You would have been hard pressed to realise the structure that stands on the corner of Montague Street and Prospect Place today was once the Victoria Inn.

It was one of three that stood almost shoulder to shoulder with each other. Those being the King's Arms (next door and just visible) and the Buckingham Arms, almost opposite.

We don't think this was the original building, but an adaptation. The extension on the left is out of keeping, as is the roof and the number of chimney pots, implying a taller first floor.

I've never known this building as a pub. Unfortunately, it never seems to last very long as a retail unit either. I do believe it was once an Athena Poster shop when they were all the rage back in the day.

Its most notable feature is perhaps how much it juts out into the street. I'm led to believe that, as an attempt to straighten and widen Montague Street, it was required that all new builds were to adhere to a line drawn further back. Not sure of the validity of this, but it does seem to hold water.

Mr. J. 'Mac' McKechine, licensee of the Victoria Inn for 7 years, has received notice to quit by November 14 from brewers Bass Charrington. It may come down to making way for modern development, according to a spokesman for the brewers. the site had been sold to a public company.

Mr McKechnie, 66, who is chairman of the Worthing Licensed Victuallers Association, said, "We're very perturbed about it. We'll miss the life very much indeed. its more like a club than a pub, we've made many friends."

December 1973, and the McKechine's, Joseph and wife were still in place after the November deadline. Pictured here, the pushing over of a gallon whisky bottle on Saturday night. It weighed 48lbs and contained £60 and 49 pence.

Regulators had been putting coins in since August, and many watched the bottle fall. The money was destined for the Guide Dogs for the Blind. In total, the McKechines have raised £153 for the organisation.

We know they were still there in December 1974

Time Line

A little bit more

1877 - William Hastings
 1877 - Albert Ashmore (acquired licence from above)
1883 - James Cobby to Joseph Fletcher
1890 - John Cutler
1894 - George Grey
1892 - F Marshall
1899 - Thomas Butcher
1901 - Thomas Butcher (as the Victoria Inn)
1914 - M Colins
1926 - Edward Street
1927 - Albert Edward Blanks
1931 - 1935 Walter Blanks
1953 - Arthur Barber (then Victoria Arms)
1953 - Name changed to Victoria Inn
1966 -1973 J 'Mac' McKechine & wife Ann