IF YOU ever fancied yourself as a landlord or landlady, now is your chance.

The Queensbury Arms pub in Queensbury Mews, not far from Brighton seafront, is on sale for £465,000.

The pub, pictured, dates back to 1837 when it was a haunt for fishermen.

Formerly known as The Hole In The Wall, it has retained a lot of its Victorian charm and claims to be the smallest pub in the city.

The story goes that when the fishermen arrived for their pints they stank to high heaven after days away at sea and so they were served their ales through a hatch – or hole in the wall.

The pub later became popular with theatre-goers and performers.

Its walls are covered with classic posters from shows and plays, as well as boxing memorabilia.

Designed with a classic two-bar interior, the two-storey drinking hole seats 30 people downstairs, while upstairs is a small flat.

Since 1998 the business has been privately owned by businessman Geoffrey Waters.

He has kept it well maintained to a high standard and has invested in extensively refurbishing the property.

Now that after 22 years the pub’s longstanding manager is set to retire, Mr Waters has put the pub on the market.

The business has built up a good returning clientele over the past two decades, including not only Brightonians but also drinkers from around the country.

Simon Chaplin, senior director of pubs and restaurants at Christie and Co, who is handling the sale, said: “This is one of the classic pubs of Brighton, with nearly 200 years of history.

“It is also one of the few remaining freehold freehouses so close to the heart of the city, so we expect considerable interest from locals and further afield.”

For more information, contact Christie and Co on 020 7227 0700 or visit www.christie.com.