The Eastbourne Easter Round-Up!

Eastbourne has a basket-full of great ideas for fun family days out this Easter, from exploring the Redoubt Fortress’s Easter trail, to the opening of Drusillas Park’s new water attraction, wondrous South Downs walks and trails and much more, if you're looking for an egg-citing Easter break, then make your way to Eastbourne for a whole lot of fabulous family fun!

Eastbourne’s Redoubt Fortress is hosting a free Opening Weekend on 26 and 27 March, with the museum being completely free entry for all! Explore the museum and the brand new exhibition, For Hearth, Home and Honour?, which children can discover through an interactive detectives kit! Plus, go in search of the Redoubt Rabbit who is hiding in the fortress and discover some fun spring facts en-route on the Redoubt's Easter Trail from 25 March – 10 April. All those who find the rabbit will receive a chocolate treat at the end of the trail!  

Pop next door to the Pavilion and solve the mysteries of Eastbourne's Bronze Age story, in a brand new exhibition for 2016, Making Tracks: Eastbourne's Bronze Age Mystery, complete with a rebuild of part of the UK's largest Bronze Age track-way. 

The Seven Sisters Sheep Centre, which is now open for lambing season, will make for the loveliest of spring time experiences! The traditional farming centre is open for visitors to enjoy the miracle of birth, join in feeding time and pet new born lambs from 5 March – 2 May!

For more Easter trails, head to Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters from 25-18 March, going in search of hidden clues on Belle Tout and Lookout Hill and answering trivia questions and completing challenges, where afterwards you'll be rewarded with a delicious Cadbury Easter bunny back at the Visitor Centre! 

From 24 March - 10 April Bateman’s country house also have a Cadbury Easter Trail allowing visitors to explore the former home of writer Rudyard Kipling, in a hunt for a chocolate reward at the end! 

Drusillas Park, is getting set to 'Get Wet' as it opens its newest attraction this Easter! Get Wet, is a new splash pad collection of thrilling water jets, spiraling sprays, twirling streams and palm trees, so as the weather warms up, there are now even more reasons to head to the UK's best small zoo! The park also welcomes The Gruffalo for his debut appearance at Drusillas on 30 March, plus many more favourite characters this Easter from Hello Kitty to The Fat Controller.

On Easter Sunday (27 March), jump on board the Easter Eggspress at the Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway and ride around the pretty country park on a steam locomotive, one eighth of the original size, receiving a delicious Easter egg when alighting the train.

Knockhatch Adventure Park celebrates Easter with an Easter Extravaganza of fun trails and egg hunts, alongside its usual family offering of outdoor adventure play, large petting farm, a boating lake and much more!

Why not take a lovely long family walk along the South Downs Way on any day this bank holiday weekend? Hike from Eastbourne to Alfriston, breathing in the fresh Eastbourne air and drinking in the beautiful scenery. Stop off along route in Jevington for a warm and cosy rest at the Eight Bells pub, to refuel on locally brewed real ales and delicious traditional pub grub.

And of course, Eastbourne’s 1930’s Bandstand will be hosting its annual free Easter Sunday concert with traditional concert music from the town’s own Eastbourne Silver Band. Come along and join in with the celebrations at the Bandstand from 2.30pm on 27 March.

So if you're heading to Eastbourne this weekend, you'll be completely spoiled for choice for ways to spend your days! Happy Easter! 

For more information on all Easter events go to www.VisitEastbourne.com.

Magical Seasonal Events in Eastbourne Not to be Missed this Christmas!

This year, like all others, Eastbourne has an abundance of Christmas events, shows and attractions from now until Christmas Day and beyond! There is sure to be something to suit all of the diverse tastes of visitors (and residents). So, whether your preference is for bustling Christmas markets, for slapstick comedy in the form of 'Panto', or sparkling light shows and Winter Wonderland magic, Eastbourne has a slice of Christmas for everyone to enjoy! 

