Light at Towner in Eastbourne

We’d gone to the Towner to see a particular exhibition, which as it happened, had closed the week before so we settled on a larger - and really rather dreary - exhibition instead. Feeling somewhat deflated we tried to grab a coffee and a snack in the ground floor cafe. It was closed, due to staff shortages. Boo. And this why the Towner dining experience only scored a four from me, I’m afraid. The top floor restaurant seemed to be a little grander than we had planned to use, with a menu that looked a bit, well, esoteric. Still, we pressed on and took the lift up to the top floor to find an attractively laid out room, a friendly waitress and the chance to have pretty much what we might have hoped for in the downstairs facility. But . . the standard was simply outstanding. Scandinavian light cuisine prepared and presented (promptly) with delicacy and gorgeous attention to detail. Thoroughly recommended, but do check exhibition end dates before setting off.

This was our third visit in the last 3 weeks and that really says it all. We dine mainly in Bray or London at Michelin starred restaurants but are now really happy that there is an excellent restaurant on our doorstep. We have waited so long for Eastbourne to have a fine dining restaurant and now it has arrived. We have been eating from the 4 course dinner menu and the bread, scallops, venison and choux bun are outstanding. The staff are very friendly with great service. Cannot believe the price for the meal and it is great that they use local suppliers. Cannot wait to try the new menu in a couple of weeks. Hope thst people will support this marvellous restaurant, also lovely for lunches.

As this beautiful restaurant only have limited tables, you get that person touch as soon as you walk into the restaurant. From start to finish the service was excellent. The atmosphere was fantastic, beautifully set out and cosy. I went with a friend but this would be just as wonderful for a couple of with a group. The food is the main attraction - ABSOLUTELY STUNNING on the eye and taste. And great value for money! 100% will be back again!

2nd visit and still amazing! The soup is to die for and would highly recommend the haddock dish which was the highlight of my meal. Me and the wife wish we could visit a lot more! Recommend to my neighbours who are looking for a decent lunch in Eastbourne. Keep it up!

The best restaurant in Eastbourne hands down . The food is always delicious , and usually locally sourced. Try the granola , or the eggs for the beautiful colour and taste. Love it !!!!

We had lunch today - had a small plate each. My husband had mackerel, and I chose the brill. Luckily, I ordered some bread to go with my meal, as what arrived, although beautifully cooked and in a delicious seafood bisque, was miniscule. Tiny. The mackerel was just that - a fillet of fish sparsely decorated with a few fragments of vegetable. We had dessert - cherry frangipane- which was also delicious and also very small - and washed it down with a glass of wine for me and a half pint of bitter for him. I could not fault the service, nor the quality of the food, but just be warned that if you order a small plate, it will be the size of a starter, and you will leave still hungry! We paid almost £71 - a gobsmacking amount for what we had!

Truly outstanding. Such a pleasure to eat in this little gem of a restaurant. The cooking is masterly and exquisite. It’s such a pleasure to eat in a restaurant where people so obviously care. Lovely service too, so I can’t recommend highly enough.

Such a lovely place - stylish and the food is absolutely amazing and so is the service. I would highly recommend this place - great to go before a show at the congress or Devonshire theatres.

Don't make the same mistake we did. We wanted to make our last evening in Eastbourne special by dining at a great restaurant but ended up rushing to the nearest fish and chips spot just to avoid going hungry. Thankfully, we chose the 2-course menu instead of a full set, allowing us to try the food first. Both dishes were inedible. The so-called fried courgette flowers with ricotta turned out to be just one flower, with a tiny sprinkle of cream at the bottom of the plate. It was accompanied by large, half-raw courgette slices and sour cucumbers, which left an awful aftertaste. The "English cream with strawberry" was not cream at all, but rather salty, blended cottage cheese—like the cheapest you can find at the grocery store. It's hard to go wrong with these ingredients, but the result was a disappointing mix of salty and sour. To top it all off, we were overcharged, with the dishes being billed as separate items rather than as part of the 2-course set, as stated on the menu. In summary, don't waste your time. It's not worth the money or the hype. The terrace and interior are quite nice, though, so maybe just go for a coffee or drink if you're visiting for the vibe.

