Harry Symonds, the former owner of The Deluxe Leisure Centre and many other arcades and buildings on Hastings seafront, has died.  The 86-year old was a driving force in the amusement industry both locally and nationally and played a key role in the regeneration of Hastings in the 1990s.

Announcing the sad news, Chris Lee said: “The amusements legend retired last year after selling Coastal Amusements and the Deluxe, bringing to an end an era in which three generations of Symonds owned most of Hastings’ seafront.  

In the 1940s his father ran Old Town Bingo (now Webbs Fish restaurant) and when he died in 1966 his son Harry purchased the derelict Victorian Deluxe Cinema and transformed it into a leading edge arcade and bingo hall.  His two sons, Harry Jnr and Mark, worked alongside him.”

Over the years, Harry Symonds’ investment in the town he loved has seen numerous run-down buildings brought back into use and his financial support for the local economy was tireless.  He opened the town’s first snooker hall, helped to bring the International Chess Congress to the town, was instrumental in the formation of the boys’ boxing club, was a Director of Hastings Economic Development Company and sponsored numerous charities and fund-raising events.

He leaves a widow, Ann, to whom he was married for 65 years.  Their two sons, Harry Jnr and Mark, who both worked with him at the Deluxe, predeceased him.

The funeral will take place at 12.15 on Thursday 9th July at Hastings Crematorium.  Family flowers only but donations can be made to Cancer Research UK.