According to the deeds of the property, the building dates back to the 1500's. It is known that The First In Last Out has been dispensing beer since at least 1896 as the notice of sale on the right shows. It was then a beer-house which was a house licensed to sell beer but not spirits. At that time there was also a seed merchants which extended back to the Bourne Stream which at that time effectively split the two halves of the Old Town of Hastings. Since that time The Bourne has been culvetted and a new road was built in the 1950's. This road forms part of the main Dover to Honiton road (A259).

The pub has been a free house since 1976 having previously been a Charringtons house. The FILO Brewery was established at the pub in 1985 and remained here until its relocation a little further up the road in 2011. Our range of ales includes our ever popular favourites, Crofters (Best Bitter) and Cardinal (Sussex Porter) as well as our FILO Gold (Premium Ale). The pub has appeared in the Good Beer Guide (produced by CAMRA) for the last 20 years.

The two main characters of the establishment are Mike Bigg (Publican and Brewer) and Tony Champion (Pub Manager and 2nd Brewer). Do not be fooled by Mike and Tony's titles. Basically what they indicate are that Tony does all the work and carries the can while Mike organises the occasional brewery trip so that people can see Tony in action!! The pub serves food during the day, Monday to Saturday and has occasional special evenings with themed menus. Check Pub Food page for details. Every first Sunday of the month there is a pub quiz - not to be taken too seriously!! All questions are freshly prepared on the premises by the publican. Check What's On page for details.

The pub regularly presents musical events. Check What's On page for details.