Officers want a temporary padel, fitness and food venue at Black Rock on a lease of up to five years. Cabinet decides on 15 October; the bidder is not named.

A padel, fitness and food venue could open on the empty Black Rock site on Brighton’s eastern seafront. Council officers have recommended it as the “meanwhile use” for the land, on a lease of no more than five years. Cabinet decides on Thursday 15 October.

The bidder behind it is not named. The public report calls it “Bidder 1” and keeps its identity, rent and scores in a confidential section (Cabinet report).

What is being proposed

The report describes the recommended bid as “a temporary active leisure, sport and wellbeing destination”. It would include:

  • padel courts
  • fitness facilities
  • food and drink
  • mental health programmes

It would pay the council a fixed annual rent and needs no council capital money. Officers say it offered “the highest guaranteed rental income” of the four bids.

The four bids

The council ran an expressions of interest process and received four submissions. They were scored on the operator’s plan and track record (40%), local economic impact (20%) and the rent offered (40%).

Bid What it offered Officers’ verdict
Bidder 1 Padel, fitness, food and drink, mental health programmes Highest score; recommended
Bidder 2 Public beach hub, community facilities, food and drink, event space Reserve; “lower and less certain” financial return
Bidder 3 Active leisure Narrower benefits and lower return
Bidder 4 A long-term regeneration scheme Not comparable with a temporary use

If terms cannot be agreed with Bidder 1, the beach hub bid is next in line.

The conditions on any lease

Cabinet is asked to agree that any lease must:

  • last no more than five years
  • include break and termination clauses
  • make the operator remove everything it builds when the lease ends
  • hand the site back in the same condition, at the operator’s cost
  • include social value commitments that are monitored

Before the lease is signed, officers want measurable promises. These include affordable or free access, activity for groups who rarely take part in sport, and local jobs and training. Neighbouring communities, including Whitehawk and East Brighton, are to be consulted early. Any venue would still need planning permission and licences.

The padel venue is only meant to fill the gap. The report says the council’s long-term aim is “a nationally and internationally recognised cultural destination, including a major visual arts offer”.

Officers have started talking to gallery operators, universities, museums and possible investors. Funding ideas include Arts Council England, the National Lottery, philanthropy, sponsorship and government money. The report is clear that the form, scale and funding of any gallery “remain subject to further feasibility work”. Nothing has been decided.

The council says it has spent about £18 million getting the site ready. That paid for:

  • clearing and levelling the land
  • a realigned and extended sea wall
  • the 800m seafront boardwalk
  • better walking and cycling links to Brighton Marina
  • refurbishing Volk’s Railway’s Black Rock station and the public toilets

The site sits between Brighton Marina, Madeira Drive, Kemptown and Whitehawk. Just inland, the separate Brighton Gasworks housing scheme is on hold while its owner reviews it.

What it means for you

  • If you live nearby, the report promises early engagement with Whitehawk and East Brighton as the proposal progresses. Ask your Kemptown ward councillors how and when that will happen.
  • If you play sport, padel would sit alongside a gym-style offer. Prices and opening hours have not been published.
  • When it could open is unclear. The council does not expect any rent in 2026/27 because of when the agreement is likely to be signed, which suggests the venue will not open this financial year.

Cabinet meets at Hove Town Hall on Thursday 15 October (agenda). The same meeting also decides the Royal Pavilion Garden restoration.