Brighton: Theatre Royal rejects claims that Colonnade Bar will close

The Colonnade Bar in New Road, Brighton, is being refurbished as part of redevelopment of the Theatre Royal.

Proposed changes include reopening the door between the foyer and bar, which has long been covered up, and removal of part of the pub ceiling which has posters on it.

Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) which runs the theatre insisted that the bar is not closing and it intends for the 200-year-old pub to continue with its current opening hours.

Inside the Colonnade Bar (Image: Andrew Gardner/The Argus)

It has not confirmed whether the current staff will be offered the chance to stay.

John Baldock, theatre director, said: “Just to repeat again, I am not closing the Colonnade Bar and any reports of that happening are quite frankly incorrect.

“I want the bar to have the same opening hours, same decor, maybe new carpet. I want to see whether a door into the foyer would be useful when there is a show on. But that’s it.

“We are investing in a restoration project of the front facade of the theatre and will also be renovating the auditorium this year.

The signage on the front of the scaffolding around the Colonnade Bar (Image: The Argus)

“Both projects are large investments in our beautiful 215-year-old theatre.

“I cannot stress enough, the Colonnade Bar will continue to have its own unique identity and will be open to everyone whether a theatre goer or not.

“The Colonnade Bar is not closing and there are no plans to expand the foyer in the theatre.

“We are aware there is signage stating the pub is closing. The theatre did NOT create this signage. 

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“We intend for the Colonnade Bar to continue operating its current hours.” 

Concerns were raised in December last year that the pub would be closing in June this year.

The pub, which is managed by Lyndon Brooker, has a sign on scaffolding around the building which states “Closing in June 2023, enjoy us while you still can”.

The lease to the Golden Lion Group, a Hove-based chain of pubs, is understood to be finishing in June.

Lyndon Brooker, manager of the pub (Image: Andrew Gardner/The Argus)

Latest ATG plans, dated March 28, show a new opening to the theatre’s foyer, refurbishment to the bar frontage and the bar top, replacement of the carpet, bench seating to be retained, the lowered ceiling section will be removed and the original colour scheme to be reinstated to front of the pub.

On Facebook, the Colonnade Bar posted: “So on the one hand, we'll be gone. Golden Lion gone. Lyndon gone. Staff gone. We reiterate that this really does mean the pub you care about closes, however ATG spin it.

“An ATG bar called the Colonnade isn't the pub we all know. It might look similar. But it isn't the same.

“A door to the foyer and the removal of the lowered drop ceiling that currently has the posters etc up on it.”