Work has begun on a new roof terrace at a popular city pub.

The Joker, in Preston Road, Brighton, will welcome the new terrace in six weeks, provided the work goes to plan. 

Nathan Moseby's company El Comodin bought the pub, formerly called Circus Circus, two years ago and said that the pandemic has increased the demand for outdoor space at pubs and restaurants. 

"We have always been a successful pub but our existing outdoor area is on the busiest junction in Brighton," Mr Moseby told The Argus.

"It is not the most relaxing environment. 

"We have a really good looking pub on the inside so it is nice to finally have a space that will match."

Mr Moseby said that when the terrace is finished, it will play host to a range of community, wellbeing and networking events.

The new terrace will seat 50 customers on an extended flat roof with fencing and a retractable canopy.

According to the planning application, which was approved in April last year, the terrace will be “enclosed by a physically and visually lightweight timber pergola set in timber planters placed round the edge of the flat roof”.

The plans also include a detailed acoustic report to deal with potential concerns about noise disturbing neighbours.

"We employed a local company called Seventh Wave Acoustics and they came in and recorded the sound on the roof terrafec for two weeks," Mr Moseby said. 

"It is already a really busy junction, but we are mitigating disturbance wherever possible."

While the plans allow Mr Moseby's to have customers on the terrace until 11pm, he said he intends to shut it earlier - around 10 or 10.30pm - on weekdays. 

The space has been designed to reduce the effect of noise in the area. 

"We are trying to do our bit and we have invested a fair bit of money by building the acoustic fence panels a metre higher than needed. 

"They separate the terrace from the residents and we have been advised that they will block noise."

The roof terrace will feature a living wall and Mr Moseby hopes to grow herbs there including lavendar and mint for their cocktails.

The terrace is set to open by the middle of June.