Pair of K6 Telephone Kiosks

A pair of K6 telephone kiosks, dating from 1935, are located on the east side of the Palace Pier entrance area on Madeira Drive, standing on the seaside Esplanade at a prominent crossroads. These kiosks are examples of a standardised design by the architect Giles Gilbert Scott, commissioned by the General Post Office to commemorate King George V's Silver Jubilee. They are constructed of cast iron, painted red overall, with long horizontal glazing in the door and sides, and feature applied, non-perforated crowns on the top panels. Rectangular white display signs, reading “TELEPHONE” beneath the shallow-curved roof, are present, though one was missing at the time of listing in 2007. The kiosks have been modified with modernised equipment, and the backs of both have been replaced with non-cast iron materials. The K6 telephone kiosk represents a milestone in 20th-century industrial design, evolving from Scott’s earlier K2 design. Over 70,000 K6s were produced, and they remain an iconic feature of Britain’s streetscapes. The kiosks are notable for their setting, positioned on the Esplanade next to the Grade II listed Palace Pier, near the Grade II listed Royal Albion Hotel, the Grade II listed Brighton Aquarium, and a group of Grade II listed lamp posts along the Esplanade.