Brighton Town Hall

Brighton Town Hall is a classical civic building in the centre of Brighton, on England's south coast, set in the Bartholomews area of the historic Old Town. Several places in the world share this name, so note that this one is in Brighton, East Sussex, and is a separate building from nearby Hove Town Hall.

Why was Brighton Town Hall built?

The town's earlier town hall stood in Market Street and dated from 1727. As Brighton grew rapidly during the Regency era, that building no longer met the needs of its administrators. The present building went up between 1830 and 1832. Its foundation stone was laid in April 1830 by Thomas Read Kemp, a local property developer closely tied to the town's fashionable expansion.

Who designed it and what does it look like?

The design was the work of Thomas Cooper, who also served as one of the town commissioners. He chose a classical, Greek-inspired style and laid the plan out as a Greek cross. The southern wing, however, was never built because the necessary land could not be bought. As a result the building is less symmetrical than first intended.

Between 1897 and 1899 the hall was enlarged to cope with the demands of a growing borough. It is Grade II listed, which gives it statutory protection as a building of special interest.

What else is there to see?

Beneath the building are former police cells that remained in use until the 1960s. Today they house the Old Police Cells Museum, a small attraction that shows what custody was like in earlier decades. It makes a good add-on for anyone curious about local history and crime.

Next to the hall lies Bartholomew Square. It was created later, and between 1984 and 1987 municipal offices, Priory House and Bartholomew House, were built around it. The area still functions as the administrative core of the city.

Is it worth a visit?

If you enjoy architecture and urban history, yes. The building illustrates how Brighton changed in the nineteenth century from a modest seaside town into a fashionable resort with grand public buildings. Its position in the Old Town makes it easy to combine with a walk through The Lanes, a stroll along the seafront and other central sights.

Frequently asked questions

Who designed Brighton Town Hall? Thomas Cooper, who was also one of the town commissioners.

When was it built? Construction took place from 1830 to 1832, with an extension in 1897-1899.

Why is the south wing missing? It was planned, but the land needed for it could not be purchased, so it was never erected.

What is in the old police cells? The Old Police Cells Museum. The cells were used by the police until the 1960s.

Is the building listed? Yes, it is Grade II listed.

Is it the same as Hove Town Hall? No. Hove has its own separate town hall; Brighton Town Hall is the building in Bartholomews, central Brighton.