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From L to R: Councillor Stephen Holt, Councillor David Tutt (Council Leader), Caroline Ansell MP, Nick Ansell, Christina Ewbank

Bonners celebrates official launch of new flagship store in Eastbourne

The official opening of Eastbourne’s biggest music store was celebrated in rock n’ roll style with more than 70 guests.

Bonners hosted a VIP launch party at its new flagship premises at 9 Faraday Close on Thursday, September 30, with music, food and tours of the store. Guests included Caroline Ansell, MP for Eastbourne and Willingdon; Councillor David Tutt, the Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council; the Mayor and Mayoress of Eastbourne; local business leaders, music teachers and local bands. Tony White, co-owner of Bonners, said: “It was a great turnout and people enjoyed having a look around our new guitar, piano and keyboard store. “These premises allow us more space to display the fantastic instruments on sale and allow customers to try before they buy, which is really important. “Our new facilities have been well received. They include a guitar and amp testing booth, video suite, an extended guitar workshop and wider ranges across the major brands.”

Monthly

News Bonners has a huge range of guitars from brands including Gibson, Fender, Epiphone, Ibanez, Martin, PRS, Gretsch and more. It also boasts a room full of Martin acoustic guitars. The Eastbourne store has the largest selection of acoustic pianos, digital pianos and keyboards south of London with brands including Yamaha, Kawai, Feurich, Roland, Hammond Nord, Casio and Korg.

Bonners co-owner Tony White at the microphone Inside the Bonners guitar workshop

The store’s on-site guitar workshop and repair centre can handle anything from a basic re-string to more in-depth electronic repairs and pick-up replacement.

Now in its 45th year of trading, Bonners was opened in a small shop in Ivy Terrace in Eastbourne town centre by musician Peter Bonner, who was a resident act at the Kings Country Club working alongside global artists such as Neil Diamond, Dusty Springfield and Tom Jones.

The popularity of Bonners meant more space was soon needed and it moved to a larger space next door, followed by a second shop in Grove Road in the 1980s.

Over the years, Bonners has gone from strength to strength with a further move to Langney Road in 2005 to accommodate the ever-expanding business.

Tony had a stint of work-experience at Bonners aged 14 and ‘absolutely loved it’. This was quickly followed by a Saturday job, when he would often be tasked with promoting pianos in the Arndale Centre, then a full-time position throughout the 1990s. In 2000, he took over the company with his business partner Myke Edwards who had joined Bonners in 1990.

They have since opened two new Bonners stores in Reigate, Surrey, and in Milton Keynes.

The new out-of-town location for the Eastbourne store is a perfect fit for Bonners.

Tony said: “At 11,000 sq ft across twostoreys, this store is more open and has a more relaxed atmosphere than our previous town centre site.

“Crucially, here we have 20 parking spaces and excellent road access, so getting to us by car is easy or for anyone travelling by train, Hampden Park railway station is just a short walk away.

“Both the guitar store and piano and keyboard centre are staffed by an experienced and helpful team, so existing and new customers can use our specialist knowledge to make an informed decision for their purchase.” Additionally, Tony has his own YouTube channel where he demonstrates new piano and keyboard instruments on offer, which has attracted a following of more than 30,000 subscribers.

Bonners, which employs 20 full-time staff across its three stores, saw piano and guitar sales soar during lockdown with parents buying them for at-home children and people taking up the instrument as a new pastime and for mental health benefits.

Christina Ewbank, Chief Executive of Eastbourne & District Chamber of Commerce, said: “Bonners is one of Eastbourne’s great success stories and I am delighted this wellestablished business has continued to thrive and adapt despite the difficulties posed by Covid-19.

“I wish the Bonners team well in their new Eastbourne home.”

Visit online at bonnersmusic.co.uk

Midnight scoops GOLD

for best Public Sector Campaign Award

Midnight Communications has added yet another gong to its heaving awards cabinet with an award for best Public Sector Campaign at the recent CIPR PRide awards.

The agency was recognised for the team’s outstanding work on behalf of its client, public sector and civil service membership club, Boundless. The team developed a creative integrated campaign to boost awareness of Boundless and its role as a champion for the public sector and civil service through ownership of Public Service Day, supported through PR, film, research, advertorial, social media and public affairs. Joint Managing Director Flo Powell commented: “Life has been incredibly tough for those working in public service over the last couple of years with Brexit and then the Covid pandemic creating a perfect storm. Our campaign aimed to turn that on its head and celebrate public service in all its glory, charting an increase in appreciation and restoring pride. “I’m hugely proud that our team took home the gold award for best Public Sector Campaign – it was a tough category. Our focus is always coming up with fresh ideas and nothing motivates us more than achieving

great results on behalf of our clients.” Monthly News The CIPR PRide Awards recognise the outstanding talents and achievements of public relations practitioners across the UK’s regions and nations. They are the most prestigious and rigorous awards of their kind.