Neon Noel

In 2015 Eastbourne celebrates it's 700th year as a market town, and to mark the rather remarkable anniversary, Eastbourne's Chamber of Commerce has organised a spectacular 'Neon Noel' luminale light and audio show! The first of it's kind on the South Coast, the light and audio show will project the story and history of Eastbourne onto the Town Hall clock tower, located in Little Chelsea! Kicking off on Friday 4 December at 4.30pm during Little Christmas in Little Chelsea, the dazzling five minute light and audio show will be played at 4.30, 5.30 and 6.30pm every day from 4-13 December; this will be a truly magical and unique experience!

Little Christmas in Little Chelsea

Talking of Little Chelsea, the annual street market celebration 'Little Christmas' in the quaint Little Chelsea area of Eastbourne, brings a host of entertainment, food and drink and market stalls for late night shopping! From 4pm on Friday 4 December, Grove Road and South Street, the heart of Little Chelsea, will bring the sounds and smells of Christmas to life! This year Little Chelsea has gone all out to create the most wonderful of events for people of all ages! Santa can be visited in his grotto, they'll be visits from Disney Princesses, Anna and Else, Cinderella and Belle, Morris dancers, funfair rides, carol singing and Oh ho ho, so much more!

Christmas Markets at Eastbourne Bandstand and Traditional Christmas Concerts

Another brand new Christmas event for this year, Eastbourne's Bandstand will transform into a bustling outdoor Christmas market, reminiscent of traditional markets found in many European cities such as Cologne, Vienna and Brussels! From 9-13 December, the market will be open from 10am until 7pm, where shoppers can make many festive finds, perfect for gifts for loved ones. With festive food, mulled wine and lots more magic to be found at the Bandstand, there is no need to escape to the continent for the magic of a Christmas market! Don't forget about the Bandstand's traditional concerts, which are all free to attend and really bring people together on Christmas Day morning, Boxing Day morning and New Year's Day, to celebrate the season to be jolly!

Drusillas Park Winter Wonderland

The UK's best small zoo, Drusillas, switched on the lights to their own sparkling illumination light show earlier this month! A visit to the Winter Wonderland Illuminations, which has been a very popular attraction for many years, will make for an unforgettably magic experience for the family! A visit to Drusillas this Christmas would be incomplete without meeting and greeting Father Christmas in his cosy Christmas Cottage; for an additional £10, children can meet Father Christmas and receive a great little early Christmas gift. Find him there during weekends from 21 November and then daily from 12 until 23 December, before he must fly back to the North Pole to prepare for his epic journey across the world on Christmas Eve! 

Santa Fun Run

Don a Santa suit and burn some calories before the Christmas indulgence begins! The annual Myaware Santa Fun Run and Walk takes place on Sunday 6 December at 1.30pm! The three mile course sees participants pacing along the prom and ending up at Holywell Tea Chalet, to be rewarded with a hot drink and mince pie. Do you fancy taking part? You'll receive your very own Santa suit to wear whilst you run and keep afterwards and you'll help in raising awareness of and money for Myaware - a charity fighting against the Myasthenia Gravis neuromuscular disease! Don't miss out on this great chance to get into the Christmas spirit and help raise funds for a very good cause!

Coca-Cola Truck stops in Eastbourne

Holidays are coming, Holidays are coming... and so is the big red Coca-Cola Truck! The iconic truck, which has featured in Coca-Cola's famous seasonal adverts for years (2015 is the twentieth anniversary year of the adverts which are recognised around the world), is touring the country in December and Eastbourne was chosen as one of it's pit-stop destinations! You can visit the truck and take your picture next to it on Friday 18 December from 12-8pm, where it will be parked in the pedestrianised precinct of Terminus Road, just outside Debenhams!

Eastbourne Panto - Peter Pan

Of course Christmas would be incomplete without laughter, song and dance in the form of a slapstick comedy pantomime! With a sprinkling of fairy dust, Peter Pan comes to the Devonshire Park Theatre in a panto debut! Eastbourne Theatres will tell the family favourite story of Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up, his little fairy friend Tinker Bell and the Darling children as they take to the skies and adventure in enchanting Neverland! From 11 December 2015 until 17 January 2016 a star-studded cast featuring Ewan Goddard as Peter Pan, Brian Capron as his nemesis Captain Hook, Martyn Knight as Mrs Smee and 'Britain's Got Talent' runners-up, Twist and Pulse, will present the most enchanting of pantomimes, which both adults and children will fall in love with! 


