A Sunday Afternoon at Lost and Found: What Makes Brighton’s Fiveways Taproom Feel Like Home

There’s a particular kind of Sunday afternoon that asks very little of you.

No rushing. No elaborate plans. Just a gentle walk through Fiveways, the soft hum of Ditchling Road, and the promise of somewhere warm, friendly and full of good things to discover.

That’s where Lost and Found comes in.

Tucked into the Fiveways community at 298 Ditchling Road, our Brighton taproom is made for slow afternoons, easy conversation and one more drink than you originally intended. We’re a craft beer taproom, not a brewery: a welcoming neighbourhood space where we pour independent beer from Brighton, Sussex and beyond, with a rotating selection that gives every visit its own little story.

Come in for a quick pint. Stay for the afternoon.

The Sunday welcome

On a lazy Sunday, the first thing you notice is that Lost and Found doesn’t feel anonymous.

There’s no sense of being processed through a large, impersonal bar. Instead, you’re greeted by familiar faces, a relaxed atmosphere and the gentle bustle of people settling into their favourite corner. Friends catch up over a shared table. Neighbours wander in for a drink. Someone is already asking what’s new on the taps.

It feels less like stepping into a bar and more like arriving somewhere you’ve been meaning to visit all week.

That’s the heart of our independent Brighton venue. We want you to feel comfortable whether you know your hop varieties inside out or you’re simply looking for a good drink in good company. There’s no test to pass and no right answer when it comes to choosing your beer.

Just ask.

Our team is always happy to talk you through what’s pouring, explain a style, suggest something familiar or point you towards a beer that might surprise you.

A tap list with a sense of place

The tap list is the reason many people first discover us, but it’s the sense of care behind it that brings them back.

Our beers are carefully chosen from independent Sussex brewers, Brighton’s wider craft scene and exciting producers from across the UK. We look for character, freshness and quality. We look for brewers who care about what they make and remain rooted in their craft.

In other words, we’re interested in beer with a story.

One Sunday, that might mean a bright, aromatic pale ale with citrus notes and a clean finish. Another visit could bring something deeply roasted, gently sour or beautifully crisp. The selection changes, so there’s always a reason to look at the taps again.

And if the language of beer feels a little overwhelming, don’t worry. “Hoppy”, “malty”, “tart”, “light-bodied” and “full-bodied” are useful signposts, but they’re not homework. We can help you find something you’ll enjoy.

Like what you’ve tasted? Want to try some more?

That’s how an afternoon at a taproom Brighton visitors can return to becomes a small adventure. You might arrive with a usual order and leave with a new favourite from a brewer you hadn’t heard of before.

We also keep the fridges stocked with independent local beers for takeaway, so you can extend the afternoon at home. Pick up a can for later, grab a few for friends or build a mixed selection around the styles you’ve enjoyed at the bar.

Pull up a bench and make an afternoon of it

By Sunday, the pace has usually settled into something wonderfully unhurried.

Outside, the Fiveways neighbourhood carries on around us. Inside and out, people settle with their drinks, share tasting notes and let conversations drift from beer to music, food, local news and whatever else happens to come up.

There’s a warmth to that kind of gathering. It isn’t staged. It’s simply what happens when a space is designed for people to linger.

The taproom is cosy and approachable, with enough energy to feel lively but never so much that you can’t hear the person sitting opposite you. You can meet a friend, bring the family, enjoy a quiet drink on your own or join a larger group without feeling out of place.

That balance matters.

A great community space should make room for different kinds of Sundays: the chatty ones, the reflective ones, the celebratory ones and the “we’ll just have one” ones.

Something good from the street food van

A Sunday afternoon at Lost and Found is even better when the street food van is parked outside.

Our weekend food vans bring an extra burst of flavour to the corner of Ditchling Road, with independent vendors serving food to enjoy alongside your drink. The line-up rotates, so one weekend might bring smoky barbecue, another loaded fries, and another a completely different set of global flavours.

It’s the ideal arrangement for an afternoon like this.

Order a pint from the taproom, take a look at what’s cooking outside, then find a seat and settle in. The aroma of freshly prepared food mingles with the soft fizz of beer being poured. Plates arrive at the table. Someone orders another round.

No fuss. No need to hurry.

You can check the latest food van details through our What’s On page before visiting, or simply see who has arrived when you get here.

More than a place for beer

Beer may be at the centre of Lost and Found, but community is what gives the place its shape.

Throughout the year, our space hosts events, music, themed evenings and gatherings that bring Fiveways people together. Some afternoons are all about conversation and discovery. Other visits might include a vinyl DJ set, local music or one of the events listed on our What’s On page.

We like the variety.

A taproom should have its own rhythm. Quiet enough for a relaxed drink, lively enough to make you feel part of something. Somewhere you can come alone and still feel welcome. Somewhere a familiar face might remember what you enjoyed last time.

That’s also why Lost and Found works so well for celebrations. From birthdays and family get-togethers to work socials and larger parties, our space can be arranged for groups looking for something more personal than a standard function room.

If you’re planning a celebration, take a look at our venue hire options or get in touch with the team.

Independence you can taste

There’s a reason we talk so much about independent beer.

When you choose a pint from a small Sussex brewer, you’re supporting people who are genuinely invested in what they make. You’re helping keep skill, creativity and ambition close to home. You’re choosing beer with character over something designed to appeal to everyone and excite no one.

We’re proud to be the counter-culture to big-label beer.

That doesn’t mean you need to be a devoted craft beer enthusiast. It simply means your next drink can be an opportunity to discover something made with care. Each sip can connect you to a brewer, a place and a community of people who believe the details matter.

And if your Sunday companion prefers wine, we have a locally curated selection for that too. A good shared table should have room for everyone.

Your new Sunday ritual

Maybe the best thing about spending a Sunday afternoon at Lost and Found is how naturally it becomes a ritual.

You come in once because you’ve heard about the beer. You return because you liked the welcome. Then you start checking what’s fresh on the taps, watching for the next street food van and recognising a few faces when you walk through the door.

That’s how a craft beer taproom becomes part of a neighbourhood.

Not through grand promises, but through small, repeated moments: a good recommendation, a perfectly poured pint, a shared table, a plate from an independent food van and a conversation that lasts longer than expected.

So, if you’re looking for taprooms in Brighton, make your way to Fiveways. Find us on Ditchling Road, take a look at what’s pouring and let the afternoon unfold.

Come for the craft beer.

Stay for the welcome.

Leave feeling like you’ve found somewhere of your own.

We’ll see you this Sunday.