New seafront hotel with rooftop bar planned for Brighton

Businessmen James Randall and Lucky Gohler want to refurbish the empty Hostel Point building on the corner of Grand Junction Road and Pool Valley in Brighton.

Under the plans the Grade II listed building will be converted into a 40-bed boutique hotel called The Louche.

Built in 1830, it  originally consisted of three separate houses, which were combined and run as a private hotel by 1861. 

An additional floor was added by 1897, and from 1911 the building was known as the Palace Pier Hotel until the mid-1980s, when it was re-fitted and renamed the Princes Hotel. 

Hostel Point before

In 2015 it reopened as Hostel Point, offering cheap accommodation to backpackers, but has since closed and fallen into disrepair.

New owners James and Lucky aim to restore the neglected building to its "former glory" as a seafront hotel with views of the Palace Pier and the beach. 

As part of the renovation, they plan to add a rooftop extension for a terrace bar and restaurant, which would be open to the public. 

The proposed fifth floor extension would be set back from the façade, with seating areas for visitors along the front and sides of the building, providing panoramic sea views.

Proposed plans for The Louche_Adrian Koenig

James said: “Our vision for The Louche is to bring this beautiful seafront building back into use and restore its former purpose as a hotel, attracting more high-spend visitors to the city and providing a boost for local businesses, as well as creating new jobs.

“This corner of Brighton is ripe for respectful redevelopment, as part of a broader regeneration of the seafront. 

“It needs major investment as the site at 10-12 Grand Junction Road has been neglected. 

“If a successful outcome cannot be reached there is a danger that this site will remain derelict for at least another decade and negatively impact the building next door – Pier Nine Casino.

The Louche plans - Adrian Koenig

“Lucky and I both grew up near Brighton in Lancing, so we know the city well and we want to create something here we can be proud of.”

Lucky said: “Currently there are hardly any rooftop bars and surprisingly, no Michelin-star restaurants in Brighton yet.

“Our city attracts millions of visitors every year, yet we know there’s a shortage of accommodation and an appetite for more high-end options.

“The Louche would help fill this gap, as well as providing a vibrant new venue for local people to enjoy and local jobs.”

Plans for The Louche have been drawn up by London architects Dexter Moren Associates, specialists in designing hotels and hospitality venues.

The application is live on the council planning portal.