Ten Years of The Albion
The team at The Albion in Hastings is celebrating its 10th anniversary this November, marking a decade since Adam Daly and Bob Tipler took over the Old Town pub, formerly The Royal Albion, in the autumn of 2015. The pair are also well known as co-founders of the renowned Hastings Fat Tuesday Festival.
Adam recalls: “We’d used the pub as one of the key venues for the Fat Tuesday Tour. Although it was rather run-down at the time, we could see its potential. Almost jokingly, I mentioned to the owner that we’d be interested in taking it on if the opportunity arose. A couple of days later, I got a text saying, ‘Go on then?!’”
Bob, who moved to Hastings in 1982, adds: “I always said that if I was ever daft enough to take on a pub, it would be The Albion. Back in the 1980s, I’d look through the window at this beautiful, paneled seafront bar and wonder about its history.”
There’s been a pub on the site since around 1730, rebuilt in 1830, with a major refurbishment in the early 1930s by the now-defunct Youngers of Edinburgh brewery. The oak panelling, tartans, Arts and Crafts windows and fireplaces all date from this period, when The Albion was the brewery’s flagship pub on the south coast.
Remarkably, The Albion has remained largely intact since then, avoiding decades of inappropriate ‘modernisations’. As Bob proudly notes: “We’re listed in CAMRA’s exclusive Heritage Pubs guide, and we feel a real duty to preserve the old girl. The south-facing frontage takes a beating from the wind, rain and sun, so we repaint it at least every three years!”
In its early years, The Albion was a cornerstone of the Hastings live music scene. More recently, it has become famous for its award-winning Albion Pies, even securing a trademark for the brand. “The pies have won awards in the British Pie Competition,” says Adam, “and people travel miles to try them.”
Reflecting on the past decade, Bob says, “It’s been one hell of a ride! In the early days, we made every mistake in the book. As non-pub people, the learning curve was immense. We’ve survived fires, floods, major building works, a pandemic, and soaring costs – but it’s all going in the book I’ll write one day!”
Despite the challenges, there have been plenty of highlights. “Some of the gigs we’ve hosted have been incredible,” Bob continues. “It’s been amazing watching young Hastings talent perform here and then go on to bigger things. Hastings’ year-round events bring national attention, and we love adding our own twist – like our surreal Twelfth Night Party, which involves a man dressed as a bird, standing on a stepladder, having cider thrown over him while people dance around to bagpipes. It’s a favourite!”
A week-long celebration is planned for the end of November, culminating in a birthday party on Thursday 27th featuring long-time friends Doctor Savage and The Hot Sauce.
Looking to the future, Bob remains optimistic:
“It’s really about keeping the show on the road. These are incredibly challenging times for pubs and hospitality, with rising costs for everyone. But pubs are vital social spaces—places where people can gather, talk, relax, share ideas, or enjoy live music and free sport. In a world increasingly dominated by social media and isolation, that community role has never been more important. Here’s to the next ten years—cheers!”
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