Green Tile Pub Owner Finally Summonsed to Court, Brighton Developer Faces Legal Action
After a long-running saga, Charlie Southall, developer and owner of the iconic Montreal Arms pub in Albion Hill, Brighton, has finally been summonsed to court for removing its distinctive green tiles without permission – more than a year after the council‑imposed deadline to replace them lapsed.
In March 2022, Southall reportedly hired a group of friends to forcibly remove the pub’s green tiles – a key historic feature – just days after ending a related crowdfunding campaign. The Brighton & Hove City Council swiftly responded with a stop‑work order and an enforcement notice, which Southall later appealed but then abandoned.
Local residents and campaigners have voiced frustration, calling the developer’s actions tantamount to vandalism, and saying they set a dangerous precedent: if allowed, it could embolden others to illegally remove heritage features from listed or protected buildings. Online comments ranged from calls to “make him pay his dues” to concerns that the city’s historic identity was being undermined.
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The upcoming court appearance will determine whether Southall will be compelled to replace the tiles with accurate replicas, face criminal penalties or fines, or potentially bear costs for legal and restoration expenses.
This case underscores the importance of enforcing conservation laws to preserve Brighton’s unique architecture, signals that even well‑connected developers can be held to account, and highlights how persistent local activism—backed by community and political pressure—can prompt long-overdue action.
