Airbourne welcomes Disney’s Planes with the Matadors!

Celebrating the new feature film release of Disney’s Planes, in UK cinemas 16 August 2013, Disney and the Matadors Aerobatic Team present Team Dusty and Team Ripslinger to Eastbourne’s skies for an out of this world display at Airbourne.

Airbourne 15-18 August is just weeks away and the line up is phenomenal this year. The Matadors are undergoing a Planes makeover and will be entertaining crowds with a movie inspired display!

The two fully Planes branded Sbach XtremeAir XA41s are piloted by air racing champion Paul Bonhomme (Team Dusty) and Steve Jones (Team Ripslinger).

From above the world of Cars and Cars 2, Planes is an action packed 3D animated comedy adventure featuring Dusty, a plane with dreams of competing as a high flying air racer. But Dusty’s not exactly built for racing and happens to be afraid of heights. Dusty turns to a seasoned naval aviator who helps him qualify to take on the defending race circuit champ; Ripslinger. Dusty’s courage is put to the ultimate test as he aims to reach heights he never dreamed possible.

Visitors should look out for the Disney Racing Hangar near the arena, where they will also have the chance to meet the pilots, test their flying skills and participate in other fun activities! More details including meet and greet times can be found in the Airbourne Programme.

For more information on Eastbourne Airbourne go to www.eastbourneairshow.co.uk

Let’s celebrate National Picnic Week 17-23 June!

There is one thing us Brits have always done well and that is the Great British Picnic!

This week is National Picnic week and what a perfect opportunity to embrace the beautiful outdoor sites of Eastbourne. Eastbourne has an ever growing list of perfect picnic spots offering different atmospheres; from fun at the beach to the tranquil setting of a park, from the wide open South Downs National Park to the secret spot at Italian Gardens, Eastbourne has something to suit everyone.

The main factor to a Great British picnic is the location so let’s go through ideas of where to go for your picnic in Eastbourne:

South Downs National Park                                                           

The South Downs National Park covers an area of 1600 km² and offers breathtaking landscapes and views. Known as one of Britain’s Breathing Spaces, the park has green rolling pastures, open spaces, ancient woodlands and river valleys. There is so much to do on the Downs like walking, cycling, horse riding, visiting heritage sites and of course having a picnic!                                                                

Visitors can picnic at Beachy Head, the Seven Sisters Country Park, Cuckmere valley, the Long Man of Wilmington and Downland villages.

Down the Beach                                                                    

Eastbourne boasts three miles of clean unspoilt beaches with safe bathing zones, showers, toilets, refreshments and deckchairs available. The sunny Eastbourne seaside is the perfect summertime picnic spot where visitors can go for a paddle and get an ice-cream after when the picnic foods run out!                                                        

The seafront stretches from East to West, the West offering a more happening and safe environment. You could also hire a beach hut! Go to the seafront office by the Bandstand to find out more.

Princes Park                                                                                               

The green flag quality awarded family park on the eastern seafront has a large lake, rose and aromatic herb gardens, plenty of open parkland plus two play areas, new modern splash pad, putting, bowling greens and Pistachio in the Park café. With all this for the family to do, it is a great place to take the basket and blanket for a picnic! With all these facilities, visitors could spend all day there!

Gildredge Park and Manor Gardens                                             

Gildredge Park is a family park with grass areas, a new skate park and children’s playground, plus quiet areas of pleasant herbaceous borders, rockeries and sensory plants. The park is located not far from the town centre so those travelling on the train/bus can get to it easily. The park has a secluded feel to it whilst offering large open spaces for Frisbee, football etc.

Hampden Park                                                                          

Hampden is a popular park with a play area, large lake with an abundance of wildlife, shady lawns, an extensive area of woodland and a tea chalet. Both the shady and open spaces are great locations to celebrate National Picnic Week!

Italian Gardens and The Helen Garden                                           

The Helen Garden is a secluded garden on the western end of the seafront with a play area, bowls, putting, petanque and a café to enjoy the glorious sea views. The area is quiet and peaceful offering a tranquil environment. Italian Gardens is hidden just behind The Helen Garden at Holywell. It is a secret hideaway nestling in the corner of the Cliffside. If it is peace you are after, this destination is the one!

AEGON International Tennis                                                            

As National Picnic Week has fallen on the same week as the tennis, why not take your picnic there? Or grab some of the fantastic food sold on site while watching some of the exciting games throughout the week! Take a look here for ticket availability and book today! http://www.lta.org.uk/fans-major-events/LTA-summer-grass-court-events/AEGON-International/

Now you know where to go for your picnic make sure you kit up your basket with enough food and drink for all, suncream and a brolly. Also remember to kindly take your rubbish with you.

Classic picnic food consists of sandwiches, sausage rolls and strawberries but if you fancy something different, how about getting some fish and chips from one of Eastbourne’s finest chippies on the way!

For more information on any of these sites go to www.visiteastbourne.com

Happy Picnic Week! J

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

Magnificent Motors returns with a drive in movie night!

