TOWNSPOTLIGHT
EASTBOURNE cont .
Things to Do
Beachy Head This chalk headland close to Eastbourne is a magnificent place to visit and has views stretching out across the English Channel . At 162 metres , Beachy Head is the tallest chalk cliff in Britain , and , surprisingly , its name has nothing to do with a beach – it is a corruption of the French phrase beau chef , meaning ‘ beautiful headland ’.
Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway Adventure Park At this wonderful adventure park and museum you can ride on a real miniature steam train ( in carriages pulled by a one-eighth scale locomotive ) for almost a mile around the beautiful surroundings of a country park . Not only that , but there is a five-acre lake to enjoy , as well as a prize-winning tea garden , picnic areas , model railways , an adventure playground and a lovely gift shop .
East Sussex Falconry Owned and run by raptor enthusiasts , Gerard and Gemma Sulter , East Sussex Falconry is an interesting and exhilarating day out . Here you can enjoy a full day experience in wonderful surroundings getting to know more about these beautiful birds of prey .
Redoubt Fortress and Military Museum Full of inspiring exhibitions , experiences , events and activities , at the Redoubt Fortress and Military Museum you can find out about more than 200 years of local and worldwide history relating to Eastbourne . You can even dress up as a Napoleonic soldier and find out what life was like then while exploring the fortress itself .
How We Lived Then How We Lived Then , also known locally as ‘ The Museum of Shops ’ is a charming and nostalgic look back at Britain ’ s past . There are over 100,000 exhibits over four floors with collections ranging from jewellery , Sunday school items , and a fully stocked greengrocer .
The Towner The Towner , an award-winning art gallery and museum , prides itself on the diversity of its international and locally produced collections . The art gallery is all about learning and participation , so don ’ t be afraid to ask questions – answering them is at the heart of what The Towner is all about .
Eastbourne Lifeboat Museum This fascinating and thought-provoking museum was completely refurbished in 2011 , and now houses many different collections and displays which reflect the history of the Eastbourne lifeboats dating back to 1822 .
Dining Out
The Green Almond The Green Almond is a wonderful , vegetarian restaurant in the heart of Eastbourne . This family-run restaurant makes choosing food easy , with two options for starter , main and dessert that tend to change monthly . Find out how good vegetarian food can be with dishes such as cold asparagus Caesar salad , Lebanese stuffed onions , and hazelnut torte with cream .
Two Bulls Steakhouse Located within the Tally Ho pub , the Two Bulls Steakhouse is good , honest food served in big portions with plenty of flavour . Who could ask for more ? As an additional treat , there are special weekday meal deals on Thursday to Sunday , a three-course meal for two with wine for £ 50 every Thursday and Sunday evening , and the same on a Friday for £ 60 . Food here includes Hastings smoked mackerel pate with toast , stack of slow-cooked pork belly ribs with hot , sweet barbecue sauce , and roasted peanut banoffee pie .
Anema E Core This traditional Italian restaurant is proud of its heritage and its home-cooked meals that include pizzas and traditional Italian street food . The menu includes bruschetta vesuviana , pennette al pesto , and tiramisu .
Henry ’ s Bistro Winners of the ‘ Good Food Award ’ in both 2015 and 2016 , Henry ’ s Bistro is a relaxed place to eat locally sourced home comforts . Why not try the crispy sweet potato ravioli , the fillet of beef wellington , or the toffee apple and popcorn tart ?
Annual Events
Sunshine Carnival // Jun This is the biggest seaside carnival in the entire UK , and it ’ s free !
Eastbourne Feastival // Jun Food , culture and music mix together in this weekend festival celebrating the best produce from all over the world .
Eastbourne International Air Show // Aug This is four whole days of flying , displays , memorabilia and entertainment – and it is all rounded off with some spectacular fireworks !
Top Spot
Birling Gap , part of the National Trust , is one of the longest undeveloped stretches of coastline on the beautiful south coast . It ’ s perfect for walking , rockpooling , enjoying the incredible views ( including those of the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs ) and seaside picnics . There is a café too .
Did You Know ? One of the most interesting artefacts ever found in Eastbourne was a coin minted during the reign of Ethelbert II of East Anglia . He died in 794 when he was beheaded by Offa of Mercia because he was – it was thought – planning a rebellion . This coin and others like it were the proof that Offa needed to show that Ethelbert II was going to break free and strive for independence . The coin sold at auction for a whopping £ 78,000 .
82