Eastbourne’s Devonshire Quarter up for top award

The Stage Door pub and DQ Terrace Bar and Café have also picked up ‘Commended’ in their respective Pub of the Year and Restaurant, Café and Tearoom of the Year categories.

These establishments were placed within the top-four pubs and top five eateries across the south east.

The Devonshire Quarter is also shortlisted in the Business Events Venue of the Year category.

The venue, managed by Conference Eastbourne, has been selected for its conference facilities, first-class service and ethical management.

Organised by Tourism South East, the awards celebrate outstanding tourism businesses across the region, with the winners announced at a virtual awards ceremony on March 4.

Eastbourne Borough Council lead cabinet member for tourism and enterprise, Councillor Margaret Bannister said, “This is wonderful news and a huge testament to the incredible work which has gone into the redevelopment of our conference facilities and the tireless efforts of our conference team in both welcoming and supporting new business events.

“The Commended awards for both the Stage Door pub and DQ Café are also the icing on the cake, and to receive this award within just 12 months of opening the café really is a superb achievement.”

The Devonshire Quarter conference, sporting and entertainment complex has undergone a £54 million transformation in recent years.

The extensive redevelopment includes the 1,655 seater Congress Theatre auditorium along with the Devonshire Park Theatre, Winter Garden, International Lawn Tennis Centre, and the addition of the locker room meeting facilities and new welcome building with exhibition halls, a café, an outdoor plaza and a breakout space.

The transformation included a number of improved accessibility and sustainable measures from solar panel generated electricity to a motion-sensored lighting system, level access and energy efficient glazing.

The restoration of the Grade II* listed Congress Theatre also garnered a Sussex Heritage Trust award late last year.

Due to government guidance, the facilities are currently only available for business, educational and training events for up to 30 people, which are deemed essential and cannot be delayed or held online.

The venue has both COVID-Ready and We’re Good To Go accreditation with extra measures in place to maintain safety.

The DQ Terrace Bar and Café is currently open daily from 9.30am to 3pm for takeaway only and the Stage Door pub reopens with a takeaway and delivery service from Wednesdays to Sundays from February 3.

The Conference Eastbourne team are available to discuss advance bookings for all business events, private functions and weddings, with site visits and 360˚ tours online of some facilities.

For more information telephone 01323 415437 or visit www.ConferenceEastbourne.com.