Rockwater Hove battle with Boxpark developer neighbour

Rockwater Hove is a £3.7 million project by IW Capital boss Luke Davis, who lives nearby, to transform the Western Esplanade venue formerly known as The View.

The development has seen the introduction of “Covid-safe” igloos on the neighbouring grass, as well as beach huts selling takeaway food and beer.

However Mr Davis, who has invested millions himself in the project, says his business is now “fighting for its life” after complaints from a neighbour.

That neighbour, he says, is Roger Wade, the chief executive and founder of Boxpark – a series of food and retail hubs in Shoreditch, Croydon and Wembley made out of refitted shipping containers.

Mr Wade told The Argus he has a right to be concerned about the venue as a resident.

Roger Wade, Boxpark founder and local resident

He said: “As a local resident and member of the Walsingham Road Resident Association, I have a right to be concerned about a late-night venue open seven days a week until 3am.”

However, Mr Davis said: “He is actively working against the community of Hove who, time and time again, have shown their overwhelming support for what we are hoping to achieve here at Rockwater Hove.”

Boxpark’s Mr Wade has plans for a seafront destination himself at Shoreham’s Beach Green site six miles away, which was given permission in 2019 amid almost 300 objections.

He originally fell out with Mr Davis in September over concerns Rockwater’s 3am, seven-days-a-week licence would turn it into a nightclub.

Mr Davis, who also lives nearby, said he responded by agreeing to bring back the licence to 1am on most nights, with the expectation of pre-planned events.

Luke Davis, Rockwater owner

The latest battleground is a permanent alcohol licence for the beach huts, known as Shacks by the Shore, with Mr Wade writing a letter of objection to Brighton and Hove City Council.

In the letter, Mr Wade said: “We live in a quiet residential neighbourhood and noise from customers leaving the premises from 10pm onwards already causes noise disturbance. We have tolerated this, but feel enough is enough.”

Mr Wade pointed to The Argus’s report on social distancing concerns after “overwhelming” crowds in November.

Mr Davis said Mr Wade of “missing the irony of his actions”.

He said: “This project was truly about unity and rejuvenating a community, which incidentally, are the exact same reasons that Roger Wade founded Boxpark."

A planning application submitted to the council by Rockwater has received 628 in comments in support and 38 objections.