Cemplas repairs Bottle Alley

Cemplas has carried out extensive repairs to Bottle Alley in Hastings, which forms the 480-metre long lower deck of the promenade that runs between the pier and Warrior Square.

Named after the countless multicoloured pieces of glass bottle embedded in the concrete, Bottle Alley, was designed & built in the 1930s by the town’s borough engineer Sidney Little.

Built to provide an undercover walkway in bad weather for seafront visitors, it had become dilapidated over many years and so vital renovation work had to be carried out to save the structure from further serious degradation.

Following a competitive tender process, Cemplas was appointed as principal contractor to carry out the concrete repair and protection work over a 12-week contract.
Following a full hammer survey to identify and mark-up defects, some 785 repairs had to be carried out along the full length of the structure. In excess of 6m3 of Remmers repair mortar was put back to make good the structure. Once repaired, the structure was protected using Remmers’ anti-carbonation coating.

Hastings Borough Council was given a £50,000 grant towards the cost of the work under the government’s coastal revival fund, with essential works also having to be carried to the pier (by others). The project was among 77 across England to receive funding, including Brighton’s derelict seafront arches.