WaterBear – The College of Music has announced an exciting new phase in the evolution of its Brighton campus.
With ambitious plans now in motion, WaterBear will be expanding its headquarters at Hanover House on Queens Road, adding three additional floors to create a dynamic and inspiring new home for students and the wider music community.
Located just moments away from Brighton’s train station and vibrant seafront, Hanover House has long served as a creative nucleus for WaterBear artists and bands.
This expansion marks a significant investment in the future of music education in the city, delivering new facilities designed to elevate the student experience and support the broader artistic ecosystem of Brighton.
Adam Bushell, WaterBear CEO and co-founder, said: “We’re creating something truly special here. This expansion isn’t just about adding space; it’s about giving artists and music professionals the best possible environment to thrive. We want them to walk into Hanover House and feel inspired every single day.”
The newly designed floors will include a wide range of professional-grade facilities tailored to modern music-making.
Among them will be multi-functional live performance and songwriting spaces, where students can participate in masterclasses, workshops, and performances in a supportive and collaborative setting. The rooms are being crafted in a bid to give artists the confidence and space to develop their craft and share their voice.
A fully kitted-out drum suite will allow drummers to hone their skills using everything from top-of-the-range acoustic kits to high-end training pad setups.
Guitarists and bassists will find rooms filled with carefully selected amps, pedals, and instruments, covering a wide portion of the musical spectrum, including vintage, modern, electric and acoustic, catering to all styles and preferences.
A major highlight of the expansion is a new 1,000 sq ft recording studio, which will serve as the creative engine of the building. With both analogue and digital recording technology at the ready, it will be a space for innovation, collaboration and professional-quality music production.
Other facilities will include soundproofed rehearsal rooms flooded with natural light, designed to encourage creative development and band practice alongside a vibrant student common room – an all-inclusive social hub for networking, artistic collaboration and relaxation, with hot drinks facilities on-site.
Importantly, the expansion is being shaped with student input at its core. WaterBear has canvassed its student body for feedback and ideas to help shape the design and functionality of each space. This collaborative approach ensures the facilities are aligned with the real needs and aspirations of the community.
Laurance Bridge, head of student recruitment, explained: “Our students are at the heart of everything we do. By involving them in the development of these spaces, we’re making sure we’re not just meeting expectations but we are exceeding them.”
Hanover House is a central part of WaterBear’s growing city-wide campus in Brighton, which includes the WaterBear Venue on Brighton beach, The WaterBear Music Bar in Kemp Town, Bond Street classrooms and collaboration spaces, and a network of studio and venue partners all within walking distance.
