25
Oct
Eastbourne Shopping Parade Bucks National Trend
Eastbourne is continuing to buck national trends with the Grand
Hotel Buildings celebrating a newly full shopping parade with
residents and visitors joining MP Stephen Lloyd, the Deputy Mayor
and the new retailers at an official launch event in October.
The complete parade of retail businesses in Grand Hotel
Buildings, part of England’s only 5-star seaside hotel, comes
at a time when many high streets are struggling to fill their empty
units.
The closure of the Post Office was followed by other shopkeepers
retiring leaving four of the 13 shop units vacant, creating the
trigger for revamping the parade which is just off Eastbourne
seafront. Despite the recession, Grand Hotel Buildings has set
itself apart from the rest of the country and this autumn has seen
the parade fully occupied again with an eclectic mix of
retailers.
The Grand Hotel have made a conscious decision to let their
premises to just one shop of each kind with independent retailers
filling the parade and offering shoppers a wide range of
businesses; from the Nigel Greaves Gallery, which attracts visitors
from around the world, to the Owl and Sewing Cat, a sewing and
haberdashery shop that has seen such success in its first 12 months
that it has now expanded into the adjoining unit to offer yarns and
knitting products too.
Other businesses in the parade include a Hairdresser, Le Loup
ladies & children’s fashions, Breeze florist, a
Goldsmith, Chocolatier, Chemist, Tea lounge, Hudsons delicatessen,
and a wine merchant.
Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council Councillor David Tutt said
“We are absolutely delighted to see the Grand Hotel Buildings
shopping parade complete again and it is fantastic news for
Eastbourne. Over the past few months Eastbourne has been named as
the country’s second fastest growing seaside resort and with
new businesses such as these continuing to invest in the town, it
all comes as a great boost to the local economy. With the Town
Centre Area Action Plan progressing and a review of Devonshire Park
also taking place, there are certainly exciting times ahead in
Eastbourne!”
The first of the new breed of retailers to move to the parade
was Cooden Wine Cellars, which set up in the Grand Hotel Buildings
10 years ago and has gone from strength to strength.
Owner Colin Barnes has been delighted with the success of his
business which is now a UK recognised wine merchant and the winner
of multiple industry awards.
Nigel Greaves is just as happy after opening his gallery there
in 2008 and said “This is a great location to showcase high
quality contemporary art, and I have visitors from across the world
coming to buy.”
Reid+Dean are proud to be the letting and managing agents for
these shops