Rockwater Hove selling £750 membership cards

The owner of the Hove seafront venue, Luke Davis, says the card “simply offers priority access to specific events” and is to ensure locals are prioritised over “out of towners”.

The announcement led some residents to fear the venue would become “rich on the roof, poor on the pebbles”.

However, Mr Davis says that no area of the building will be off-limits for people without the card.

He insisted cardholders will not be given priority to the roof terrace or the main building - known as the lodge.

He said: “Rockwater Hove is – and always will be – an establishment built with community at its core.

“The Rockwater residence card does not, in any way, detract from this.

“No area of the building is exclusive to residence cardholders, so the entire community will still be able to join us on the deck, in the restaurant and bar, the roof terrace and the lodge, as well as book private events with us to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and everything else in between."

The venue, formerly called The View, was stripped back to bricks after its takeover.

Last year, the shacks on the promenade sold takeaway beer and nibbles and there were also heated, Covid-secure igloos on the northern green.

This year, following the easing of lockdown, the shacks have reopened with table service offered to its outdoor seafront seating. The roof is yet to open.

Mr Davids added: “The residence card simply offers priority access to specific events, such as film screenings, supper clubs, business networking events, intimate gigs with international recording artists and a chance to be part of unique experiences such as our podcast series.

“We’ve created the residence card as an optional extra that our community can choose to sign up to if they wish. It ensures locals remain a priority for these events over ‘out of towners’."

More information can be found at www.rockwater.uk/rockwater-residence