With a total prize fund in excess of £2,300 the Tournament is rated ‘5 Star’ by Bowls England.  It commences on the second Sunday of July each year, with Finals held on the greens of its Headquarters (Eastbourne BC for 2024) on Friday of that week.

The Eastbourne Open Bowls Tournament for Men ran initially in 1924 and was started as an invitation for players from outside of the Eastbourne area to come and play competitive bowls against local players in a social environment, making new and enduring friendships.

The 2024 Tournament will mark the centenary of the event, there having been a break during the Second World War.   In 1931 a Ladies Tournament was initiated with the same core aims.  Following the cessation of the Eastbourne Ladies Tournament in 2014 we incorporated the running of Ladies competitions in an effort to maintain what we consider to be an important part of Eastbourne’s sporting heritage. 

The Tournament is traditionally opened by The Worshipful The Mayor of Eastbourne and in latter years this has been marked by delivery of bowls in competition with our sponsor.

The Tournament currently consists of six competitions: For the Ladies there is Singles, for the Men Singles, Pairs and Triples.  We also run two ‘Mixed’ competitions – Pairs and Triples.  It should be noted that the team competitions are all limited entry and that players may only enter one of the Pairs competitions.  We have in recent years been oversubscribed so early application is advised.

The Mixed Triples competition will clash with the later rounds of other competitions and, whilst we make every effort to permit players to continue in multiple competitions, it should be remembered that due to the constraints of hours of play available on ‘Finals Day’ it is not possible to participate in more than three finals (please refer to the Rules section on this website).

A social evening is held each year on the Thursday of Tournament week which has free entry for players, supporters and friends, incorporating live music and the Grand Raffle Draw. Ample free parking is available.

You are guaranteed a warm welcome at all of our host clubs and we hope you will enjoy the experience of bowling at ‘The Suntrap of the South’.