There are many, many more Christmas events for you to discover this month, including after hours shopping at Towner Art Gallery, a plethora of yuletide theatre productions and more visits from Father Christmas! Head to the VisitEastbourne Christmas page to discover more!

Seasons Greetings and Happy Christmas!

Turn Up the Scare Factor in Eastbourne this Halloween!

There is plenty of spine-tingling fun to be had in and around Eastbourne this Halloween. There's big scares and little scares for both big and little people, so read on to discover just some of the eerie events to head to the South East Coast for this October!

Drusillas Park Shriek Week

The interactive children's Halloween Trail at the Redoubt Fortress starting on 23 October through to 1 November, will have your little horrors exploring the spooky 200 year old building, opening creaky trap doors, watching out for ghosts and ghouls along the way and receiving a fang-tastic sweet treat at the end of the trail! Your little ones can also get their hands mucky, getting creative and making spiders, witches hats, friendly ghosts and lots more in the arts and crafts corner!

Twilight Tours at Redoubt Fortress

The chill factor is turned up at the Redoubt Fortress when torch lit guided Twilight Tours of the grounds and museum take place every Friday and Saturday throughout October. Friday nights are far more frightening so are for adults and teenagers only. However, slightly tamer tours on Saturday evenings make it a suitable event for families with young children. 

Be prepared to be scared when your tour guide talks of the ghostly sightings, appearances of mysterious objects and gruesome tales from the Napoleonic years when the Redoubt was used as an encampment for up to 350 men fighting in bloody battles! With many creepy corridors and terrifying tunnels the Twilight Tours are sure to have you covering your eyes!

A Nightmare of Elm Street Redoubt Fortress Film Screening

There are no Twilight Tours on Halloween itself, as the Redoubt turns into a cinema on 31 October, showing the classic 1984 horror A Nightmare on Elm Street! With the film screening taking place in Casemate 20 of the fortress, the cinema experience will be made complete with cinema confectionery in the Outpost Café; what a perfectly spooky way to spend Halloween night! 

Drusillas Park Shriek Week

Drusillas Park Shreik Week has Halloween fun sorted from 24 October until 1 November. Spooky surprises and eerie goings on are around every corner at the park's Haunted Heights! Towner Art Gallery has plenty of Halloween activity all through the half term, from arts and crafts at Spooky Windows and Drawing in the Dark to Haunting Hallowe’en Shadow Show and a late night opening for Tricks’n’treats family fun.

Bateman's, a 17th Century house, are running a Spooky Halloween Trail from 23 October to 2 November which children will love to follow, and on 30 October adults can enjoy a two course dinner, explore the mansion by night and listen to goose bump raising tales at the Halloween Spooky Supper! 

Little Shop of Horrors, Halloween Film Party Fest at Royal Hippodrome

The Royal Hippodrome Theatre has Halloween movie amusement at the ready on 31 October with it's Halloween Film Party Fest, showing family friendly films, Little Shop of Horrors at 8.30pm and Mars Attacks at 11.30pm!

Wyntercon festival at the Winter Garden offers a bewildering array of attractions and events for those with interests in science-fiction, comics, classic horror and anything a little out of this world, from 31 October-1 November.

Observatory Science Centre Halloween Workshops

Discover more Halloween creativity at the Observatory Science Centre in a weekend of spook-tacular activities between 31 October and 1 November.

Don't miss out on all of this hauntingly good Halloween fun in and around Eastbourne, with so many events and attractions offering frighteningly good value for money it would be a crime to miss out! 

If you can brave these Halloween events then head to www.visiteastbourne/halloween for more information about all the events listed, plus many more!  

Your February Half Term Fun in Eastbourne!

We're here to help with the all important planning for half term, providing you with ideas for indoor and outdoor activities to keep children of all ages entertained and happy this February!

The Llama Park at Forest Row is great for outdoors fun whilst enjoying some of the wonderful four-legged creatures of the world. Home to herds of llamas and alpacas, reindeer, Spanish horses and Jacob Sheep, the Llama Park is currently offering 2 for 1 on admission, with a voucher redeemable on VisitEastbourne. The park also offers Llama walks, for those children who want to take the lead. 

