Cinque Ports, Seaford

A typical terraced building, Georgian or Victorian, its Facebook site states it was once an old posting inn called the Venus Ale House, later renamed the Rising Sun. When its licensed premises were larger, encompassing the next door Queens House, it was known as the Cinque Ports Hotel. Much evidence remains of an interwar refit with half-height tongue and groove panelling all around the interior. Entrance is through a central vestibule with doors once leading off each side. Only the top half now remain as windows, the lower dados being matching but cruder replacements (photos 1 & 2). There is a central arrangement of pillars and posts before the bar counter, denoting the division of two main front bars and perhaps the site of a jug and bottle (photos 3 &4). Central floor area is of old boards and the counter is of tongue and groove panelling with brass foot rail (photo 5). The central part of the bar back also appears to be an interwar original, although the flanking shelving is either a matching replacement or an add-on. Front-right public bar area has 1930s red tile floor and modest wood surround fireplace (photo 6). Front windows here are replacements. Ladies toilets have tongue and groove panelling and 1930s windows. External door to left side is now blocked up. This side of the pub has much depth and was once probably three successive rooms: (i) front, a carpeted area; (ii) middle, an ex-lounge with larger 1930s fireplace (partly obscured by ‘specials board’ – photo 3) and fixed wall seating; (iii) beyond the gents toilets, a rear room with no interesting fittings or fixtures but a good view into the old back of the servery and stairs. Perhaps enough here to warrant R.I.