Coastal Currents 2019

Coastal Currents is here again for 2019, beginning on Saturday 31st August at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill with an all day beach event Imprint and a Roof Terrace Launch Party  (website). Of course there are numerous events in Hastings too, and Stade Saturdays for the 31st August and 7th September are dedicated to Coastal Currents does Stade Saturdays (website). Enjoy September!

I am having a few difficulties with getting on line from home at the moment so over the next 2 weeks my blogs will be fewer, apologies, hopefully back to normal then!

White Rock Regeneration II

Well, over 4 years on (see older blog), and the raised area and food kiosk are opposite the bottom of Robertson Street, and now the "new water feature" is being worked on...

And what is new at Hastings Pier? A few bits and pieces for children and slot machines in the Heritage Lottery Fund resourced 'educational, archive & information centre' deck building in the centre of the Pier, oh well... 

Hastings Pride 2019

You may have noticed already that this is Hastings Pride Week (website), indeed, the third Hastings Pride. Sunday sees the return of the parade, starting at Pissarros in South Terrace at 11.00 am (meeting from 10.30 am), then heading down to the seafront via Queens Road and Albert Road, then heading west to White Rock, turning up after the Theatre and opposite the Pier, finishing at The Oval for 12.00 noon, where there will be 10 hours of music and entertainment.

The weather forecast is so much better for this year, so enjoy the day!

Stade Saturdays - 24th August 2019

This Saturday, at the Stade Open Space, sees Stade Saturdays with even more dancing! This week goes Ballroom from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm (website), with music by Simply Swing, take part in dance workshops with Ballroom Glamour, or simply dance, or watch ballroom champions and Para Dance UK Dancers. And the weather forecast looks very pleasant too, enjoy!

Old Town Guided Walks 20th and 22nd August 2019

Tomorrow afternoon (20th August) you can again take advantage of experiencing the regular (summer) Tuesday afternoon Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS) free guided walk of Hastings Old Town (website), plus similar on Thursday afternoon (22nd). If you wish to take part in either meet up by the top of the West Hill Lift by 2.30 pm on both days (the lift is out of order at the moment, but the lower entrance to the lift is at the west end of George Street when it is recommissioned, hopefully not too far away, fingers crossed). An OHPS volunteer will guide your exploration of historic buildings in Hastings Old Town, walking the twittens and cat creeps, and will explain why celebrities of their day flocked to Hastings, and, indeed, many still do!

The walk proceeds gently downhill, with some steps, and lasts about 2 hours. It is provided free of charge, although the OHPS would be grateful for any donations made, many thanks. Wearing comfortable walking shoes is sensible, of course, and the weather forecast for Tuesday, and the forecast for Thursday, look very favourable indeed. Please do be prepared if, like me, the sun makes you go beetroot. It may well be worth taking checking the forecast nearer the time.

Whatever, please do enjoy yourselves!

Strictly Stade Saturday

For the Stade Saturdays event today, there is Strictly Stade Saturday (website), from 2.00 to 9.00 pm, at the Stade Open Space of course! The day will be led by Dance Hastings and Hastings Salsa, and includes dance classes and opportunity for families, people with learning disabilities, and wheelchair access, come dancing! 

• 2.15pm Wheelchair accessible inclusive class, suitable for those with learning difficulties
• 3.15pm Charleston dance class [inclusive and family friendly]
• 4.00pm Swing dance class [family friendly]
• 4.45pm Social Swing dancing for all
• 5.45pm Salsa class [inclusive and family friendly]
• 6.30pm Social Salsa and Latin dancing for all
• 7.30pm Rueda de Casino
• 8pm - 9pm Social Argentine tango dancing

Congratulations Again to the Dolphin Inn!

By Steve the Beermeister:

Congratulations, yet again, to the Dolphin Inn for winning the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) South East Sussex Branch 2019 Community Pub of the Year, nice one! The award was presented on Tuesday evening, if you want to read more about the ales available, please go to the Beermeister blog, cheers!

Old Town Guided Walks 13th & 15th August.

Tomorrow afternoon (13th August) you can take advantage of experiencing the regular (in the summer) Tuesday afternoon Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS) free guided walk of Hastings Old Town (website), plus similar on Thursday afternoon (15th) as during August there are  2 Old Town Guided Walks a week... If you wish to take part in either, or both, meet up by the top of the West Hill Lift by 2.30 pm on both days (the lift is out of order at the moment, but the lower entrance to the lift is at the west end of George Street when it is recommissioned, hopefully not too far away, fingers crossed!). An OHPS volunteer will guide your exploration of the historic buildings of the old town, walking the twittens and cat creeps, and will tell you why celebrities of their day flocked to Hastings, and, indeed, many still do visit/move here.

The walk proceeds gently downhill, with some steps, and lasts about 2 hours. It is provided free of charge, although the OHPS would be grateful for any donations made, many thanks. Wearing comfortable walking shoes is sensible, of course, and the weather forecast is for a chance of light showers tomorrow, although looking more favourable for Thursday with possibly a light shower later on, whatever, please do be prepared. It may well be worth taking a look again at the forecast closer to your choice of day. Whatever, please do enjoy yourselves!

Carnival Week: Saturday & Sunday

Hastings Old Town Carnival Week really culminates in the Grand Carnival Procession which starts at 5.00 pm on Saturday, but assembly begins from 4.00 pm in Rock-a-Nore Road (website). I have included this photograph (above) to remind us that, sadly, the new lifeboat will not be able to take part, due to length and the roundabout by Iceland, although I presume, unless it is in service, the inshore lifeboat will join in. There will be live music at various points along the way, and from 9.00 pm to 10.00 pm up on the West Hill there will be Fireworks at Dusk, although the weather forecast is for high winds tomorrow, although dry, so a wait and see...

