Towner Gallery
Latest Reviews
Having visited the Towner on numerous occasions on the off chance of seeing something worth seeing it usually comes up trumps. It is a wonderful space, airy and light in the hallways, atmospheric and well laid out. The present main exhibits of David Nash are particularly good and warrant a 5, however we have had some duff experiences with artists too wrapped up in their awful past rather than the elation of creativity. The coffee lounge is good with views. It overlooks the tennis venue behind. Definitely visit from now until Feb 2020. An art gallery isn't going to hit your sweet spot every time but I will continue to repeat visit... and it's free! Although a donation is requested. Great for a rainy hour or two.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
We spent a very pleasant afternoon at the Towner - where I particularly wanted to see the Ravilliious collection I’d been told about. It was good to see those on display though I had expected a larger exhibition. In the huge hall on the ground floor there was an excellent display of the work of David Nash whose carving of wood was intriguing and at times quite breathtaking. The Towner has a pleasant cafe with a good choice of menu and views of the tennis venue. The gallery shop was very well stocked with lots to look at and choose. We hope to visit again soon when we return to Eastbourne.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Enjoyed seeing the work of Ravillious especially his drawings/paintings of the Downs. Interesting summer project going on whereby artists were at work there and willing to talk to visitors about their processes. Also interesting creative activities for children and young people when I went.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Very nice place for a coffee with a good selection of cakes. Can get busy at peak times. Great views from the outdoor terrace
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I love this gallery. Wonderful shop and cafe. Gallery spaces are great, with interesting permanent collection and temporary shows. Don't miss it!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Go here every time we visit Eastbourne. Most of the galleries were under construction for imminent exhibition. Saw the Ponderosa exhibit which was very enjoyable. Must vit the cafe, excellent coffee and cake. Teas also available.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Good gallery with all sorts of different ever changing art exhibitions. Urban Ground coffee shop on second floor is marvellous.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Popped in on way to seafront-its right by devonshire park tennis.Modern building with 3 floors.Various types of art-the Eric Ravillious paintings were excellent-the other 2 floors had modern art or installations.20 mins should be sufficient so worth a visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The commission to paint the outside of the Towner has made it look really wonderful, and there were a couple of interesting shows inside too. Afterwards we drove over the downs and saw views that were pure Ravilious
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Amazing collection of modern artists, many local to Sussex. Saw a couple of wonderful exhibitions. The sensory room is a great area to pop in if you’ve had a hectic, stressful wLk around the busy town centre. Staff in individual exhibition galleries, helpful and knowledgeable. Good shop on the ground floor near entrance area. Cafe on the top floor. Enormous lift....plenty of opportunity for wheelchair users to see everything.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
A great building imaginatively used as a canvas for some colourful artwork. Visit and enjoy some lovely spaces. Nice cafe. The city fathers need to support such an important component of what is on offer here. The staff are doing their best in restraining and depressing times. Just keep going till the fog clears!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I gave this gallery a disappointing average review in 2014; nothing has changed. It remains a bleak concrete building with stairs so narrow that one cannot pass easily and acres of walls which are just crying out for some pictures.The best thing about the building is the view over the tennis courts towards town with Downs in the distance. As to the exhibitions today - some dozen or so uninspiring splotches by Iris? in a huge studio that demanded better usage; some metal stands like coat racks stuck with the occasional feather (although I must admit that the welding was better executed than that on the late Anthony Caro's works) that inspired laughter especially after you had read the pretencous garbage explaining them. The 10th anniversary exhibition was considerably better, and the new Ravilious room and library a vast improvement on the previous apology. The Towner does in fact have an amazing collection of works. These used to be regularly rotated and displayed in the old gallery in the Old Town. Now that there is about 10 times the space in the new gallery we rarely see these and when we do the hanging leaves a lot to be desired. The organisers could do with a study day at Chichester's Pallant House or the Hasting's ex-Jerwood to see how things can really be made better. To end on a half positive note, the childrens' free area is a good idea but really doesn't need all the space that could be devoted to showing far, far more of the Towner's permanent collection.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Formerly managed by outside caterers the cafe at the Towner is now managed internally and I think it's made a difference. The staff working there are all friendly and helpful and really seem to care about getting things right and making sure you're happy. I'm hopelessly picky about my coffee and they go out of their way to ensure I have it how I like it.
