Urgent work is underway to make a seafront building safe after it was discovered some of its walls were "at risk of collapse".

Kingswest Centre in Brighton, which is home to nightclub Pryzm and the Odeon cinema, was forced to shut suddenly at the weekend after serious structural issues were found at the venue in West Street.

The building is owned by Brighton Shore Limited, which is an associated company of Matsim.

Simon Lambor, director of Matsim, which also owns the Hippodrome in Middle Street and the former Popworld site in West Street, said engineers had found the building’s external walls were in an “unstable condition”.

He warned people not to walk near the walls facing on to King’s Road or West Street.

“We are aware of serious issues with this prominent building that could have serious consequences for members of the public in close proximity,” he said.

“Odeon Cinemas are responsible for keeping Kingswest repaired and safe for visitors and passers-by on the public realm. It has been established that the external walls are in an unstable condition and are at risk of collapse under wind pressure.

“We are trying to work closely with Odeon to ensure that the building is made safe urgently and it can continue to be used as a major place of entertainment for the city.

“In the meantime, we ask that pedestrians avoid walking under the walls on the sides of Kingswest which face King’s Road and West Street. It is these walls that have been identified by structural engineers as at risk of collapse.”

A spokesman from PRYZM Brighton said it will remain closed to the public “until further notice”.

“The safety of our guests and staff is our absolute priority, and while this sudden closure is deeply disappointing, we fully support taking all necessary precautions,” he said.

“We are working closely with both the landlord and Brighton and Hove City Council to assess the situation and determine the required remedial works.

“All ticket holders for upcoming events will receive full refunds automatically. Our team will be in contact directly with those affected, but guests can also reach us with any queries at Brighton@pryzm.co.uk.

“We will share updates on the reopening timeline as soon as we have more information. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank our guests for their understanding during this period.”

Residents and visitors often dub the brutalist structure one of the ugliest buildings in the city, due to its contrast with nearby regency architecture.

It was designed by architect Russell Diplock in the 1960s and opened as part of the Churchill Square and Brighton Centre development.

Plans were approved in February to refresh the site, which has been beaten by years of salty sea winds.

Odeon is the main tenant in the building, operating eight cinema screens across several floors.

An Odeon spokesman said: “Our Brighton cinema is currently closed for repairs. We will be working with the landlord, other tenants and the council throughout the process. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and look forward to welcoming guests back soon.”

The building is also home to Steinbeck and Shaw, Costa and Ben and Jerry's ice cream.