The council has given the Rose and Crown's owners seven working days to make its High Street portico and some beams safe after rainwater damage. What comes next.

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council has served a safety notice on the owners of the Rose and Crown on Tonbridge High Street. The owners have seven working days to make the portico over the front door, and some beams, safe.

The council says its officers consider that these parts of the building “could become dangerous if remedial work is not urgently carried out”. It announced the notice on Tuesday 29 September. (Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council)

How it got here

The council’s account, in order:

  • council planning enforcement and building control officers told the owners that more investigation was needed into rainwater damage to parts of the building
  • the owners, R&B Hotels Ltd, commissioned structural engineers
  • the engineers’ report reached the council last week, and listed a number of problems that officers judged urgent
  • the owners said they were talking to contractors and consultants to get the work done urgently
  • the council served the notice anyway, because there was “no firm plan in place yet”

If there is still no action plan after seven days, the council says it “will continue to use the powers it has available until the work is undertaken”. (Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council)

The council’s release does not give the date the notice was served. If it was served on the day of the announcement, seven working days runs to Thursday 8 October.

What a Section 77 notice can lead to

Section 77 of the Building Act 1984 deals with dangerous buildings. Under it, a council can apply to the magistrates’ court for an order requiring the owner to do the work needed to remove the danger.

If an owner does not comply with a court order in time, the law allows the council to:

  • carry out the work itself
  • recover its reasonable costs from the owner

Failing to comply can also lead to a fine. For a listed building, the section works subject to listed building law, so repairs still need the right consents. (Building Act 1984, section 77)

A listed landmark

The building has an 18th-century brick front, with a royal coat of arms above the columned porch.

The council’s release describes it as Grade II listed. The National Heritage List for England records it as Grade II*, list entry 1069974, first listed on 8 May 1950. (Historic England, list entry 1069974)

Councillor Adem Mehmet is the cabinet member for infrastructure and Tonbridge regeneration. He said the council was “sending a clear message that our patience has run out due to the continued deterioration of this important landmark building”. He added that the council remained “willing to work with the Rose and Crown’s owners in order to help secure the required repairs”.

What it means for you

  • Walking past: the notice covers the portico and some beams. The council has not announced any pavement closure. If one is needed for the work, we will add it to our Tonbridge roadworks and travel page.
  • If you have a booking: the council has not said the hotel must close. Check with the hotel directly.
  • Next step: whether the owners have a firm plan by the end of the seven working days. We will update this story when the council says what happened.

More on the town centre: Tonbridge planning news and parking in Tonbridge.

Sources: Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, 29 September 2026; Building Act 1984, section 77; Historic England, National Heritage List entry 1069974.