A POPULAR local landmark will take centre stage this summer as Alex Polizzi will officially open a fundraising fete at Polegate Windmill.
The event, taking place on Sunday, July 26, promises a full afternoon of entertainment, community spirit and heritage celebration at the historic site on the boundary between Polegate and Willingdon.
Polizzi, best known for fronting Channel 5’s The Hotel Inspector, will open the fete at 12 noon. She is also the owner of The Star in Alfriston, part of the Polizzi Collection, which she famously restored after purchasing it in 2021, a journey filmed as part of a documentary entitled: ‘Alex Polizzi: My Hotel Nightmare’.
Visitors to the fete can enjoy live music from the Con Brio jazz group, performing from 2pm through to 5pm, alongside family-friendly attractions including rides on a miniature steam railway.
The event is being staged to raise vital funds for the ongoing restoration and preservation of Polegate Windmill, a Grade II listed tower mill built in 1817. The windmill remained operational until 1943 and stands today as an important piece of the area’s heritage.
In recent years, a renewed community effort has breathed fresh life into the site. A volunteer group formed in 2023, led initially by trustee directors Tim Hogben and John Bassett, has grown into a dedicated team working weekly to maintain and protect the windmill and its historic contents.
Their work includes improving museum displays, carrying out essential maintenance and ensuring the long-term future of the landmark despite limited resources.
