27 April 2011
Eastbourne is reaping the benefits of a sunny Easter weekend with accommodation providers reporting increased bookings and the Easter Day performance at the Bandstand attracting over 1,300 concert goers!
With forecasters predicting that this April could be the warmest on record, Eastbourne, the UK’s sunniest place, welcomed increased numbers of visitors for the Easter weekend enjoying mild temperatures, sunny weather and the packed programme of Bank Holiday events.
This year’s Easter Day Concert at the Bandstand was free to attend and more than 1,300 took advantage of the free tickets to enjoy an afternoon performance from Eastbourne Silver Band with over 100 signing up to become a Friend of the Bandstand over the weekend.
The south coast destination was a hit with visitors on facebook and twitter too, even attracting a visit from Mary Portas, Queen of Shops, who stopped off for lunch at Sam Sharp Café on Cornfield Terrace!
Eastbourne Borough Council Tourism Development Manager Annie Wills said “What a fantastic weekend! The weather was just perfect for the whole four days and the high number of visitors flocking to the seaside to make the most of the sunshine brings a great boost to the Eastbourne economy. The Easter Day Bandstand Concert was a roaring success and with dozens of positive messages on twitter and facebook from visitors enjoying their time in Eastbourne, it seems the destination was a popular choice for the late Easter Bank Holiday.”
Hoteliers saw an influx of visitors over the Easter weekend with England’s only 5-star seaside hotel The Grand filling 100 rooms more and welcoming 180 additional guests compared to last year, including 50 children staying over the Easter period.
Guest accommodation 17 Wilmington Square was enjoying the boom with 95% occupancy and guests commenting on the area’s ‘outstanding coastline’ and enjoying the new South Downs National Park on the doorstep, walking from Seaford Head to Eastbourne. The Mowbray was full on Saturday and Sunday nights with many visitors travelling to Eastbourne from the capital.
Independent favourite The Guesthouse East is making the most of displaying its No Vacancies sign with 94% occupancy for the past two weeks and 60% of guests for the Bank Holiday weekends travelling to Eastbourne from abroad.
And it was an international affair elsewhere in Eastbourne too. The Meads Bed and Breakfast hosted guests from Spain, Estonia, China, Canada and France, while Coast Guest Accommodation had guests from Belgium, France, and Hong Kong, all opting Eastbourne sunshine over foreign shores.
Eastbourne’s sporting offer proved popular this weekend with Eastbourne Borough FC’s home game against Bath City attracting 150 Bath supporters into the town on Bank Holiday Monday while Spray Watersports took nearly 60 adrenaline-junkies through their paces in windsurfing and sailing on Saturday, including 20 exchange students.
With another Bank Holiday weekend on its way Eastbourne is getting ready to welcome thousands more visitors for the Royal Wedding and May Day festivities.
This Friday the town will stage a special Picnic in the Park celebration for the Royal Wedding followed by the return of Eastbourne’s free motoring spectacular Magnificent Motors on Saturday and Sunday, which annually attracts more than 25,000 visitors over the two days.
For more information on what’s on in Eastbourne or to find places to stay go to the VisitEastbourne website or call 0871 663 0031.
