First In Last Out (Free House)
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Visits Details
28 Jun 2025 (Hogan Sampling)
Quiet backstreet pub in the Old Town of Hastings and only my second visit to it. I thought it was only a couple of years since my last visit to it on a daytrip to Hastings but earlier pictures tell me it was September 2021. Attentive service at the bar and a good choice of seating in this spacious one-roomed bar area. A great choice of real ales and five from their own nanobrewery and one from Harvey's. Been in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide since 2003 and in 2023 was awarded a certificate from the local CAMRA branch marking reaching twenty consecutive years in the Guide. On this visit I happened to join up with a London-based CAMRA branch close to me and their outing combined with a SE London-based club outing to this one. Only about eight of them as I recall so they did not pack the place out.
First In Last Out (FILO) - Cardinal Sussex Porter | 4.60 |  | Out of the trio tried from FILO's own brews, their porter was certainly my favourite. It came with good head and lacing and carried on to the finale. A dry smokey first bite. Hints of dark chocolate prevailing in among its maltiness. A gentle bitterness aided by its Fuggles' hops joined its malty swansong before sailing off. |
First In Last Out (FILO) - Crofters Best Bitter | 3.80 |  | Came with good head and lacing and lasting on this home-brewed amber best bitter. A fruity-infused hoppy first bite aided by its Goldings and Fuggles hops. A dry-hopped bitter mouthfeel with a hint of a nut or two rising and winning over its fruity hoppiness. A dry moreish bitterness lingering. |
First In Last Out (FILO) - Hop Cat - Light Pale Ale | 4.00 |  | It sprung up with good head and lacing on this home-brewed pale ale and stayed throughout. A fruity-hopped first bite. A fruit-infused bitterness rising and a hoppy dryness overtaking aided by the odd tropical fruited bite. A pleasantly moreish fruity bitterness sailing into the sunset. |
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
First In Last Out (FILO) - Gold Premium Ale | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
First In Last Out (FILO) - Churches Pale Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
10 Sep 2020 (Dosser)
Trip to Eastbourne and Hastings. Several beers on from the brewery, but we didnt find one we enjoyed. Fruity language from some locals
First In Last Out (FILO) - Gold Premium Ale | 4.80 |  | Not at its best. Warm. |
First In Last Out (FILO) - Ginger Tom | 4.40 |  | Ginger flavours but very flat |
16 Mar 2020 (Jack William)
Lunchtime- has been on my wish list a while and didn’t disappoint - worth the 50 mile cycle to get here. A few drinkers in, log fire on the go in the middle of the bar area! Bit embarrassed that I asked if the Filo brewery was their own - First In Last Out - FILO of course.
Of 5 new pubs for me today this was my favourite.
First In Last Out (FILO) - Cardinal Sussex Porter | 4.60 |  | |
First In Last Out (FILO) - Old Town Tom | 4.50 |  | Smooth. |
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | Ubiquitous in these parts - even in Freehouses - the Doombar of Sussex (but, I concede, a lot tastier). |
First In Last Out (FILO) - Gold Premium Ale | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
First In Last Out (FILO) - Crofters Best Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
First In Last Out (FILO) - Churches Pale Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
28 Mar 2019 (ChrisE)
We came in here for lunch and a pint, both were good. Busy at this time of day but well worth a visit. I did not list all the beers that were available.
First In Last Out (FILO) - Crofters Best Bitter | 3.80 |  | |
27 May 2018 (Stephen Harris)
A good crowd here in the early evening.
First In Last Out (FILO) - Thirst of May | 4.00 |  | Golden, malty and bitter. |
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
First In Last Out (FILO) - Gold Premium Ale | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
First In Last Out (FILO) - Crofters Best Bitter | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
First In Last Out (FILO) - Mike's Mild | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
First In Last Out (FILO) - Churches Pale Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
12 Mar 2018 (ChrisE)
Early afternoon visit, a good range of the pub's own beers and a couple of guests.
First In Last Out (FILO) - Crofters Best Bitter | 3.80 |  | |
18 Nov 2017 (Andrew)
Pub no. 5. Busy. Standing room only. I don't remember this pub at all but I have been here.
First In Last Out (FILO) - Crofters Best Bitter | 4.00 |  | Reedy |
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
First In Last Out (FILO) - Cardinal | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
First In Last Out (FILO) - Gold Premium Ale | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
First In Last Out (FILO) - Churches Pale Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
First In Last Out (FILO) - Old Town Tom | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
24 Jan 2016 (Stephen Harris)
An all-too-brief, lunchtime visit. I have a long history with this pub, dating back to my teenage years when I had summer holiday jobs down on Hastings Stade.
First In Last Out (FILO) - Cardinal | 4.40 |  | A very enjoyable, rich, black Porter. |
First In Last Out (FILO) - Crofters Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
First In Last Out (FILO) - Gold Premium Ale | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
First In Last Out (FILO) - Old Town Tom | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
First In Last Out (FILO) - Our Auld Ale | 6.50 | Not Tried | |
Thwaites (brewed at Banks's) - Wainwright (please now use the Banks's entry) | 4.10 | Not Tried | |
02 Aug 2012 (Martin the Mildman)
Very quiet on a Thursday afternoon, calm before the storm as a street party was taking place later.
First In Last Out (FILO) - Churches Pale Ale | 4.20 |  | Pale bitter with a good bitter hop character and good balance of flavours. My score 15/20. |
06 Jul 2012 (Magnus Greel)
Early afternoon, the queue went out into the street there were so many of us.
First In Last Out (FILO) - Crofters Best Bitter | 3.80 |  | |
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
First In Last Out (FILO) - Gold Premium Ale | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
First In Last Out (FILO) - Mike's Mild | 3.40 | Not Tried | |
First In Last Out (FILO) - Churches Pale Ale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
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