The food offerings are limited but they're good and imaginative. The biggest problem though, is their cakes - they're irresistible! Hopeless if you're trying to diet!
The food offerings are limited but they're good and imaginative. The biggest problem though, is their cakes - they're irresistible! Hopeless if you're trying to diet!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a very good gallery with really helpful staff and always interesting exhibitions - a mixture of local artists and special exhibitions from around the world. I didn’t think the present ones were the best I’ve seen but always interesting and different and worth a look whatever they have on. Best gallery for miles around. Nice cafe as well.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a stunning gallery. The outside is a work of art in itself, exploding with brilliant colour on the front wall. Some of the work on display is fantastic, for instance in the Ravilious room; we were slightly disappointed that there wasn't more of the gallery's huge collection on display. Apparently there are guided tours of some of these works at weekends but we were there midweek unfortunately. Excellent cafe and shop with very helpful and well informed assistant. Good children's activities on the ground floor, but this may have been a summer holiday special.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This gallery is very small though it does have a number of lovely Eric Ravillious paintings. Apart from that there was an awful modern art installation when we went there.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Made the most of a rainy day and we were delighted again by the range of interesting exhibitions and experiences. The Gallery staff are really pleasant and helpful, plus the shop is great too! Just wished they’d take Amex cards!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Really enjoyed visiting with my wife on a rare child free day. Some great exhibitions and really nicely laid out gallery. We were there about 2 hours. Will take the kids as they’d enjoy some of the areas too. If we were more local we thought it’s a place we’d go fairly regularly just for the pleasant creative and inspirational atmosphere.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Visited the Towner on a day trip to Eastbourne. Very interesting exhibitions. The Eric Ravilious Gallery was fab, loved his paintings. Phoebe Unwin's "iris" and Dineo Seshee Bopape's works were more than I could understand, but interesting anyway. There seemed to be lots of young people about, all excited and enjoying their visit. Well worth a go. No charge for entry.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Wow such a great coffee shop. The staff are so friendly and helpful, the coffee is excellent and a great range of cakes and food. Yummy salads. Great atmosphere will definitely return.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
This is a very modern gallery with both paintings and sculpures and a library. There was an exhibition on of south african srt when we visited. Very interesting.
It also has a small café selling snacks and wonderful looking cakes.
It also has a small café selling snacks and wonderful looking cakes.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
What an absolute joy it is to visit The Towner Art gallery, wonderful exhibitions and all beautifully showcased in the striking modernist setting of the Towner.
The icing on the cake is the fantastic cinema small housed within, that prides itself on showing films from such diverse genres as Japanese manga to hard hitting documentaries and black and white classics.
The staff and volunteers add to the enjoyment of visiting the gallery , with their knowledge and passion for supporting art and culture.
So what are you waiting for, take a trip to The Towner you won’t be disappointed 😊
The icing on the cake is the fantastic cinema small housed within, that prides itself on showing films from such diverse genres as Japanese manga to hard hitting documentaries and black and white classics.
The staff and volunteers add to the enjoyment of visiting the gallery , with their knowledge and passion for supporting art and culture.
So what are you waiting for, take a trip to The Towner you won’t be disappointed 😊
Source: thebestof.co.uk
I went to Eastbourne with my two young kids for the weekend and visited the gallery twice!
There was a drawing room with lots of inspiration and props and a sensory room for relaxation which the kids really liked.
There was a drawing room with lots of inspiration and props and a sensory room for relaxation which the kids really liked.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
I've always loved the Towner, but it seems to have lost something recently. An exhibition called The Weather Garden was one of the most dull, insipid things I've ever seen. I love contemporary art and have always trusted the Towner to put on challenging, stimulating exhibitions, but this was just awful. Second, there was a lovely seating area in the spacious corridor on the top floor, which has now been removed and replaced with a small, ugly bench that looks as if it has come from Argos. I was on the point of buying annual membership, but I'm not sure if I'll bother if this is an indication of the way the gallery's going.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Great cake and coffee with good service. Love the new outside painting.
Source: thebestof.co.uk
