Brighton Fishing Museum

Brighton Fishing Museum is a small, free-to-enter museum on Brighton's seafront that tells the story of the town's sea-fishing community. It sits in two brick arches along Kings Road, a short walk west of Brighton Pier, in the area known as the Fishing Quarter.

What is the Brighton Fishing Museum?

It is a registered independent museum devoted to the fishing and seaside history of Brighton. It was set up in 1994 together with local fishermen, which is why it feels less like a polished institution and more like a working-community memory box. The displays follow the town's sea fishing from the 1800s into the 1990s.

Where exactly is it?

The museum occupies two arches beneath the Kings Road promenade, on the pebble beach side of the road, just west of the pier. These arches date from the 1860s and have been used by fishing people ever since, so the building itself is part of the story. The stretch of beach in front of them is still where boats are hauled up, repaired and restored.

What can you see inside?

• Historic fishing boats, including the 27-foot lugger Sussex Maid, which represents the type of beach boat that worked from Brighton in the 1920s.
• Traditional fishing gear and navigational instruments, showing how crews found their way and made their catch.
• Model boats and a large collection of old photographs of the beach and its fishermen.
• Film and slide shows, both archive and contemporary, plus an audio presentation in which fishing folk talk and sing.
• Oral history recordings, which give a first-hand voice to a trade that has changed a great deal.

Is it a working place or just a display?

Both. Restoration work is carried out on the hard in front of the workshop, and restored fishing and pleasure boats are often drawn up on the hard and the beach. Visitors can sometimes see the craft that is being kept alive. Each May the museum helps the fishing community organise the Brighton Mackerel Fair, an annual event celebrating the local catch.

Practical information for visitors

• Admission: free; donations are appreciated and help keep the museum going.
• Time needed: it is compact, so 30 to 60 minutes is plenty, longer if you like to read every caption or chat with volunteers.
• Archives: the collection includes archive material, including family history, which can be viewed by appointment.
• Nearby: the neighbouring Fishing Quarter Gallery shares the same arches and shows work by local artists.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to pay or book? No. Entry is free, and you can simply walk in when it is open. Booking is only needed if you want to consult the archives.

Is it suitable for children? Yes. The boats, models and the beach location make it an easy, short stop for families walking along the seafront.

How do I get there? Walk along the seafront promenade from Brighton Pier in the direction of Hove. The arches are only a few minutes away on foot.

Why visit? Brighton is best known for its pier and nightlife, but the fishing heritage is what the town grew from. This museum is a quick, free, and genuine look at that earlier Brighton.