Magnificent Motors is famously one of the biggest FREE motoring spectaculars on the South Coast and it returns on 4 – 5 May for the 10^th time with a dazzling anniversary display of over a century of motoring and a drive in movie night on Saturday 4 May.

Returning to the show’s original seafront venue after two years in the park, Eastbourne’s Western Lawns will welcome back over 600 vintage and classic cars, motorbikes, buses and more at the two day festival.

In addition to a display of 600 classic and vintage vehicles, there will also be a drive in movie night showing classic car movie, ‘The Italian Job’.

Tickets for the drive in movie can be bought at Eastbourne theatres box office call 01323 412000/ 415555 and are £15 per car, passenger numbers not to exceed seatbelts. Walk in tickets are £5 for adults and £3 for children bring your own deckchair or blanket some limited seating will be available. Doors open at 6:30pm for a 7:30pm showing of the film on Saturday 4 May.

The drive in will also be running some great competitions! The first is the Italian Job Mini Show and Shine. Owners can pimp their minis to the style of Italian Job era. 1^st prize is two tickets to the Beer and Cider by The Sea with £10 beer tokens.

The second is a Michael Caine look-a-like competition where the best will win two tickets to Cirrus rooms Hospitality area at Airbourne.

To buy tickets for the drive in night and to register for the competitions please email events@eastbourne.gov.uk or for more information on the event and exhibiting go to www.magnificentmotors.co.uk

What to do if it’s HOT OR NOT this weekend!

 We haven’t had the best spring weather-wise so far, but as I write this post, I can see the sun poking through the clouds and not a drop of rain (or snow) in sight.

Weather reports are showing that the weekend and Sunday in particular will bring us some high temperatures and fantastic sunshine!

So we have put together a few things to do to make the most of the sunshine!

If it’s hot…

Ok this is optimistic but we are the sunshine coast after all…….

The beach!

Eastbourne has over 3 miles of wide, clean promenade and unspoilt beaches. The water may be slightly cold this time of year but a paddle wouldn’t hurt. To accompany a relaxing day on the beach, there are various cafes including the new American Airstream style café at The Wish Tower and at the opposite end of the seafront The new Outpost café at The Redoubt Fortress.

For a kid’s day out, Eastbourne has got it covered!

Eastbourne Miniature steam Railway, located on Lottbridge road, is the perfect place to visit on a sunny day. It is a railway adventure in Eastbourne with steam and diesel train journeys, line side nature walks, an adventure playground, railway style café, gift shop and more!

It wouldn’t be spring without a trip to Seven Sisters Sheep Farm! The farm is currently in lambing season and allows visitors to see over 50 varieties of sheep and lambs along side pigs, goats and chickens!

Fort Fun has both indoor and outdoor play areas so whatever the weather there is something to do there.

Similarly, Treasure Island offers an indoor soft play as well as an outdoor adventure park and golf.

Both have picnic areas and restaurants with Treasure Island offering delicious food and drink at The Beach Deck!

Or how about a day out at Knockhatch Adventure Park or Drusillas Park? Enjoy a fun, action packed visit at Knockhatch with new wave runner water ride, runaway train simulator, indoor Froggies soft play, children’s farm, jumping pillows and rowing boats! Or spend the day at Drusillas and enjoy the widely regarded best small zoo in Europe along with play areas, a maze, Thomas the Tank Engine and Lemurland.

A perfect way to see the delights of Eastbourne seafront is by hopping on the Dotto train! The Dotto train offers regular services operating from Easter – 2 November from Holywell to Harbour reach. Stops include the Wish Tower slopes, Pier, Treasure Island, Fort Fun and Soveriegn centre.

For those who are want a peaceful walk this weekend with a loved one or group of friends, what about a trip over the South Downs. Eastbourne lies on the eastern side of the start/end of the South Downs way providing a mostly bridle path for walkers, horse riders and cyclists!

Or if you simply want to sit in the sun over lunch and a glass of pimms, head down to the sophisticated Sovereign harbour to find a selection of restaurants and shops on the waterside. Restaurants include: Gringos, Picassos, Simply Italian and Thai Marina.

If it’s not…

Even though Eastbourne is the sunniest place in the UK and we are sure to see the sun this weekend, it is a good idea to have a few indoor ideas just in case.

For an indoor family day how about the Soveriegn Centre where you can enjoy a large family pool, baby pool, training pool and slides and splash area.

Or try out one of the many indoor soft play centres including Leo’s play den, The PlayStation, Rockys and Treasure Island.

Others can enjoy the exhibitions on at Towner with Kelly Richardson’s; Legion exhibition finishing this weekend and The East Sussex Open running throughout April.

The Eastbourne festival also runs throughout April and this weekend there are events from SKA Toons, Red Door Secret Supper Club, The Grand Éclair, The Revenge Fantasy Club and Charleys Aunt.

Whatever the weather visitors can enjoy the newly opened refurbished Redoubt Fortress. Visitors can receive a 2 for 1 on museum entrance in the 200 year old fortress and get 2 for 1 on hot drinks in the new vintage themed café The Outpost.

