Grand news as Parade opens on Eastbourne seafront
17th June 2020
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Grand Parade on Eastbourne seafront will reopen on Monday 22 June. The road has been closed since the devastating fire that destroyed the Claremont Hotel and left much of the surrounding area, including neighbouring properties, severely damaged.
Contractors have been working to demolish remaining elements of the fire-ravaged building that were unsafe, while carefully retaining features of the Grade II* listed hotel that miraculously emerged intact from the inferno. Winter storm damage, including to the adjoining Burlington Hotel, made the complexity and challenge of the project even greater and meant the duration of the work was significantly extended.
Councillor David Tutt, Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, said: "I am delighted that the main seafront road is opening again at a time when our shops are welcoming back customers and people are returning to Eastbourne's world-class beaches and promenade.
"The work on the site of the Claremont Hotel has been extremely complex, very demanding and required the attention of specialists from a variety of different fields. Even though much of the hotel was lost in the fire, its Grade II* listed status meant that we had to liaise closely with Historic England, structural engineers and other partners, not least the then owners of the building and their insurers, to get to this point.
"I'd like to thank all the contractors and other professionals we have worked with and the local residents and businesses that have patiently waited while this essential work was completed."
The council's Environment First team undertook an extensive and sustained cleaning operation around the Claremont Hotel as soon as it was safe to do so, clearing roads, pavements and even the roof tops of neighbouring homes.
