The First In Last Out (FILO), Brewery and Pub, Hastings, Sussex
When it comes to pubs, it doesn’t get much better than this little gem! A proper pub, with proper beer, a proper brewery with a proper fire and a proper landlord. After leaving The Jenny Lind which is a mere stone’s throw down the road, I was pleasantly welcomed by a beautiful frontage to the pub. The pub was warm, rustic and friendly, with a gorgeous antique wrought cast iron open fireplace which was topped up with chopped logs during my visit. The open fire is a lovely addition and makes a a striking impact to both the ambience and interior of the pub. The crackling of the open log fire had set the tone and was pleasantly surprised to discover a exceptional, well presented bar serving an impressive 8 Award Winning House Ales from the FILO Brewery (First In Last Out Brewery). The First In Last Out
The First In Last Out has no music, jukeboxes, fruit machines or anything else that could detract from the good ol’ traditional pint and a chat. It struck me as a pub where groups of friends meet relax in comfortable warm surroundings and well kept drinks. Even when I ordered a pint of Coke for the designated driver the Landlord of the pub said it wasn’t very good and would I prefer something else? Fortunately the beers were in spectacular condition and up til recently were brewed a few yards from the six hand pumps they had, all of which with their homebrews from the FILO Brewing (FILO Breweing Company Ltd) which no behind the hatch in the wall, merely a few yards from the hand pumps. I was pleasantly impressed with the each ale I had. One of which was their Award Winning Golden Ale, simply named ‘Gold’.
Architectually, this pub dates back to 1500’s and have been dispensing beer from the premises since 1896 as the notice of sale in the bar states. Originally a Beer-House licensed to sell beers and not spirits. Historically, the back of the building there was a Seed Merchants which went all the way back to the Bourne Stream which I have been told parted Hastings Old Town when it was there before the development of a new road in the 1950’s, namely the A259.
The First In Last Out became a Freehouse in 1976 and was previously part of a Charringtons House chain. The FILO Brewery formed in 1985 and was based on site within the First In Last Out, situated just yards from the hand pumps behind the bar on the right hand side of the bar, the other side of the hatch until being relocated to just up the road in 2011.
This pub is a favourite with locals, imparticulary business owners along the High Street in the Old Town. A lot of the antiques shops I visited beforehand were in their discussing their day over a locally source pint… well brewed and served on the same road to be exact!
With an exceptional range of quality casks ales (all of which brewed a couple of doors up from the pub and formerly brewed there as previously mentioned), their staple in-house beers comprise of a delicious range including a Best Bitter called Crofters, a Sussex Porter called Cardinal and last but certainly not least their Award Winning FILO Gold which is a Premium Ale, all of which served in an oversized pint glass for a full pint with decent head.
Not only is this pub adored by locals, it has been recognised nationally for the past 20yrs within CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide. Their are copies from each of these years which can be found at the back of the pub which is even more inviting to pop in a take a read, even if over a coffee. Having said that, I would encourage any visitors to work their way through their pumps so it’s worth taking a designated driver along with you if you chose to visit this little gem of East Sussex.
Would definitely recommend visiting The First In Last Out (FILO), brewery and pub, Hastings, Sussex if you are in Hastings Old Town. A cracking pub, steeped in tradition with their own award winning ales brewed up the road. Pop in, or head over to their website for more information.
