The Devil’s Dyke Hotel could be given a makeover as the council prepares to grant a new 25-year lease to pub company Mitchells and Butlers. The company currently has a 60-year lease on the landmark pub – granted in 1967 and expiring in June 2027 at a ground rent of £800 a year. Brighton and Hove City Council’s cabinet was told that M&B wanted to invest and upgrade the pub and restaurant.
A report to the cabinet said that the council required the leaseholder to keep the building in good working order and open the toilets and car park to the general public. The council was also asking the leaseholder to improve the visitor experience at the Devil’s Dyke. READ MORE: Brighton council agree lease extension amid pans for redevelopment The deputy leader of the council, Jacob Taylor, said that the council would not just receive an income from the new lease but people would benefit from a well-maintained and upgraded property.
Fellow Labour councillor Tim Rowkins said that the South Downs formed a key part of the identity of Brighton and Hove – and he was keen to celebrate the countryside that formed 44 per cent of the area of the city. Councillor Rowkins said: “The place does need a bit of work. At the moment, you go there to enjoy the view and the Downs and you might have a pint or a bit of food there while you’re making your moves back home.
“It would be great if it became somewhere people went to and acted as a reason to visit. I would love to see residents make g.
