Potential changes for use Pevensey Bay hotel

The Bay Hotel on Eastbourne Road, which was built in 1889, may be changing the use of its ground floor to a Co-op convenience store.

According to a design and access statement submitted with a planning application from George Macari to Wealden District Council, the refurbished hotel bar and restaurant has struggled to survive over the last 18 months and ‘have proved unviable for the foreseeable future’.

The two floors above would remain for hotel use, the plans say.

The documents say there would be plans for a 1.5 storey extension to the rear of the building, with recessed openings and the rear balcony would be developed to create a level ground floor.

Layout would change to provide an open sales space too.

Plans say the existing entrance to the high street will be retained, keeping the ‘historic appearance and character of the hotel’.

According to the plans, ‘the provision of a convenience store on the ground floor will greatly benefit the local community and visiting tourists, including hotel guests’. The current rear car park will also be refurbished.

The plans conclude that the changes would ‘preserve and enhance a local business and landmark making it more sustainable for the future’.

It also says the store would benefit the local community, economy, hotel guests and tourists visiting Pevensey Bay.

The plans have raised issues with a number of residents who argue that the area doesn’t need another shop. They are against the location for the plans too.

Judi Gott said that Pevensey Bay has ‘adequate shops with inadequate parking’ and adding a new shop would just create more traffic and parking issues.

Paul Rogers said, “A Co-op is not needed here, the existing convenience store is more than sufficient.”

Iain Lowe argued that the location of the plans is ‘entirely inappropriate’.