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By Mark Norman
Business Correspondent, BBC South East Today
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With £25 million of government grant aid being spent on local projects, businesses in St Leonards talk of a Notting Hill-style renaissance.
Seng Loy:'The town has a lot of potential'
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The town has some of the most deprived wards in the UK, but traders are confident.
Hotelier Seng Loy recently opened the boutique-style Hastings House Hotel.
"It was one of those typical seaside bed and breakfasts..there's a lot of potential. And also the town has a lot of potential," he said.
Clive Gross, from the business forum 1066 Enterprise described the town as "a place that gives you opportunity,".
Helen Truman:'There are a lot of people moving here..who can see that potential and see the energy'
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"There is a cluster of businesses that have come in over the last few years," said Mr Gross.
"So from a financial point of view it's affordable...they want to live here and work here and have a business here and maybe bring a family up here,"
"So their connections with the area are potentially much more long term than they might be somewhere else," he said.
Helen Truman is one of those businesses. She opened the Plenty Food Store two years ago.
"It is changing. I've only been here two years but there are a lot of people moving here..from London and Brighton and the Home Counties who can see that potential and see the energy," she said.
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