Work is to start next month at 79, Bohemia Road, previously the site of Hastings Locksmiths, and, with the Masquerade fancy dress shop next door the only listed buildings in Bohemia. Owner, John Humphries, yesterday agreed terms with local award winning builders Dovetails Construction, for work to begin in about two weeks time. They are expected to last up to four weeks. Architects for the project are Maher Paradine Associates of Hastings Old Town. The alterations include a new toilet and utility area in the rear office, with a new partition, and new matchboarding similar to the existing. Damaged floor boards will be replaced, an old sink and water heater are to be removed.
In the shop part, six ceiling pendant rose lights will be fitted and the existing strip lighting and old cabling removed, new power sockets will be installed and a storage heater moved to cover up an area of damaged tiling. The work is programmed to take 4 weeks. What will the premises be used for? John Humphries said "The first thing I want to do is hold an exhibition of paintings by Ron Beauchamp who moved to Bohemia from London about 8 years ago and who died in 2001". The exhibition is scheduled for the first week in October this year. What then? “I don’t know.”
