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. 

Magnificent Motors and More to Make the Most Perfect Vintage Visit to Eastbourne

Eastbourne has one of the most stunning Victorian promenades, Pier and many Victorian buildings which adds beauty and history to our Seaside Town. However, Eastbourne offers up so much more in the way of vintage for a stylish break by the sea.

For a truly vintage festival, a visit to Eastbourne this Bank Holiday weekend is a must, when 'Magnificent Motors' takes over Eastbourne's Western Lawns. The free festival will showcase hundreds of vintage and classic cars, motorbikes, buses and steam powered vehicles.

Step back in time and admire the beautiful motors on display, imaging the journey's they made in wartime Britain, the swinging sixties and post-war America, and learning about the stories behind the cars and their previous owners.

Modern day Ferrari's, Porsche and Lotus models are just a small handful of the beautiful motors which can be found at the seafront motoring festival, and every motoring fan will find something to get their gears going! 

Magnificent Motors runs between 2 and 3 May, and begins each day with a seafront cavalcade at 10am, from the Eastern Seafront (near to Sovereign Harbour) to the Western Lawns - showing off the vintage variety of vehicles for all to admire. The lawns will be filled with exhibits, live bands and childrens's rides to complete the vintage festival atmosphere. The four day continental market from 1-4 May, will have many delicious foods on offer, so why not take a picnic basket and blanket for a lunch beside the sea? Put the pedal to the metal and get yourself down to Eastbourne for stunning cars in the sunshine!

If you're looking for a way to explore the beautiful South Downs National Park, then jumping on board a 1920's Rolls Royce Tourer, on a brand new vintage chauffer-driven tour is the perfect way to see it. 

Work up an appetite taking in all the beauty of the Sussex countryside, and indulge in an Afternoon Tea at one of the many hotels and cafe's in Eastbourne offering up vintage teas. The Grand Hotel, often dubbed as 'Downton-by-Sea' is a classic and historical hotel of grand beauty, inside and out, and for an elegant Afternoon Tea this is where one should go. The clifftop Hydro Hotel offers up fabulous art deco interior and gorgeous gardens to devour a delicious Sussex cream tea in. The Redoubt Fortress's very own vintage styled cafe, The Outpost, serves a very purse friendly and appetizing 'General's Cream Tea', in surroundings reminiscent of a world-war two living room! 

On Friday 2 May, step back in time at the opening night of the Bandstand season - when the Legends Tribute extravaganza brings the Grade 2 listed Victorian Bandstand to life! The Legends Tribute Show will have you reliving your teenage memories as you dance away to hits from rock and pop legends from past decades, including Johnny Cash, Lionel Richie, Buddy Holly, The Euyrthmics, Bonnie Tyler, Madonna, Amy Winehouse and many many more! A dazzling firework display will make a grand finale ending to the show!

So, put your best frock on and come and experience the fabulous vintage fun on offer in Eastbourne this May Bank Holiday!

Come to Eastbourne for a Dirty Knees Up this Bank Holiday Weekend!

Eastbourne, usually a very clean town, is getting messy in May with a packed-out Bank Holiday weekend of dirty, mucky and down right messy fun! 

Magnificent Motors By Graham Huntley

Motoring fans can get messy with grease as they admire the 'Magnificent Motors' of over 400 classic and vintage cars, not to mention motorbikes, buses, vans, military and steam engines, all on the Western Lawns on Eastbourne's gorgeous seafront from 2-3 May. On Sunday night, head to the Arlington Stadium for even more high octane thrills when Eastbourne Eagles race in a national speedway league fixture on the dusty motorbike racing track.

Friday 1 May sees the Bandstand season kick off with a dramatic BANG with a fireworks display to end a concert of legendary rock and pop in the 'Legends TributeShow'. Get your rock on and remember your dirty concert days, with tributes acts impersonating Billy Idol, Prince, Dire Straits, Blondie and many many more!

