The Old Ship Hotel

Centuries on the seafront

The site is thought to date from 1559, and the inn is first recorded in 1665. In 1671 it was bought by Nicholas Tettersell, whose boat had carried Charles II to France. Charles Dickens stayed in 1841, and the hotel remains one of the few places in Brighton where you can sleep in a building with this much history.

The assembly rooms

In 1767 Robert Golden added assembly rooms in the Adam style. The first-floor ballroom hosted the Prince Regent's Ball, and Niccolò Paganini gave a concert here in 1831. The rooms are Grade II* listed and are still used for events today. They were first listed in 1952.

Using it as a base

Location is the practical draw. The Lanes start directly behind the hotel, the West Pier ruins and the i360 are a stroll west, and the Palace Pier is a short walk east. For food and drink close by, The Walrus and Black Lion are a couple of minutes away, and Granny's Café is handy for a simple breakfast. Ask for a sea-facing room when booking if the view matters to you, as the hotel stands directly on the front.

Highlights

• Described as Brighton's oldest hotel
• Grade II* listed 1767 assembly rooms
• Paganini performed here in 1831
• Seafront on Kings Road at the edge of the Lanes

Good to know

• The listed assembly rooms are used as event spaces, so they may not be open to look around.

Frequently asked questions