The half term will see the first visits by lovable characters, Hello Kitty and the Fat Controller to Drusillas Park, the UK's best small zoo! The Fat Controller will be back running the Thomas and Friend's Railway on 17 February, whilst Hello Kitty fans can meet the Japanese kitty in her Drusillas house, having a souvenir photo taken, on 18 February. 

On Wednesday 18 February, take the children to Towner for the morning to watch Japanese animation Ponyo. This is a free screening of the animated underwater adventure which tells the magical story of a curious young goldfish on her quest to become a human. Inspired by Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid, this is sure to entertain aspiring young mermaids and mermen.

If you go down to the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise... Not quite the woods, but Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters Hotel are hosting a Teddy Bear's Picnic for children and their bears on February 18 at 12-2pm. A picnic will be provided for all children for the price of £7.50 - a seaside picnic not to be missed!

For the more active children Tennis in the Park, at Gildridge Park are holding a Tennis Holiday Camp. Suitable for both beginners and more advanced tennis players, children will learn new skills and improve on existing ones in a fun and relaxed environment. And for parents, relax in the Love All Cafe with delicious breakfast, lunch, snacks, hot and cold drinks served all day long.

It might be half term, but it doesn't mean that children's learning has to stop. The Observatory Science Centre in Herstmonceux has a fun interactive afternoon workshop; 'A Hearty Work Out' for children aged 6-9 on Tuesday 17 February, in which they will learn all about how the heart works to keep them alive. The creative workshop will have them making their own stethoscopes, learning how to check their pulse and making yummy heart melting chocolates.

Enjoy some Disney magic on stage in 'Aladdin JNR' at the Royal Hippodrome, telling the story of 'street rat' Aladdin, as he falls in love with Princess Jasmine and fights with the evil Jaffar for her hand in marriage. Catch an afternoon or evening performance between 18 and 21 February!

For more half-term attractions and events go to the Visit Eastbourne half term page!

Discovering Hello Kitty World at Drusillas

Visiting Drusillas 12 July 2014

I've taken my nephews to Drusillas a few times before so they were extremely excited when I said we were going again. There are so many areas in the park which they love and with one aged 3 and one aged 5, there are so many things for both to enjoy!

We are big fans of Drusillas and were intrigued and excited to see the new Hello Kitty Secret Garden!

Being boys, I knew there would be the odd comment on Hello Kitty being ‘for girls’ but they were still very excited to see the new rides and even more so when they saw ‘Dear Daniel’ was part of it, meaning they could sit in a blue teacup!

In fact, their particular favourites were the teacups and the cars which were perfect for both ages (along with us adults who certainly enjoyed it too!).

I was also surprised at how quickly we were able to get on the rides, especially on such a sunny, busy day. A real bonus! 

We didn’t manage to fit in facepaints and temporary tattoos this time but I know the kids will like it. We thought it was a great idea and saw quite a few children there who were very pleased with their designs!

Hello Kitty Secret Garden certainly gave an added touch to the park after visiting the wonderful zoo, outdoor and indoor play area, riding on Thomas The Tank Engine and so much more!

The zoo is one of our favourite parts of Drusillas and we were lucky enough to see one of the beautiful Red Panda’s this time! We hear that the duo, Mulan and Tibao have since welcomed their offspring!

Thanks for having us Drusillas, we’ll look forward to coming again soon.

Guest Blogger

Find out more at www.drusillas.co.uk

Winter Wonder in Eastbourne!

With Christmas fast approaching, why not watch the magic unfold in Eastbourne over the winter season? Each year is bringing you a bigger and better extravaganza; Be sure to visit our fantastic events to bring you some fun & laughter over the Holidays.

29^th November 2013 – January 2014

Drusilla’s Winter Wonderland

To enjoy the enchantment of Christmas visit Drusilla’s Park at 4:30pm this December to reveal a magnificent winter wonderland display for all of the family. Father Christmas will make his annual return to the zoo where he will be pleased to meet all of the children for fun and magic this Christmas. Also available are hot honey roasted chest nuts, as well as a glass of mulled wine for the adults!

