Latest news with #Rottingdean
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Postcard' seaside village in Sussex with links to Disney author and tennis star
With much of both East and West Sussex being on the coast, there are a number of quaint seaside towns and villages. From cosy locations you may not have heard of to larger settlements, you are sure to have visited, there is a range of spots. This one we are spotlighting today has a "perfect postcard setting" and has been named among the most beautiful in Britain. So, here is why you should visit Rottingdean. Rottingdean is a village in Brighton and Hove on the south coast. Boasting a historic centre, it is often the subject of picture postcards. The first recorded mention of the village is 'Rotingeden', in the Domesday Book in the 11th century. Visit Brighton says its "most fascinating period" is that of "highly organised smuggling involving almost the entire village in the late 1700s". It is rumoured that the village had a "maze of brick-lined tunnels that led from the cliffs, under the duck pond, right into the locals' houses". Visit Brighton describes the village today as a "picturesque" spot, boasting a "pretty duck pond and cosy cottages". It adds: "It is a perfect postcard setting with its own nature reserve and some impressive manicured gardens. As if that isn't appealing enough, it also has its own beach, just a five-minute walk from the village." Rottingdean saw its beach recently crowned one of the best in Britain, too. Rottingdean has a number of notable residents. One of these is famous author Rudyard Kipling, most known for The Jungle Book, a classic collection of short stories and poems first published in 1894 These have been made into several films, with the most well-known being the Disney animated classic from 1967, as well as a live-action remake by Disney in 2016. Kipling lived in the village, and you can visit Kipling Gardens, which were once part of The Elms, where Rudyard Kipling lived from 1897 to 1902. Other famous faces with links to the village you might recognise include the former number one tennis player, Fred Perry. He won three consecutive Wimbledon Championships in the 1930s and was the last British player to win a men's singles Grand Slam title until Andy Murray won the 2012 US Open. You will likely recognise the name due to the popular clothing company that exists today, The iconic white cotton sports shirt, made to be similar to René Lacoste's, was launched at Wimbledon in 1952. The Fred Perry tennis shirt was an immediate success and still remains a large brand today. British politician Sir Michael Fabricant was born in the village. Sir Michael Fabricant appeared on Celebrity Big Brother 2025 (Image: ITV) Sir Michael was the MP for Lichfield in Staffordshire, formerly Mid Staffordshire, from 1992 until his defeat in 2024. You may recognise him for appearing on the latest series of Celebrity Big Brother. As Visit Brighton says, Rottingdean is home to "plenty of appealing places to stop for a bite to eat", including "warm and cosy pubs, some tea rooms and a few other small shops and cafés". The Terraces Stage on the seafront boasts a programme of music and theatrical events from June through to September, most of which are free admission. Recommended reading: 'Beautiful' market town in Sussex named one of Britain's happiest places to live The 'famous' Sussex town that is a celebrity hotspot and inspired a Disney book 'Secluded hidden gem' in Sussex named one of Britain's most beautiful villages You could also try The White Horse Hotel, which overlooks the sea and offers "traditional pub grub", or Molly's café down on the beach itself. The village is also home to the Grange Museum and Art Gallery, which overlooks the pond and village green. The early Georgian building currently houses a library and tea garden too.
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Rottingdean Bafta winner Marisa Abela 'was born to act'
Marisa Abela's former drama tutor said she was "incredibly proud" to watch her win the leading actress category at Sunday night's Bafta TV Whitely is the creative director at The Theatre Workshop, based in Sussex, and gave Abela one-to-one lessons while she was studying at Brighton's Roedean School on a drama 28, picked up the award for best leading actress at the ceremony at London's Royal Festival Hall for her role in the BBC series to BBC Radio Sussex on Monday, Ms Whitely said: "Her career has gone from strength to strength, it's such a joy to watch and [the award is] so deserved. She was born to do it." Abela grew up in Rottingdean and at first wanted to train to be a lawyer, but her hunger for acting soon took over."She was one of those dream students who would come to my lessons in my converted garage studio where I do one-to-one lessons and say 'I've read a play, I've picked some monologue and I think I'd like to do this one for my auditions'," said Ms Whitely. "What makes someone different, in that you know they'd have a long career, is one's drive, that innate drive and work ethic."It's that fire in their belly or the truth in their eyes when they perform. Marisa was always extremely mesmerising."Even after starring in TV shows and films including Back to Black, a biopic of Amy Winehouse, Abela has never forgotten her roots, said Ms Whitely."She recently came back and did a workshop with the students before Back to Black was released, giving some insight into the industry and how she got into drama school, and gave the most amazing workshop," she added.
