Barclays bank is spending more than £1 million refurbishing its branch in North Road, Brighton.

The bank opened its first branch at 6 North Street, until recently part of Hanningtons department store, in 1805, when it was known as Brighton Union Bank.

Its partners were local businessmen William Golding, James Browne, Nathaniel Hall, Richard Lashmar and Thomas West and it had start-up capital of £1,800.

The first recorded customer was a Daniel Constable, a draper, of 3 North Street.

Other offices were opened at Cuckfield, Hove, Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath, Preston and Shoreham.

The name of the bank altered with changes in partners and by the 1850s it was known as Hall, West, Borrer & Hall. Fifty years later it was Hall, Bevan, West and Bevans.

Under this name, the bank became part of Barclay, Bevan, Tritton, Ransom, Bouverie and Co in 1894 Two years later, it became Barclays.

Brighton was a local head office until combined with Maidstone in 1987 to form a new South-East Region.

The current branch was built in 1959 on the site of a pub and a men's clothing shop called Burghope and Burghope.

Brighton is one of the first branches to be refurbished under a new investment programme.

The bank has been criticised for the number of branches it has closed in the past five years.

It is now concentrating on improving its services with new features including improved layout and lighting, better access for wheelchair users and inductive loops for people with hearing difficulties.

The changes come as many of the banks which once dominated the street have become fashionable restaurants.

A bank spokesman said Brighton was chosen because of its city centre location and the increasing importance of the city in the South-East.

He said: "The total refurbishment budget of more than £1 million demonstrates our commitment to offer the best possible service to customers in the city."

More than 70 people are based at the branch. The upper floors are used by the business banking teams, responsible for supporting companies from start-up businesses to large corporations.

Taking responsibility for the changes and running the flagship branch is Jenny Williams, who previously managed branches at Crawley and Eastbourne.