Hooks, Hops, and Happiness: Why Community is the Secret Ingredient at Lost and Found

Sundays at Fiveways have always had a specific kind of magic. It’s that slow-motion transition from the weekend’s peak into the reality of Monday morning. But here at Lost and Found, we’ve decided to make that transition a lot more interesting. Today is Sunday, March 22nd, and if you walk through our doors on Ditchling Road, you’re going to hear a sound you might not expect in a Brighton taproom: the rhythmic, soothing click-clack of crochet hooks.

Welcome to the inaugural session of the Lost and Found Crochet Club.

Now, I know what some of you are thinking. "A crochet club in a craft beer spot? Isn’t that a bit… grandma?" Honestly, if your grandma enjoys a triple-hopped hazy IPA and a bit of community banter, then yes, it’s exactly like that. But it’s also so much more. It’s about creating a space where the Fiveways community can actually be a community.

The Hook: Why We’re Knitting Together

We’ve always said that Lost and Found is the counter-culture to the big-label, corporate bars that seem to be popping up on every corner. You know the ones: all neon signs, sticky floors, and beer that tastes like it was brewed in a lab by accountants. We wanted the opposite. We wanted a place that felt like an extension of your living room, just with better lighting and significantly better beer.

The Crochet Club is the perfect example of that. It’s about "slow socialising." In a world that’s constantly shouting at you through a screen, there’s something incredibly grounded about sitting down with a pint of Brighton craft beer, some yarn, and a group of neighbours. Whether you’re a pro at making beanies or you’ve never held a hook in your life, you’re welcome here. It’s about the connection, not just the craft.

Real People, Real Sussex Beer

When we set out to build this tap room Brighton locals could call their own, we had a very clear mission: stay independent. We aren’t a brewery ourselves: we’re the curators. We’re the ones who spend our time scouring the county to find the absolute best craft beer Brighton and the wider Sussex area has to offer.

Every tap on our wall represents a story. It’s a story of a small-batch producer in a Sussex shed or a dedicated team of brewers in an industrial unit who care more about the hop profile than the profit margin. We don’t do corporate. We don’t do mass-produced. We do real.

When you sit at our bar, you aren't just a customer; you're a patron of the independent arts. That pint you’re holding? It’s supporting a local Sussex business. That artwork on the walls? It’s from a local artist who probably drinks here on a Tuesday. This is what it means to be an independent Brighton venue.

The Community Calendar: More Than Just a Drink

While the crochet hooks are out today, our calendar is always packed with reasons to get out of the house. We believe a taproom should be the heartbeat of its neighbourhood.

Take our bi-weekly quiz nights, for example. If you’ve ever been to one, you know the energy is electric. It’s not your standard, boring "who won the 1974 World Cup" kind of quiz. It’s loud, it’s funny, and it gets competitive in the best way possible. It’s a room full of people who started as strangers and ended up as teammates.

Then there are our Teacher Socials. Look, we know what a tough shift looks like, and the legends who teach our kids in Fiveways deserve more than just a gold star. Our teacher appreciation nights have become a staple: a place to decompress, vent about the latest curriculum changes, and enjoy a well-earned discount on the best taprooms in Brighton selection.

No Kitchen, No Ovens, No Problem

One thing you’ll notice about Lost and Found is that we don’t have a kitchen. You won’t see us sweating over a stove or pulling "artisan" pizzas out of an oven. Why? Because we’re beer experts, not chefs. We’ve purposely kept the space oven-free so we can focus 100% on the quality of our pours and the atmosphere of the room.

But don’t worry, we won’t let you go hungry. We’ve turned our lack of a kitchen into one of our biggest strengths. Every weekend, we play host to the absolute masters of the street food world.

By bringing in rotating street food vans, we keep things fresh. One week you’re diving into authentic dumplings and bao buns, the next you might be tackling the best burgers in Sussex. It means the menu is never stagnant, and we get to support even more local independent businesses. It’s a win-win. You get world-class food, we get to keep our focus on the beer, and the Fiveways community gets a new culinary experience every time they visit.

Your Home for Every Occasion

While we love our quiet Sunday crochet sessions, we also know how to throw a party. We’ve worked hard to become a go-to Brighton party venue. Whether it’s a milestone birthday, an engagement, or just a "we haven't seen each other in ages" get-together, our space is designed to be flexible.

The best part? We don’t do those ridiculous booking fees that the corporate bars love. We’re an independent Brighton venue that actually wants you to use the space. We want the room filled with laughter, clinking glasses, and the kind of memories that only happen when people feel truly at home.

Why Fiveways Matters

We could have set up shop in the middle of the city centre, surrounded by the stag-dos and the tourist traps. But we chose Fiveways for a reason. There’s a soul here. There’s a sense of belonging that you just don’t get anywhere else in Brighton.

When we say we’re a Fiveways community hub, we mean it. We see the same faces, we know the names of your dogs (who are always welcome, by the way), and we’ve watched friendships form over a shared love of a specific Sussex pale ale.

Lost and Found isn’t just a business; it’s a collective. It’s the result of what happens when you stop worrying about "branding" and start worrying about "belonging."

Join the Movement

So, if you’re reading this on Sunday morning and your fingers are itching to try something new, come down and join the Crochet Club. If you’re just looking for a crisp, cold craft beer to finish your week on a high note, we’ve got a stool with your name on it.

We’re here to prove that you don’t need a massive corporate budget or a flashy kitchen to create something special. All you need are some hooks, some hops, and a whole lot of heart.

We’re the counter-culture. We’re the locals. We’re Lost and Found.

Cheers to that! 🍻

Ready to plan your own event or want to see what’s on tap this week? Head over to our What's On page or get in touch to chat about your next big bash.