Hilarious theatre show 'Dirty Dusting' on Saturday 2 May at the Royal Hippodrome, will challenge your perceptions of a housekeeping service. Staring ITV Benidorm’s Crissy Rock, this heart-warming comedy tells the story of three 'blue-rinse' cleaning ladies, who inadvertently start up a telephone sex chat line. 

For some grittier culture, why not take a self-guided Heritage Walking Tour and learn about the seedier side of Eastbourne’s history, discovering grisly murders and wartime events. The 200 year old Redoubt Fortress reveals some spooky cells and next door, Eastbourne’s new Summerdown Camp exhibition unearths some fascinating archaeological finds from the UK’s largest WW1 convalescent camp which opened in Eastbourne 100 years ago.

Eastbourne's promenade will become a hub for rich pungent smells, as the continental market provides gourmet cheeses and lots more of the smelly food variety, from 1-4 May. Clean up your act and treat your partner to a romantic picnic on the Western Lawns, whilst admiring the vintage vehicles. As the day draws to a close, head to the Grand Hotel, England’s only 5 star coastal luxury hotel, to enjoy the perfect Dirty Martini pre-dinner cocktail on the terrace. 

Foodies can get their hands dirty by the seaside, at The Belgian Cafe ripping open delicious mussels, which come in 50 different varieties. Or why not go for the classic seaside dinner in a paper bag, with fish and chips from The Chippy at the Pier - sit on the beach and enjoy the salty air as it blows through your hair!

The Mowbray 4 star guesthouse is offering free ‘Dirty Dusting’ theatre tickets with every booking of three nights or more.  To book call 01323 710012 or visit www.themowbray.com

For more information and accommodation visit www.visiteastbourne.com. 

Easter in Sunny Eastbourne

There are plenty of egg-citing goings on in Eastbourne this Easter Bank Holiday weekend, whether you need to entertain some little ones, or want to enjoy a great afternoon at the annual Easter Bandstand Concert, there is something to make you all happy bunnies!

Drusillas Bunny

The traditional Easter Concert kicks off the Bandstand season on Easter Sunday, and it's free for all to attend! The well known 'Eastbourne Silver Band' directed by Geoff Broom, will bring the Bandstand alive with the sound of brass music and sing along classical favourites. Come along and enjoy a great Easter afternoon with family and friends!

On Sunday 5 April and Monday 6 April, head to the Llama Park's Easter Fiesta at Ashdown Forest, where the park has something for all the family! Children will love the Craft Fair and family walks with the llamas! Parents can enjoy an 'Exhibition of Historic Vehicles', the 'Crawley Millenium Band' and a beer tent with chicken and chips baskets! 

Chocolate lovers will thoroughly enjoy following the Spring Bird Explorer Trail in the garden at Bateman's this Easter, with a Cadbury's prize at the end of it! Explore the grounds at Bateman's to spot the nests hidden in the garden and work out who laid the eggs! A Cadbury EggHead will be waiting at the end for those who complete this Easter quest!

Hop on board the Easter Eggspress at the Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway Park on Sunday 5 April, where a free Easter egg will be given to all children riding the train (whilst stocks last)!

Read more about Easter over on VisitEastbourne!

Happy Easter all!

A Brand New Season of Fascinating History and Heritage at Eastbourne's Museums!

Eastbourne has a wealth of interesting history just waiting for you to discover in its cultural hubs and museums! Both the Redoubt Fortress and the Pavilion re-opened earlier this month, offering visitors many fascinating new exhibitions to explore!

Read a preview of some of the exciting heritage and history to be found this year at Eastbourne's Redoubt Fortress and Pavilion.

Treasure can come in many forms, and the new 'Treasure' exhibition at the Redoubt uncovers the vast mount of objects and items which are cherished by different people. Children will love this fun sensory exhibition, with Roman coins found at Beachy Head, precious metals and the diary of a young girl on holiday in Eastbourne, kept for its sentimental value, painting pictures of years gone by. Head to the Redoubt to be wowed by this, and much more this season.

