A MULTI-MILLION pound revamp of a Victorian town hailed as “one of the best places to go” has taken a huge leap forward.
Once nicknamed God’s waiting room , the town is shaking off its sedate image with a bunch of boutique hotels, cool coffee shops and live music venues.
The resort was given a major boost recently after it was named one of the best seaside towns in the UK.
A leading travel magazine described Eastbourne as a “quintessential old-fashioned seaside resort”, and praised its cafe culture and art trails.
The article described the town as having “glorious” access to the South Downs National Park and “fronted by three miles of shingle”.
In a rebranding and regeneration effort, the town – famed for its gold-plated pier and vast shingle beaches – has been embarking on a multi-million pound revamp in recent years.
Huge funding
In March 2024, it was announced Eastbourne would receive a total of £40 million of government funding for regeneration projects.
That move to attract tourism and businesses to Eastbourne took a giant leap forward this week with the announcement that work would begin on the next part of cleaning up the town centre as part of an “extremely ambitious” scheme.
East Sussex County Council’s planning committee has now approved new Traffic Regulation Orders, the legal process necessary to carry out the second phase of improving the town centre.
This is designed to boost the vitality of the area and improve accessibility for pedestrians.
A leading councillor has warned residents to expect “major” disruptions when the work starts on September 8.
Cllr Clare Dowling, East Sussex County Council ’s lead member for transport and environment, said: “As well as creating a safer and healthier town centre, encouraging visitors and boosting the economy, the work we are doing will also support our efforts to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality.
“The town centre has already benefited from extensive work carried out over the past few years and this latest phase of the scheme, which includes further pedestrianisation of Terminus Road, will add to the improvements already made and make it safer and easier for pedestrians and those using wheelchairs and other mobility aids.”
Phase 1 work was completed in 2019 around Eastbourne Station, part of Terminus Road, Cornfield Road and Gildredge Road, as well as the ongoing work around Victoria Place.
Cllr Dowling added: “This is an extremely ambitious scheme and will undoubtedly cause some disruption.
“We will continue to work closely with the borough council and traders in a bid to keep disruption to a minimum but would ask the public to bear with us as the result of the work will be a modern and thriving town centre.”
The council is also hoping to introduce a new pedestrianised civic space outside Marks & Spencer.
This is, however, subject to future funding.
Must visit
The announcement comes just months after Conde Nast Traveller praised the area and recommended it as a “must-visit” town.
The article stated: “ Its pier presents a chimerical silhouette above the water; its seafront promenade is punctuated by a much-loved bandstand; its streets are lined with grand, Victorian buildings.“
Wheely good town attraction
Eastbourne recently installed a new 160ft-tall observation wheel.
The huge wheel – dubbed the ‘Sky Club’ – is perched on the seafront.
The town’s eye-catching wheel promises to offer punters “panoramic views” of the of the seafront towards Sovereign Harbour and the town’s pier.
“Pre-pandemic we used to have a big wheel on the Western Lawns during the airshow each August,” said a council spokesperson.
“Then in 2020, due to events being cancelled up and down the country, the operators came back to Eastbourne in the summer as a temporary measure.
“However due to its success, they returned again in 2021, 2022 and 2023.”
A standard ticket will set customers back £8, while juniors can enter for £6.
A family stub, which includes admission for two adults and two juniors or one adult and three juniors, costs £23.