Exquisite dining experience. Fabulous setting with a great atmosphere. Customer care and hospitality second to none and nothing is too much trouble. Thank you so much and every good wish for the whole Team.

Immaculate service with good attention to detail and incredible original food . Faultless . Great not comment is blinds needed for big windows as sun uncomfortably dazzling .

It’s difficult to make tea and cake interesting, but somehow they have! The tea was excellent, the custard pastry amazing and the service excellent! Very keen to go back.

What a treat! Superb food and drinks, excellent service all in a spectacular rooftop space. This is the dining and drinking experience that Eastbourne has been waiting for. Book a table now, if there's any justice in the world, this place will have a waiting list soon.

Direkt neben dem Austragungsort für das Rasen-Tennisturnier von Eastbourne befindet sich in einem Museumskomplex das Light at Towner. Die Zeit in Eastbourne liess leider kein Dinner in diesem Restaurant zu, aber immerhin ein Frühstück - und zwar ein hervorragendes Frühstück! Neben dem Toast mit Butter und Konfitüre bestellen wir 4 aufwendigere Gerichte, die in kleineren Portionen serviert werden: Kardamon Müsli, Eggs Benedict mit geräucherter Forelle, Crêpes mit Lemon Curd, Blaubeeren und Joghurt sowie Smørrebrød Prosciutto. Einzig beim Müsli hätte es etwas mehr Milch sein dürfen. Bestellen würden wir alle Gerichte wieder. Etwas überrascht waren wir, dass der Service der Meinung war, wir hätten zu lange warten müssen, wofür ein Gericht von der Rechnung genommen wurde - selten erlebt, entsprach auch nicht unserem Gefühl, aber haben wir gern angekommen. Die 5 Punkte wären aber auch so kulinarisch verdient gewesen!

Came her for dinner on valentines and was greeted by max, was a very warm welcome and sat at the table nearest to the window. Brilliant tasting menu with also excellent wines to match. If there was one criticism it would be the music/ speakers.. they were pretty non existent and sounded like it was played from a radio speaker other than that a faultless experience.

A great find. Ignore the cafe on the ground floor of the gallery and head upstairs. Industrial modern setting which is bright and airy but comfortable with fabulous structural plants. Greeted by young and capable staff who provide table service. Turmeric Latte and Decaf tea were good served with a little lemony biscuit and we had a fresh Portuguese tart. Enjoyed playing with the board games, unhurried and relaxed experience. Accessible toilets very close by as is the lift.

We went for dinner last night and everything about the meal was perfect! We went for the 5 course menu and asked the chef to choose our plates from the selection. They didn’t disappoint, from the duck liver parfait to the sundowner cocktails at the end. The staff were lovely and very attentive and all the food was beautiful and tasted amazing. We highly recommend a visit.

Wow! This is truly amazing food in a fabulous setting in Eastbourne's Towner art gallery. The most delicious menu with food that totally lived up to the promise. If you are anywhere near Eastbourne go!

We went to the Light at the Towner on our visit to Eastbourne for my partner’s birthday, I’m so glad we did. It was one of the best meals we’ve ever had. The staff were attentive and friendly, and the atmosphere was perfect. We chose the 4 course menu. I could rave about each course. The venison main was delicious. I don’t have a sweet tooth so I chose the cheese with hazelnut tart which was lovely. My partner had the calvados baba which had the perfect balance of sweet and tart, I could have happily eaten that too. I don’t normally write reviews but I felt this restaurant was so special I wanted to spread the word.

We visited this restaurant recently and all I can say is wow wow wow … as someone else mentioned the parsnip soup is to die for … best soup that I’ve ever tasted period … how does the chef create such a masterly dish! … we also had the pearl barley risotto with pumpkin, sage & pine nuts … this was divine … another 2 dishes consisted of roasted cauliflower with kimchi, pickled golden raisins & coriander … and wood smoked burrata with chorizo jam & frisée … outstanding plates of food … we also had the mushroom gnocchi with king oyster mushroom, kale, pedro ximenez & mushroom veloute … this is an exquisite dish and extremely moorish … obviously we had to finish with desserts and these were both exceptional … we had the chocolate delice & the Stilton … words cannot express the extremely high standard of food here … it’s very carefully thought out and constructed to perfection … the chef is a genius … and before long this outstanding restaurant will have the number 1 spot in Eastbourne … we fully intend to return here again and are looking forward to an evening meal and indulging some more … Thankyou so much for the creativity in the kitchen … rest assured it is greatly appreciated … cannot wait to come back and try some more dishes!!!

