Little is known about the first landlord H.W. Symonds He was a leading member of the Brighton & County Licensed Victuallers Protection Society. He later joined Worthing's Town Council in 1912. Henry, it appears he owns several racing greyhounds, as well as supporting local football and cricket teams.

Henry's wife was Elizabeth Mundy; legend has it - she was born on a Monday, christened on a Monday, married on a Monday, had a daughter on a Monday. She died (I expect you've already guessed it) on the 20th of April 1914. - It was a Monday.

Sadly, I can't find where she was buried, or more to the point, what day!

Henry died still in charge of the Central Hotel on the 10th of September 1915. He was 67.

He was honoured with a military funeral having given 36 years service to the Volunteers. His coffin was taken to Broadwater Cemetery on a hand-drawn gun carriage. As you can imagine, it was well attended.

Brian Downes may be best remembered by many as the landlord during the 1970s. He later sold it to Chris Chapman around 1980, who renamed it Chapman's who opened a popular nightclub in a side building.

This memory from Jan Flowers: "In the late 60's early 70's Brian Downes and his partner at THE CENTRAL started very popular 'Faggot and Peas' nights with entertainment.

The pub would be packed on a Saturday night with people of all ages. Regular performers were Patrick Fyffe and George Logan, who were drag artists. Patrick would come on stage for the first half of the act and perform as Perri St Claire, a comic act (not unlike Danny La Rue) telling jokes, some quite blue, and singing a few songs!

For the 2nd half, they would both perform as the more serious Dr Evadne Hinge and Dame Hilda Bracket. On a Sunday morning, they would come into the bar (as themselves) and have a few drinks with the locals. This was all before they made it in show business, and had their own series on TV!"

Another regular was Martin Quittenton, a British guitarist and composer. He played in the Worthing blues rock band Steamhammer, formed in 1968. Their debut album Steamhammer, was released in 1969 with keyboardist Pete Sears as a special guest.

Quittenton, egged on by friend Jed Armstrong, he called Rod Stewart from a phonebox across the road in front of Worthing Station, with an idea for a song. This was the beginning of the hit, 'Maggie May'. they also collaborated on 'You wear it well' and 'Farewell'.

1890 - Mews
1898 - HW Symonds
1901 - 1915 Henry Brimble Winchester
1960 - 1970s - Brian Downes

1890: The Central Hotel: Messrs, Mews were granted a final licence for the Commercial Hotel, to be opened next Wednesday, and the transfer was then made from Messrs, Mews to Mr. H W. Symonds, late of the Southdown Hotel. The licence of the King and Queen beerhouse, Heene, was surrendered by Messrs Mews in accordance with the engagement with the Bench.

Comment by Worthingpubs: It would appear that the Bench (for licensing) weren't in favour of a person owning more than one pub, and to move from one to another meant giving up the licence of the first. It was, however, commonplace to find a string of pubs owned by individuals of the same family.