Hippodrome owners buy controversial 'neglected' seafront building

The team behind the Hippodrome restoration have bought a controversial cinema as part of plans to improve the image of the city.

The Kingswest Centre in Brighton, home to the Odeon cinema and Pryzm nightclub, has been taken over by the current owners of the Hippodrome in Middle Street - currently being brought back to its former glory after decades of closure.

And there are now hopes to enhance the "shop front" of the city with family-run firm Matsim's new purchase as part of a huge plan to restore West Street which has been neglected in recent years.

A company associated with Matsim, called Brighton Shore, purchased the property from the former owners of Churchill Square Abrdn.

The shopping centre was sold to Ikea owners Ingka late last year but the Kingswest Centre was not included.

The Kingswest Centre (Image: The Argus)

Matsim's Simon Lambor said: "The purchase of the Kingswest is aimed at adding to and improving West Street through working with the tenants to address the unfortunate neglect and deterioration of the fabric.

"This building has a poor appearance now and was significantly better when it was first built. There have been many years of neglect by the lessees allowing many of the architectural details to be lost or fall into disrepair."

The windowless block looks over the seafront (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

Plans were put forward in February to refresh the site, which has been beaten by years of salty sea winds.

The brutalist structure has proved controversial among locals and visitors alike, who often dub it one the ugliest building in the city, due to its contrast with nearby regency architecture.

It was designed by architect Russell Diplock in the 1960s and opened as part of the Churchill Square and Brighton Centre development.

The rear of the Kingswest Centre in West Street (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

Odeon is the main tenant in the building, operating eight cinema screens across several floors.

Read more: Completion date for renovated Hippodrome with hotel, shop and rooftop bar

Simon added: "We hope to work closely with the tenant to find a way forward to restore this building as a prime edifice on the Brighton Seafront."

It is not known how much the Lambor family bought the property for.

The Kingswest Centre joins Matsim's increasing portfolio in the area, which includes the former Popworld site in West Street.

It remains empty but has been used by film crews this week as part of the fifth season of ITV crime drama Grace.