Of course, much more is happening this Saturday, including a few walks, like the Foyles Walk, hence the photograph above, the Twittens and Cat Creeps Walk, and the OHPS Stade Guided Walk (see previous blog for relevant details). See the website for further events this Saturday, and Sunday (website). Enjoy your weekend!

Winkle Club Annual Putting Competition

We went round with a British International (Dave G), 5 of us in all, and a total of £298.50 was raised for the Winkle Club, nice one! PS I didn't play very well...

Carnival Week: Friday

Hastings Old Town Carnival Week carries on this Friday (website) with walks galore, including Lost Pubs of Hastings Old Town (West), Twilight Smugglers Walk, Windows and Glass Walk, and the OHPS Stade Guided Walk (see previous blog). And so much more, including the continuing Guess the Weight of the Cheese, Old Town Country Market, Cheese and Wine Lunch, Old Town Gurning Competition and, from 4.00 to 5.00 pm at Reeves Corner, Onion Eating Competition, a case of mixed wines for the winner, that is, the fastest to eat a raw onion and to whistle 'Sussex by the Sea', and another case for the "most tears" 😵

Have an excellent day!

Carnival Week Thursday:

Hastings Old Town Carnival Week continues this Thursday (website) with many more events, including walks, for example the free OHPS guided walk of the old town (see older blog), Guess the Weight of Cheese, Great Whelk Eating Competition and Grand Charity Auction! Carry on enjoying the week folks!

Hastings Old Town Hall Clock

I took this photograph yesterday whilst using the launderette opposite, a bit of a walk since the Queen's Road launderette closed, but good for my health, indeed! Anyway, the Old Town Hall (website) is again up for rent (£25,000 per annum website), and, as you can see, the clock is now being repaired up in London, hence the scaffolding!

Carnival Week, Wednesday

It's not just about the Pram Race, but it's mostly about the Pram Race on a Wednesday during Hastings Old Town Carnival Week, so I've included impressive prams from the recent past for both images... So, what else is there on Wednesday (website)? Not to forget the continuation of Guess the Weight of the Cheese, and other events, there is also from 6.00 pm the charity Winkle Club's Annual Putting Competition at Hastings Adventure Golf (website), please do join in!

Then, in the evening is the Pram Race, not for the faint hearted, but an event that raises £thousands for charity every year, the local roads are closed off from 6.00 pm, the event going on from 7.00 pm until 11 pm (website), and it gives you the chance to walk safely in the middle of the road for a few hours! And not a few pints are supped...

Carnival Week: Tuesday 6th August!

The carnival week continues to entertain, including the legendary Crown Lane Bike Race from 5.30 pm and not easy at all (website), the OHPS led Old Town Guided Walk from 2.30 pm and another on Thursday too (see blog for last week as same details, and the lift still was under maintenance earlier today), continuation of the Guess the Weight of the Cheese, Free Music, Winkle Tossing, many more guided walks, a Hastings Lifeboat Station Open Day, and much more to enjoy (website), please do!



Carnival Week Monday: Seaboot Race!

Still plenty to do on Monday 5th August, and within Hastings Old Town Carnival Week too (website), including the OHPS led free guided walk of the Stade from 11.00 am, as I mentioned in one of my Friday blogs. In addition there is the Seaboot Race that starts at 6.00 pm in Courthouse Street (website), and in which a friend of mine joins in every year, silly man, just joking Jason! 

In addition events include the Old Town Treasure Trail, Guess the Weight of the Cheese, Music, Coffee Morning, Craft Stalls, more walks and tours, and the Cheese & Wine Extravanza, and much more (website), have fun!



Hastings Old Town Carnival Week 2019

Carnival Week (3rd to the 11th August - website) returns! As traditional, it really begins with the Tug-o-War at 10.30 am, by the Stade, and in front of Hastings Lifeboat Station by the railway line, but officially the opening ceremony begins at 12.00 by the flagstaff outside Hastings Fishermen's Museum, Rock-a-Nore Road.

Every year plenty is organised for Carnival Week, including many recurring events, for example, in liaison with Stade Saturdays, the Nearly on the Beach concerts, Saturday and Sunday afternoons/evenings (3rd-4th): starting 1.30 pm on Saturday and 1.00 pm on Sunday (website). For full details of events for the week, please go to the website, as there are way too many to mention here, although I have written a separate blog about the return of the OHPS free Stade Guided Walk (among many other guided walks this week!) that meets outside Hastings Fishermen's Museum on many days this week.

Whatever you do this week, enjoy yourselves!

Guided OHPS Stade Walks

In conjunction with Carnival Week, the Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS) guided walks of the Stade restart again this Saturday (3rd August), and there will be another on Sunday, and yet even more on Monday, Friday, and next Saturday and Sunday too (10th and 11th)! The free Stade Guided Walks begin at 11am each of those days, meeting up outside the Hastings Fishermen's Museum (inside if wet), Rock-a-Nore Road, and, should you partake, you will be shown around the fishing quarter of Hastings. The walk lasts between 60 and 90 minutes, and, although on the flat mostly, you do need to cover uneven ground (though walks can be tailored to mobility needs, and interests), so sensible walking shoes would be, well, sensible (website), of course. The walks are provided free, but all donations to the Fishermen's Museum would be very much appreciated, many thanks, and enjoy!

Priory Meadow for Children

Priory Meadow is certainly geared up for the summer holiday, big sandpit, bouncy thing, ice cream, keep those youngsters happy! 😉