Eastbourne shopping centre gets offices and new retailers

Foundry is launching in The Beacon, Eastbourne, and will combine shared offices with artisan coffee shops, independent retailers, and a music venue.

The multipurpose unit will even feature a barber shop as it hopes to “empower” businesses in the area, “giving them the space to think differently”.

It will be the first of ten planned sites in the next three years

Its ground floor retail space will be open to the public seven days a week, while the upstairs comprises offices and meeting rooms.

Foundry plans to open ten further sites in three years.

Foundry’s co-founder Adam Walker said: “We are going to have a fantastic line-up of independent shops and traders when we open, and will be introducing more great retail entrepreneurs.

“Sixty per cent of the offices or studios are now occupied, and we are interviewing a number of local businesses about the remaining studios.

Foundry's shared offices

“There’s been great feedback. The place is gaining significant traction and there is a great buzz around the place.”

Foundry is also looking for non-medical procedure professionals to make use of its four health and wellbeing or treatment rooms.

But the standout feature of Foundry is its timber amphitheatre-style space which connects both floors, and will host live DJs.