Clarence House

Clarence House is a Georgian building on North Street in Brighton featuring mathematical tiles across its exterior walls and a tiled hipped roof crowned with a classical parapet. The structure displays the careful proportions and architectural details typical of its era.

Built in 1785 as the New Inn by brewer Thomas Whichelo, it was renamed Clarence Hotel in 1830 to honor King William IV's accession to the throne. The name change reflected its evolution from a local inn into a more prominent establishment.

The building served as a gathering place for Brighton's local governance meetings and social events during the early 1800s. It brought together townspeople for discussions about community matters and civic affairs.

The building is easily visible from the street and sits at a notable location on North Street in Brighton's city center. Visitors should know that it is a listed structure with restricted access, so most of its interior remains off-limits to the public.

As a coaching inn, it offered twenty-six bedrooms, lounges, and a billiards room, making it a principal stop for travelers arriving from London to Brighton. This generous scale made it one of the region's most important receiving houses for arriving guests.

Location: Brighton and Hove

GPS coordinates: 50.82283,-0.14080

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:05