Town hall creative hub plan sparks interest

By Rebecca Maer

An ambitious scheme to rent out rooms in Eastbourne town hall to businesses and creative people is proving popular. 

Eastbourne Borough Council says it has already received enough expressions of interest to fill the Victorian building in Grove Road, which opened in the 1880s. 

But it still wants to hear from people interested in co-working spaces – the deadline to register your interest is next Monday.  

Among the rooms for hire is the atmospheric wood-panelled chamber on the first floor with a high ceiling and ornately-carved raised area. 

Council staff have moved into offices behind the library further along the road. Registrar services remain at the Grade II-listed town hall and council meetings will still be held in the building. 

A meeting at the town hall this week (Wednesday, December 17) was attended by dozens of people interested in taking spaces as part of plans for a cultural and creative hub. 

Council leader Stephen Holt told them: “It’s the town’s hall not the town hall.” 

He and Councillor Jenny Williams, Cabinet lead for tourism and place, are keen to emphasise that the building belongs to the town, not the council. 

Cllr Williams told the meeting: “I think it is more important than ever we have a real strong sense of what Eastbourne is. This ‘town’s hall’ could be the driver behind that. 

“We want to secure this building for the long term: it would be great to see the whole place animated as communities come together and network.” 

Sarah Tye, head of communities and strategic partnerships, said people should not be put off by how the spaces have been marked on initial plans. The rooms could be adapted for activities such as co-working spaces. 

“We are so open to listening to you and hearing what you need and working with you,” she said.  

“I am already seeing groups talking about collaborating – it is such a lovely atmosphere already.” 

Cllr Williams told the Eastbourne Reporter: “We have had enough enquiries to fill the building.” But she emphasised that the council still wanted to hear from people who would like to take a space. 

The available spaces are listed in a brochure here. They include: 

• Studio East: A ground-floor area, ideal for pop-up galleries or small teams (approx. 85.9 m²) 
•  The Residency: Five connecting ground floor rooms for short-term artistic residencies and collaborative work 
•  The Chamber: a historic first-floor room ideal for functions, lectures,or office space (approx. 115.0 m²) 
•  The Lookout: a top-floor space with panoramic views, suited for design studios or collaborative workspaces (approx. 132.7 m²) 

Tech Resort, which helps people and organisations improve their digital skills, will be one of the first organisations to move in, taking several rooms on the ground floor. 

Director Will Callaghan, who is also a director of Eastbourne Reporter, said: “We are really looking forward to becoming tenants.” 

He and his team toured the rooms they will take, including Committee Room One with a grand stone fireplace and wood panelling. 

:: The deadline to register an expression of interest is Monday, December 22. The form is available here.

:: This report is a result of a journalist turning up and taking time to interview people. If you think it is more interesting than the reproduction of PR handouts presented as ‘news’, why not support us? One-off donations are here or become a member here.