For more information go to www.visiteastbourne.com

Redoubt fights back against arctic chill with heart-warming offers

Despite having the coldest Easter on record, The Redoubt Fortress successfully opened for the season and warmed up customers in the new café; The Outpost after visitors browsed the refurbished interesting museum.

The Redoubt Fortress tripled the amount of visitors this Easter weekend compared to last year. Even though this time last year saw record temperatures compared to this year’s sunny but chilly weekend.

The Fortress offered free entrance to the museum over Easter and they are delighted to announce further offers! Visitors can receive 2 for 1 entry into the museum or half price family tickets for the rest of April! This also includes a FREE RETURN VISIT at a later date.

In addition the new vintage café; The Outpost is offering BUY ONE GET ONE FREE on hot drinks to warm up visitors. The Outpost is the perfect seafront café and can be visited by the public even if they are not attending the museum.

  

There is still a week left of the Easter school holidays and with these offers, the Redoubt makes an inexpensive, fun day out where kids can try on the uniforms!

The Fortress has a jam packed year of events ahead starting with the Eastbourne Bonfire Society Rock event this Saturday 6 April.

Membership to become a Friend of the Redoubt is also available, which gives discounts, special offers and newsletters, find out how to join on your next visit.

To find out more go to www.eastbournemuseums.co.uk or to print a voucher go to www.visiteastbourne.com

Reasons to come to Eastbourne over Easter!

It’s all going on this Easter and Eastbourne has a wide variety of attractions and events taking place over the Easter weekend and half term.

Easter weekend starts on Friday 29 March and Eastbourne has a jam packed list of things to do for the whole weekend starting with the grand opening of The Redoubt Fortress. The fortress is offering free entrance over the whole weekend as it opens for the season after improvements over the winter. 

Good Friday also sees the Fat Controller at Drusillas Park! As families get on board Thomas to view the park, they can meet the Fat controller at the same time! Drusillas is located just outside of Eastbourne, it is widely regarded as the best small zoo in Europe and there are an array of rides and things to do! Drusillas also welcomes Mike the Knight on bank holiday Monday 1 April.

Towner; the award winning contemporary art museum also gives visitors a reason to visit our sunny town. On Saturday 30 March Towner has events for both children and adults. There is the ‘Bunnies and Bears early years play session’ and the ‘Collection store tours.’ Both require booking.

The Eastbourne steam miniature railway is a great place to go on Easter Sunday! They are holding an Easter Eggspress event where customers get a free Easter egg on entrance to eat between rides on the fantastic miniature railways.

To follow a day at the miniature railway, visitors can go to the famous Easter Concert at the Eastbourne Bandstand. The traditional concert comes with the towns very own “Eastbourne Silver Band” and is a delight to watch. The concert starts at 3pm on Sunday 31 March and doors open at 2.30pm. Tickets are FREE but booking is essential.

One thing that can’t be forgotten over the Easter holidays is that when spring has sprung, it is lambing season at the Seven Sisters sheep farm. The sheep farm that allows visitors to see 50 different breeds of sheep, goats, pigs, ducks, chickens and rabbits, is located at the South Downs national park- Just a mile away from Beachy Head. It is an annual excitement to greet the lambs on arrival and a great day out with the family.

There is also fun at the Observatory science centre! From Good Friday to Easter Monday, visitors can go to the centre for a hands-on science trail whilst discovering the domes and telescopes of the world famous astronomical observatory. There is also an alternative Easter egg hunt over the Easter weekend and exhibitions over the holidays.

To find out more about these attractions and to see what else is on over Easter go to www.visiteastbourne.com

Eastbourne Tourist Information Adds National Theatre Tokens to One-Stop-Shop

Residents and visitors to Eastbourne Tourist Information Centre (TIC) can now stock up on national theatre tokens during their town centre shop, as the TIC adds the nationwide gift voucher scheme to their wide range of merchandise.

National theatre gift tokens are available from £5 and up and can be used at a range of theatres nationwide, including the Eastbourne Theatres group.  With Eastbourne theatre tickets, Bandstand concert tickets and a range of bus, coach and rail travel cards also available to buy, visitors and residents can easily plan their travel and entertainment in one easy shop.

Eastbourne Tourist Information Centre attracts over a quarter of a million visitors every year and stocks a range of gifts and souvenirs, along with maps and visitor guides.

As well as booking National Express and Euroline coach tickets, the TIC is also the only agency in Eastbourne selling the popular Daysave and Groupsave rail tickets, providing all day travel across the Southern Rail network from just £7 per person (for a group of four), popular for cheap day trips to London. 

Bus travellers can also pick up Brighton & Hove bus tickets for all day travel to and from Brighton for just £4, with stops at many South Downs highlights along the route, popular with walkers visiting the Seven Sisters Country Park.

A range of maps and guides also highlight the best routes for walking in the South Downs National Park, and visitors can pick up an Eastbourne Heritage Walk guide for just £3.

Eastbourne Tourist Information Centre is based at Cornfield Road, Eastbourne BN21 4QA and is currently open 9.15am to 4.30pm (Mon – Fri) and 9.15pm to 1pm (Sat).  Opening times will increase in March for mid season and again in May for high season.