Asletts was appointed to principal contract the comprehensive heritage refurbishment of The Colonnade in Bexhill-on-Sea, one of the most recognisable and historically significant landmarks on the East Sussex coastline.
Constructed in 1911 to commemorate the coronation of King George V, this Grade II listed promenade structure stands as a vital piece of the town’s seaside heritage. Given its prominent, highly exposed location, the five-month programme demanded a sympathetic, highly disciplined approach to structural repairs and conservation-grade redecoration.
Client: The Collonade, Bexhill-on-Sea
Project Duration: Five months
Completion Date: April 2026
Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex
Restoring a century-old, listed structure in a marine environment presents significant technical hurdles. Decades of exposure to salt spray, high winds, and coastal damp had taken a toll on the building’s fabric, resulting in degraded plasterwork, corroded decorative ironwork, and weathered timber.
The primary challenge for our site team was balancing the strict requirements of heritage compliance with the volatile winter weather conditions on the Bexhill seafront. Traditional materials, such as lime plaster and specialist mineral paints, require strict environmental conditions to cure properly, necessitating meticulous scheduling and protective measures throughout the five-month duration.
Working to a rigorous, conservation-led specification, our team deployed traditional repair methods alongside advanced, breathable product systems to protect the landmark for decades to come:
Traditional Lime Plastering: Our heritage plasterers cut out damaged sections of the substrate and executed traditional lime plaster repairs, matching the original building profiles precisely to maintain the historic aesthetic.
Specialist Keim Mineral Paint Systems: To guard the main façade against harsh marine weather, we applied a multi-coat Keim paint system following an exact technical specification. Unlike standard masonry paint, Keim bonds chemically with the substrate, offering exceptional breathability and longevity against salt and UV degradation.
Bespoke Window & Door Joinery: The building’s original timber windows and doors required extensive restoration. We replaced all degraded window glass and hand-machined bespoke replacement timber beads in our workshop to perfectly replicate the original architectural profiles, preserving the historic character while restoring weather integrity.
Metalwork & Masonry Restoration: The decorative and structural seafront metalwork was thoroughly prepared, repaired, and treated with high-durability marine coatings. On the main promenade steps, we completed structural concrete repairs, applied specialised non-slip stair paint, and installed contrasting coloured stair nosings to ensure public safety and DDA compliance.
Fine Architectural Detailing: To complete the visual restoration, our decorators painstakingly picked out and hand-painted the historic numbering across the main façade.
Handed over in April 2026, the complete external refurbishment has successfully restored the structural integrity and architectural grandeur of The Colonnade. The combination of traditional lime repairs, pristine mineral coatings, and meticulous joinery details has fully revitalised the promenade. The building is now visually striking and robustly protected against the demanding coastal climate, securing its place on the seafront for future generations.
The Colonnade project highlights the capacity of Asletts to successfully manage high-profile, public-facing heritage contracts. Operating transparently within the local community and working alongside conservation guidelines, our team demonstrated the elite craftsmanship required to preserve the South East’s architectural history.
Client Feedback:
“Absolutely fantastic company. They worked really hard and diligently, dealing with some very difficult weather conditions. We couldn’t be happier with the finished result and would highly recommend them. Thank you.”