4 exquisite courses for £48 and a good range of wines / drinks. Friendly service and lovely ambience. Definitely worth a visit. We’ve booked again for lunch next week

The best parsnip soup ever ! Excellent food and excellent service in the best art gallery - what more do you want ? Thank you guys

This restaurant is simply superb. Location is within Towner Gallery building and next door to the Congress theatre so great location. Outside dining area available on warmer days. Lovely view of Eastbourne, we sat by a window and the view fascinated my elderly mum. Front of house provided a great welcome, servers are extremely well trained and gave great service, they clearly enjoy their work. The whole atmosphere screams professional, welcoming and relaxing. The dishes are varied, plenty of choice yet not too much variety so the dishes are consistent and are well thought out. All ingredients are obviously sourced to a very high standard. There's a range in price and for what we ate I thought the price point was bang on. The food is literally excellent. The menus have plenty of dietary variation and information so meat eaters can eat alongside vegans or diners with other specific needs without anyone feeling they have less of a choice. I can't wait to visit again, I would like to thank the whole team for making it such an enjoyable experience.

Beautiful contemporary setting within the Towner art gallery in Eastbourne. Pleasantly surprised by the styling and decor. Staff where really attentive, and polite. Was fairly quiet when we went in though - so didn't have to wait for anything. Rained heavily and was windy when we were there, but still felt cozy even though it's an airy open space. Food was absolutely spot on, lots of depth and flavor profiles. The portion sizes look a little bit stingy initially (!) but they are perfect. It's nice to actually feel satisfied after a meal, but not stuffed! Venison and Pheasant 👌... On the more expensive side of dining out, but nice to treat yourself now and then, and definitely get what you pay for! 🤷‍♂️ Will definitely go back! DC

We tried it out and we’ll be back, lovely Danish sirloin open sandwich just like in København 🇩🇰

A massive thank you to Phil, Max and the team at the Light for providing a fantastic venue for a private client evening last week. From discussing the menu and wine choices to managing the event on the night everything was superb.

Totally flawless dining experience. Impeccable service , stunning decor but above all, the best food you’ll find in the area by a country mile. Genuinely second to none.

First time at Light, came with girlfriends for my birthday. The food was amazing!! Staff were so attentive, nothing was too much trouble. The actual restaurant has the most wonderful ambiance. Definitely didn't disappont!! Would I come again? Absolutely!! Would I recommend? Definitely!! Pictures I have shared aren't great as we were enjoying it too much to get many. Thank you Light at Towner you were fabulous and can't wait to return!!

Visited the Towner for the Turner. Light is an impressive transformation of the old space. Small plates do require an order of bread to be lunch sized, which takes you up to £16-17 per person, which is a hefty price for Eastbourne. Quality of ingredients cannot be faulted but a little more rocket/radicchio etc. would make these much better offerings rather than the pinch which currently sits alongside the main ingredient. Lovely staff but service not really in line with prices-we had to ask for condiments and then fetch our own napkins from the counter.

What a find! In Eastbourne for a show at the theatre & decided to try the restaurant, so glad we did, perfect! We chose from the pre theatre menu, excellent value for money & I would expect to pay more for the delightful dishes Guinea...

First visit and slightly worried that only multi-course lunch would be available. Shouldn’t have worried - we (4 people) had four different smørrebrøds with two small plates - crudités and baked cauliflower. Perfect for lunch for four. This is serious food - fresh, clean flavours,...

Dinner. Unplanned visit. Where do you go on a Saturday night in Eastbourne? An Art gallery or Cinema? But we're not going to see the entries for the turnerprize. We've been told there's a restaurant we need to try. It's just around the corner from...

