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Formerly the Windsor Tavern

I am Brighton born and I hope to be adding photos from Brighton past and present which may bring some memories of the changing face of the city I love. Here’s one of the Earth & Stars pub in Church Street, formerly known as the Windsor Tavern.

The Earth & Stars (2005)
Julie Annets

Comments about this page

  • This picture produced a wry smile. A coat of garish paint, what looks like a home made sign and lo and behold, TheWindsor becomes the “Earth & Stars“! You gotta larf, eh? “The Windsor” was one of the shabbiest pubs in the area and always looked on the point of collapse, physically or financially. One odd feature was (if I remember correctly) a sort of storage cellar that was accessed by a trapdoor right in the middle of the pub in front of the bar – regulars were often asked to help open it so someone could climb down and retrieve a dusty bottle or case of something. For reasons I can’t now recall I used this pub in the mid 1970s, possibly because it sold cheap real ale (Charrington IPA ?), with Nick Waller and others. Can anyone tell me why we were there?

    By Adrian Baron (07/02/2007)
  • I took this photo and I agree, it is a very run-down pub.I took this photo to show how the pub has changed.

    By J (20/02/2007)
  • I used to live in this pub as a kid and my family owned it. It was run down because of a huge robbery and we could not bump up expenses.

    By Henry Smith (18/01/2008)
  • I worked in the Earth and Stars for the first week when it officially opened. We had an official staff night out after my first day’s work, all expenses paid. I got lucky with one of the staff that night, went back to hers, missed my next day at work and got the sack…

    By Pat (14/08/2008)
  • I remember when Cliff took over the Windsor.  Not the smartest of pubs – and all the better for it.  Happy days.

    By Christopher Tuft (11/12/2008)
  • I was brought up in this pub, the Windsor Tavern and I hope you all know it was always heaving. It’s got a lot of memories for me as a child and happy ones. It wasn’t shaggy or run down – that was it’s character. I hope you all know the Windsor beat the new organic pub hands down.

    By Charlie Smart (26/06/2009)
  • I had many happy holidays at the Windsor Tavern as my gran, Sylvia Palmer was the landlady in the 1960s and 1970s.

    By Sally Carter (03/10/2009)
  • The Windsor Tavern … my ‘home’ between the end of ’85 and just about up to it changing hands at the end of the ’90’s. I seemed to have spent every evening (bar Sundays) in here when Steve Smart was running it. I honed my dart skills in here, helped numerous women ‘throw up’ in the lavs, drunk Special Brew through a straw, and enjoyed many, many Christmas and New Year Eves in it. Was very saddened when I found out that Steve passed away at the end of 2004. He wasn’t terribly old. He looked after his regulars, and was always good to me and my mates. A real landlord. I’ve only been in The Earth And Stars once in over 10 years. It’s just not the same as my favourite old haunt. Thinking of you, Steve…

    By Darren Stuart (25/08/2010)
  • Here’s a link to a Facebook picture of me having a beer in the Windsor Tavern, probably 1978, at a band meeting for the world famous The Piranhas. It seemed to be run by two elderly ladies at the time, and I was very happy there. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1453896598806&set=a.1453889038617.2057304.1575045757&notif_t=photo_comment_tagged&pid=30913520&id=1575045757

    By Zoot (15/12/2010)
  • The landlord Steve Smart was my dad and I have many happy memories from here. Sadly he passed away 6 years ago to this day at the age of 45. This pub always reminds me of him and my childhood. RIP x

    By Charlie Smart (15/01/2011)
  • Had some good times in the old Windsor with Steve and Sara. Charlie’s right, it was always packed with a good atmosphere.

    By T (06/02/2011)
  • Did this pub used to be run by a bloke called Geoff? It would be around 1983 / 1984 I think – was a great place at that time.

    By Andrew (09/01/2014)
  • I used to go in this pub when it was the Windsor, back in the early 70s. Unless it’s a false memory, I recall there were some bird cages in the bar containing canaries. I’m sure the beer was Bass. I got slung out one early evening for having had too much of it. Seemed to me that most pubs in those days were a bit shopworn inside.

    By Purcell (06/08/2014)
  • The Windsor used to be a real favourite. It had a great juke box and we often stood at the bar watching the footie. We were in there the night after the “Hurricane” in ’87 – no power, candles everywhere, but still carried on. RIP Steve. 

    By Iain Read (14/11/2014)
  • I was in there the night of the powercut too. I got absolutely hammered!

    By Darren Stuart (17/01/2015)
  • That was a good night, as were most. Used to drink with Pete from the Foundry round the corner.

    By T (02/04/2015)
  • I am from Liverpool and drank in the Windsor tavern all the time when I was living and working in the south of England. I met and made some really good friends while I was there. I’m so sorry to hear about Steve Smart, he was a nice man and always made me feel welcome. Regards to Tim, John, Chunky, Gary, Terry, Bill, James and anyone who remembers me. Please take care all of you.

    By Ron Moore (27/05/2015)
  • The most poignant memory  I have of the Windsor Tavern is -Steve Smart  had a portable tele on the bar  and I should have gone back to Liverpool that weekend but stayed in Brighton because of work and unfortunately watched the horrible Hillsborough disaster. Steve and all the lads that were in the bar were very compassionate and showed me some friendship I will never forget -thanks to all who were there.

    By Ron Moore (09/07/2015)
  • Sorry to hear about Steve.

    By Scott (24/03/2018)
  • So sorry, and shocked to hear about Steve’s demise. I used to drink in the Tavern regularly. Steve and Sara always made people welcome. Queues on a sunday for the nibbles on the bar. I remember one night it was Steve’s birthday (3rd March) and mine on the 4th. We went clubbing after the pub shut. Although Steve was a lot younger than me, we had a kinship from Patcham Fawcett School. Sara was also an incredible dancer.

    By Tony (13/02/2021)
  • The Windsor Tavern used to be the venue for the annual gathering of the TLF (Trouville Liberation Front) on the first Saturday after St. George’s day, i.e. at the end of April, since the early seventies. Does anyone know if they still meet in the Earth and Stars?

    By Simon Loxton (28/02/2022)
  • I worked at The Windsor Tavern many years ago. Sorry to hear about Steve. He was a good boss. Would love to know where Sue is now. I remember when Henry, who has also commented here, was born!

    By Niki Catpenter (25/04/2023)
  • Used to be the favourite lunchtime watering hole of Barclays Trust staff from North Street. Frequented by bikers in the evenings. We used to call it the Sticky Carpet and it had a Space Invaders machine. To use the toilet you had to ask for the key. At one point only a bucket! But the need choice was good and kept well. I remember Steve. His girlfriend we calked Rod Stewart due to her hair do. Our Friday club sessions using up flexi time credit meant the afternoon flew by. Steve improved it but kept the same basic vibe, it was the unpretentious feel which made a great place for a chat. I will revisit for a sentimental pint or 2 but Naarfuks a long way. So I’ll cherish the memory and toast the old days and new! Regulars from 1976-83.

    By Ian Warrington (14/12/2023)

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