How to contribute

Kingsway Court

Brighton's ugliest building?

"One of the contenders for ugliest building has to be Kingsway Court on the seafront between First and Second Avenues. How could they have let anyone build such a monstrosity amongst all the beautiful terraces and mansions in this area?" (Anonymous email to the website on 8-12-2002)

Photo:Kingsway Court

Kingsway Court

Photograghed by Bill Maskell 24-03-03.

Audio transcripts

This page was added on 22/03/2006.

Comments:

I don't agree! I've just moved there... it may well have been a tragedy for the developers to have destroyed what was there before but I wasn't around and don't know what was there previously. I'd say it's a typical 1960s block of flats - wouldn't be out of place in London e.g. Maida Vale or St John's Wood. If you're looking for really ugly buildings, how about Hove Town Hall or Norton Road car park? Or perhaps the council office extension between Grand Avenue and The Drive?
By David Wilkinson (04/05/2004)
I have lived here for 5 years. Splendid flats - good size and layout. Every flat seems to have good light and almost all have balconies. The building aesthetic grows on you. And, unusually for flats, a real sense of community exists here. Its a great place to be!
By John Kernaghan (09/03/2005)

Granted Kingsway Court would win no prizes today but when it was built it probably represented breath-taking modernity. However I always thought of it as Hove's problem ... surely the Top Rank Suite (now the Kingswest?) has to be the ugliest and nastiest building in Brighton?

By Adrian Baron (25/01/2007)

I was employed by a firm of quantity surveyors, Wheeler Rumble & Perrin, who were involved in this project. I worked for a while in the site office. At that time this was considered a very up-market developementĀ and, if I remember correctly, it incorporated a swish barĀ and restaurant on the ground floor.

By Peter Wood (29/03/2007)

I definitely do not think that this block of flats is a monstrosity. I lived there for 10 years, and wouldn't hesitate to go back. The flats have some of the best veiws in Brighton. There are many other monstrous building in Hove. It may not be the best looking, but it is certainly not the worst! It is in a fabulous location and its unatractiveness is simply down to the fact that it was built in the 1960's.

By Susan Salcole (15/04/2007)

Mr Wood: The swish bar and restaurant you refer to at KC are still very much an attractive feature of this luxury development.

By Michael Sayers (27/04/2007)

We have waited years for the right appartment (three-bed) to become available and are as delighted as we always knew we would be. Where else in Hove have you got a purpose built block on the front with huge balconies, fab views of the sea, great facilities on the ground floor (restaurant and bar) and underground car park that you can lock the door and go away for as long as you like and have no worries about security - certainly not in any conversion. Not the most attractive from the outside maybe but inside - fantastic.

By Brian Barrow (02/08/2007)

I have very happy memories of Kingsway Court. In the 1960s, my Mother and I spent long periods of my school holidays with my Mother's Aunt and Uncle who lived in St John's Wood, London. They owned a flat in Kingsway Court where we spent carefree weekends before returning to London early on Monday mornings. Although I was only between six and eight years old, I remember the cocktail bar and restaurant. Dressing for dinner was awful, but the ravioli was to die for! There was also a hairdressers on site: my Mother and Great-Aunt would spend Saturday morning being 'titivated' whilst my Great-Uncle would skip down the 'prom' with me looking for our next great adventure. Happy times.

By Jayne Samuel-Walker (14/02/2008)

I have friends that live in these flats and I think the building and the flats are beautiful. The view of the ocean is gorgeous.

By Richard Beard (16/03/2008)

Kingsway Court cannot possibly be Brighton's worst building as it's in Hove. Surely any 50's or 60's blocks across Brighton and Hove can be contenders for the ugliest especially those nestled amongst such fine Regency and Victorian buildings. Kingsway does have stunning views and is well managed.

By Alex Sheppard (18/03/2008)

Add a comment





Protected by FormShield