A Brief History

The Fountain is one of the oldest public houses in Chichester; opening its doors in 1798 with Robert Earl as it's first licensee. Later it was owned by the Humphrey Brothers Brewery (later to become Henry and Constable). The pub is built against the Roman city wall which is visible in our restaurant and the building is probably constructed over the site of one of the walls bastions.

In the late 1820s the landlords were H.G. Wells’ Grandparents ­George and Sarah Neal. His great uncle Ruben Benjamin was also a landlord.

From the mid 1800s to the mid 1960s local carriers were based here, carrying goods and passengers to the Witterings, Birdham, Guildford, Eastergate and Boxgrove.

The pub is also haunted by two ghosts, a man and a dog, who have been seen in different parts of the pub!