The owner of a Brighton pub ordered to replace its distinctive green tiles has submitted plans to renovate it and turn it into a cafe or shop.
Charlie Southall wants to flip the placement of green tiles to the upper half of the Montreal Arms, replacing the existing tiles with brown render.
The changes, described in the application as a “visionary scheme”, are said to be necessary because of extensive damage to the facade of the Albion Hill building, which is said to be in “serious disrepair”.
The application says: “We acknowledge the property’s local listing and Brighton and Hove City Council’s directive regarding tile replacement.
“However, due to the necessary works and extensive damage to the current tiled facade, the focus must now shift to an entirely new facade.
“We feel that by replicating the green tiled facade on the upper portion of the building, instead of at ground level, the entire facade of the building is considered.
“Currently, the upper portion of the building’s facade is unsightly.
“It is noteworthy that the building is not located in a conservation area nor is it grade-listed; therefore, the existing tiled frontage is simply a material consideration during the planning stage.
“Therefore, we respectfully urge the council and local community to consider an alternative tiled facade design, which will enable the building to be suitable for a wider range of future uses.”
The application says that a patch repair would result in very few original tiles remaining and could lead to the neglect of structural repairs that are needed.
The lower part of the building will use a dark green render and replica corbels, cast from the originals to preserve the building’s features.
The replica emerald green tiles on the upper part of the building would be produced by Craven Dunhill, using “historically accurate production techniques”, and would emulate the striped layout of the original design.
The application also details how the ground floor commercial unit could be used, including a café, bakery, or co-working space.
The Brighton pub was made an asset of community value (ACV) after a resident group, the Friends of the Montreal Arms, applied to the council to nominate it for protection from sale.
If the former pub were to be put on the market, the ACV listing means it cannot be sold for six months to give residents a chance to raise funds to make an offer themselves – although that offer does not have to be accepted.
Mr Southall, who bought the former pub in February 2022, was issued with a stop notice by Brighton and Hove City Council after he ripped off its distinctive green tiles in March 2022, followed by an enforcement notice requiring them to be restored.
In July last year, a planning inspector dismissed Mr Southall’s appeal against the notice, and ruled that he has until July this year to put the tiles back up.
The council has also implemented new planning rules which state that before a change of use for a pub is agreed, the owner must demonstrate it has been offered for lease or sale at a reasonable rate for two years with no interest.
the man is havin’ a flippin’ larf, innit!?
seeing as how he caused the vast bulk of the damage in the first place
(plus allowing it to fall into greater disrepair by leaving the upper frontage damaged and exposed).
if he’s now willing to pay for tiling, replace it as was, not turvytopsy.
and, seems he has no intention to reinstate the premises as a public house himself,
so when and where has or wilm it be offered as such?
i trust planning will consider, as they should do, and reject this idea.
and july’s not long off, now…
No, Charlie. Just replace the tiles.
What a doughnut
“However, due to the necessary works and extensive damage to the current tiled facade, the focus must now shift to an entirely new facade. ”
And WHO caused that damage ??
Oh that would be the applicant – Charlie Southall!
It’s not beyond the wit of man to replace these brick slips. There’s a firm In Manchester which makes them. About 72 quid a square meter. Maybe more if they are to be colour matched. But the ones I saw named jade green brick slips look quite close.
Don’t let him squirm out of it. Replace the tiles.. and sooner rather than later!
What a slippery customer this guy is. He caused the damage now he’s trying to wriggle out of it. Make him return this building to it’s former glory. Charlie Southall really is a piece of work. Don’t allow him to get away with it.
Just replace the tiles Charlie
Gonna agree with everyone here, just replace the titles you damaged and neglected Charlie. No-one is going to accept anything less.
This man is outrageous – but you’ve got to hand it to him, he’s certainly got skin as thick as a rhino & the arrogance of a conservative avoiding an election!
Having followed this story from the start, I’m really surprised that this is still rumbling on – just replace the tiles like you’ve been told to Southall.
From reading about this man, he sounds like an entitled opportunist, who’s used to getting his own way.
Did he not buy the pub in a pandemic, try & persuade his neighbours to support it as a refuge for fleeing Ukrainians – but then get rumbled as trying to sneakily orchestrate change of use, behind the cloak of charitable endeavours?
I’m obviously happy to be corrected on that, as I wouldn’t want to libel anybody If they were a genuine philanthropist, obvs 😉
Seemingly, after that failed, he ripped the tiles off, without permission & is now claiming it’s in disrepair, so the whole thing needs replacing?
