Discover Your Saxon Roots this Sussex Day

Eastbourne will be celebrating Sussex Day this year with free entry to key attractions, plus historical talks and tours which celebrate all things Sussex.

On Monday 16 June, from guided walks to behind the scenes tours, residents and visitors alike can discover their Sussex roots and learn to speak Saxon or enjoy great offers on a Sussex Cream Tea.                       

The annual county-wide celebration, which takes place on St Richard’s Day, marks the anniversary of the patron saint of Sussex every 16th June.  However it is from the ‘South Saxons’ that the county took its name, after they landed in AD477, later making Sussex a kingdom in its own right. 

To celebrate this the Eastbourne Ancestors exhibition will be revealing more dark secrets in a talk at 2pm at The Pavilion, with the chance to try on traditional Saxon costumes and try speaking the Saxon language. 

Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet Member for Tourism, Leisure & Sports Services, Cllr Carolyn Heaps said “There are so many things to celebrate and commemorate this year, from 40 years of the Aegon International tennis, to the 100 year anniversary of World War One, that this is the perfect year to discover our Sussex roots.”

Heritage fans can look forward to free entry at the Redoubt Fortress throughout the day, including a talk at 11am on the county’s very own Royal Sussex Regiment.  With famous war poet Edmund Blunden serving in the regiment, an exhibition opens on 14 June exploring his life and work, particularly during World War One.

Art lovers can enjoy a free 30 minute guided tour at Towner at 11.30am and explore the exhibitions including Sussex based artists such as Eric Ravilious and the Bloomsbury group at ‘Designing the Everyday’ which runs until 31 August.

After a busy day of tours, The Pavilion will be offering Sussex Cream Teas at the bargain offer of just £5 for two people.

Visitors can also discover more offers for Sussex Day at VisitEastbourne.com including free entry to the Ashdown Forest Llama Park and 50% off at Treasure Island’s adventure golf.

For more information on all events and offers visit VisitEastbourne.com or LoveSussex.com.

Light, green, runners abound

Guest Blogger: Alf Empty

April brings British Summer Time, light in the evenings, green in the hedgerows and runners in abundance where once there were none.  BST meant my first evening run without a head torch, where I had seen no other runner for several months, the light brought out about twelve.

I have midweek routes that I really enjoy, with enough interest for me to relish my familiarity rather than suffer from boredom.  April brings a green wave, May covers the Hawthorn in white foam, June will paint the forest floor blue ... and so it goes on.  In any season, my long midweek run is the big confidence builder, more so than my long, long run.  I often meditate that my evening run is more than twice the distance I ran on my first long, long run.  The fact that I don't find this a big deal, reminds me how far I have come since I started running.

 Spring in the hedgerows.





Some runners will have decided that this is the year that they will run their first marathon.  Those who have chosen Beachy Head, as I did, will be starting their training now if they have not done so already.  I envy them the fresh taste of the experience to come.  It starts when you commit and from your first long run, and continues for some time after the marathon while you come to terms with all you have achieved.  It's a life changing journey, to be enjoyed from first to last.  Confidence sometimes wavers, I find it comforting to know that - DO all the training, don't skimp, but do treat yourself kindly and you WILL succeed and you will recover quickly.

 - Alf Emty
Half full or half empty, it's the same amount of beer.

Look Out for Our A-Z of Sussex and Win a Fantastic Coastal Escape Holiday

Did you know Eastbourne has joined a national marketing campaign, launched in the Daily Telegraph, to promote Sussex for coastal breaks?

Featuring a fantastic A-Z of things to see and do along the Sussex coast, the campaign launched last week in a special Coastal England supplement in the Daily Telegraph.  The campaign sees a range of fresh and unique coastal experiences promoted through VisitEngland, The Telegraph and Love Sussex websites.

Eastbourne is set in the heart of one of the most stunning, cultural and sunniest coastlines in the country.  By joining forces with neighbouring destinations and VisitEngland, we are able to encourage more people to stay along the Sussex coast and show an alternative to the traditional seaside holiday.

