Plans to revitalise and transform a castle site into a “significant cultural destination” have taken a step forward. The West Hill Café and Castle Project in Hastings will see the creation of a new cafe, restaurant, new interpretation visitor experience to retell the story of Hastings Castle, retail and community space. A new platform lift will also provide step-free access from the West Hill Lift top station to all spaces.
The ambition is to transform Hastings Castle and West Hill Café site into a “significant cultural destination” with a focus on heritage, sustainability, and community engagement. In 2021, Hastings was one of 101 UK towns to receive a share of the government’s Towns Fund to kickstart the regeneration of the town with funding of £24.3m.
Read more: Developers wanted to turn derelict café into restaurant and heritage centre In 2023, the Town Deal Board approved the project’s business case and the council has allocated £3m of Town Deal money to invest in the project to improve the café as an interpretation facility with food and beverage provision and access to Hastings Castle with modest improvements within the castle itself. Troika's designs for the project (Image: Hastings Borough Council) Hastings Borough Council has now chosen Troika Projects as its partner to deliver the project. Troika Projects, which is based in Hastings, working alongside architects, Poroban and Heritage and Planning Consultants, Purcell and contractors Colbran an.