The Bandstand

In 1998, the De La Warr Pavilion Trust launched an appeal to replace the Pavilion's aging bandstand. Affectionately known to locals as The Bus Shelter, this 1970s brick bandstand was out of keeping with the modernist roots of the Pavilion and detracted from the view of the sea.

To this end, the Pavilion Trust launched an appeal aimed at raising the £75,000 necessary to design and construct the new bandstand. After an RIBA competitive interview process, the contract to design the bandstand was given to award-winning architect Niall McLaughlin.

The DLWP invited children from eight local primary schools to take part the in the planning and design of the bandstand. The bandstand's design evolved from concepts developed by the children, in collaboration with the architects and architecture students, during a series of workshops held at the Pavilion.  

Many thanks to Roger Bamber


The Bandstand's shell-like canopy is engineered to provide near perfect acoustics and at the same time mirror its seafront location. The simple white finish and ultra modern steel, plywood & fibreglass construction of the bandstand, are a perfectly compliment to the modernist aesthetics and innovative construction techniques of the De La Warr Pavilion. The bandstand itself is movable, allowing it to be relocated to different areas of the terrace according to the season, or in order to accommodate the varying needs of performances. Producing a design for the bandstand that was both elegant and ergonomic, had always been a major consideration. Therefore, throughout the project, a number of potential bandstand users including Battle Town Band, were consulted in order to ensure that the design could accommodate widest possible range of uses.

The Bandstand was officially unveiled on the 8th of December 2001.In 2002, having already received several glowing reviews in the national press, the new De La Warr Pavilion Bandstand won awards from the Royal Institute of British Architecture (RIBA), International A R+D and The Royal Institute of Australian Architects (RIAI). In 2003, the Bandstand received further accolades including a Civic Trust commendation and a Wood award.


Band stand


The RIBA Awards Jury said of the bandstand project:

The form is exhilarating, recalling both the dynamics of early modernism and the organic aspirations of the present day. The materials are quite simple, the technology - fibreglass on a plywood frame - derives from the world of boat building. Architect and client have worked together with an admirable clarity of thought to achieve excellent results.

This is a small project of remarkable quality which manages to actually enhance the setting of one of the great buildings of the modern movement.