The Hart, a cornerstone of Eastbourne's LGBTQ+ scene for almost a quarter of a century, has announced it will close permanently next month, in the latest blow to queer venues on the Sussex coast.
The venue revealed that it will shut its doors for the final time on 4 October, citing rising energy costs, declining footfall and the ongoing challenges facing the hospitality sector.
In a statement shared on social media, management said it was making the decision "with a heavy heart".
"With the hospitality industry being as difficult as it is recently with increasing energy bills, lack of help from local and national government and a decreasing footfall everywhere, running The Hart is no longer enjoyable," the statement said.
The Hart has been a fixture of Eastbourne's nightlife since the early 2000s, hosting drag shows, cabaret, comedy nights and community events that have attracted LGBTQ+ customers from across East Sussex and beyond.
Graham Robson
Its closure comes amid growing concern about the future of queer venues across Sussex. In Brighton, the LGBTQ+ community has recently seen the loss of both R-Bar and Charles Street Tap, prompting wider discussions about the pressures facing LGBTQ+ hospitality businesses.
Venue owners have increasingly pointed to rising operating costs, changing nightlife habits and the broader cost-of-living crisis as factors threatening the survival of dedicated queer spaces.
Before closing, The Hart will host a series of farewell events, including the final Harty Laughs Comedy Club on 25 September and the last Sunday Sins show, hosted by Fonda Cox, on 27 September.
The venue also thanked customers, staff and suppliers who have supported the business over the past 24 years.
"We would like to thank our customers, staff past and present and suppliers for the great laughs we've all had over the years," the statement said.
News of the closure has prompted an outpouring of tributes online from customers recalling friendships, performances and memories made at the venue over the decades.
For many in the local LGBTQ+ community, The Hart's closure represents more than the loss of a bar. Like the recent closures of R-Bar and Charles Street Tap in Brighton, it raises fresh questions about how queer venues can continue to survive amid increasing financial pressures.
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