2 weeks Ago
A listed hotel is set for a major refurbishment. Brighton House Hotel, at 52 Regency Square, Brighton, will undergo internal changes to create more spacious guest suites. The plans to convert its 16 bedrooms into five large suites were approved by Brighton and Hove City Council on March 20.
The scheme has been welcomed by both the Regency Society and Hove Civic Society. In a statement of support, the societies said: "The proposed use as a five suite hotel is much more appropriate to the building and its location than its current use as a 16-bedroom guest house. "The reduced intensity of use would be beneficial to the preservation of the original fabric.
" The building, a Grade II* listed Regency townhouse, forms part of a group of historic homes dating back to around 1818. Other floors will be returned to the open plan seen here in the reception/breakfast room (Image: Lewis McMillan Architects) Located in the Regency Square Conservation Area, the hotel stands on the north-east corner of the square, backing onto Queensbury Mews. The building's current layout includes six floors, with the basement rarely used by guests.
READ NEXT: I tried Brighton's beach sauna - I left feeling absolutely fantastic The new plan aims to improve the building’s natural ventilation by removing some modern partitions and bathrooms, restoring the original layout of the rooms. The hotel's proprietor, Mr E L Zuidema, who has owned the establishment since September 2004, has explained the reasons behind the change. One of many non-original en-suites to be removed (Image: Lewis McMillan Architects) He said: "The current business model has been problematic since I acquired Brighton House.
"With 16 bedrooms the economies of scale were misbalanced; it was too large to be run as a 'mom and pop guesthouse' and too small to be staffed as an independent hotel. "These constraints were just about sustainable until the post-pandemic cost of living crisis and inflation. "Even though our occupancy rates and turnover have remained positive, our profit margin has been squeezed to where we are currently operating at a loss.
READ NEXT: Retrospective planning application for Airbnb 'shepherd huts' rejected "With the revised business model, our overheads will be greatly reduced due to fewer staffing requirements and the removal of an inclusive breakfast - it's these two factors which have mostly impacted profits." Mr Zuidema also noted increased competition from new hospitality beds in the vicinity, including the Maldron Hotel Brighton, as another factor impacting his business. However, he believes that returning the Regency building to its original glory will make Brighton House a more desirable destination for visitors to the city.
.
