Fresh delay hits plans for Brighton Academy (From The Argus)

Fresh delay hits plans for Brighton Academy

7:33am Friday 24th August 2007 in News By Lawrence Marzouk

The return of a Brighton landmark which once hosted The Beatles and the Rolling Stones has hit the rocks after the new owners withdrew their application for a liquor and entertainment licence.

The Academy Music Group (AMG) had hoped to open the old Hippodrome in Middle Street until 4am during the week and 6am at weekends.

But Brighton and Hove City Council's licensing committee, which was set to deal with the bid on Wednesday, received a flurry of angry letters in the run-up to decision day.

AMG has now withdrawn its application for the Brighton Academy and was unable to say yesterday when another will be resubmitted.

The firm revealed in the licence application that the venue will primarily host concerts and club nights.

But it will also put on community and cultural shows, comedy, and cabaret as well as conferences, meetings, conventions, celebrity parties and cinema nights.

The music group has applied to open from 11am to 4am from Sunday to Thursday and until 6am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Jonathan Swain, the chairman of Ship Street, Ship Street Gardens and Middle Street Residents' Association, wrote in his letter to the licensing committee: "We are pleased that the building is to be used for its designed purpose and appreciate the academy groups concern for the restoration of the venue.

"However we would like to air our concerns as to the potential noise and disturbance that could be caused in the locality."

Anthony Pol, the secretary of the association, said he was concerned that club nights at the venue could lead to up to 600 revellers spilling out onto the street at 6am.

After hearing that the application had been withdrawn, he said: "We do not know what is coming next but we do want to see the site functioning well."

Catherine Griffin and Phil Hellary, of Ship Street, also wrote: "We bought our setback flat as a residential property next to a Mecca Bingo Hall, which shuts at 10.30pm deliberately because we wanted to live in a safe place in a central location without high crime rates and without unsociable excess noise.

"We bought into this area five years ago and will now lose a lot of money due to this development if something is not changed.

"We will never stop fighting against this venue as it represents everything negative and dangerous that can happen to a city centre."

The renovation work planned by AMG, which runs the Carling Academy in Brixton, London, and the Shepherd's Bush Empire in the capital, is estimated to cost about £3 million.

AMG took on a 35-year lease on the Middle Street building in February after the bingo hall of 40 years closed last August.

A planning application for the building is also being considered by council officials.

Many of the Grade II listed building's original fixtures and features will be returned to their former glory, including the arch, balcony balustrade and original doors.

The damaged domed ceiling will be repaired and balcony seating would be put back with new curved terraces.

AMG spokeswoman Louise Kovacs said: "We have delayed our application due to AMG revisiting plans for the Hippodrome and the redevelopment of the building.

"Pending further positive discussions with English Heritage and The Theatres Trust in the coming weeks we can significantly improve facilities and our operational plans as well as progress with the restoration of the building."