The campaign is a joint venture with VisitEngland, VisitBrighton, VisitWorthing, 1066 Country and Arundel’s Sussex by the Sea working together to produce holiday ideas to encourage visits to the Sussex coast.

Part funded by the Regional Growth Fund, the campaign features an A-Z of Sussex, showing a more contemporary view of the coast and targeting affluent escape seekers with sea air, sunsets and a vibrant arts scene. 

Read the A-Z of the Sussex Coast

Win a 5 Star Holiday With Attractions Passes and Champagne River Cruise

The campaign also features a fantastic competition through the Telegraph website to win a four night luxury break in Sussex at Eastbourne’s five star Grand Hotel, also Britain’s top rated coastal hotel. 

The prize includes meals and tickets to many top Sussex attractions including a champagne cruise on the River Arun, a day pass in Brighton to attractions such as the Royal Pavilion, lunch at English’s Seafood Restaurant, tickets to Worthing Theatres, tickets to the Jerwood, lunch at Webbe’s, plus Redoubt Fortress entry passes and Eastbourne Bandstand concert tickets.

To enter online visit Telegraph Competitions

For more information visit LoveSussex.com/coastal-escapes or VisitEngland.com/morecoastal.

I'm too busy to train! From our guest blogger: Alf Empty

The subject of a blog I read recently was staying motivated for long, weekend runs.  My approach is to plan weekend runs carefully to include as much interest as possible.  This usually means fine scenery, but also includes variety in terrain.  I don't think of long runs as training, they are days out.  I apply pretty much the same principles when choosing events, which is why Beachy Head is such a favourite.

My last few long runs have been no exception, full days out in the Peak District.  Highlights have been; surreal weathered boulders by low winter sun, bare white birch woods in the mist, paths by shimmering rivers, snaking ridges, the incredible Alport Castles and sunsets from the last summit of the day. 

There is nothing like running from one beautiful place to another to keep one motivated. Keep the journey interesting too and motivation to stop becomes more of a problem.  I have that one sorted as well, I make sure that I have a favourite food in the car.  Chipotle, bean and cheese wraps are my current favourite. 

So there we are, I am far too busy enjoying myself to 'train'.  Now does any one have any tips on making the laundry after a day on muddy hills appealing?

- Alf Emty

Half full or half empty, it's the same amount of beer.

Events to get fit for in Eastbourne!

So January came and after being on the healthy side of Christmas, it was easy to go to the gym and ditch takeaways for salads. Then came February and the chance of falling off the wagon just got higher. We’ve put a few ideas together to work towards your fitness goal whilst enjoying Eastbourne. There are so many sporting events to get involved with and what great motivation to keep training!

• Eastbourne has another great year ahead planned for sports starting with the Eastbourne Half Marathon 2014, taking place on Sunday 2 March. The half marathon starts at Princes Park, taking runners down the length of the seafront, through Meads and the Sovereign Harbour. The aim is to raise as much money as possible for local charities. Over the last 9 years, the half marathon has raised over £110,000 for charities. What great motivation to take part! Time is of the essence though as it is just weeks away!

• Join in with the Eastbourne sports festival 17-18 May. The event allows a variety of sports taster sessions delivered across two days by local sports clubs and organisations using the four council’s sports centres; Sports Park, Hampden Park SC, Cavendish SC and Shinewater SC. The festival is for the whole family to enjoy, each participant pays just £1 per activity and it all goes to NSPCC. You can expect anything from scuba diving to golf and from kickboxing to football.

• If Cycling is your thing then there is plenty of time to train for the Eastbourne Cycling Festival on 1 June. Last year, there were 7 main events throughout the day, including the Eastbourne 5K, Eastbourne Dualthlon, Eastbourne Sportive and Eastbourne Road Racing along with Kid’s events and retail exhibitions. This year is set to be even better. So it’s time to get back on those wheels, raise some money for charity and enjoy a day surrounded by Eastbourne fantastic scenery.

