About Small Plates St Leonards
A celebration of St Leonards Food Scene
Small Plates St Leonards is a new food tourism campaign for St Leonards. The food scene here has exploded in recent years with great independent restaurants making it a destination in its own right.
The town offers an eclectic range of cuisines – from traditional British fare and seasonal, locally and sustainably sourced fish and seafood to Spanish tapas, Syrian, Sri Lankan, West African, Caribbean, Japanese and Lebanese flavours.
Our indie restaurants offer an abundance of tasty options. You can embark on a global food journey without ever leaving town!
Whether you’re a visitor or resident, Small Plates St Leonards will take you on a culinary adventure to discover a world of flavours.
Why it’s needed
Hastings and St Leonards are popular tourist destinations, but since the pandemic, many hospitality businesses are struggling to get back on their feet. In colder months, restaurants struggle with reduced trade and rising costs. They now face the challenge of an increase of *55.2% in operating costs.
The tourism industry is vital to the local economy. Tourism and Hospitality contributes £211m to the local economy and support an estimated 4,850 jobs (3,550 FTE)**. Food and drink are the main factors that motivate people to travel to a certain destination.
*Mintel Food Tourism report 2023
* * East Sussex in Figures 2023