Bexhill the new property hot spot?

This year has seen several of Bexhill's long established businesses disappearing from the town but as one door closes, another is opening in its place.

Alex MacPherson, commercial property manager for Maltbys, said new businesses were flocking to the town.

But Bexhill Chamber of Commerce and Tourism is being more cautious.

Mr MacPherson said: "I think we have gained from the publicity on a recent property show on TV which said millions of pounds was being poured into Hastings and Eastbourne in regeneration."

On the back of that, staff of the new businesses did not necessarily want to move into Hastings, and Bexhill was the obvious place.

Bexhill was being talked up as the next property hotspot on the south coast.

Development of the sea end of Sackville Road is being welcomed by local agents helping to move "a third class road upwards."

The former eyesore on the eastern side of the road has been cleared and Maltbys have been given the opportunity to market two commercial premises proposed for part of the new development.

Their signs only went up on Tuesday and already have received interested calls even though officially they have not got the drawings yet.

"The owners said in the planning application it would be world class restaurants at the bottom. We are expecting them to be two different types of restaurants. One to be a larger, more salubrious evening type of restaurant and the other more fast food but used in the evenings as well."

At Godfrey John and Partners, Mr John agreed the town was on the up and not before time.

"It has been static for 12 or 15 years, now all of a sudden people are thinking it is a good place to come.

"My own view is it's down to the development at the end of Sackville Road. The burnt out one had not been touched for 18 months. It was not doing anyone any good."

He believed the centre of the town was moving. "A third class road (Sackville) is going to move upwards. Western Road takes care of itself."

An offer on the former car showroom halfway up Sackville Road which had been vacant for five years and more was withdrawn this week but agents are hopeful it will not remain empty for much longer.

Mr MacPherson said he had a several people interested in the site and was letting them know it was available again.

As reported last week Toyland in Western Road will re-open as a delicatessen and the former Cafe Bleu in Devonshire Road is soon to open as an Indian restaurant.

The former wine bar on the corner of Sea Road and Marina is to open as another wine bar and next door as a watersports shop.

But not all new businesses involve food. There is to be a shoe shop / repairs opening in Western Road and the Edinburgh Bagpipe Company are relocating to Sea Road.

""We've offers on two St Leonards Road premises. The former Lloyds TSB has dramatically changed its appearance. It looked like Fort Knox and now has a new shop front in the Edwardian style the council is promoting," said Mr MacPherson.

He would not commit to the nature of the new businesses as they had yet to sign but would say they had nothing to do with food and tantalisingly, one had something to do with "a new fad".

"I have only been with Maltbys for a year and when I came there were a load of empty shops.

"In this last year things have really picked up. A few remain empty for one reason or another, either it doesn't suit their type of business or it can need a little t.l.c. (tender loving care).

"Take for example the old Seeboard office in St Leonards Road. That's been empty for eight years. There is so much work to do in there, a local is not going to do it."

But Bexhill Chamber of Commerce offered a more cautionary voice.

Communications officer Sue Spice said: "It's nice to see the area being spruced up but we hear it isn't all good news. Some established retailers are really hurting."

Rates were high in Hastings following regeneration and people were moving to Bexhill because rates were cheaper.

The chamber expected to benefit from the neighbouring regeneration and it would appear it was starting to happen.

"We knew it would happen eventually and that's good for Bexhill."

A prime site in St Leonards Road left by the collapse of the Courts chain is still under development and Sue said it would be nice to see it back in use as shops or similar.