For more information, please visit www.midnight.co.uk.

Michael Gietzen included in UK’s Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders for 2021

The managing director of Identity, the events agency responsible for some of the UKs largest events over the last two years, has been included on LDC Top 50 List.

LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders for 2021, supported by The Times, identifies and celebrates the UK’s most ambitious business leaders behind growing medium-sized businesses from every sector and region of the UK economy. The programme, now in its fourth year, celebrates the inspiring leaders behind some of the UK’s most successful and fast-growing businesses. Identity is the only events agency to feature in the 2021 list. Michael was nominated by Identity’s Director of Live Events, Janet Dodd. Janet said: “I’m pleased that Michael’s ambitious leadership has been recognised. Since I joined Identity three years ago I have been inspired by Michael’s desire to make Identity the UK’s largest events agency. This ability to encourage and motivate others, combined with his general optimistic and positive approach to the business makes him a great business leader and very worthy of the accolade.” Michael Gietzen said: “I am delighted to be a member of the LDC Top 50. My ambition for Identity is limitless. As well as delivering world-class events for some of the world’s largest brands and organisations, Identity’s team of 200+ talented event professionals blaze an important trail for improvements in sustainability within our sector. There’s a lot to be proud of at Identity.” Despite the challenges of the last 18 months, Identity continued to expand, attracting heavy hitting industry talent and winning prestigious corporate clients, including Panasonic, Unilever and RollsRoyce Motor Cars, amongst others. LDC’s John Garner added: “The last 18 months have presented challenges that none of us could have foreseen, but despite everything, it’s fantastic to see that so many business leaders have achieved remarkable things. Congratulations to all those featured and we look forward to seeing their continued success and impact, and contribution the broader UK economy.” Identity has experienced extraordinary success over the last decade – this year it ranked in 25th place in the Sunday Times Fast Track 100 companies and last year received a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade. With its HQ in Sussex and a new office in central London, Identity boasts some of the sector’s most experienced and highly creative professionals. Identity’s work has been in continuous demand across the private and public

Monthly News

sectors, making it one of the few continuous rising stars in the events sector – even amidst the pandemic. Following the success of its faultless delivery of the G7 Summit in June, Identity is now in the final stages of preparations for COP26, taking place in Glasgow in November. The vital climate talks will be the largest ever gathering of heads of state to take place in the UK. Identity is actively recruiting for a number of key roles, in various departments including account management and production. Visit

https://identitygroup.co.uk/careers/

for more information.

Irwin Mitchell Advises Landlink Estates on Forward Funded Deal

Landlike Estates completed £18.6m sale of first phase of Saltbox Business Park, West Sussex to Knight Frank investors.

September 27th 2021

Owner/developer Landlink Estates has completed on the £18.6 million forward funding sale of the first phase of Saltbox Business Park to Knight Frank Investors. Landlink Estates was advised by law firm Irwin Mitchell. Saltbox Business Park is an industrial/ retail/logistics/warehouse park in Bognor Regis, West Sussex situated in 17 acres of land. The first phase of the scheme included 3 plots in which the owner achieved planning consent for B1 (C), B2 and B8 to deliver a range of trade, industrial, retail and warehouse units from 2,500 to 150,000 sq. ft. Phase 1 of the Business Park is now fully operational and houses a state-ofthe-art Warburtons distribution facility, as well as a new Aldi food store and Starbucks and Greggs drive thrus, all of which are anticipated to open in Q3 2021. The site benefits from proximity to Gatwick Airport and the international commercial and ferry ports at Southampton and Portsmouth, as well as quick road access to the M27. It falls within Enterprise Bognor Regis, a 70-hectare commercial and employment development opportunity located on the northern edge of Bognor Regis in West Sussex, which has the potential to accommodate 150 businesses and provide 4,000 jobs. Landlink Estates Ltd is an independent, privately owned property development company based in West Sussex managing over 6,500 acres of land and property. It is part of the Langmead Group, a family-owned business with a long-established portfolio of fresh food, farming, and property businesses. Paul Hanson, CEO of LandLink Estates said: “We have recently expanded our management team and are planning to step up our work across both the commercial development and strategic land sectors. This deal with Knight Frank Investors is our first step into the institutional market and we are looking for further opportunities to add value to our extensive land and

property assets going forward.” Monthly Landlink Estates was advised by Will News Marsh of Marsh & Baxter and CBRE, and law firm Irwin Mitchell, led by real estate partner Guy Sackett. Guy Sackett said: “It’s been exciting to advise Landlink Estates on its first foray into the institutional market and to help them deliver a great result in what remains a challenging market for commercial development. This area of West Sussex, with its good transport links, has been growing in popularity and our client has been able to take advantage in the growth in demand for quality warehousing and logistics facilities to secure a good sale. We hope to continue working with Landlink Estates as they explore further opportunities to unlock value from their land and property assets in the region.”