Historic Milkmaid Pavilion on Brighton seafront has been sold

Owned by Brighton and Hove City Council, the premises were originally built as part of the Festival of Britain in 1951.

The Colasurdo family has possessed the building’s lease since 1996 but it has now been bought by City Pub Co.

It has traded as Alfresco restaurant, serving Italian cuisine.

The building has been upgraded and in 2000 the Colasurdos added a fully glazed Art Deco style restaurant upstairs.

A spokesman for the Colasurdo family said: “Having worked hard for many years creating this landmark restaurant we are looking forward to a well-earned rest.

“We are sure City Pub Co. will have many years of success here.”

The leasehold has been sold to City Pub Co, a group of individual pubs across the southern half of England and Wales, founded in 2011.

Clive Watson, chairman of City Pub Co, said: “Alfresco is a landmark site on Brighton’s seafront, which superbly complements our two existing pubs within Brighton.

“We are delighted to have acquired such a well-known and prominent site, as we continue the expansion of City Pub Group”.

Fleurets chartered surveyors managed the sale.