5 May 2010 The south coast’s biggest free motoring festival packed Eastbourne seafront this weekend with a sunny forecast on Saturday attracting huge crowds and over 200 cars in the morning cavalcade.
With sunshine and warm temperatures forecast for the first day of Magnificent Motors, Eastbourne’s motoring spectacular, thousands of visitors flocked to the Western Lawns to enjoy the best of the Bank Holiday weather and view the vehicle timeline before their eyes with classic and vintage cars on display.
From classics such as the Austin A30, Vauxhall Cresta and Morris Minor to a fine display from the Jaguar Owners Club, Eastbourne seafront made a glorious setting for the Bank Holiday weekend with a live music stage providing the perfect soundtrack.
An Eastbourne Borough Council spokesperson said “Magnificent Motors was a great way for us to kick off our bumper events season and give a taster for some of the fantastic events we have coming up this summer. Despite poor weather on Sunday, Eastbourne proved to be a popular destination this Bank Holiday with plenty going on around the town to entice visitors for the long weekend, including the opening of Towner’s new exhibition inspired by the South Downs National Park.”
The sunshine filled first day of Magnificent Motors became a talking point on Twitter over the weekend with Coast Magazine commenting that Eastbourne was so sunny on Saturday that it must have a microclimate, while The Grand Hotel encouraged visitors to go to the ‘magnificent’ event.
With live music and funfair rides too, Magnificent Motors proved a hit with families, as adults and kids alike made the most of the entertainment on offer.
Magnificent Motors was joined over the Bank Holiday weekend by a Continental Market along the promenade offering a range of continental foods and gifts to those who enjoyed a stroll along the coastline.
The resort’s award-winning art gallery Towner chose the Bank Holiday weekend to open its new exhibition providing the ideal location for visitors to retreat to as the poorer weather tool hold on Sunday.
A Walk in the Park: Images of the South Downs celebrates the brand new National Park on Eastbourne’s doorstep and includes a selection of traditional and contemporary art works from Towner’s renowned collection.
As the trend for UK holidays and the staycation continues in 2010, Eastbourne’s hotels and guesthouses enjoyed a busy May Day with the events and activities on offer attracting visitors to book a short break for the three-day weekend.
Marco Giorgi, Chairman of Eastbourne Hospitality Association (EHA) said: “Hotels in the town were doing brisk business this weekend and it was good to see the town buzzing with people notwithstanding inclement weather. We, as hoteliers, are delighted with the events programme in place for this year and look forward to working hand in hand with the Council to make Eastbourne the "must visit' town in the UK.”
With the 2010 events season fully underway, organisers of Magnificent Motors Eastbourne Borough Council are already looking ahead to next year when the event will return from 30 April – 1 May.
For those who enjoy visiting motoring themed events in Eastbourne, visitors can put more dates in their diary, with the Jaguar South Downs Run on 30 May, Motorcycles, Meanderers and Mayhem on 6 June, Classic Vehicle Show on 20 June, Eastbourne Motorshow from 10 -11 July, Classic Bus Rally on 1 August and the MG South Downs Run on 5 September.
For more information about these events and what’s on in Eastbourne visit the VisitEastbourne website or telephone 0871 663 0031. For the latest news on Magnificent Motors visit the Magnificent Motors website.