1^st December 2013

Santa Fun Run & Walk, Eastbourne Seafront

For the 7^th year running, the Santa Fun Run is back to bring you some festive cheer! Santa’s will be making their appearance at the Sovereign Centre Eastbourne and ho ho ho-ing their way to Holy well Tea Chalet. The Santa’s are hoping to beat last year’s grand total of £15,000 for the fantastic charity MGA.

2^nd December 2013

Russian State Ballet & Opera House; the Nutcracker; Congress Theatre

After a successful premiere year at the Congress, the Nutcracker is back with its wonderful live orchestra to bring you an unforgettable 3 day Christmas spectacular. The Nutcracker, Swan Lake & Romeo and Juliet are set to bring you a beautiful fairytale for all of the family. Performance times are 7:30pm. Ticket prices range from £22 - £32; with discounts available for over 60’s, students, unemployed, children and disabled.

Also at the Congress Theatre is A Christmas Spectacular, presented by the fabulous Rattonians each year. Come along and join in the fun 6^th-8^th December. £12.50 per ticket; show time starts at 19:30.

3^rd December 2013

Wonderland Late Night Opening & Curator Talk, Towner

Join in with the fun at Eastbourne’s Towner Art Gallery, for a special Christmas Evening Event where you will discover more about the Towner’s Wonderland Exhibition with the collection curator. You can also find some wonderful Christmas gifts at the in store shop.

7^th December 2013

Christmas cheer at the Eastbourne Enterprise Centre

This is your chance to meet Santa every Saturday and Sunday, as well as his reindeers on the 15^th December. There is also a popular gift fair including 35 stalls selling everything you need for Christmas shopping. This takes place on the 1^st December for everyone to enjoy. Receive a complimentary mulled wine and mince pie on any visit which is free! Festive friends will also be on hand to welcome customers hoping to raise even more money than last years total of over £600 for the Chestnut Tree Children’s Charity.

Little Chelsea Christmas, South Street Eastbourne

South Street is once again coming to life for the 4^th year to bring you Christmas Magic offering great festivities for all of the family. Available will be: Santa’s Grotto and his reindeer, carol singing and dancing, a delicious hog roast, market stalls & late night shopping. You can find some special and unique gifts, and why not warm yourself up with a delicious mulled wine & mince pie. An evening not to be missed! The fun starts at 5:30-10:00pm.

Stargazing with Eastbourne Astronomical Society, Redoubt Fortress and Military Museum

Ever wanted to explore more of the night sky and become familiar with constellation patterns and galaxies? Why not join the Eastbourne Astronomical Society as they host a fun filled evening stargazing at the Redoubt Fortress. Beginners are all welcome as well as experienced; the event is free with hot drinks available. Warm clothes are advisable.

13^th December – 12^th January 2014

Aladdin! Traditional Fun Filled Pantomime, Devonshire Park Theatre  

Everybody loves A Panto! So why not join in the fun? It is back once again ensured to entertain you and the family, taking you on a spectacular adventure. Featuring your favourite characters Wishee Washee, Widow Twankey and of course the fabulous Genie the lamp. Tickets are selling fast! Contact the Devonshire Park Theatre for more details.

14^th December 2013

Historic Old Town Christmas Party & Seasonal Street Market, Eastbourne Old Town

Why not venture into Eastbourne’s Historical Old Town to visit the seasonal street market full of wonderful Christmas gifts and joy. Eastbourne’s oldest village also welcomes you to visit the historical St Mary’s Church, Manor Gardens, Motcombe Lake and Pilgrims House.

Jongleurs Comedy On The Road, Royal Hippodrome Theatre

The Royal Hippodrome Theatre welcomes Comedy on the Road on 14^th December 2014 with an exciting line up of comedians. A wonderful night out in the run up to Christmas! Tickets are £12/£10 concessions.

25^th/26^th December 2013

Christmas Day, Boxing Day & New Year’s Day

Eastbourne’s silver band are returning to yet again bring a morning of entertainment you on Christmas Day with 90 minutes of festive tunes and fun. Why not join in with the magical Christmas Spirit and watch Eastbourne’s longest tradition at the Redoubt Fortress at 10:45am. Also available are hot and cold drinks including mulled wine on a lovely winter’s day. 