“The focus must shift to an entirely new facade…” – this is breathtaking in it’s arrogance & the circumstances that lead to the current state of decline are entirely due to the current owner; to ignore that & state it as something that magically happened, like the wind blew too hard or the pub was hit by an earthquake, is completely ludicrous gaslighting.
“The focus must shift…” to the council enforcing their determination & making sure this man is stopped from behaving like a privileged, spoilt brat, who thinks he can get what he wants, by holding out for long enough.
The world is already too full of developers who promise stuff & don’t deliver. All this proposal would deliver, is an outcome that suits his personal, self serving requirements, nobody elses.
Stick to your guns B&HCC or the whole planning system will be a laughing stock.
well said, he makes a mockery of there being any planning regs if you can just flout them.
If he has the money to do this proposed unsightly work then he has the money to replace the tiles.
Although he’s a property developer, we aren’t living in the 1960s any longer. In those days Brighton Corporation bent over backwards to help people like the obnoxious Charlie. No longer. Make him put the tiles back exactly as they were.
Put the tiles back as they were or the people of Brighton will Boycott whatever buisness you set up there you arrogant chancer
Just do it.
The pub was vandalised by this man and his mates. Why aren’t they in prison? And as for the ‘flipping visionary idea’, what must go on in his head? It was a already a beautiful exterior before he got his hands on it, the tiles can be sourced, and it should be restored. He has nothing to offer which is of any real benefit to anyone.
You should ask for photos of the back.
I don’t live I’m Brighton but i often visit .This is so sad He should restore it back to what it was. So many buildings where I live are rendered and it looks terrible
He should be made to bend over and pommeled by every sodomite in Kemp Town
Nice one Helen.
NO NO NO NO Southall REPLACE THE TILES! WE AIN’T HAVING IT. YOU AND YOUR MATES DESTOYED THIS PUB. PUT IT BACK TO THE LUVLY OLD PUB IT WAS! B&HCC YOU WILL BE A LAUGHING STOCK IF HE GETS HIS OWN WAY. IF HE DOES GET HIS OWN WAY CAN WE DIP HIM IN THE QUEENS PARK POND?
Check this out https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-68414524
Let’s hope our council have the same level of integrity as South Staffordshire and make him replace the tiles.
Look at the pictures! As a neighbour, we’ve lived with this eyesore for 2 years.
There have been 2 appeals, one to Brighton and one to the Government’s planning inspector… both were lost.
Nothing has been done. The orders have been ignored and the building is rotting before our eyes.
This man has been criminally neglectful of regulations and orders and this latest plan has waited until 3-4 months are left for him to comply.
Now, he says ‘here’s another plan’
Are the authorities toothless?
Do their orders mean anything?
Can a rich developer be allowed to wait them out until they just get tired of the issue?
We’ll see. But if they don’t use every power and every sanction at their disposal to enforce their rulings, they’ll look like a joke.
Everyone needs to object to his plans. But if he gives a little brown envelope maybe his plans will be accepted.
On the first point yes absolutly people need to respond to the planning application(s) not post their outrage on here.
On the second making allegations of that nature are frankly ridiculous.
I agree, the second point is ridiculous. It will be big brown envelopes not little ones.
more desecration of our few remaining original buildings in Brighton. RIP Victorian Society, Regency Society , and any regard for beauty & craftmanship. We agree with all comments about the developers who blatantly ignore planning & conservation rules & regulations, let alone orders to stop & desist, reinstate etc.. They are turning our local street-scape into homogeneous concretized brutalism.. reminiscent of the Ministry of Truth & Stalags. No wonder depression is on the increase, no nurturing of the soul, no longer any constructions in the built environment that warm the imagination, and are cherished down the generations. How sad. What sort of person can this be who wantonly vandalises this beautiful local landmark. My fear is that he will also disregard building regulations standards in the same cavalier way & similarly evade enforcement, if anyone can even be bothered to take him to task.
Can’t believe this. He wrecked the building no one else is at fault. So please don’t let him get away with it. This is a important part of Brighton history. Over the year’s whole buildings have disappeared. Let’s hope the council have the same drive as Staffordshire council, a much loved pub was brought by developer. Then set on fire, illegally bulldozed the next day. But they have been ordered to rebuild using the bricks which were saved by local group. Not going to be straightforward as building was crooked. Which is why it was so unique and great pub.
1st July tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing the work progress now!!!!!!! Come on Brighton Council. You’re quick enough to send out a summons if we’re a day late with council tax payments – Get it sorted NOW! Absolute disgrace that this has been left ion this state for so long – and where is Caroline Lucas after her photo opportunity when the tiles were hacked off?