Temple Inn, Montpelier Street

A potted history

By John Blackwell

The Temple Inn was situated on the corner of Victoria Road and Montpelier Street, opposite St Michael and All Angels church. The building is still very much the same, although it is now housing. The main difference is the corner entrance is now walled up and, of course, the painted wall advertisements have been obliterated. The licencee's (landlord's) name, M G Tilbury, is prominently displayed above what is probably the saloon bar entrance with that to the public bar being on the corner. This was a legal requirement (and still is though a very much smaller plate is now affixed on the entrance door frame).

In 1900 there were some twelve Brighton Brewers. These had been reduced by the process of takeover and closure to two by 1930 - Tamplins and Kemp Town. The number of public houses, over 700, remained about the same and most were "tied" to these two breweries i.e. they could only sell their beers. These two remained the major suppliers during the thirties, forties and fifties. The Temple Inn was "tied" to Kemp Town, whose brewery occupied the whole area between Seymour Street and Paston Place (except the houses directly bordering Marine Parade). There were also brewery premises fronting the west side of Seymour Street. The brewery had been established prior to 1833. In 1954 it was taken over by Charringtons Ltd (now Bass Charrington) but continued brewing with last brew taking place on the 10th April 1964. The site is now housing.