Marine Court, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex

On the 10th floor of St Leonards-on-Sea's Grade II-listed Marine Court, this one-bedroom apartment has a bracing coastal outlook from its two bookending balconies. The building was completed in 1938, with the apartment retaining many original features including floorboards and wardrobes. Known for its Regency architecture, St Leonards is a perennially popular seaside town within easy reach of its coastal neighbour Hastings.

Please note: The building is currently undergoing a comprehensive and carefully managed restoration program that will return it to its original glory.

The Building

The first foundations of Marine Court were laid in 1936, with building completed in 1938. An early pioneer of steel-frame construction, it is 14 storeys high and sits broadside to the seafront. Its form took inspiration from the Queen Mary, a transatlantic cruise ship which entered commercial service in 1936. The east end of Marine Court is shaped to imitate the curved, stacked bridge front of the Queen Mary; the eastern restaurant and ballroom served to imitate the fo’c’sle deck of the ship and played host to gigs by Jimi Hendrix and David Bowie.

The Tour

On entering the apartment, the hallway works as an arterial space from which each room branches out. Original floorboards run underfoot across the plan.

The living room lies at the front of the apartment and receives a delightful quality of light from windows and a glazed door to the balcony. At the opposite end of the plan is the kitchen, formed of curved white cabinetry that conceals integrated appliances and echoes the streamlined angles of the exterior. An original 1930s frosted-glass door leads to the rear balcony.

A peaceful space, the bedroom has the same soothing palette as the rest of the apartment. Period built-in wardrobes provide plenty of storage space, while a wide window looks out over the rooftops of St Leonards.

The bathroom lies centrally and is finished with chequerboard black-and-white tiles and silver fixtures.

Outdoor Space

The apartment has two balconies: one sits directly in front of the horizon, with uninterrupted views that stretch from Beachy Head to Hastings. There is enough space for a bistro table and chairs here, ideal for enjoying a morning coffee. The second balcony is accessed from the kitchen and would make a convenient spot for growing herbs.

The Area

St Leonards-on-Sea is a popular seaside town, partly due to its proximity to London but also because of its beautiful Regency architecture. Developer-architect James Burton and his son Decimus developed the resort in the early 19th century with echoes of London’s Marylebone and Belgravia, where they had previously practised. The apartment is directly opposite the pebble beach at St Leonards, with sand at low tide.

Marine Court is a short walk from Norman Road and King’s Road, home to a growing number of independent delicatessens, bars, pubs, and restaurants. Highlights include Kino-Teatr, which combines an independent cinema with exhibition space and a wonderful café, Graze on Grand, and The Royal, which has a Bib Gourmand from the Michelin Guide. There is an abundance of 20th-century furniture shops and galleries featuring local and established artists. Marine Court itself has a parade of shops, galleries and restaurants on street level including Dark Circles for vinyls and coffee and cake.

Hastings is a short walk away along the wide modernist promenade with an upper and lower deck running from St Leonard’s to Hastings. Goat Ledge beside the beach and Starsky and Hatch in the iconic Bottle Alley are just two of the café-bars to watch the sea and passersby from.

The area’s rejuvenation is perhaps best illustrated by the additions of Hastings Contemporary by HAT Projects, which opened in 2012 as Jerwood Gallery, and the RIBA Stirling Prize-winning pier by dRMM. Bexhill-on-Sea, home to the 1930s art deco icon the De La Warr Pavilion, is a bike ride along the promenade.

Direct train services from Warrior Square, St Leonards-on-Sea (a 17-minute walk) reach London Charing Cross and London Bridge in approximately an hour and a half, and Brighton in around an hour.

Tenure: Share of Freehold
Lease Length: Approx. 980 years remaining
Service Charge: Approx. £10,000 per annum. The service charge includes the costs of the Marine Court renovation programme; a 10-year renovation programme which is now in its third year
Council Tax Band: A