Eastbourne Meads News

Rebranded as Hillbrow Health and Wellbeing, the centre is re-open to the community and saved as a community asset thanks to a huge cross-community effort and a great partnership between Wave Active and South Downs Health and Care – wahoo! After the University of Brighton announced they were withdrawing from Eastbourne and many local residents, Meads Community Association and SOMS spoke up to campaign to protect the centre, I was keen to do my bit to hunt for a potential operator to take over the site. I knew South Downs Health and Care’s innovative CEO, Dr Nick Harvey, from my days as a Covid vaccinator (SDHC ran the Sovereign vaccination centres) and spoke with him about the prospect of SDHC saving the site. Nick was super keen to explore this, so I connected him with Eastbourne Borough Council in May 2023 to scope it out (see my quick email!). EBC Leader Steve Holt and CEO Rob supported Nick and Wave Active to work on a joint bid to take on the site from the University. They succeeded and an exciting partnership was born! Well done to Nick from SDHC and Duncan from Wave Active for leading this effort, to EBC for helping to facilitate and to residents and community groups (especially in Meads) for helping to make this all happen. Delighted to play my part too! In pic alongside me: Dr Nick Harvey (SHDC), Duncan Kerr (Wave Leisure) and Cllr Stephen Holt (EBC)

A new place in Meads Street to sit outside and enjoy a cup of tea, coffee, a cool drink or even an ice cream! The lovely folk at Longleaf Health and Wellbeing have had the bright idea of creating an outdoor eating area. As with everything at Longleaf, it’s been done with a lot of style, as the pictures below show. All with the backdrop of the beautiful old bank building. If tea is your thing then your will be spoilt for choice. There are 18 to choose from including English Breakfast, Lapsang Souchong, Jasmin Green, Dandelion and even Lavender. For coffee lovers it’s Clipper Arabica and Clipper Decaf. If you prefer a cold drink there are 15 to choose from including Booyah Kombucha Cucumber, Mint and Lime, Whole Earth Cranberry and Fentimans Rose Lemonade. Feel like spoiling yourself with an ice cream? Well Caramel Pecan Praline or Mango and Raspberry sound delicious. Something lovely to do in the summer of 2024 – when it finally arrives!! Thank you Longleaf. Just brilliant.

University of Brighton confirms plans to safeguard Eastbourne campus leisure facilities for local community University of Brighton has identified a preferred bidder for its Eastbourne campus sport and leisure facilities and has entered into a ‘period of exclusivity’ to progress the transfer of ownership.A local partnership of Wave Active and South Downs Health and Care has put forward plans for a health and wellbeing ‘hub’ at the Denton Road site in Meads, bringing together high-quality sport and leisure facilities alongside provision of accessible NHS and private community healthcare services. Click here for more information: www.waveleisure.co.uk

RENS Kitchen has opened at 54 Meads Street this week.