Boxpark owner pledges to revive Brighton seafront with restaurants and hotel development

The founder of Boxpark is seeking a 12-month exclusivity period to look into turning a disused area of Brighton's seafront into a "world class retail and leisure development".

Roger Wade has pledged to restore the Madeira Terrace "to its previous grandeur", offering openings to shops, restaurants and a premium hotel operator.

The seafront area has fallen into disuse in recent years, with its ornate Victorian arches left to crumble after missing out on the lottery funding needed to preserve them.

Wade has said he wants to look into retaining the "magnificent arch structures while substantially increasing the commercial performance of the area and food and beverage offering for locals and visitors alike".

He added: "As a Brighton and Hove resident, I'm passionate about the regeneration of our outstanding sea-front.

"Madeira Terrace is the embodiment of the Victorian grandeur that saw Brighton become the UK's favourite seaside destination.

"Our proposal aims to redevelop this much loved area to create a year round retail and leisure destination to be enjoyed by local residents and visitors to the coast alike.

"We're looking forward to the opportunity to work with Brighton and Hove City Council, local stakeholders and businesses and our development partners over the next 12 months to explore how we bring the Boxpark concept to Brighton, whilst retaining the architecture and heritage that our seafront is synonymous with."

Wade's Boxpark ‘pop-up' shopping centres - so called because they are made of disused shipping containers - currently operate in London's Shoreditch and East Croydon, with a third venue planned for Wembley.

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