Family Summer breaks in Eastbourne 2013

Family Summer breaks in Eastbourne 2013

Eastbourne is the sunniest place in the UK and with an extensive events programme which is well under way, a mix of family attractions, the South Downs and a stunning seaside, Eastbourne has something for everyone to enjoy.

Eastbourne has over 3 miles of unspoilt beaches and promenade. There are safe bathing zones, showers, toilets, refreshments and beach merchandise available along with deck chairs, parasols and sun loungers available to hire. Kidsafe safety wristbands are also available along with the chance for children to take part in lifeguard courses on the seafront.

As well as pebbled beaches, the seafront has outdoor tennis courts, a skate park and windsurfing lessons at Spray Watersports available.

Eastbourne is the gateway to the National South Downs Park where there are miles of down land ready for family picnics! The Downs are also home to the Seven Sisters Sheep centre, just a mile away from Beachy Head and offering families a unique opportunity to meet over 50 different breeds of sheep, goats, pigs, ducks, chickens, rabbits! Sheering of the sheep also happens this time of year, so a perfect time to go!

To combine the stunning seaside and the South Downs National Park, visitors can take an adventure boat trip from the Sovereign Harbour to Beachy Head with Sussex Voyages. Trips vary from 30 minutes to an hour and kids go free until the end of July with the visiteastbourne voucher – downloadable online.

Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet Member for Tourism and Leisure, Cllr Carolyn Heaps said “Eastbourne really is the perfect getaway for families. With a list of outdoor and indoor activities, a range of accommodation and stunning unspoilt beaches, there is something for everyone to enjoy!”

Eastbourne is the home of the first outdoor water park in the South East; Fort Fun Splash Park. Fort Fun is a family amusement park with a variety of attractions. Visitors can enjoy the super splash park and various rides plus an 18 hole golf course. In addition there is an indoor soft play area.

Just along from Fort Fun, families can also visit Treasure Island; a pirate themed adventure park where children can climb the shipwreck with slides, bridges, netted walkways and zip slides plus a paddling pool and sandy beach in spacious parkland.

In the same area of the Seafront, Princes Park is the home to another outdoor splash pad. Children can safely play amongst the fountains and small pools after visiting the play parks, large lake and café.

Eastbourne has a vibrant urban sports scene with skating showing to be a popular activity. Skate lessons and discos are available from the Sk8 School and Eastbourne Skating Club at the Sovereign Centre and skate parks. All ages are welcome to join in the fun whilst visiting Eastbourne!

The Napoleonic Redoubt Fortress is located on Eastbourne seafront and was built to defend the south coast from Napoleon’s forces. Visitors can come and discover over 200 years of history with hands on children’s activities, daily cannon firing and paintballing! In addition refreshments are available from the vintage themed café; The Outpost.

To get to these attractions and to take an enjoyable ride down the seafront, visitors can take the Dotto Train, stopping at destinations from Harbour Reach to Holywell.

To add to the exciting list of attractions, Eastbourne offers Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway, a railway adventure where visitors can travel for nearly a mile on the 1/8^th scale miniature trains. There is also a nature walk around the lake, adventure playground, model railways, café and gift shop.

For entertainment throughout the summer holidays, the Bandstand hosts Kids Party Nights every Tuesday evening from 23 July – 27 August. The shows are a real treat for the summer with fun songs from Mamma Mia, Glee and many more. Plus there is FREE face painting.

There are some great things to do in Eastbourne that won’t cost a penny, including rock pooling in the marine conservation area at Falling Sands followed by a picnic in the hidden Cliffside Italian Gardens; or cycling on the Downs, Cuckoo trail or Eastern seafront. Visitors could also try picking their own fruit from Sharnfold farm where there is FREE entry to see animals, a walking trail and playground.

Eastbourne is set to host Eastbourne Extreme and Airbourne.

Eastbourne’s popular extreme sports festival returns to the eastern seafront on 13 and 14 July with a great line up combining an exciting mix of air, land and water based outdoor pursuits.

Airbourne, Eastbourne’s International Airshow takes over the seafront from 15 – 18 August. The four day FREE seafront airshow will see daily displays from the Red Arrows along with the Belgian Air Component F-16, The Typhoon, Chinook, Tucano and many more!

