Elimination reaction of 1-bromo-2-phenylcyclopentane
There are three common elimination mechanisms: $\mathrm{E1, E2}$ and $\mathrm{E1_{cb}}$. $\mathrm{E1}$ and $\mathrm{E1_{cb}}$ both imply that an ionic intermediate is formed first; $\mathrm{E1}$ implies the same carbocationic intermediate as in an $\mathrm{S_N1}$ reaction. The $\mathrm{cb}$ in $\mathrm{E1_{cb}}$ means conjugate base, i.e. the first step is deprotonation of the compound to give an carbanionic intermediate.

$\mathrm{E1}$ reactions require good leaving groups and a moderately stabilised carbocation; this is not the case in your reactant.

$\mathrm{E1_{cb}}$ requires a very strong base and an at least mildly stabilised anion; this is not the case with your reagent and reactant.

Thus, the mechanism must be according to $\mathrm{E2}$, where the abstraction of a proton and the displacement of the leaving group happen at the same time. $\mathrm{E2}$ mechanisms require a $180^\circ$ anti-periplanar configuration of the $\ce{Br-C-C-H}$ bonds for easier attack and favour those double bonds where the hydrogen is less stericly hindered. Additionally, your reactant is trans-configured, thus meaning that there is no available proton on the higher-substituted carbon that can participate in elimination. Altogether, this leads to $\mathrm{E2}$ eliminations generally following Hofmann’s rule rather than Zaitsev’s rule. Hofmann initially observed what later became the Hofmann rule in the Hofmann elimination, which follows an $\mathrm{E2}$ mechanism.

As the ethanolic $\ce{KOH}$ is not strong enough to isomerise the double bond, the Hofmann product will be observed.