SUMMER has well and truly arrived in Eastbourne, and what a vibrant, bustling start we’ve had!
June was a fantastic month that saw our town centre come alive with exciting events and brilliant community spirit. From the colourful and creative Youth Market to the ever-popular Little Chelsea Summer Party, and of course the thrilling Tennis Fanzone—the streets have been buzzing with activity, music, and smiling faces.
While the first Farmer’s Market sadly had to be cancelled last month due to the poor weather forecast, we haven’t let that slow us down. Instead, we’ve taken the opportunity to make sure that the next market, coming up in July, will be even bigger and better.
The Farmer’s Market will now be held on the first Saturday of each month, from 10am to 1.30pm outside the Towner Art Gallery, and will continue through to November. You’ll find fantastic local produce, artisan goods, and plenty of tempting treats to enjoy. It’s a great way to support our local traders and discover some real gems from the region.
Alongside all this, a big focus for us at the BID has been supporting the traders affected by the Victoria Place pedestrianisation works. These essential improvements are all part of creating a better, safer, and more enjoyable town centre, but unfortunately, the project has experienced delays, which have had a real impact on local businesses.
I’m pleased to share that after some serious lobbying from the BID team—alongside our local MP, Eastbourne Borough Council, and most importantly the traders themselves—we’ve secured an earlier reopening of the road. Victoria Place is now scheduled to reopen by the 23rd of July. It’s important to be clear that while the road will reopen to help footfall and accessibility, some works will still continue, particularly along Terminus Road later in the year, now rescheduled for September.
The reopening is a huge boost for the area and means we can bring back the much-loved Pop-Up Park from the 26th of July! This vibrant space has been a real highlight of the summer in previous years, giving people a chance to relax, enjoy live performances, sip a refreshing Pimms, and soak up the alfresco dining atmosphere right in the middle of the town. Whether you’re browsing the brilliant independent shops, meeting friends, or simply passing by, Victoria Place will once again become the social hub of Eastbourne.
We’ve lined up a fantastic programme of live music and entertainment throughout the summer, featuring a mix of local favourites, tribute acts, and toe-tapping street performances to get everyone dancing. I want to take this opportunity to give a huge thank you to Katerina Tutt, who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to put this programme together, often at very short notice.
Here’s what you can look forward to at the Pop-Up Park this summer:
- Friday 26th July: 🎶 ABBA Girls (2–4pm) | Tom Fitzpatrick (5–7pm)
- Saturday 2nd August: 🎸 The Court Brothers (2–4pm) | Amy Winehouse Tribute & Party Hits (from 4.30pm) | Andy King as Elvis (6pm)
- Friday 9th August: 🎤 David Bowie Tribute (2–4pm) | Neil Diamond Tribute with John Lane (5–7pm)
- Friday 23rd August: 🎤 Jade Powers (12.30pm) | Steve Dunnet (2pm) | ABBA Girls (4.30–6.30pm)
- Saturday 24th August: 🕺 Street Dancing with Vo Retro – Motown & Northern Soul (2–5pm)
- Friday 30th August (Bank Holiday weekend): 🎸 Watson Brothers (2–4pm) | Nightflame (4.30–7pm)
- Saturday 31st August: 🎶 Sound of the Crows (1pm) | Helen Ward Jackson (4pm)
- Tuesday 2nd September – Grand Finale: 🎤 Georgie Sinclair (1–3pm) | Tom Fitzpatrick (3pm) | Andy T King as Elvis (4–6.30pm)
It’s shaping up to be a summer to remember in Eastbourne. Whether you’re a long-time local or visiting us for the first time, there’s never been a better moment to explore what our wonderful town centre has to offer. We hope you’ll come along, enjoy the music, support our fantastic traders, and be part of this exciting summer season.
See you there!
