Welcome to Monty’s News Threads; our new post format to keep you updated with the latest updates on the web site, and what’s happening with former Burton buildings around the country… the good, the bad and the ugly!
Buildings news
Cardiff – Queen Street additional storey
In May, Starbucks vacated 4-6 Queen Street in Cardiff. This small former Burton branch has two elephant heads (tied with Belfast and Swansea for the fewest number of elephants).
A planning application has been approved for the conversion of the building into serviced apartments with an additional storey to be constructed on the roof. While Starbucks had upstairs seating, the redeveloped building will have a smaller retail unit on the ground floor only.
The planning application can be viewed on Cardiff Council’s planning portal here:
London – Streatham additional storey
A similar story to Cardiff but with six elephant heads! The Pratts & Payne pub in the Streatham building closed towards the end of 2023.
At the end of 2025, a planning application was approved for residential conversion of the upper floors and construction of an additional storey. The design of the roof storey takes Art Deco cues from the building and can be seen in the architects’ post on X:
The planning application can be viewed on the London Borough of Lambeth’s planning portal here:
Long Eaton “restoration”?
Back in April, the former Long Eaton branch received a black coat of paint, accentuated with white on the pilasters and the edges of the façade. The building was in need of some attention, with the previous coat of paint peeling, and the borough council awarded a £10,000 grant. While it has tidied things up, and was perhaps inspired by the all black façades of some Burton buildings, the choice of black paint is shockingly bold, and not original to the building. You can see a photo in this BBC News article:
10/5/2026: BBC News – “‘Eyesore’ shop building in town centre restored”
The following blog post from Jane’s London argues that this is not a “restoration”:
The “restoration” of an Art Deco era Burton’s store
Penzance improvement
I’m stretching the definition of “news” now, since this one is from a year ago, but it’s such an improvement that I had to include it. The awful sludge green colour has been removed thanks to the new occupants, Wren and Raven coffee shop. I had a very good cappuccino in there and would highly recommend it!
Walton-on-Thames demolition?
A planning application was approved in May 2024 for a residential and office development. Unfortunately the Burton building would be completely demolished, unlike a previous application that proposed retaining part of the façade.
However, demolition has not yet started. The standard three year planning permission timeframe would give them until May next year to begin work.
The planning application can be viewed on Elmbridge Borouogh Council’s planning portal here:
Image gallery updates
With thanks to some awesome contributors, as well as my own travels, the following locations that previously had no images now have galleries. You can view the photos right here, or tap / click the locations to view their full pages.
My favourite feature of the Laid by Monty database is the lists of “similar locations”, which work so much better with pictures. If you can help fill in the blanks for any more locations currently missing pictures, please get in touch.
Eccles
Hastings
Hertford
Newton Abbot
Oldham
Skipton
Truro
Wigan
As well as the above, the following locations have received updated images in addition to those they already had:
London – Cricklewood throwback
A super contributor has provided this wonderul personal photo, taken in 1978, of the long since lost tiles at Cricklewood:
David also kindly shared thorough research about the occupants of the building over the years. Check out the timeline on the location page:
That’s a wrap
That’s all for this time. Please leave a comment to let us know what you think of Monty’s News Threads. And if you find this site interesting or useful, please consider making a donation towards domain and hosting costs via Buy Me a Coffee:
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