Hotel’s trade union links on display

By Paul Bromley

Information boards have been unveiled to highlight the history of The View Hotel and its links to trade unionism. 

Two panels are now on show on the exterior of the hotel on Eastbourne seafront. 

One board details the opening of the hotel 50 years ago as the Transport and General Workers’ Union (TGWU) convalescence hotel and conference centre. It acknowledges the work of Jack Jones, who was TGWU general secretary at the time. 

The second display has information about the International Workers’ Mural – an 89ft artwork which was originally at the hotel but has been largely in storage in Birmingham since The View was refurbished in 2014. Part of it was displayed at Towner gallery in its Sussex Modernism exhibition last year. 

Trade unionists, Eastbourne borough councillors and residents gathered for a formal unveiling of the information boards in an event organised by People’s Eastbourne campaign group.

Jim Mowatt, a director of the trade union Unite (which is the successor to the TGWU), and Matt Huddart, regional general manager of The View, helped to unveil the display boards along with Carol Mills from People’s Eastbourne. 

She said she was continuing to campaign for the mural to be put in safe storage at Towner and then displayed in Eastbourne.

“That is unfinished business. We need to connect with the Towner again because once we get them archived in the Towner, they will be safe,” Mills said. 

She also spoke about Jack Jones' vision in opening a hotel for union members.

The View hotel is currently owned by the union Unite.