Former Eastbourne Heritage Centre to become restaurant

Plans to convert Tower House, the Grade II listed building that formerly housed the Eastbourne Heritage Centre, into a high-quality bar and restaurant have been officially approved.

. On July 14, 2026, Eastbourne Borough Council's planning committee greenlit the proposal to breathe new life into the historic site. 

Key Details of the Approved Project

• The Location: Tower House at 2 Carlisle Road, Eastbourne, situated within the cultural Devonshire Quarter. 
• The Applicant: Submitted by Phillip Cameron of Headland Venues Ltd, a company that operates multiple popular local establishments like The Bohemian in Compton Street, Light at Towner, and The Eight Bells in Jevington. 
• The Building's Background: Built in 1880, it originally served as the residence for the manager of the Devonshire Park and Baths Company. It stood vacant after the Eastbourne Heritage Centre museum closed its doors in 2025 due to a loss of financial rent support. 
• Structural Extensions: The project includes building a "part single-storey, part three-storey extension" at the rear of Tower House to construct essential back-of-house areas such as kitchens, toilets, storage, and plant areas. 
• Interior & Experience Plans: Refurbishments will focus on creating intimate dining spaces that reference historical features, including a private chef’s table dining room on the lower ground floor and screened outdoor seating. 

Public and Official Reception

The decision followed a division between local conservation perspectives and community concerns: 

• Resident Objections: The council received 59 formal objections across planning applications. Neighbors raised concerns about the size of the modern rear extension, potential structural damage to the 1880 Victorian asset, highway safety, and restaurant oversaturation in the area.
• Official Approvals: Eastbourne Borough Council’s conservation officer warmly supported the change of use to prevent the property from deteriorating while vacant. Local heritage organization The Eastbourne Society also formally backed the proposal.
• Voting Outcome: Six committee councillors voted unanimously to pass both the full planning permission (Application 260233) and listed building consent (Application 260253), imposing strict operational noise and curfew conditions.