Millionaire property developer appears in court accused of vandalising Victorian pub after his gang of workers smashed up historic tiles
Charlie Southall, 46, employed a team of builders to smash off scores of locally listed tiles from the Montreal Arms in Brighton in April 2022. The council then issued an enforcement notice.
By JAYA NARAIN, REPORTER and SAM LAWLEY, NEWS REPORTER
Published: 17:21 GMT, 9 January 2026 | Updated: 22:00 GMT, 9 January 2026
A millionaire property developer accused of vandalising a Victorian pub has appeared in court.
Charlie Southall, 46, employed a gang of builders to smash up historic tiles from the Montreal Arms in Brighton in April 2022.
The council issued an enforcement notice ordering him to restore the locally listed green glaze tiles on the the 160-year-old pub.
Southall lodged an appeal against the order which was dismissed and he was given a final deadline to restore the tiles of July 17, 2024 - but no work has taken place.
The developer appeared at Lewes Crown Court on Friday charged with breaching the council's enforcement notice.
The court heard the pub was 'cherished by the community' and damage to it had caused considerable 'concern' locally.
The pub was built during a boom period of Victoria construction in Brighton in the 1860s and was the centre of a bustling community.
Wealthy property developer Charlie Southall, pictured, who is accused of 'vandalising' a Victorian pub, has appeared in court
He employed a gang of builders to smash up historic tiles from the Montreal Arms in Brighton, pictured, in April 2022
The council issued an enforcement notice ordering him to restore the locally listed green glaze tiles on the the 160-year-old pub
The tiles date from around 1927 when work was carried out following the merger of the Portsmouth United brewery and Brighton's Rock brewery.
The case was subject to legal discussion between the court, Brighton & Hove Council and Southall, which cannot be reported at this stage.
It was adjourned until next month.