TRADERS say a new restaurant will make a popular tourist attraction look “like a prison”.

A glass wall has been built around the Dolphin Fountain in Brighton Square in The Lanes as part of a new Coppa Club restaurant which is currently being built.

But business owners in the area say they are concerned it will affect their trade.

One trader, who did not want to be named, said: “It is going to be like a zoo watching people eat in there. A lot of people have said that.

“The glass walls are quite high and I think it looks a little bit odd, like a prison.”

Another trader said she had spoken to many shoppers about the new installation.

She said: “A lot of people were not very happy about this, not just the traders, but what can we do? It’s a landmark in Brighton and when people come down here they go to see the statue, but now children can’t go in there and take photos.

“It has been locked for the past week.”

The Coppa Club, which is set to open its doors for the first time on September 10, will seat almost 200 people inside and in its outdoor dining area, which is surrounded by the glass wall.

About £1.8 million has been spent fitting and refurbishing the building and surrounding area.

Another trader complained the glass structure had made the surrounding walkways far more narrow, blocked off the surrounding shops to potential customers and, when parasols were raised in the outdoor eating area, residents would lose their view of the square and fountain.

Charles Draycott owns Centurion City Capital, the company which owns Brighton Square.

He told The Argus people should wait until the restaurant was finished before they assessed it.

Mr Draycott said: “In terms of saying it would be like a zoo, you could say that about any restaurant with outdoor eating space.

“We realise we get a lot of tourists coming here to take photos and they can still do that, you can walk through the square and shops won’t be interfered with.

“I think it’s extremely good looking and enhances the use of the square.

“It will bring what was a slightly dated environment into the modern world and will provide the facilities the public want today.”

He also said the height of the glass would be lowered to about 4ft when the restaurant was open, and more furniture and plants would be added to the area inside the square.

Mr Draycott said: “We have been careful to maintain the walkways around the square and all of the gates will be open so the public can still visit the fountain.”

Howard Rylands, who works for the development’s principal contractor Meridian Design and Builds, is the site manager of the project.

He said: “I think it can only improve the area. It will get a great amount of footfall and improve this area of Brighton. I have worked at the marina regularly so often stay in Brighton and I see the city improve each time I come down.”

Brighton and Hove City Council was contacted for comment but have not responded as we went to press.