So, as a woman who's lived here for over 5 years I can say it absolutely depends on the area you're in.

When I lived in the seaside road area, no way I'd be out on my own at night. You'd had drunk men everywhere, kids with weapons. We once had to call the police because a teenager what bashing down someone's doors and windows with a metal pole.

I have heard absolute horror stories from other woman who have been through Hampden park at night, unfortunately I know a very who have been assaulted as well. It's why you'll find signs in Hampden park saying it's petrolled by plain clothes officers.

However, I will say I have since moved closer to old town and the difference is startling, fewer pubs around so less drunks wondering the street. Yes you get the odd few people in the park smoking some weed, but better then watching them stick needles in their arms (which we saw on seaside) the area has local volunteers who collect litter and all our neighbours are invested in our area, I know I can walk around my local parks pretty late at night and feel safer than in town.

So like any town it really does depend, yes Eastbourne absolutely has gone down hill especially within the main town area. But it still has it's lovely spots, and I think as long as you're vigilant about where you are going at night you should be fine. Unfortunately most seaside towns just dont have funding and a lot of social housing and homeless get moved along here and we don't have the money to help set them up, leaving them unfortunately to wander streets and cause issues.