This venue is delightful, the food is fabulous and the staff are just lovely 🥰 we sat outside because the weather was glorious. Blankets are provided x

Second visit now to this restaurant, and I cannot fault it. Service has dramatically improved, food is still exceptional and incredibly reasonable price for the quality. Martha was warm, welcoming and kind, acknowledged our comments last visit, and offered us a round of drinks as...

Came here before the closure for the turner prize and was truly amazed at how a nice, bright, friendly place was beautifully placed inside an art gallery in Eastbourne! I came with me and 3 others friends and was recommended to have a pick at...

I was delighted to learn that the Towner had a new restaurant. As there was an exhibition we wanted to see I booked a table for three for lunch, booking is advisable as the place when we arrived was full and there were people waiting...

Tasting menu. Could not fault any dish. Beautiful cooking. Michelin standard. Very nice staff who could explain the dishes.

The Towner is a wonderful asset for Eastbourne and now it has the Light restaurant it is even better! We sat out on the balcony, it was sunny and lovely to be in the fresh air. Staff were friendly, attentive and more than helpful. We...

We haven’t visited Eastbourne since last year, we were here for the Airshow weekend, and wanted to escape the heat and the crowds at the front and have a nice relaxing lunch at the top floor café. Unfortunately this has now turned into some highbrow...

Welcoming and friendly. As we had patronised Light before we were welcomed as friends Max set a rapaces, positive tone. The quality of the food was excellent. Two of our party were down from London and said the quality was equal to most London establishments....

Celebrating our wedding anniversary at light tonight . Had the set dinner menu 4 courses plus coffee and chocolate. Was just amazing food and service … top quality thankyou to Max and his staff for a lovely evening

Perfect place for breakfast. Lovely atmosphere and view from the restaurant. Food and service was amazing.

So - lets start with the positives. Ate dinner here last night on the 29th. Food was exceptional - would probably cost 50% more if they were based in Brighton, so that side of things was both delicious and a bargain. Whoever is in the...

Incredible change to this venue. Plenty of space, sofas and chairs, tables of different levels. Impressed immediately with help given to elderly lady in wheelchair and husband. Lower table found for them. Brilliant vibe. We went with visiting friends just for a coffee. The service...

The food was far beyond what you'd expect in a gallery cafe. In particular my fish was the best I've had in a long time. Service very good, and ambience good - though we had to ask to move to get away from the breeze...

A decent art gallery cafe is a thing to saviour, and we were regular visitors to the old cafe at the Towner, which was very pleasant. I'm delighted to say that the newly opened Light is actually an improvement, and we could not fault the...

Food fresh, unusual combinations, inspiring and really tasty. Good range on the menu: lite bites and full meals. Friendly, timely service. Bright, airy location with great views. Should be a destination in its own right not just thought of as part of The Towner. We...

This lovely restaurant has only been open in its current guise for 5 weeks but the food and service give the impression that they have many years of experience. Great atmosphere for our Saturday evening dinner, small but excellent menu which delivers on taste and...

Everything top notch; service friendly and attentive, delicious cocktails, food exceptional and the terrace was the perfect place to while away a couple of hours on a beautiful evening in June. We had the set pre-theatre menu which was was excellent value for money. Will...

We ate here early evening on the terrace, sunny warm and a great view watching the sun disappear behind the South Downs! The staff were really attentive and gave an excellent service. The food was amazing. A good choice. A real asset to Eastbourne. We...

We went as a party of four as treat for my daughter’s birthday. We had a fantastic 3 course meal including cocktails and wine. I had local Sussex lamb that was cooked to perfection and the rest of my family each had a different main...

Fabulous surroundings compared with last time I was here. Plenty of free spaces but delay in placing order and receiving it really unacceptable. Were about to leave when our 4 coffees arrived with much apology for the delay. Somehow took away the pleasure of grand...

Incredible transformation of this space! Beautiful scandi menu and kind, helpful staff. We will come back!

We had a lovely evening in this beautiful new restaurant. The food was well presented and delicious. The service was great. We would definitely recommend it, we will be returning.

This is a must go to modern stylish venue for eats and drinks. We had the best breakfast ever … throughly recommend you eat here. The staff are fist class, polite , friendly and attentive to your needs.

What a transformation! The place is so well designed and the food yummy. The staff namely Robert,Tilda and Amy were great. We have rebooted.