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 Arm's 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 makers, 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 being 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 being on the right as you face it.

Right: an early advertisement from a Worthing Street Directory in 1849. Note how clearly 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 Arm's Inn in Ann Street.

The building in Warwick street still shows the original frontage, notably the two sets of steps. The longer would take you up to the front door while the shorter ones are those to the cellar level. Some time after this map was printed the frontage was changed and the cellar entrance covered over and removed the inconvenience of guest 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 land owner.

1846 - William Slaughter
1855 - William Slaughter
1866 - William Slaughter
1883 - Mrs M. Thwaites
1891 - Henry Caldcleugh
1899 - Frederick Meeter
1905 - Herbert Temple
1913 - Charles May
1939 - Charles V Smith & Miriam
(Building was known as Warwick Hall in 1939)
1990's Tony Hills