Plans revealed for Eastbourne townhouse hotel

The owners of the former Ambassador hotel in Eastbourne have unveiled plans for its refurbishment and relaunch under the management of Premier Cru.

The hotel, in Eastbourne's Howard Square, was bought by Kuwaiti European Holdings (KEH) in September 2012. At the time it said it would invest £1.5m in improvements.

The refurbishment will now take place throughout 2015, before the hotel opens as the Southdown hotel on 14th February 2016.

It will be managed by Premier Cru, which manages 14 hotels, including the Montagu Arms in Beaulieu, Hampshire, and Lords of the Manor, Upper Slaughter, Gloucestershire.

Premier Cru partner Iain Shelton said: "We tend to think of overseas investment in terms of London's booming property market, but this exciting new project demonstrates that for the right locations, such as Eastbourne, imaginative new projects are possible."

The Southdown, positioned as a townhouse hotel, will operate at four-star standard. It will include a brasserie and a private cinema.