Azur Continues to Remain Empty
Attempts to negotiate a commercial tenant for the Marina ‘Azur’ Pavilion in St Leonards have been further delayed pending the need for additional repairs. The economic development quango, Sea Change Sussex, blames the ongoing work to restore power to the premises.
A company spokesperson said: “We have decided to put our marketing efforts for the Marina Pavilion temporarily on hold because any reputable operator will require mains electricity, which is currently absent in the building.”
The power outage stems from a failing mains supply within the wider Marina Foreshore Complex, a problem that requires resolution by UK Power Networks. Hastings BC is coordinating the multi-party repair effort, which also affects the neighbouring sailing club, public toilets, workshop, and car park.
Hastings BC Deputy Leader, Cllr Julia Hilton confirmed that the council has appointed a contractor to install a new internal supply network, ready for when UK Power Networks completes its essential works on the external mains. The repair work is expected to continue into next year.
An anonymous former user (name and address supplied to HIP) had a different perspective. “From the moment Sea Change took back the building, they put up heavy metal shutters, hardly attractive to prospective tenants, and let the property visibly deteriorate. Despite initial claims to the contrary, they have refused to let the various yoga and keep-fit groups based there for years continue to use the space and pay rent. Sea Change has since lost much of its funding, instigated the ill-fated A21 junction improvement project and is landlord of the bankrupt Sussex Exchange. Not a great record. HBC has sat on its hands throughout, and the amenity rots because of incompetence and lack of imagination.”
As previously reported in HIP, the venue opened as ‘Azur’ in 2008. It ceased trading in January 2024 and has been empty ever since. Phil Scott, East Sussex County Councillor for Hollington and Wishing Tree, has expressed concern that it’s ‘rusty and neglected’ and ‘falling into disrepair’.
Sea Change Sussex is a social enterprise which was set up by Hastings BC. It holds the head lease of the Azur Marina Pavilion and, in February 2024, said it hoped yoga classes and other hirers of the premises would return, “as soon as possible”. HBC owns the freehold of the building and has retained responsibility for what are called in the head lease its “common parts”. There have been severe water penetration problems in the past.
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