Brighton seafront nightclub Coalition is being sold by owner Brighton Pier Group to nightclub operator Shooshh.
Coalition is one of several bars run of by Eclectic Bars, part of the Brighton Pier Group. Eclectic Bars went into liquidation in November 2023 as part of a reorganisation and simplification process to reduce the number of companies in Brighton Pier Group’s bars division.
Coalition’s license automatically lapsed as part of the process, leading it to temporarily close.
Brighton and Hove News reports a new license application has been submitted to the city council by Park Direct UK, which previously ran venues Shooshh and Hideout. The application says it will continue trading as Coalition.
Brighton Pier Group chief executive Anne Ackford said: “Eclectic Bars Ltd went into liquidation on 24 November 2023 as part of our simplification process to reduce the number of companies in the bars division.
“Coalition is (and always has been since the lease was acquired in 2013) owned by a different company in our group, Eclectic Bars (Brighton Arches) Ltd. The licensing regulations require a license to be transferred or allowed to lapse within 28 days of a company going into voluntary liquidation.
“The licence lapsed after this permitted period and we made the decision to cease trading the venue pending a sale. Shooshh under the name of Park Direct UK Limited have now approached us regarding a sale and have applied for a licence in their own name.
“Whilst we are very sad to no longer have a late night venue in Brighton, we believe the sale to Park Direct offers Coalition an exciting future.”
Brighton Pier Group reported total revenue of £16.2m in the six months ended 25 June 2023, down from £17.3m in 2022. The majority of sales decline was from the Bars division, which faced tough comparable numbers following exceptionally strong trading from a post-pandemic surge in the first half of 2022.
