Anti-fascist protesters stormed through the streets to demonstrate against a far-right meeting on Saturday – but found they were at the wrong pub.

Members of the Brighton Anti-Fascist group were protesting against a planned dinner for supporters of the Italian political party La Lega, which is led by former deputy prime minister of Italy Matteo Salvini.

He is said to have transformed La Lega from a former regionalist party into a “far-right force”.

The march kicked off at 5.30pm on the corner of Gloucester Road and Sydney Street, Brighton.

The crowd was mixed – there were activists, politicians and protesters wearing balaclavas and carrying black flags.

On 21-year-old protester said: “La Lega is trying to make links with British far-right groups here so we’re coming out to oppose them and make it clear that fascism isn’t welcome in our city.”

The demonstration was peaceful, though police and protesters were prepared for violence.

Dozens of officers escorted the march in police cars, vans, motorbikes and on foot. Before the march began, one police officer said: “We’re here to see what’s going on. Hopefully there won’t be any violence to deal with.”

An anti-fascist demonstrator said: “Police presence is to be expected. I don’t think there will be violence but we have to be prepared in case the fascists attack us.”

The march made its way to Brighton Station, where the group’s leader announced the dinner was taking place at The Sussex Yeoman pub in Guildford Road.

More than a hundred protesters massed outside chanting as the police formed a barrier and prevented them from entering.

But they had the wrong venue. Inside the pub, the shocked landlord stood at the door.

He said: “There are no fascists here. It’s just regulars.”

One man eating a pub dinner said: “Do they really think we’re fascists?”

After realising they had mistaken the location of the dinner, the protesters moved on.

As they marched down North Street, they took to the middle of the road, chanting: “Whose streets? Our streets.”

Onlookers peered out of doorways as the march passed.

Some were cheering while others looked shocked.

As they turned up Bond Street, the organisers feared the march was flagging. The march wound up where it had begun.

There was no sign of the La Lega supporters throughout the evening.

The protesters’ leader shouted over loudspeaker: “We’ve marched all round the streets of Brighton. The fascists are too scared to show their faces.”

At an official after-party at The Cowley Club in London Road, one protester said: “They didn’t show. There was no confrontation or violence, which is what we wanted really.”

Another said: “We kicked out the EDL before and we’ve kept the fascists quiet this time. We made history tonight.”