Plans to turn former Hastings music venue into café, drinking establishment and retail space unveiled
Proposals to turn a former pub into a café, drinking establishment and retail space in Hastings town centre have been submitted.
The application for the former Brass Monkey venue in Havelock Road involves an amended proposal to change the site's use and construct a rear extension.
The scheme is for a mixed-use commercial unit comprising a café and retail space, and a drinking establishment.
It would also provide three temporary residential accommodation units.
Signs are displayed on the windows inside the empty premises saying: ‘Coming Soon, Leopard Lily, Coffee and Retail’.
Leopard Lily is an independent festival fashion and accessories brand. It runs a boutique studio in Hastings that combines a retail shop with a social coffee and cocktail bar.
The Brass Monkey, which rebranded as The Brass in 2021, closed in December 2023.
A design and access statement by Pump House Designs, on behalf of the applicant, said: “The proposal is to convert the front section of the redundant pub into a commercial unit.
“The rear section will be converted into temporary residential accommodation which is also facilitated by a single storey extension to the rear of the property, in an area formerly used as a courtyard garden for the pub. Given the central location of the units, the occupants will have easy access to local shops and transport links.
“No external changes to the front of the building are proposed. To the rear, an extension will be constructed to replace existing courtyard walls. The extension will be constructed in brickwork, which is present on adjacent buildings, to maintain the character of the surrounding area.
“A small private courtyard will be provided, which will have half-height brickwork with wrought iron railing above to maintain privacy but to also allow sufficient light into the units. UPVC windows and doors will be installed in both the extended area and existing building.
“The new roof will be flat (finished with mineral felt/fibreglass) and hidden behind the brickwork parapet.
“Roof lanterns will be installed within the roof to provide excellent levels of natural light.”
Visit: www.hastings.gov.uk/planning and search reference number HS/FA/26/00298.