Brew with a view: planning ‘yes’ for historic seafront kiosk

An historic wooden refreshment kiosk should be back in business on Brighton seafront in the spring after councillors on the planning committee yesterday granted permission for it to be rebuilt.

The kiosk, dating from the 1880s until recently stood above the seafront Shelter Hall at the bottom of West Street.  The Shelter Hall will itself be rebuilt as part of an £11m DfT-funded scheme to strengthen the seafront road and stop it eventually collapsing.

Planning permission allows for the kiosk to be rebuilt on a wide part of the upper prom at the bottom of East Street, 200m to the east.

Since dismantling last February the kiosk has undergone a faithful reconstruction by specialist carpentry firm Seth Evans Joinery at Ferring near Worthing.  It includes restoring the decorative central crown and other ironwork that had been damaged and coated in many layers of paint.  Missing sections will be re-cast.

The café’s operators are likely to be allowed to put tables and chairs out on the south-east side, giving customers a fine view of the pier and sea.

Committee chair Cllr Julie Cattell said: “It’s a great step forward for the council’s multi-million pound improvement scheme between the piers.  It includes rebuilding dozens of historic former fishermen’s arches to accommodate new businesses.  The latest of these, east of the i360, are also expected to open in the spring. Along with  plans to rebuild the Shelter Hall, this will strengthen the  seafront’s fabric and attract businesses to help fund its future maintenance.”

How the kiosk might look in its new location

...and in its old location opposite West Street, before restoration.

Full details of the planning application are available on the planning register.

Update

Work to rebuild the kiosk began on 1 February 2017. Find out more about the relocation of the kiosk to the East Street bastion.

Find out about the work to rebuild the former West Street Shelter Hall