Cliff erosion forces building's partial demolition

Work to demolish the front section of a 19th Century former hotel and bar on the East Sussex coastline has begun

Work has began to demolish part of a historic building on the East Sussex coast due its proximity to an unstable cliff edge.

The front of the former Birling Gap Hotel, near Beachy Head, is being demolished after safety concerns were raised over coastal erosion.

The site is now a National Trust visitor centre and café.

The charity, which owns the land the site is built on, said the site must "adapt to coastal change".

Workers began removing tiles from the roof last Thursday, and the rest of the structure is due to come down this week.

A spokesperson for the trust said throughout the year they have been moving the café and visitor centre to the rear of the building.

"The final part of the process is taking place now, to take down the front of the building and keep it safe from future storms and cliff erosion," they said.

"The building will the same footprint as before, with just the front section removed.

They added the former Victorian hotel is on a shoreline which is "constantly changing" due to rising sea levels, erosion and weathering.

The single-storey former hotel was built in a Victorian style resembling a pavilion

Tim and Jayah Wood, who live nearby, have been visiting the site for more than 30 years.

Mr Wood said: “It’s really sad. The saddest thing for all is why couldn’t they build a defence wall to stop it collapsing?”

Ms Wood added: “We’re a bit nostalgic because we went when it had the old-fashioned orange seats and everything else, so we keep coming. We do like the new coffee place as well.”