Rebecca Maer, who runs the Eastbourne Reporter, says the town is a great place to live, but has its challenges. “It is, unfortunately, highly car dependent for a town just five miles across, with parking permitted almost everywhere and few bus lanes. Extraordinarily, cycling is still banned along much of the seafront,” she says. “With vision and political courage, the town would be greatly improved with an active travel approach and much better public transport.”

Camilla Fancombe, who owns Camilla’s Bookshop with her husband Stuart (and parrot Archie, who welcomes guests at the door), says: “If you go to Brighton and want to walk along the beach it’s absolutely packed. Here it’s very nice. You can go for a walk along the beach, and if you get to the cliffs you can go fossil hunting.” 

From the tourists

Steve Sutherland, who has been visiting Eastbourne his whole life, says: “I have always loved Eastbourne. I’ve been going there since I was a child and I still do – my wife and I go to The Grand Hotel for a few days’ break at least three or four times a year. Eastbourne always felt totally different to the Kent coast resorts of Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs; it was less hectic, more sophisticated I suppose.

“Sadly though, over the past few years I’ve witnessed a gradual decline. The town centre has more closed, boarded-up shops and hotels every time we go there, with the associated graffiti you get on empty buildings, which all adds to the air of abandonment. That said, I’m not giving up on the town as the potential of Eastbourne is huge.”

I also spoke to a Dutch couple on the pier, who were embarking on a tour of the south of England and were spending just one night in Eastbourne. They appeared mildly content, if not overwhelmingly enamoured, with what they had seen so far. “We leave in an hour,” the husband said, sternly.