

One of Brighton’s oldest pubs has announced it is to close its doors on Thursday.

The Royal Pavilion Tavern, affectionately known locally as the Pav Tav, has been a fixture on Castle Square for about 200 years.

But today, it posted a note on its website saying it will be permanently closing on the 26 September. The short message added: “We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”

The pub’s owners, Mitchells and Butlers, have been contacted for comment. No official response has been received so far, but the company did tweet that it was a “commercial decision”.

The building was established as the Royal Pavilion Hotel in the early 19th century, possibly as early as 1816. From 1823 and 1832, it doubled up as an early version of a magistrates court.

In 1826, local architect Amon Henry Wilds redesigned the building with a typical Regency stuccoed bow front and an intricate balcony featuring the Brighton’s interlinked dolphins.

The Royal Pavilion Tavern and the iron railings outside it were Grade II listed in 1952.