Brighton’s Montreal Arms, known for its distinctive green-glazed tile façade, is once again at the centre of a preservation dispute. Property owner and developer Charlie Southall is seeking permission to remove all remaining original tiles from the building as part of a long-delayed renovation, stating that replicas would be installed if required.
The issue dates back to March 2022, when tiles were removed from the façade shortly after a fundraising campaign to restore the pub was cancelled. The council intervened swiftly, ordering work to stop and later issuing a formal notice requiring the tiles to be put back. What followed was a prolonged back-and-forth involving planning applications and appeals, but with little visible progress on the ground.
More than two years later, in June 2024, planning permission was granted for renovation of the pub and its upper flat. However, the approval came with strict conditions—among them, the requirement that original tiles be preserved where possible and that any replacements be agreed upon in detail with council officers. Although appeals were launched against those conditions, they were eventually withdrawn before reaching a hearing.
Now, the developer is formally requesting changes to two of the planning conditions: one requiring prior approval for any work involving tile removal or reinstatement, and another insisting that intact original tiles must remain unless the council explicitly agrees otherwise.
A new planning submission claims that ongoing delays and lack of clarity from the local authority have made the current rules too difficult to work with. It argues that the conditions are overly restrictive and hinder the project from moving forward.
Council officers have acknowledged receiving documentation showing the state of the tiles and preliminary plans for their replacement. However, there are still unresolved concerns—such as the need for detailed specifications and samples from the selected tile manufacturer. Without these, full approval cannot be granted.
In the meantime, legal proceedings continue. Southall is scheduled to appear in Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 18 August, where he faces charges for failing to comply with the enforcement notice regarding the removal of the original tiles.
What happens next could set a precedent for how Brighton balances development with heritage protection—especially when private restoration projects hit bureaucratic roadblocks.
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