Tesco bus, Pavilion Buildings, Brighton 1974

The vibrant commercial energy of the Sussex coast is captured in this authentic 1970s colour photograph from 1974. The archival image features a cream-coloured Leyland Atlantean double-decker bus, completely wrapped in a decorative Tesco supermarket advertisement, parked at Pavilion Buildings in Brighton. The mural-style graphics promote the Churchill Square branch with illustrations of groceries, kitchenware, and clothing, accompanied by the slogan “the store with so much more than grocery.” The bus is positioned in front of the ornate, classical facade of the National Westminster Bank. In the foreground, the roofline of a yellow period vehicle is visible, while pedestrians in 1970s attire walk past historic shopfronts, including a goldsmith and silversmith with a prominent wrought-iron clock. This factual record documents the intersection of public transport and corporate marketing in Brighton during 1974, showcasing the city’s architectural heritage alongside the pop-art aesthetic of the decade.