Walking along Warwick Street today you would be forgiven in thinking it had always looked like a typical town centre parade. In truth only a hand full of buildings at the western end were purpose-built as shops, the rest were houses, complete with separate entrances to the basements below ground level.

This early picture on the left shows the Warwick Hotel as it was then, a converted house, next-door remaining notably untouched. The Warwick Arms Inn and Brewery, as it was once named, straddles both Warwick Street and Ann Street to the rear.

We are given to understand the rear (Ann Street) section of the building, separate at the time, served as a cabinet maker's, later to be taken over by William Slaughter, brewer, who turned it into a brewery, and inevitably it became an Inn in its own right.

The Warwick Street side was developed as a respectable hotel while the drinking classes were confined to the rear of the premises, known later as the Warwick Shades.

In 1995 it became the Hogshead Cask Ale Emporium. A hogshead is the name given to a beer barrel holding 54 gallons. As far as we know, the name didn't last very long.

In more recent times, the pub expanded next door. You can easily see the difference between the two buildings. The original is on the right as you face it.

Right: an early advertisement from a Worthing Street Directory in 1849. Note how Mr Slaughter made sure everyone knew there were two entrances, and opposite the theatre too.

The street map of around 1877 clearly shows the two separate buildings and the original Warwick Arms Inn in Ann Street.

The building in Warwick Street still shows the original frontage, notably the two sets of steps. The longer one would take you up to the front door, while the shorter ones are to the cellar level. Some time after this map was printed, the frontage was changed and the cellar entrance was covered over and removing the inconvenience of guests having to climb steps. The rest of the buildings along the street would soon follow suit.

The name is most likely in honour of the Earl of Warwick, a wealthy landowner.

We know there was a major change to the Warwick in 2012, a complete refit as a cost of around £400,000. We think this may have been what the name was changed to O'Connors, an Irish themed bar.

Warwick Street is a hive of activity at the week ends and O'Connors seem to add to that. Various events take place at the pubs, especially televised sporting ones.

During the day its an an ideal place to pop in for a bite and a drink, but the evenings take on a different personality.

Time Line

A little bit more

1846 - 1866 William Slaughter
1883 - Mrs M. Thwaites
1891 - Henry Caldcleugh
1899 - Frederick Meetens
1905 - Herbert Temple
1913 - Charles May
1939 - Charles V Smith & Miriam
1942 - Albert Butt
1960 - Steve & Tina
1975 - Bryan Heasman
1988 - Anthony 'Tony' & Ruth Hills
1998 - Known as the Hogs Head
1998 - reverted to Warwick Arms
1990's Tony Hills
2020 -