Much-loved pub The Nelson Inn set to double in size

Harveys Brewery has submitted plans to Brighton and Hove City Council for the expansion of The Lord Nelson Inn using the neighbouring boarded-up shops.

The plans for the Trafalgar Street pub were originally approved in July 2012 but the project was delayed after work was carried out to sort out ‘structural issues’ with the property.

The changes will mean that the pub will be able to accommodate more customers although most of the expansion will be devoted to improvements to the existing ‘primitive’ kitchen.

The latest application seeks to tweak permission granted almost three years ago which would see the pub expand into two adjacent vacant shops.

The brewer plans to knock through into the next door property to create a doorway into the new kitchen, storage space and toilets as well as creating additional bar and restaurant seating at the front of the former shop.

As part of changes to the existing permission, it is proposed the male toilets are repositioned to where the existing female loos are with the female toilets moved to an area originally allocated as a beer store.

Harveys joint managing director Hamish Elder said he hoped that the work would take approximately six months and that the pub could remain open throughout.

He said: “Part of our aim has been not to interfere too much with the layout of this much-loved Harveys pub. We did not want to cause huge disruption to the set-up of the existing bar.

“It will certainly give us more scope in terms of food but again the intention is not to change too much.

“We have been carrying out work to ensure that the building is in good structural condition.

“When you consider that a building just round the corner collapsed the other day, I think ensuring we have good structural integrity is a good idea.

“The building is a mix of different Victorian work so we are doing the work carefully.”

A decision on the proposal is expected at the end of April.