Moving to Eastbourne as mixed race couple

[Forwhatitsworth101]

We are a mixed race couple with no children (yet!)

We are into walking/runs, arty things like museums and theatre, cinema. We would love a dog in the future. We will be working at the hospital.

We have a budget of approx 500k and are thinking of moving to Eastbourne. We love period/character properties. Please give me tips and hints on areas and is it ok with regards to diversity? We really don’t think we will get our money’s worth in Brighton so not really considering that.

Eastbourne is way more multicultural than you'd expect. If you're at the hospital then Old Town would be handiest. You'd easily get a 4 bed detached with parking near the Downs there for £500k. Definitely don't forgo the parking there unless you're great at parallel parking as most of the houses don't have drives. You'd also be able to get something nice near Hampden Park (the park, not the area) which is beautiful. If you want to be in the poshest area then look at Meads which is a bit further from the hospital but closer to the sea - you won't get anywhere near as much for your money there though. We've only been living here for a week so I've not got much proper local knowledge yet. Traffic doesn't seem to be a problem (other than around the Polegate roadworks) but that might be due to lockdown.

I live just outwith Eastbourne. Traffic is not a huge problem, apart from the Polegate/A27 roadworks which won't go on forever.

Old Town is lovely but I would 100% want an off road parking space. Friends who loive there & don't have one get really fed up with having to park a street or so away!

Willingdon is nice as well.

I would not touch Sovereign harbour (I rented there some years ago) as the quality of the builds is not good.

Diversity shouldn't really be an issue. There is a newish art gallery that also has a really lovely toddler group if you are considering children and like that scene. The council has just spent millions refurbishing the biggest theatre (just in time for covid!), and there are a few smaller theatres too.

For your budget, agree with PP that old town might be a good area - possibly could make an offer on a period house with parking to get 500k. Don't discount areas with newer houses - will get more for your money just around the corner.

Loads of places to walk dogs and go for runs - beach, downs, forests, parks.

Do you mean you will be working at Eastbourne hospital or Brighton? If Eastbourne, check local places to park or it is walkable from hampden park station (and on bus routes).

Oh - and an area I'd avoid is Langney and parts of Hampden park (there is quite a split between very desirable and not so desirable there).

Willingdon is nice, areas of redoubt (although again parking an issue), stone cross (more modern estates there) and some of the outer villages such as westham, polegate etc.

Thanks for all the responses.

I’m so glad to hear it’s a progressive area and diversity not a major issue. It would be Eastbourne hospital for work and we would need parking so would really only go for a house with this. Hoping for a nice period semi or detached.

@LOLbebe I’m interested in the Art gallery... what is the name...

Yes it's fine, I worked at Eastbourne hospital for 15 years, now live in Somerset.
You might have problems in Somerset, it's like the 1950s here.

It's called the Towner gallery - I'm not especially arty so don't know if it is especially good, it is small, but pre covid was fairly busy with events etc. Hastings and Bexhill both have galleries and are within 30 mins drive too.

I used to live in East Sussex after exiting London and my eldest DD lived there for a couple of years before moving to Brighton. She is mixed race. I’m not aware of her having any issues at all (and is very vocal & I’m sure she’d have told me).

On the plus side, it’s a lot more than the place people go to die which it is painted out to be! There is a lot of very reasonably priced period housing, especially when you compare it to Brighton. In the summer, it’s a really nice place to be with the blue painted pier, palm trees & blue skies. If you walk towards Beachy Head you can usually find empty beach space, some sand and rock pools.

On the other hand, out of season it does become a bit greyer. While there are quite a lot of restaurants, not many are good. The shopping opportunities if you’re not after Primark or Debenhams aren’t extensive. It gets really bitterly cold down on the seafront.

I definitely prefer it to Hastings or Bexhill (though Hastings old town is lovely) though!

Forgot to mention ethnic diversity! Not too bad on that front. If there are languages other than English you’ll hear on the street, it tends to be a Eastern European one more than anything else (& to be absolutely clear, I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, East Sussex could definitely do with a bit more diversity!)

@LOLbebe

Oh - and an area I'd avoid is Langney and parts of Hampden park (there is quite a split between very desirable and not so desirable there).

Willingdon is nice, areas of redoubt (although again parking an issue), stone cross (more modern estates there) and some of the outer villages such as westham, polegate etc.

The dodgy bits of Hampden Park are north of the paddock, west of Case street and the bit of Hazelwood between Maywood and Rowan avenue?

East of Cade Street even!

Agree with pp about Old town, Willingdon and parts of Hampden park, Upperton and Ratton are nice too and all in a good position for the hospital. There are lots of good areas to live in but these areas have more period properties. It's really multi cultural and there's loads to do, I hope the move goes well and you enjoy living here!

The redoubt fortress has just converted one part into a tiny cinema where they'll show more quirky films. The towner gallery had just started doing this too (before lockdown) There's loads of events including a steampunk festival each year, and an event called wyntercon.

Hi @Forwhatitsworth101and everyone. It's great to hear some good things about Eastbourne. We are also hoping to move there this year - our own house is going onto the market this week and we want to be moved in time for September term, when my son starts his GCSE courses. I've visited Eastbourne many times over the last 16 years as my partner has connections there. The housing market has been quiet lately and some estate agents are not allowing anyone to view houses unless they have accepted an offer on their own house. We did view a house in the Meads in October (my partner would love to live there) and it was nice but not nice enough to make me want to walk to the station from there. When we move, I'll need a new job and I don't drive, so being near the station gives me more employment options.

@Marinarich if Meads is within your budget, the areas inbetween (Saffrons, Paradise Drive, Guildridge Park, parts of the top of Old Town and Upperton), all have the same type of houses and are that bit closer. The parts nearer the station are still considered more prestigious areas of Eastbourne (depends on budget and what you are looking for too). It doesn't take too long to walk to station fron areas of Meads - can do it in 20 mins from outer areas.

@LOLbebe thanks for that info and yes, definitely looking Saffrons/Gildredge Park, Upperton areas. Not heard of Paradise Drive but it sounds heavenly 😊so definitely will look for that. I hope@Forwhatitsworth101will keep us updated on her search.

Another one saying Old Town, Willingdon and Ratton.

@Marinarich it sounds like you’ll beat me to it! Please keep us updated! I’m keen to know anything about Eastbourne

We absolutely adore eastbourne, we visit come rain or shine (we live in Kent).

I can’t comment on areas but it’s a lovely place 😊