The Brighton Centre – New VIP Viewing Gallery

The Brighton Centre is a conference, exhibition and events venue located on Brighton’s seafront, between the Grand Hotel and the Kingswest development. Completed in 1977, the venue is in frequent use for live music and arts having a 5000 person capacity.

The existing viewing boxes at the very top of the auditorium are outdated and dilapidated. ABIR’s brief was to create a new VIP viewing gallery to provide seating for 139 guests, with a wheelchair accessible platform for 3 wheelchair users. The proposal includes a fourth floor extension and internal re-ordering to provide guest lounges, bars, washroom facilities and a catering kitchen.

A new ground floor covered VIP entrance is located on the southeast corner, providing lift access directly to the new facilities. The eastern most lounge gives guests access to a covered south facing balcony, creating a framed view between the Centre and neighbouring Kingswest, to the beach and sea beyond. Externally the lounge extension, balcony and ground floor entrance canopy are clad in golden metal shingles, reminiscent of the golden scaled heraldic dolphin crests found locally within decorative features on historical buildings and structures, such as the Birdcage Bandstand on Hove seafront.

A planning application was submitted in May 2025 and construction works are due to commence in autumn 2025.