Brighton’s Masons are planning to open two fine dining restaurants in its city centre lodge, with the aim of getting a Michelin star within two years.
The Sussex Masonic Club has applied to turn the ground floor and basement of its Queens Road headquarters into a restaurant, with a three bedroom flat on the third floor. The first and second floor would continue to be used as a Masonic lodge.
The application, written by Robert Saunders of RSP Architects, says that in the last 40 years, membership of the branch has fallen by half from 10,000 to 5,000, and are likely to fall even further.
The Masons were previously given permission to convert part of the listed building into offices in 2019, but this has not happened.
It says: “Due to plummeting membership levels, the building is now past its original function and new uses are vital if the expense of maintenance and repair of the heritage asset is to be met via new revenue streams.
“This was of course the case with the original permission for change of use to offices in parts of the building which the planners and conservation officers at the city council then accepted.
“The only reasons the approved scheme did not go ahead were due to the impact of the subsequent covid pandemic upon economic and marketing factors.
“No other suitable uses have come forward, so if the current application is refused, then the lodge runs the risk of not being able to maintain, repair and upkeep this listed building.”
It says the restaurant would be run by a two and three Michelin star trained chef, employing 20 to 25 staff and bringing “two unique concepts yet unseen in Brighton”.
It would have 42 covers on the ground floor, and another 18 in the basement, which would also house a walk-in wine cellar. Both floors would have seated drinking only, and each would have a “drastically different” price point and target audience, although both would be fine dining.
It says the fit out would cost up to £1 million, with a target of two years to bring Brighton its “first Michelin star”.
Brighton and Hove has not had a Michelin-starred restaurant since the early 1980s when Le Francais in Paston Place, Kemp Town, closed.
Something positive for good food, and decent people, and a change to the negatively of the press.
Will the diners be hoodwinked, and have to have a cabletow around their neck?
If they ask for it;)
I hope their application’s approved. Sometimes adapting, rather than total preservation seems sensible. Great location for a restaurant. I suppose everything’s sound-proofed these days, so might be fantastic living on the 3rd floor, plus train station and buses literally on the door-step. Also, I should imagine the energy (some people may follow my gist), must be awesome.
It seems amazing that premises that have no access for deliveries or waste disposal could be converted into two restaurants. Much of the conversion of retail spaces to fast food outlets in town has led to pavements blocked and damaged by waste bins and pavement parking by delivery lorries and delivery bikes.
This seeems to be a completely inappropriate development, although it may get through with a few dodgy handshakes.
Will it inconvenience you? I think not .
Why don’t they just convert the two floors to offices or flats and open a michelin star premises in one of the numerous empty restaurant premises in the town centre.
Shhhh it’s a secret
There’ll be no shortage of aprons for the cooks
Why are people so negative about Mason’s small minded people don’t realise the millions of pounds they raise for charity because they dont brag or talk about it because it’s secret apparently what a load of rubbish you can look on line to see what they actually do they meet up have dinner a few beers all self funded by them selves the difference between them and other charities 100% they raise goes to the charity
Yes, you’re right. I hope this venture will work, dispite the criticism about cost, location. I think they would have thought this out. It sounds wonderful. I think because of who they are, plus steeped in history and mystique, I hope this venture will also attract visitors and foodies alike. I think the energy will be brilliant.
p.s I’m not a Mason, but a late in-law was.
A very risky project given the huge costs of fittout and the failure rate of restaurants
Hmmm………….40 odd covers. Queen’s Road. How are all the diners going to get there as there’s no parking anywhere near apart from an expensive multi story in North Road. Restaurants need to be easily accessible and have a continuous flow of custom in order to survive and have adequate delivery areas. Nice idea but wrong place.
You must have missed the massive train station 5 minutes up the road, the multiple bus stops in the area, or the taxi rank.
If you must drive in, you’re right in saying there is a multi-story car park (also 5 mins walk from there) and yes it is expensive to park, but if you’re going to drop £100 per head for a meal, then an extra £10 for parking isn’t going to be a deal breaker.
TBH, I can’t think of a better place for it to be placed.
It’s not a great location on Queens Road heading down from the station. I think a million isn’t enough and taxis can’t actually stop outside