• The Tour Of Sussex Cycle race is back after a successful year in 2013. The race on 4 – 6 July starts is set in three stages incorporating various climbs and sprints form Lewes to Eastbourne. This is a great event and worth training for!

• Having over 3 miles of un-spoilt beaches means that when it comes to swimming events in Eastbourne, the sea is the destination! Try the Eastbourne sprint triathlon and aquathlon on 12 July.

• If it urban sports you are in to then Eastbourne Extreme is for you. The weekend event takes place on 12 and 13 July at the Eastern end of the seafront. Visitors can expect to see and take part in water sports, skating, bmxing, roller derby and so much more!

• If you’re thinking long term and want a real challenge, then the Beachy Head Marathon or 10k is for you. Taking place on 25 October, the Beachy Head Marathon is a scenic gem and has been described by subscribers to Runners World as one of the most iconic events in the country. It covers 300 steps and 14 gates, passing through Jevington, Alfriston, Litlington, Friston Forest, The Cuckmere Valley and Seven Sisters, including Birling Gap and Beachy Head. 

Other events to work towards include Race for Life in the summer and The Santa Fun Run at Christmas.

Eastbourne is also the perfect place to get fit outdoors with over 3 miles of un spoilt seafront, and the South Downs National Park on the doorstep.

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

Fight The Post Christmas Blues in Eastbourne

Happy New Year from all at visiteastbourne! Don’t worry, there’s plenty to do over the next couple of months to fight those post Christmas blues.

If you’re still feeling festive, there is still time to catch the Panto; Aladdin at the Devonshire Park Theatre until 12 January! Tickets start from £12 with two performances a day!

If you are looking for something a little more tranquil, why not join the Eastbourne Astronomical Society at the Redoubt Fortress for some stargazing! The free event takes place Saturday 11 January, 8 March and 5 April. It provides an opportunity for beginners to become familiar with the night sky, learn the constellation patterns, locate hard to find star clusters, nebulae and galaxies and to explore the surface of the Moon and planets under the guidance of experiences observers – as well as for informal discussion and the exchange of ideas.

For those who want to indulge in some culture, award winning art museum Towner opens its new exhibition on 25 January, running until 6 April. The exhibition; John Skoog: Redoubt is free and incorporates works with film and video. Until then, visit Towner to see the Wonderland exhibition.

For history buffs, the Eastbourne Ancestors exhibition comes to the Pavilion on 1 February. This groundbreaking project has scientifically studied the human bones from the collection, made some amazing discoveries about your ancestors and is now ready to tell you their stories.

To bring history to life, experts have even recreated some of these people so that you can gaze into the faces of the past.

The free exhibition will put the flesh on the bones of people from Eastbourne’s distant past and will give back a little life story to those long passed.

What about a night of laughter with the Screaming Blue Murder comedy club on 7 February at the Winter Garden. Enjoy some fantastic entertainment from Rob Heeney who has been dubbed as a ‘deluded genius’ by Johnny Vegas, Jessica Fostekew who performed on Stephen K Amos’ Radio 4 show, BBC Breakfast and supported Micky Flanagan, and Elis James a bilingual stand up performer! Food and drinks are available to make an enjoyable night out.

The days will soon be getting longer and Eastbourne has another exciting year ahead. Plan your visit with these dates for your diary:

• Eastbourne Half Marathon - 2 March
• Magnificent Motors – 3 & 4 May
• Beer and Cider by the Sea – 23 – 25 May
• Eastbourne Carnival – 31 May
• Eastbourne Cycling Festival 1 June
• AEGON International Tennis – 14-21 June
• 999 Emergency Services Display – 5 & 6 July
• Eastbourne Extreme – 12 & 13 July
• Eastbourne Lammas Festival – 26 & 27 July
• Airbourne International Airshow 14 – 17 August
• Eastbourne Beer Festival – 9 – 11 October
• Beachy Head Marathon – 25 October

Find out more about all up coming events and things to do in Eastbourne on www.visiteastbourne.com

Our Exclusive Interview With Santa!

