A CORPORATE head hunter turned art gallery owner is the first to open up in newly restored seafront arches.

The Nigel Rose Gallery has opened in King’s Road Arches, Brighton, close to the i360.

Mr Rose said he pushed for his gallery to be ready first to enable him to host an exhibition of work by celebrated local sculptor Hazel Reeves during this month’s Brighton Open Houses festival.

Vintage clothing and boutique shops and restaurants, included the much-anticipated new offering from 64 Degrees chef Michael Bremner, will follow this summer while the West Pier Trust will also take up residence in newly refurbished offices.

The new units are the second phase of a £5 million council scheme and the latest piece of the planned £1 billion seafront programme.

The arches have been derelict for more than 20 years and restoration work has also included strengthen the support for the busy King’s Road above.

After the close of the opening exhibition, Mr Rose said his gallery would reopen in June with work by 20 artists, ceramicists, wood turners and sculptors all from within the Brighton postcode.

The gallery will also include hand crafted artefacts and antiques which Mr Rose has collected over the years from his “extensive” travels and time spent living in Tanzania.

The 71-year-old said visitors to his shop are likely to be impressed by his “impressive shelving operation” which is constructed out of the tree trunk from a mighty Douglas Fir.

The shop faces the newly created public square, paid for by a £1 million payment from the i360, which will feature an eye-catching design

As well as being new to the seafront, Mr Rose is new to the retail business, having previously worked for global leading executive recruitment firm Korn Ferry.

The new gallery is just a stone’s throw from his home in Regency Square where he moved to seven years ago.

Mr Rose said: “I’m the first to open because I wanted to be ready for the Brighton Open Houses.

“It is a bit of a building site around me but I am up and running.

“It’s very exciting to be the new one on the seafront, there’s going to be a large number of people walking about here whatever the weather.

“These units are slightly bigger than the shops on the other side of the i360. They are about 45 square metres and they are a good height.”

For more information visit nigelrosegallery.com.