Brighton Fishing Museum, Brighton

The Brighton Fishing Museum, established in 1994, is a significant cultural institution located within Brighton's historic Fishing Quarter. This independent museum, created in collaboration with the local fishing community, offers a deep dive into Brighton's rich fishing and seaside heritage. Situated just west of the iconic Brighton Pier, the museum occupies two of the seafront arches along Kings' Road, a site historically linked to Brighton's fishing industry for over a millennium.

The museum provides visitors with a comprehensive understanding of the fishing community's history, traditions, and practices through an array of exhibits. These include a diverse collection of images, artifacts, and full-sized fishing boats. Visitors can also engage with the past through archive footage, contemporary films, slideshows, and audio recordings featuring fishing families discussing their lives and singing traditional songs. These multimedia displays chronicle the evolution of Brighton's sea fishing industry from the 1800s to the 1990s.

One of the museum's unique aspects is its dedication to preserving and restoring traditional Sussex beach boats and marine engines. This work is conducted in front of the museum, where visitors can witness the ongoing renovation of these historical vessels. The completed boats are often displayed on the beach, offering a tangible connection to the past. Inside the museum, model boats further illustrate the technical and cultural aspects of Brighton's maritime heritage.

The museum also plays an active role in the local community by organizing the Annual Brighton Mackerel Fair every May. This event, co-hosted with the fishing community, combines tradition with public entertainment, celebrating the town's enduring connection to the sea.

In addition to its focus on fishing, the museum honors two of Brighton's local folk heroes: Martha Gunn, the famous bathing woman known as the ‘Dipper,’ and ‘Captain’ Fred Collins, who operated the popular Skylark pleasure boat. The Brighton Fishing Museum thus serves as a vital repository of the town's maritime history, preserving and celebrating the community's enduring relationship with the sea. Admission is free, with donations encouraged to support the museum's ongoing efforts.