Ham Hotel - Ham Road - 1927
Now The Smugglers
   

Built in 1927 and named the Ham Hotel, to many it will remain so. A name change can be difficult. New owners often do this to make a fresh start and distance themselves from the previous landlords, whilst others feel a need to change their image. This will often go hand in hand with a refit.

The Ham was renamed the Smugglers Return in 2009. The traditional swing sign outside depicts a preventative officer, pistol on his lap, perhaps enjoying a drink as an unwary smuggler walks in the door with a barrel on his shoulder. Of course, being built in 1927 it is unlikely to have a smuggling history.
   
Almost out of sight and barely noticeable, this stained glass skylight holds the
real heritage of the Smugglers pub. The two 'H's of course, stand for Ham Hotel.
   
1960s
   

Henry Charles Woodford, well known butcher and pub  landlord from around 1960 to 1965.  Mr Woodford was also the towns Mayor from 1949 to 1950.

Our thanks to his grandson Jason for this picture.

 
   

In the early 1960s The Ham Hotel, as it was then, was managed by Betty Kemp, mother of sports car manufacturer Tim Dutton, famed for his amphibious vehicles as well as early kit cars. Tim lived there from 1967 to 1971 and built his first car on the pub forecourt and in the side garage.

We contacted Mr Dutton, who confirms the story and also informed us that this was the first Bass Charrington pub in Sussex to have colour TV (1968)
   
   
1980
 

A picture sent in by John Walls (standing in the back row). John recalls that he used to play darts for the Ham pub team, and a marathon was held over the Easter weekend in 1980. “I can’t remember how it ended up, but I remember Mark Lawrence threw the first 3 darts and came back on Monday to throw the last 3. He played for Brighton then. The landlord was Tony Harris and his wife, Pam. They eventually left and opened a few pubs in different parts of the country, then returned to run the Alexandra. He still uses the Ham.”
   
2011
   
   
   
2025 The Smugglers Return
   
   
   

 Time Line

 A little bit extra

1927 Licensed from The Feathers in Portland Road
1931 - W Jenvey
1961 - Henry Charles Woodford
196? - Betty Kemp
1970 - 74 (Approx) Bill & Sylvia Forsyth
1970 - Ron and Margaret Benn
1974 - Bill & Sylvia Forsyth
1980 - Tony & Pam Harris
1986 - 1999 Matthew and Sandie Squire
2013 - Angie & Andy Deeprose (2016 pub of the year)

Matthew Squire also worked at Ye Old House at Home as well as the Britannia (Lancing) and ran the Social Club bar in the Post Office in Chapel Road. Thanks to Matthews' son Chris Squire for this information.
   

A Craft Union Company