Mercure Brighton Hotel Renovation | Heritage Building Case Study

Mercure Brighton Hotel — Building Renovation and Masonry Restoration Case Study

The Mercure Brighton Hotel is a Grade II listed building constructed in 1864, positioned directly on Brighton's seafront. Exposed to prevailing south-westerly weather year round, the exterior had sustained significant wear — from cracked render and damaged roofing lead to deteriorating rainwater goods and a neglected ornate archway.

Astound was appointed to carry out a comprehensive renovation programme covering high-level roof repairs, rainwater downpipe replacement, and the full restoration of a listed stucco archway. All work had to be completed without disrupting hotel operations, guest access, or neighbouring residential properties.

Project Snapshot

• Client: Mercure Brighton Seafront Hotel
• Location: Brighton seafront, East Sussex
• Building type: Grade II listed Victorian hotel (built 1864)
• Services: Masonry restoration, lead roof repairs, rainwater downpipe replacement, listed archway renovation
• Duration: 5 weeks (December–February)
• Access methods: Cherry pickers (MEWPs), bespoke scaffolding for listed archway
• Key challenge: Maintaining full hotel operations during winter works on a heritage building

Why Heritage Hotels Need Specialist Building Contractors

Grade II listed buildings come with strict planning constraints. Every repair, coating, and access method must be approved by the local conservation officer before work begins. On a busy hotel site, you also have to factor in guest safety, delivery schedules, fire escape access, and the expectations of a premium hospitality brand.

Astound has extensive experience working on listed and heritage properties across Sussex, including hotels, schools, and public buildings. We understand the compliance requirements, the materials involved, and the level of care needed to restore period features to the standard conservation officers expect.

Restoring the Listed Ornate Archway

The ornate stucco archway at the rear of the hotel had not been painted or maintained for years — partly due to the difficulty of access and the precision required for the repairs. The archway sits in a narrow mews flanked by residential properties, with fire escapes that had to remain fully operational throughout the works.

Our team designed a bespoke scaffolding solution that provided full access to the underside and sides of the arch while maintaining 24-hour pedestrian and emergency access. We stripped back failed paint finishes, raked out cracked joints, removed loose render, and rebuilt damaged sections using a proprietary cement-based external grade repair system.

Colour matching was carried out on a test patch and approved by the local conservation officer before full application. The final coats used a BBA-certified, high-performance matt masonry coating designed for heritage substrates.

High-Level Roof and Rainwater Repairs

The fifth and sixth floor roof areas required lead replacement and the renewal of a cracked patent glazed screen. We used a long-reach cherry picker to access these elevations safely, scheduling lifts around weather windows during what turned out to be one of the worst winters on record.

All rainwater downpipes on the affected elevations were replaced, restoring proper drainage and eliminating the risk of water ingress to the building fabric — a serious concern on any listed structure of this age.

Working on a Live Hotel Site

The Mercure Brighton runs year-round with tourists, business events, weddings, and conferences. Every element of our programme was scheduled around the hotel's operations. The site supervisor held regular briefings with hotel management and consulted with neighbouring mews residents to minimise disruption.

Fire exits were kept operational at all times. Access routes were maintained for guests and deliveries. All operatives completed site inductions covering the specific risks of working within an occupied hotel, including comprehensive risk assessments and method statements provided before work began.

Commercial Hotel Maintenance Services

Astound provides a full range of exterior building maintenance services for hotels across Brighton, Sussex, and the South East. From hotel window cleaning and render cleaning to masonry restoration and commercial gutter cleaning, we deliver the same safety-led, compliance-first approach to every project.

Whether you manage a boutique hotel, a seafront chain property, or a listed country house hotel, we can provide a tailored maintenance programme that protects your building and your brand.

View our commercial window cleaning services

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