Demolition of building on Sherry's Dance Hall site in Brighton

The interior of the venue in West Street, Brighton, has been left exposed as work continues to level the structure.

The site has played host to many of the city's most popular clubs for more than 100 years with Sherry's Dance Hall opening on November 11 in 1919.

The demolition of the building which sits on the former Sherry's Dance Hall site continues

The club dominated Brighton's night-life scene for almost three decades, becoming a popular destination for servicemen during the Second World War.

However in 1948, following a falling demand for dancing in the city, Sherry's closed.

It reopened briefly after this, but eventually became a roller-skating rink and then a bingo hall before being demolished in the late 1960s.

The demolition of the building which sits on the former Sherry's Dance Hall site continues

But the site had not hosted its last dance.

It was remodelled as a nightclub and has since been home to the Pink Coconut, Paradox, Creation, Tru, Project and, most recently, Hedkandi.

Now, however, it seems music may finally have left the West Street venue.

The demolition of the building which sits on the former Sherry's Dance Hall site continues

Last year, demolition work began to clear the nightclub and make way for a new development.

An approved planning application for the site shows a mixed-use development including a hotel is proposed for the plot.

The project would reimagine the two existing sites running between 78 West Street and 7 Middle Street, formerly Hedkandi, Sherry's and more.

The demolition of the building which sits on the former Sherry's Dance Hall site continues

In an application submitted in 2018, developers from Brighton architectural firm Morgan Carn Partnership described the current building as soulless, saying it has a “negative impact on the character of the area”.

The approved development will be up to six storeys tall and include a 91-bed hotel, as well as a building containing 11 additional backpacker hostel rooms.

The demolition of the building which sits on the former Sherry's Dance Hall site continues

There will also be three two-bed flats and one single-bed flat.

A “masterplanning document” by the Morgan Carn Partnership stated: “The existing buildings create a harsh and fragmented urban environment.

"Several opportunities have been identified which would help to remove unsightly and unintended views, and knit back together the urban fabric.

“A sensitive, modern building in West Street will complete the fine series of buildings from the Grade II listed number 77 (occupied by cocktail bar Revolution) to the seafront at the south.”

The demolition of the building which sits on the former Sherry's Dance Hall site continues

The architects said the existing site and configuration of buildings was “suited to its single nightclub use” but argued that “redevelopment is required”.

Therefore, the planning application asked for permission to demolish parts of the site in order to rebuild and “adopt an entirely new configuration of circulation, internal spaces and courtyards”.

The initial proposal was given the green light in March 2018.