Uncle Sam's to Open at Richmond Place

Former Richmond building gets new tenant

Uncle Sam's burger chain is preparing to open at 33 Richmond Place in Brighton, taking over the long-empty building that once housed the Richmond and Pressure Point venue. Signage has already been installed above the entrance, with a notice on the door stating the restaurant is "opening soon".

This will be the burger chain's fifth branch in Brighton. Uncle Sam's already operates restaurants on Montpelier Road, Hangleton, Woodingdean and Patcham, alongside nine other branches across Sussex and Portsmouth. The chain was established in Brighton in 1971, when its first restaurant opened on Montpelier Road.

A building with musical history

The curved building on Richmond Place dates from 1931 and was designed by architect J L Denman for Kemp Town Brewery. It stands opposite St Peter's Church.

The venue has had many incarnations over the decades. Its first-floor ballroom hosted bands during the 1960s, playing blues and soul music. Later, it became Pressure Point, a live music venue where acts including Muse, Biffy Clyro and Kasabian performed. Pressure Point closed in 2009.

Following this, the premises operated as a backpackers' hostel and café-bar run by accommodation provider Journeys, which created 99 beds. A later incarnation, the Richmond Bar, also hosted live music before closing in January 2020. The building has remained empty since then.

Planning approval granted

In September 2024, Brighton and Hove City Council approved plans for the building that include six flats in the upper storeys and two commercial units at ground-floor and basement level.

An earlier scheme was refused in 2023, with the loss of the pub among the council's concerns. Documents submitted with the approved application noted that the commercial space had been marketed for some time without securing an operator willing to take it on as a pub.

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