Pub profile: The Old Albion

The Albion re-opened this year on 2 March under the name The Old Albion after being closed on New Year's Eve and undergoing a refurbishment.

The pub in Church Road, Hove, was formerly run by landlord Jeff Fisher who retired after 36 years at the helm.

When speaking to The Argus last year, Mr Fisher said: "I absolutely loved running the pub, and I feel I got the best out of it. However, I am totally out of the business now, as it has become too much."

Mr Fisher sold the pub which is now run in a partnership between Enterprise Inns and the Laine Pub Company. He said: "The pub industry has changed a lot down the years, and I can’t keep up anymore."

The Old Albion describe themselves on their website as a "Brighton's gin palace, with faded glamour and beauty."

They make their own brand of gin called Old Hove Gin which they describe as "an old-fashioned flavour profile that’s a breath of fresh air in the London Dry dominated world."

The refurbishment has received mixed feedback on review site Trip Advisor. One user FloP4 said: "This place used to be terrifying and is now somewhere I choose to visit. It has over 40 types of gin to choose from and a great selection of ale."

However, user GeoffFromBrighton said: "Clearly the refit has been done on a budget - salvage hunter rejects- the tables and chairs more shabby cheap than sheek (sic)."

Brighton's Last Round spoke to Keith Burns, who frequented The Albion before it's rejuvenation. He recently went back to the pub for the first time since it re-opened:

Keith said he believes that the refurbishment has damaged the popularity of the pub with locals, leaving the pub empty where it once would have been full.

The comments from former regulars reflect the national issue of regulars being pushed out of their local pub once refurbishments are made in order to appeal to a wider audience.

However, the pub has only been open as The Old Albion for little over five months therefore it would be unfair to say that the pub will not improve when given time to find it's feet.