Look local: Eastbourne

Visible from the top of Beachy Head – Britain’s highest chalk sea cliff – sits the coastal town of Eastbourne.

Financed by the wealth of a prominent land owner, William Cavendish, the town grew into a popular seaside resort during the Victorian era and by the late 1800s had swelled from 4,000 to 35,000 residents in the space of 40 years.

With an £85million redevelopment of the local shopping centre currently under way, Victoria Neate, practice manager at Barracloughs the Opticians, says it is a fantastic time to be working in Eastbourne.

‘Eastbourne is such a lovely seaside town. We have such a pretty seafront with lots going on throughout the year [and] the extension will make a huge difference to our local shopping experience,’ says Neate.