Eastbourne Bandstand sits on Grand Parade between the Wish Tower and the pier, an art-deco bowl opened in 1935. In summer it runs concerts with the sea behind the stage. During Airbourne the flying finishes mid-afternoon; the Bandstand tribute from 20:00 is the reason a lot of people stay on the front.
The present Bandstand replaced an earlier Victorian one and opened in 1935, a white ‘palisades’ bowl facing the Channel. It is one of the few remaining working seafront bandstands of its size in Britain and still runs a full summer programme.
During Airbourne
Reserved seats for the Airbourne evening tribute sell on the official Visit Eastbourne site. The middle balcony is the one people talk about. Standing on the prom around it is free and fills up. Fireworks after the flying are usually over the pier, a short walk east — you can do both if you do not linger.
Worth knowing
- If you want a seat, buy it before the weekend. The middle balcony goes first.
- The flying is over by late afternoon. Eat in town, then come back.
- A jumper. The bowl faces the Channel and the evening wind comes straight in.
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