee applies. At the same token, get a discount for groups of 10 or more. Just call us on +44 (0) 7783 152151 or fill out our contact form. We get back to you as soon as possible.
All year round | |
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Monday | 1:30 pm, 5:00 pm or 8:00 pm |
Tuesday | 1:30 pm, 5:00 pm or 8:00 pm |
Wednesday | 1:30 pm, 5:00 pm or 8:00 pm |
Thursday | 1:30 pm, 5:00 pm or 8:00 pm |
Friday | 1:30 pm, 5:00 pm or 8:00 pm |
Saturday | 1:30 pm, 5:00 pm or 8:00 pm |
Sunday | 1:30 pm, 5:00 pm or 8:00 pm |
Last Admission | 8:00 pm |