To our VisitEastbourne fans… you’ve stuck by us all year round through scorching heat waves and the December wind and rain, so here’s our Christmas gift to all you good girls and boys – an exclusive interview with the man himself…  Santa Claus!

Santa, we are delighted you are taking time out of your busy pre-Christmas schedule to talk to us today.  You must be busy at your Christmas Cottage in Drusillas Park, how’s it all going?

Everything is going very merrily indeed. I have a lot of help from my elves and we are having a lovely time meeting all the boys and girls at Drusillas Park and finding out what they would like for Christmas. My Cottage is bursting with presents the elves have made ready for delivery on Christmas Eve and children can sit on my sleigh, which is parked just outside, to have their photo taken.

Have the people of Eastbourne been good this year?

Yes, Eastbourne has such a wonderful community spirit I think you’ve all been amazing this year.  Your Santa Fun Run event for charity tickled me greatly, what fun I had jogging along! And your 12 days of Christmas Competition was a great celebration and I was happy to supply the gifts early - it’s so important at Christmas time to celebrate what we have, and to help those in need.

Your team of reindeer must be getting ready for their big trip on Christmas Eve, how do you prepare them?

Like all animals, it is very important that I care for my reindeers properly to ensure they remain happy and healthy; after all they have a very important job to do!

I always make sure they are well fed and have plenty of fresh water and during December I give them extra helpings of grass, moss, birch and willow leaves to help them through the long night on the 24th December.

My pre-flight checks involve a thorough look at their antlers and hooves! After Christmas male reindeers lose their antlers before new ones grow back again for next year. During the winter months, their hoof pads also shrink and tighten to help with the cold conditions…and reduce slipping on rooftops!

What other animals live near your main home at the North pole?

 When I’m back home at the North Pole, I see a whole host of other wildlife, including polar bears, seals, whales, arctic foxes, arctic wolves and sometimes the beautiful snowy owl, like the two at Drusillas. I have to come to the zoo though to see penguins - they live in the South Pole which lots of people don’t realise!

Do you have any special gifts for the people of Eastbourne?

Next year is going to be very exciting indeed as we have another great list of events planned with Magnificent Motors, Carnival, Tennis, Extreme, Airbourne, two beer events and much more!

How do you celebrate on Christmas Day?

Well delivering presents all around the world is quite exhausting, so I always have a little nap and feed the reindeer when I get home.  I’m usually refreshed by mid morning, so with a little Santa magic, I might take Mrs Claus to the free Christmas Day concert at the Redoubt Fortress for some festive singing and dancing.

What festive gifts will you and Mrs Claus be getting each other this year?

I have a book on Eastbourne History for Mrs Claus as she is very excited to go to the new Ancestors Exhibition at the Pavilion in February. She’ll be ready to see the fascinating reconstructions and findings that the Ancestors team have uncovered.

I’m hoping for panto tickets to see Aladdin at the Devonshire Park Theatre – the evil Abanazaar is being a bit greedy wanting the magic lamp, so he won’t be getting any Christmas presents this year!

What’s your favourite Christmas Film?

It’s got to be White Christmas, I try and watch it every year but I am extra excited this year as the stage version is on at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre! Opening on 19 December and running to 4 January, the show is based on the paramount film and includes some fantastic festive cheer and songs, including the famous ‘White Christmas’. I can’t wait!

Thank you Santa for taking the time to talk to us, before we go - any special requests?

A mince pie or two and a carrot for Rudolph would be lovely, however the most important thing is for you all to have a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends, help those around you and celebrate your wonderful town of Eastbourne!

Merry Christmas Santa!

Visit Santa in his Christmas Cottage at Drusillas Park between now and 23 December, open from 10am to 5pm each day.