The Summerdown Camp exhibition at the Pavilion on Marine Parade, tells the never before told story of the many thousands of injured soldiers who recuperated and recovered at the UK's first and largest World War One convalescent camp in Eastbourne 100 years ago! Open daily from now until 15 November, the amazing  and uplifting stories told at this free exhibition will astound both history buffs and novices. Try on a 'Blue Boy's' uniform, decode the soldiers slang and discover the heartwarming stories told by wounded soldiers and the heroic women who worked at Summerdown Camp.

The last in a trio of 'Stargazing for Everyone' evenings will provide another magical evening for keen astronomers at the Redoubt Fortress at 8pm on 28 March! Be dazzled up-close by the night sky, with its beautiful stars, moon and planets whilst gazing through telescopes provided by the Eastbourne Astronomical Society. Don't miss this great family event, which is free to attend!

'Carry on Curator' brings a series of engaging and interactive talks, in which visitors can handle objects and artefacts that tell many different stories from Eastbourne's past. The first in the series "Gas! Gas! Quick, boys!" on 31 March looks back on the development of gas used in warfare. The Redoubt's curator, Damian Etherington will provide a 'show and tell' type talk, passing round many objects including an original German mask from the First World War. Don't miss out, book your place now!

And here's an egg-citing competition to enter this Easter! The Redoubt Fortress are giving away a Family Ticket, plus a Redoubt Guide Book so that one lucky family can explore the fascinating Napoleonic Redoubt and discover the history behind the stone walls for free this Easter Holiday! 

For more information about all the exciting discoveries to be made at the Redoubt and the Pavilion this year go to www.eastbournemuseums.co.uk!

Eastbourne Joins in National Celebration of English Tourism Week!

When tourist destinations across England celebrate all that this wonderful little country has to offer during English Tourism Week, here at Visit Eastbourne we'll be celebrating one of the sunniest places in the UK and some of the many reasons why Eastbourne is absolutely perfect for a seaside break!

English Tourism Week will be nationally recognised this month between 14 and 22 of March, and Visit Eastbourne will be giving free tours and tickets to some key heritage attractions, highlighting the wealth of culture that Eastbourne has to offer our tourists!

For a little bit of interactive fun, we've created an English Tourism Week quiz all about Eastbourne, which can be downloaded from VisitEastbourne.com or picked up from the Tourist Information Centre on Cornfield Road. See how much you know about Eastbourne and the fabulous tourist attractions on offer, learning more along the way. Once you've completed the quiz, take it back to the Tourist Information Centre, where you'll receive a prize in the form of chocolate for your efforts!

The Redoubt Fortress is a hub of fascinating history and culture, which tourists flock to every year to learn about the past life of Eastbourne and it opens it's gates for the 2015 season on March 16. On the 21 and 22 March, to recognise English Tourism Week, the Redoubt will be FREE for all to enter! There is loads to get excited about at the Redoubt this year, from a new 'Treasure' exhibition, to an interactive exhibit involving a 'Battle of Britain dogfight'.

Another central part of Eastbourne's Heritage Service, the Pavilion is opening its brand new exhibition all about Summerdown Convalescent Camp. As part of English Tourism Week, on Saturday 21 March at 11am and again at 2pm, you can go on a FREE guided curator tour, discovering all the fascinating facts about the first and largest World War One convalescent camp, which opened in Eastbourne 100 years ago!

Towner, the wonderful contemporary art gallery which is the heart of fine art in Eastbourne, is offering Art Store Tours for a reduced rate on Sunday 22 March for English Tourism Week. Instead of £6.00, book by telephone or in person to sign up for the tour for just £4.50 instead. The Art Store Tours at Towner are a more in-depth chance to discover the extensive art collections which grace the walls of the gallery!

Make the most of these great offers and take part in the exciting Eastbourne quiz, getting into the spirit of English Tourism Week, and helping us to celebrate what a fantastic town Eastbourne is!

To read more about English Tourism Week, got to VisitEastbourne.com