Just outside of Eastbourne, families can visit the multi award winning Drusillas Park Zoo, which claimed the Tourism South East Visitor Attraction of the Year award in 2010/11. Home to hundreds of fascinating creatures, this family run park promises plenty of animal magic for young and old. The Thomas & Friends™ train offers rides all year round and there’s fun whatever the weather in the indoor Amazon Adventure soft play area.

Also on Eastbourne’s doorstep is Pevensey Castle. Visitors can explore the castle and museum after just a 5 minute car or train ride from Eastbourne. Alternatively visitors can explore science on a grand scale at the Observatory Science Centre in Herstmonceux.

Eastbourne has over 7500 bed spaces available in hotels and guesthouses, with a large portion of them located on the seafront. There are many family friendly hotels including the Guest House East, a modern, stylish, highly rated guesthouse located just a pebble’s throw from the beach. Family rooms are available sleeping up to 5, which come with a kitchen so families can prepare food if required. Breakfast is also available in the hotel.

For more information go to www.visiteastbourne.com

Father’s day discounts in Eastbourne!

This Fathers Day, Eastbourne has many attractions and events for dads to attend with some discounted entry fee.

Dads can visit the Redoubt for FREE, head down to Legends day at the AEGON Tennis or watch a show at the Bandstand for FREE, as well as many other activities.

           

The Redoubt Fortress had a makeover over the winter months and has recently opened a brand new exciting exhibition called; Tinker Tailor Solider Button Maker. On Sunday 16 June, the fortress and museum is celebrating Fathers Day by offering FREE entry to dads visiting with their children. Tickets can also be used for a FREE return entry before 17 November!

Entry price is £4.50 for adults, £2.50 for children, £3.25 for seniors and students and flexible family ticket is £12.

The Redoubt opens 10am – 5pm on Sunday 16 June.

The Bandstand is in full swing this season with shows ranging from traditional afternoon concerts to tribute nights! To celebrate Fathers day, the Bandstand is welcoming fathers for FREE to any concert from Sunday 16 June – Friday 21 June. Dads attending with their children can watch:

• Traditional Afternoon Concert with Mayfield Band 16 June 3pm.
• Sunday Night at the proms with Wealden Brass 16 June 8pm.
• 1812 Firework Concert with Eastbourne Silver Band 19 June 8pm.
• Queen tribute show with Mercury 21 June 8pm.

To purchase tickets go to www.eastbournebandstand.co.uk

As Fathers day approaches, so does the AEGON International Tennis Tournament. 12 of the world’s top 20 look set to the return to Eastbourne’s Devonshire Park from 15 – 22 June, whilst BBC broadcast the tournament.                                                          

The tournament is also celebrating Fathers day with Legends day at the Tennis! Legends day makes a welcome return on Sunday 16 June with Greg Rusedski and Mark Phillippoussis facing off in a Fathers Day tussle, before they team up with former world number 1 Lindsay Davenport and two time Wimbledon doubles champion Rennae Stubbs in mixed doubles. For tickets go to www.aegoninternational.co.uk

  

Award winning contemporary art museum, Towner is currently exhibiting some great pieces and exhibitions. Including Fiona Rae; Maybe you can live on the moon in the next century the People and Portraits collection. This Fathers Day, Dads get a FREE drink in the Towner café located upstairs offering a balcony with beautiful views of the Devonshire Park area of Eastbourne.

Dads can also get in FREE at Drusillas Park on Fathers day! Drusillas are inviting Dads to get in FREE by signing up to discounts@drusillas.co.uk with their name, postal address and email address by 4pm on Monday 10 June.

Why not take your dad to Lloyds Lanes for bowling or laser quest? Dads go free! Book now on 01323 509999.

For an alternative Fathers day treat what about Tea at Batemans?

Afternoon tea at Batemans is not just dainty cakes and pastries, its hot mini Yorkshire pudding with gravy, posh fish finger roll, home made mini pastry served with rustic sandwich and the ever popular Bateman’s classic cream tea, washed down with a good strong cup of tea. All for just £12.50 per person. Call 01435 882302 to find out more.

All offers are for Fathers visiting with their children.

For more information go to www.visiteastbourne.com