Curtain down on old-style Pavillion

Rother chairman Cllr Robin Patten and his wife were also present at Sunday evening's event which marked the official closure of the Grade One Listed building until refurbishment works are complete.

Work was due to have started in the Summer but first-round tenders were way over budget. A new selection of tenders were due to be opened late this week.

Pavilion Trust director Alan Haydon and his team had arranged for a lethal punch to be served, featuring a selection of spirits from bar stocks which have had to be run down in readiness for closure featured in the party.

Pavilion Trust chairman Dr Richard Sykes, in an Observer statement in lieu of his planned speech, promised that the Trust would not be idle in the expected 14-month closure while the 6m refurbishment work is undertaken but would serve up cocktail of other measures.

Trust staff have been busy packing files and equipment in readiness for the move to temporary offices in the former NatWest bank building in Buckhurst Road. It is also hoped to keep a "shop window" in the town centre by taking over vacant Marina premises.

A brisk trade in Pavilion memorabilia was underway as, in up-beat mood, Dr Sykes sketched-out how the Trust plans between now and the Pavilion's planned Spring 2005 re-opening.

"There are two important 70th anniversaries coming up. You may not realise it, but this month is the 70th anniversary of the ending of Prohibition in America! That in itself is a very good reason to be here this evening.

"The other reason is to use-up all the remaining alcohol in the pavilion. Isn't this punch a knock-out?

"More seriously, in 2005 we will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of the opening of the pavilion. The plaque at the bottom of the stairs says that in May 1935 it was laid there and in the Spring of 2005 we plan to re-open this building.

"So, this great adventure now gets under way. We are closing down in readiness for the big refurbishment.

"We are hoping that the builders will be coming in here in January. We will be opening the tenders in the next few days.

"We hope to keep the public posted on developments and just to make it easier we will be putting news on the Pavilion Friends' website in addition to using 'snail-mail.'"

Dr Sykes said: "Alan Haydon and his team are going to move to temporary offices off Town Hall Square and we are in the process of seeking a shop front close to the pavilion and that will be opening soon. The public will be invited to come in and see what is going on for the Friends will be continuing with an active programme.

"One particularly important event in the Spring will be Ian Brakewell's piece on the De La Warr will be on display at the Tate. The Friends are organising a trip to see it.

"We will be planning our big musical event, The Shout, to mark our re-opening.

"The popular Pig Theatre which was here will be going to local primary schools and the Utopia presentation will be going to local secondary schools."

And Dr Sykes promised: "There WILL be a Jour de Fete next year."

He added: "I would like to say how very much we appreciate the support and commitment of all our staff.

"There is a lot of work to be done over the next year and a half."

Repeating his recent message to the Bexhill Town Forum, he said: "When we come back I want this place to be open seven days a week - 10am to 10pm-plus as a key resource for education, leisure and entertainment in the community."