Montreal Arms Brighton: Historic Pub Up for Sale After Years of Controversy

A Cornerstone of Hanover’s Heritage The Montreal Arms in Brighton has always been more than just a pub. Perched on the corner of Albion Hill and Montreal Road in the heart of Hanover, its green-tiled façade has been a quiet landmark for generations—a snapshot of another era when corner pubs were the social heart of […]

A Cornerstone of Hanover’s Heritage

The Montreal Arms in Brighton has always been more than just a pub. Perched on the corner of Albion Hill and Montreal Road in the heart of Hanover, its green-tiled façade has been a quiet landmark for generations—a snapshot of another era when corner pubs were the social heart of every neighbourhood.

Now, after years of controversy, court orders, and community activism, it’s up for sale. Listed on Rightmove with a guide price just over £425,000, this freehold building offers a rare chance to own a piece of local history. But behind that opportunity lies a backstory as colourful and contested as any in Brighton’s recent memory.

In 2022, the Montreal Arms was sold to a developer who wasted little time in stripping its distinctive ceramic tiles—remnants of its 1920s heritage under the Portsmouth & Brighton United Breweries. That decision ignited a firestorm. Local residents were outraged. Brighton & Hove City Council issued an immediate stop notice. MP Caroline Lucas called it “utter vandalism.” The backlash was swift, and the message was clear: Brighton won’t let its history be erased without a fight.

Legal challenges followed, with the owner appealing both enforcement and planning decisions. But the council stood firm. In the end, the planning inspector upheld the enforcement notice, ordering the reinstatement of the historic tiling and blocking any change of use that didn’t respect the building’s character. To further safeguard it, the community succeeded in getting the building listed as an Asset of Community Value—effectively giving locals the first right to buy and preserving the possibility of its return as a working pub.

Now, two years later, the property is back on the market—this time with planning permission in place for internal renovations and a sensitive extension. There are 16 planning conditions in total, designed to ensure that any future work stays true to the original architecture and aesthetic. It’s not an easy brief, nor is it cheap—restoration costs are expected to run well into six figures. But for the right buyer, there’s huge potential.

The interior covers nearly 2,650 square feet across three levels: the former pub bar area, a three-bedroom flat upstairs, and a cellar below. It’s a large, light-filled space with scope for reimagining—not just as a pub, but perhaps a hybrid venue, café-bar, or even a community hub. The building sits at the crossroads of a busy residential patch, a short walk from central Brighton, and its corner presence makes it ideal for a neighbourhood revival.

There’s no doubt that buying the Montreal Arms comes with baggage. But it’s the kind of baggage that tells stories—of a city standing up for its culture, of residents who care, of a building that still matters. This isn’t just a commercial transaction; it’s a chance to help write the next chapter in a building’s hundred-year history.

Whether that chapter includes the clink of pint glasses, a new creative space, or a full-blown community revival remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: Brighton will be watching—and hoping—that whoever takes this on understands that heritage is a responsibility, not just a project.