Oh We Do Like To Be b'Cider Seaside!

If you like the seaside, and you like beer and cider, then Eastbourne really is the only place to be this Bank Holiday weekend. What's more, there's a fantastic line-up of live music across the three day Beer and Cider by the Sea festival taking place on Eastbourne's Western Lawns between 22 and 24 May!

There is an abundance of local real ales and ciders available at the seaside festival; with over 100 to chose from, the festival is bigger than any year before now. Local Long Man Brewery are sponsoring the event and they will be serving up some delicious ales and ciders including, American Pale Ale, Best Bitter, Long Blonde, and Copper Hop!

Beers and Ciders are coming from local brewers, but also from far and wide so you can expect to experience a magnitude of flavours from across the UK. From Summer Lighting, Blowing Stone and Hop Rocket to Iron Horse, Toad in the Ale and Wight Knight, you'll not only be tasting delicious drinks, you'll also be amused by their great names!

If your a lover of outdoor seaside festivals, but not so much of beer or cider, then worry not. There are four cocktails to choose from, one mocktail and a selection of fine wines! Get fruity and flirty sipping on a Caribbean Fondle, Luscious Blush, Kitty or Mudslide cocktail - the perfect accompaniment for a Summer Bank Holiday weekend. For the non-alcoholic cocktail fan, there will be a 'Cardinal's Cocktail' with 'sin' alcohol (no alcohol).

A seaside cider festival would be incomplete without a line-up of super bands - and Beer and Cider by the Sea has just that! On Friday 22, get your wiggle on dancing to Wakin' Snakes, a lively American and Cajun band and then wind down a little to the sound of acoustic guitar and bass duo, Strum 'n' Bass.

The live music continues into Saturday with Decadence Sleaze Excess performing  covers form the 60's to the present day during the festival's daytime session, and Large and Sound of the Crowd blasting out the finest tunes from the 1980's and dance hits from the 90's from evening to night!

Sunday is another fun-day with the festival extending to include a Sunday evening session this year. From 11am until 9pm, ticket holders can enjoy the atmosphere of the festival all day long and still have Bank Holiday Monday to recover before the working week starts again. Dirty Martini Swing Band, Unihorn and Granny Magnet will provide the Sunday soundtrack.

Eastbourne is the sunniest place in the UK, however even the sunniest place in this country isn't pardoned from a bit of wet weather. In the event of rain, Beer and Cider festival-goers need not fear though, as this year the festival is fully undercover, with the stage and bars all under canvas in large marquees. There is still an outdoor area for visitors to sit whilst listening to the bands play and enjoying some fresh sea air. Come rain or shine, the three day event will commence with nothing getting wet - apart from appetites!

Saturday and Sunday day time sessions are family friendly; children are welcome and will be entertained by bouncy castles and land zorbing. However, the evening sessions are for over 18's only.

All drinks must be purchased using tokens which can be bought at the festival in multiples of £10, with each token being to the value of 10 pence. All real ales and ciders will cost between £3.40 and £3.80 (34-38 tokens).

Beer and Cider by the Sea tickets can be purchased here!

Museums at Night Festival Brings Jaws Film Screening to the Redoubt Fortress!

Duuuunnn, Duuunn.... Duuunnnnnnn Duuunnn.... Duuunnnnn Duuunnnnn.... Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Duuuuuunnnnnnn!! What is that? Its' the sound of Jaws making it's way to Eastbourne!

Not the actual shark of course, just the classic 1975 film directed by Stephen Speilberg! On Saturday 16 May at 7.30 pm, the Redoubt Fortress is taking part in ‘Museums at Night’, which is a national festival of after-hours culture and heritage. For a third year the Redoubt will host a film screening for ‘Museums at Night’, this year presenting the perfect seaside horror, Jaws.

If you aren't familiar with the film, Jaws tells the story of American tourist town Amity Island, where a series of shark attacks forces police chief, Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) and two comrades, Ichthyologist Matt Hopper (Richard Drewfuss) and ship Captain, Quint (Robert Shaw) to engage in an ambitious battle of man vs. shark, after the town's mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) refuses to close the beach. The film recounts their attempt to kill the deadly sea creature and save the residents and tourists from a fatal swim at Amity Island beach. 

‘Museums at Night’ is a celebration of heritage, arts and culture in the UK. The festival is set up to encourage visitors into museums, galleries and heritage sites across the country by hosting special events outside of normal opening hours. Events will be taking place throughout the country between 14 and 16 May 2015. At the Redoubt on 16 May, visitors can also discover a display of shark-related items. Local collector, Robert Knight will share his collection and knowledge of preserved sea-creatures, real shark jaws and Great White Shark teeth!

The Redoubt chose to screen Jaws to celebrate Eastbourne’s position as an iconic seaside tourist town. However, fear not - the bathing waters in Eastbourne are some of the cleanest and safest in Britain, earning this accolade from the Marine Conservation Society’s, Good Beach Guide numerous times. We can assure you that the sea is a lot safer to swim in than the sea surrounding fictional, Amity Island!

The film is rated 12 - so the film screening is open to all above this age! There's no need to bring your own popcorn either. The Redoubt’s vintage themed cafe, ‘The Outpost’ will be open for the evening serving cinema type confectionery, such as popcorn and ice-cream, as well as alcoholic beverages and soft drinks!

Doors will open at 7.30pm on 16 May for an 8.00pm start. Tickets are £6 and booking is essential. For more information and to book tickets for ‘Museums at Night Film Screening – Jaws at Redoubt Fortress and Military Museum’ visit www.eastbournemuseums.co.uk.