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Photos then and now

Photograph of the Druids Head
Image reproduced with permission from Brighton History Centre
Photograph of the Druids Head, 2004
Photo by Mike Snewin

Comments about this page

  • I can remember in the early-mid 1960s that the Druids was so popular at the weekends that Gordon (one of the staff) stood at the door and counted customers in and out to stop it getting overcrowded. We had to queue to get in!

    By Ron James (09/07/2009)
  • I was in the Druids Head on a friday evening in 1964 having a drink with a friend, the place was busy as usual when a young man came up to me and fired a gun. It was a starting pistol and the blast stung my face, my ears rang from the noise. I screamed in fright and an off duty policeman grabbed the man and took him outside. I do not know why he did this or what happened to him. Does anyone remember this incident?

    By Loraine Braillard (24/09/2010)
  • I well remember the Druids. In the mid-70s, I had a Saturday job at the shop next door, The Butterfly Shop. I would pop in the Druids for a sherbert or two at lunchtime. Sometimes three. Happy days, with Nigel Winner, Tim Reynolds and Doctor Death. And the delightful Noreen who worked behind the bar, and Percy the Potman.

    By Marc Turner (20/07/2012)
  • The well known “pot man” at the Druids throughout the 1970’s 80’s, 90’s and beyond was Hinze!

    By Peter Groves (20/07/2012)
  • I worked with Heinze at KTM. He was also a member of the Brighton Trades & Labour club. I went to school with his children. He was a character! Sadly he passed away last year (2012). He will be missed.

    By Richard J. Szypulski (07/07/2013)
  • I used to work there, sometime during the mid-late 90’s, I used to work with Heinze, the saturday night glass-collector/four-man. It was a rock-pub when I used to work there, it was like working in 2 different pubs on a Friday and Saturday night. All the rock crowd regulars down the back-end of the pub and the shirt n trouser lads and dresses with high-heeled girls down the front-end.

    By Wolf (Ben) Devoy (18/03/2021)
  • My great grandmother lived there in 1901, 5 months pregnant with my grandmother … any knowledge gratefully received. 🌞

    By Sarah (07/05/2021)
  • Early in the 20th century The Druids Head was known as the carriers pub and the wagons and carts bringing in veg and produce for the market further down in Market Street stayed there for a few hours before returning up-country. Many years ago I spoke with an elderly gentleman who said he lived there as a child with his dad as licensee, his name was Gazzard. The Kellys Directory 1927 does have a Mr Gazzard there. The gentleman I spoke with said he often woke in the night to find a man in bed with him who was having a nap! sometimes holding his cart whip, with others asleep at the foot of the bed and others asleep on the landing. Obviously no Social Services around then!

    By Dr Geoffrey Mead (08/05/2021)
  • Fascinating! thank you Geoffrey, that is hilarious and well remembered so guessing my lot were there before … my great grandmother (Mary Ann Baker nee Guildford) lived there when Henry Bowell was the landlord. She died there in 1920, my grandmother Lilian born there 1901, my great aunt Violet married in 1919 also living there, we don’t know anymore other than Henry Bowell’s wife lived with my gt grandmothers family, Guildford’s of Edward Street so not sure why. As a family we knew of a tunnel/s to the sea from the Druid’s head. I’m hoping one day to have a peek around upstairs.

    By Sarah (02/06/2021)
  • Been in there twice in the last month and on both occasions a tall man dressed in black with a cape
    and top hat carrying a hand bell and a fairly large leather bag has come in around 9 o’clock and gone up the stairs ,about half an hour later has come down the stairs without his cape and hat but carrying his bag and walked out of the door?

    By simon brown (12/06/2022)

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