Sake Dean Mahomed in Brighton | Echoes of Brighton’s Past

SAKE DEEN MAHOMED (1759–1851)

From the banks of the Ganges to the seaside streets of Brighton, Sake Deen Mahomed lived an extraordinary life. He was an author and entrepreneur who opened an early Indian restaurant in London and became known in Brighton for Indian-style vapour baths and massage. Long before the Raj or the Windrush generation, he helped shape British culture in ways we still feel today.

FROM PATNA TO IRELAND (1759–1784)

Mahomed was born in Patna, India, in 1759. After losing his father, he joined an Anglo-Irish army officer, Captain Baker, and travelled across India with the East India Company. Along the way, he learned surgery and languages like Persian and Urdu. When Baker left India in 1784, Mahomed went with him, swapping the heat of Bengal for the damp streets of Cork.

LIFE AND LOVE IN CORK (1784–1806)

Mahomed quickly picked up English and fell in love with Jane Daly, the daughter of a local wine merchant. They married in 1786. A few years later, he published The Travels of Dean Mahomet, the first book in English by an Indian author. It brought Indian sights and stories to life for curious Irish readers.

CURRY AND “SHAMPOO” IN LONDON (1806–1812)

In London, Mahomed worked at a vapour bath owned by Basil Cochrane. He offered Indian-style massage, then known as shampooing. The word was already in English, but Mahomed helped popularise the treatment. London records also indicate that in 1806 he married Jane Jefferys. In 1810, he opened the Hindoostane Coffee House, an early Indian restaurant in London. The business ran into financial difficulty and Mahomed was declared bankrupt in 1812.

A FRESH START IN BRIGHTON (1814–1821)

Mahomed reinvented himself in Brighton, where he opened a spa offering Indian-style steam baths and massages. His baths offered visitors vapour treatments and massage, advertised as shampooing. The baths became so popular that people started calling him “Dr Brighton,” and guidebooks listed his business as a must-visit attraction.

ROYAL RECOGNITION (1822–1838)

In 1822, King George IV made Mahomed the royal “Shampooing Surgeon” and ordered a private steam bath for his palace. His baths became part of Brighton’s established spa culture, and other bathhouses also advertised similar treatments.

CHALLENGES AND CHANGE (1839–1846)

Despite his success, Mahomed often treated poor patients for free, which strained his finances. Eventually, he sold the bathhouse to Charles Brill. Even with the name change, locals still called it “Mahomed’s.” The Queen’s Hotel was later built on the site, where a blue plaque now honours him.

FINAL YEARS (1846–1851)

Mahomed spent his last years at 32 Grand Parade, stepping back from hands-on work but staying active in the community. He died in 1851 at age 91 and is buried in St Nicholas’ churchyard under a modest headstone.

EXPLORE HIS LEGACY IN BRIGHTON TODAY

Queen’s Hotel – A blue plaque marks where his famous baths once stood.
Royal Pavilion – See the King’s private bath, designed by Mahomed.
Brighton Museum & Art Gallery – View his portrait and a silver cup from a royal admirer.
St Nicholas’ Churchyard – Visit his grave under ancient yew trees.
Brighton & Hove Buses – Buses have carried his name in recognition of his place in local history.

WHY MAHOMED’S STORY MATTERS

Mahomed’s life connects Brighton’s spa culture with India, Ireland and London. His work brought Indian-style treatments to people visiting the town, while his books and businesses leave a record of an ambitious life lived across several places and cultures.