Proposals to open sports bar at Hastings former Debenhams building
Plans have been put forward to convert part of the former Debenhams building in Hastings town centre into a sports bar.
The applicant, Hastings-based businessman Thomas Cosens, submitted proposals that would involve the venue hosting indoor sporting events, pool, darts, and snooker, along with serving alcohol and food.
In October 2025 Hastings Borough Council's licensing panel granted a premises licence allowing a bar, trading as Players Sports Bar, to operate in the currently vacant building, with access from Robertson Terrace.
The approved licence will permit on and off-sales of alcohol, the showing of live/recorded sports and the hosting of indoor sporting events, including table tennis, snooker, pool, darts, shuffleboard and bowling.
A planning, design and access statement, on behalf of the application, said: “The proposal is for Players Sports Bar to be located at 1-3 Robertson Street, within Hastings town centre.
“The premises occupy a ground-floor commercial unit, previously occupied by Debenhams and Owens. Robertson Street forms part of Hastings’ traditional commercial core and is well established as a location for independent shops, cafés, bars, and leisure activities.
“The site has historically operated as an amusement arcade, representing an established town centre leisure use. Planning permission is sought for a change of use to a sports bar, providing a managed social venue focused on indoor sporting activities such as pool, darts, and snooker, alongside food and alcoholic beverages, for which a licence was granted on October 20, 2025.
“The proposal involves a change of use only, with no significant external alterations proposed to the building. Internally, the premises will be reconfigured to accommodate a sports bar layout including areas for indoor sporting activities including pool tables, dart boards, and snooker tables, flexible seating arrangements including tables and booths, ancillary storage and staff areas, and customer and staff toilets.
“Indoor sporting activities will be managed to ensure noise levels remain appropriate, particularly during evening hours, with all activities contained entirely within the building.”
The former Debenhams building in its entirety became available to let via commercial property agents Dyer & Hobbis in November 2024 following the closure of Owens.
The property covers around 80,000 sq ft.
Moxie Management Two Ltd, which bought the site in January 2020, said in October 2024 that it was looking at a number of potential uses for the property.
Owens opened at the former Debenhams building in Robertson Street in October 2022. It was awarded funding from the Towns Fund investment after being added to the Hastings Town Deal programme in summer 2022 with the aim of creating 35 new jobs.
The Towns Fund was announced by the Government in 2019 and set up to support an initial 101 places across England to develop a Town Deal proposal for regeneration.
However, in September 2023 Owens put out a statement saying the attraction was closing ‘due to unforeseen circumstances’.
In September 2024, wooden boards were placed all across the rear and front of Owens.
Council planners approved a separate proposal by London Learning Consortium last month to turn part of the vacant building into an educational centre for teenagers.