On Saturday, June 21 one of the hottest days of the year so far, the community of Winchelsea Beach came together to celebrate the official opening of a newly completed extension to the village hall.
This new extension, with a design which improves accessibility and inclusivity for all hall users, shone brilliantly in the sunshine, revealing itself as a welcoming hub at the hall’s entrance.
Organising the funding and building of the extension has been a major project for the Winchelsea Beach Community Association (WBCA). Despite the weather-related challenges which came with starting the build in January 2025, the project was completed on time at the end of March, to the great relief of all involved. Thanks to close collaboration with local builders Elite Timber Solutions and architect Casper Cummins, who also managed the build, the hall remained operational throughout the works.
The completed extension was officially opened by MP for Hastings and Rye, Helena Dollimore, who joined residents, guests and volunteers of the WBCA in marking the occasion. The new extension, which includes an exterior access ramp, a fully accessible toilet and baby changing facilities, was built at the front of the hall to both modernise the building and provide much-needed updates in line with current accessibility legislation.
“Our new extension makes the hall more attractive and is a great help to both young families and our disabled users,” said Geoff Foot, chair of the Winchelsea Beach Community Association. “We have received some very nice comments, and shall continue our efforts to serve our local community.”
The project was made possible thanks to generous grant funding from Rother District Council (RDC), Winchelsea Parochial Church Council, and Icklesham Parish Council, as well as the dedication of the volunteers from WBCA.
Helena Dollimore stated: “It’s fantastic to see the Winchelsea Beach Community Hall extension open officially. Thank you to all the committee members and volunteers who worked hard to make this possible. This is a great space for everyone to use.”
Cllr Andrew Mier of Rother District Council was present for the opening and stated that RDC are “very pleased to be able to support village halls that are so well used”. Cllr Mier also commented on the design, saying: “Some buildings have an architectural quality which says exactly what it is, and this building truly says village hall,” adding that “the hall now looks good inside and out.”
Cllr Godfrey Daniel, also attending the celebration, commented on the “friendly and welcoming” feel of the hall.
The official opening event was a chance for the community to come together to recognise and celebrate the time, effort and teamwork that went into making this vital improvement a reality. As well as the opening and speeches, guests enjoyed free refreshments, bouncy castle hire donated by Smiley Faces and live music entertainment from local band, Something Else.
This is just one of the events in the Winchelsea Beach Community Association’s busy calendar. The next one is a barn dance on Saturday, July 5 at 7pm. Find out more on the Winchelsea Beach Community Association website.
Image Credits: Katherine Crowther .