Call for community organisation or charity to manage Stade Hall

Community organisations or charities are invited to express their interest to programme, manage and promote Stade Hall on behalf of the Hastings and St Leonards Foreshore Charitable Trust.

The facilities were built for the benefit of, and use by, the community and this is an exciting opportunity for charitable or not for profit organisations to have use of excellent facilities in a prime location.

Stade Hall is in the heart of the Old Town, adjoining the Stade open space. The use of the facilities is governed by the purpose and objectives of the Foreshore Trust, this can be found online. Any organisation that manages the facilities must be recognised as charitable or not for profit.

The building includes a communal entrance and foyer, main hall, training kitchen (known as Classroom on the Coast), small office space for approximately three staff, toilet facilities and a storage cupboard for tables and chairs.

The hall has been managed since 2019 by East Sussex College Hastings (ESC). It has been hired for art exhibitions, training days, workshops and meetings, with around 60 bookings per year.

Classroom on the Coast is a smaller space and is set up and fitted out as a seafood training kitchen. It is located next to the fishing fleet, giving it a unique feel.

The council will continue to manage bookings for the Stade open space on behalf of the Foreshore Trust, working to confirm the bookings with the management organisation of Stade Hall.

The agreement with ESC ends in January 2024. They continue to take bookings and it is expected that these would be honoured once management is handed over, with the new management organisation receiving the hire fee.

Cllr John Cannan, chair of the charity committee, said: "The hall is a great opportunity for a charity or not for profit organisation to use these fantastic facilities. I am looking forward to seeing the expressions of interest and working with the next management organisation."

Find out more. To register your interest please email estates@hastings.gov.uk by 5pm on Monday 4 September.