Victory Inn, Brighton

This pub in the heart of the Lanes has three rooms downstairs, and three small rooms on the first floor.  The counter and bar back in the public bar probably dates from the Edwardian period.  Fixtures include fireplaces downstairs and in the upstairs rooms, decorated glasswork in windows and doors, a vestibule, interwar panelling, and a moulded ceiling.Built 1854. A highly striking tiled frontage in two-tone green tile with Tamplin’s livery and a tiled picture over the front entrance depicting Nelson’s ship. This work probably dates from an Edwardian remodelling (c.1910?) for Tamplins Brighton brewery with which no doubt gives the extensive etched, cut and painted glass in windows, the elegant sloping bar counter with sunken panels and 3 bay mirrored bar-back with 3 shelves and turned balusters, entablature and scrolled pediment to centre with modern clock - most of the top part may be modern? On the left is a good late C19 fireplace with bracketed Ionic columns supporting mantelshelf and overmantel mirror flanked by pilaster-panels with brackets over, and deep pedimented entablature. Early 20th century Lincrusta ceiling. The two sets of doors and 'Private Bar' glass show the public bar would have been two separate drinking areas originally but the partition has been removed. Look for the small pull-up section of wall for cellar deliveries.

Through a modern opening on the right is the former 'Smoke Room' as can be seen from the names on the etched, cut and painted door and window glass - it retains an old small bar counter and the plain cream-tiled fireplace could be from the inter-war period, which is the date of the toilets and match-board panelling. The embossed ceiling and frieze could be Victorian. There is an opening at the back of this into a further room being a former shop. Upstairs is a series of three small room with wide openings between them. Two have small Victorian cast-iron fireplaces. The bar in the third room is modern.