The Devonshire Park Theatre stage was the setting for a real-life love story recently, with a little help from the Eastbourne Theatres team, as Stuart Long proposed to his long-term partner Beth Newman on the stage during a Tea and Tour of the venue.

Suffice to say it wasn’t a cup of tea after the tour for Stuart and Beth – it was a glass of bubbly as she said yes!

The couple who have been together for four years, but known each other since they were 16, decided to come on one of the regular tours of the venues as a trip down memory lane for Beth, who had previously performed at the Devonshire Park Theatre as one of the young dancers at the pantomime in the grade II listed building.

The Devonshire Park is a special place for Beth, holding lots of lovely memories and Stuart knew it would be the ultimate romantic moment for the couple. With some help from the General Manager, Neil Jones, the stage was literally set for Stuart to pop the question.

Everyone loves a happy ending and the team at Eastbourne Theatres were very proud to have played a small part in this delightful love story and wish the couple the very warmest of congratulations!

The planning of the event was meticulous, and even the traffic outside Polegate couldn’t get in the way, despite some panic from Stuart as the couple made their way to the venue from their home in Hove.

Growing up in Uckfield, Beth was a member of the Deborah Lamb School of Dance who would regularly provide the dancers for the young company to perform at the pantomimes at the Devonshire Park. Beth would attend school in the morning, then make her way to the theatre with fellow dance school pupils and their chaperones to perform over the festive period.

Stuart said: “I am so thankful to Neil and the team at Eastbourne Theatres who helped make this event so special for Beth and myself, they were absolute stars. It really was a great moment, I got a bit panicked in the traffic on the way there but it all worked out and was just as I’d planned!”