Hastings Old Town Carnival Monday 1st August!

Well, according to the Met Office the weather for this first week in August will continue to be pretty much fine, so there shouldn't be any problems with the rest of the Hastings Old Town Carnival Week 2022 events, fingers crossed; I've lived in this country for too long to feel secure about weather predictions! 😉 Anyway, the events on Monday include the Seaboot Race (above), where competitors have to run the length of Courthouse Street wearing a top hat and seaboots, round a lobster pot, and back again, great fun! The race starts at 6.00pm and is held in memory of an Old Towner who died 20 years ago, Peter Tricket, and the winner is presented with Peter's walking stick as the trophy, to keep until next year; but all entrants receive 'Timed Certificates.'

In addition the ongoing events continue, and other events on Monday include Ancient Streets of Hastings Old Town, Lost Pubs and Breweries and Stade guided walks; Old Town Treasure Trail (register by 6.30pm at Winkle Island); Open Garden, Owlers Cottage; Coffee Morning with Tombola in the crypt of St Mary Star of the Sea Church and an Organ Concert at All Saints Church at 7.30pm.

Oh yes, and at St Clements Church, until Saturday 6th (although I can't see that it's on for Friday 5th, so maybe give that day a miss) there is the St Clements Rossettis in Love Exhibition. Regular readers will be aware that I have a big interest in the Pre-Raphaelites, indeed, I wrote a blog about the Pre-Raphaelites in 19th Century Hastings some years ago now. Included in that blog are details regarding Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Elizabeth Siddal getting married in St Clements Church in 1860, with some more details of their relationship with each other, and their relationship with Hastings, not to mention further details of other Pre-Raphaelites in relation to Hastings. What a great venue in which to hold this exhibition, I'll be there! 👍

For further details of all events on Monday go to the website and enjoy!

St Mary in the Castle Council Update

Further to my recent blog about the St Mary in the Castle Charitable Trust not renewing its lease later this year, Councillor Andy Batsford, Cabinet Lead for Health and Culture at Hastings Borough Council has got in touch with me, many thanks Andy!

Councillor Batsford included the Council statement issued recently to the media, which I reproduce below, and reassured me that St Mary in the Castle is still regarded as a "Jewel in Hastings Cultural crown." The Council is looking for a "cultural partner that has the means and ability to take St Marys on as a going concern" and as a sustainable business, and is excited by potential future developments. 

However, the Council continues to need to look for savings across the board in these financially tight times, so consequently cannot offer any more grants to whoever takes over next, following what had previously been given to help St Mary in the Castle reopen following the Covid-19 Crisis (see below). 

I understand this completely, as Central Government has reduced the Central Government Revenue Support Grant that Hastings received from the £14,000,000 a year it was when they took over at Westminster in 2010 to nothing since 2018... In addition to not receiving any central government grant anymore, Local Government is severely restricted in how much it can increase Council Tax annually despite the increasing costs and inflation that we are all experiencing, indeed, this year limited to just 1.99%, which includes a 1% increase in the Adult Social Care precept, so effectively just a 0.99% increase for 2022/23 - see blog.

Here is the Hastings Borough Council press statement:

“We are also very sad to hear the news of the closure of St Mary in the Castle, and we would like to thank the trustees and staff there for their hard work over the years, running a very complex venue during a difficult time. They have provided many years of great entertainment, culture and world class acts for the town and its visitors.

“Hastings Borough Council was keen to help the trustees of St Mary in the Castle reopen after Covid, we met them on a number of occasions and gave them £18,000 last summer. However even this, a grant of just over £50,000 from Arts Council England, and over £87,000 for Covid recovery from the government through Hastings Borough Council appears not to have been enough given the ever increasing costs of running venues. The café received additional Covid recovery payments.

“The trustees of St Mary in the Castle told us that without more funding they would have to close. Sadly we are now in that position. Hastings Borough Council simply does not have the resources available to support St Mary in the Castle.

“We will now look at all options that don’t involve further funding from the council. We look forward to ideas and conversations from individuals, organisations and companies who can work with the council to provide a first class entertainment venue that can be fully sustainable without sadly any Council subsidy.”

With many thanks again to Councillor Andy Batsford. 👍

Hastings Old Town Carnival Sunday 31/07/22

The Hastings Old Town Carnival Week 2022 continues today (blog) and tomorrow, Sunday 31st, with Day 2 of the Nearly on the Beach Concert (website), which will be held on the Stade Open Space. Collections will be made in aid of Hastings RNLI Lifeboat Station, Pett Level Rescue and Hastings Sea Cadets. The organisers apologise that dogs are not allowed, and alcohol or drinks glasses should not be brought onto the Stade, however there will be a licensed bar and catering provided.

In addition, there will be plenty more events, including those ongoing; exhibitions; Foyles, Twitten & Cat Creeps, and Stade guided walks; Screenings at the Electric Palace; Boot Sale at Stables Theatre; Big Family BBQ and Picnic up at the Lower Torfield Allotments just off The Bourne; and special services at St Mary Star of the Sea and St Clements churches. More details at the website.

Have an excellent weekend folks! 👌 

New Premier Inn Hotel, it's happening.

Well, no more parking at Cornwallis Street Car Park, as it's being dug up (above) to lay foundations for the new Premier Inn Hotel (blog) that will be built there. The hotel will have 84 bedrooms, and include a new restaurant for central Hastings...

It's going to be a bit dusty round here for a while! 😟

Hastings Old Town Carnival 29/07 to 07/08/2022

Yes, the raising money for charity Hastings Old Town Carnival Week 2022 starts this weekend, from Friday the 29th of July to Sunday the 7th of August (website), with plenty to do for everyone. Last year there was no Pram Race, and this year the Tug-o-War has been cancelled, sadly.

Although the Old Town Criers Competition is being held on Friday (website), the equally demure tones of the Tug-o-War referee usually herald the beginning of Carnival Week, which no doubt will be held somewhere else next year. Consequently, I decided to show a photograph (above) of the Tug-o-War from a previous year, just to remind you what it's like, fingers crossed for its return next year! Maybe before? 😉 

Anyway, Carnival continues on Saturday with a significant number of events (website), notably Day 1 of the Nearly on the Beach Concert will be held on the Stade Open Space, where collections will be made in aid of Hastings RNLI Lifeboat Station, Pett Level Rescue and Hastings Sea Cadets. In addition, many other events this Saturday, including the HM Coastguard Open Day, Pop Up Makers Market, Craft Fayre, exhibitions and guided walks aplenty, and much more, indeed, never to forget the annual Guess the Weight of the Cheese Tower in Penbuckles window!

So, get ready to make donations whilst enjoying yourself, have fun!

 

Crime Wave hits Hastings this morning!?!

Follow that duck... What duck?!? Well, as you can see (above, just now), the duck outside M&S, one of the two I photographed for an earlier blog about the money raising initiative for St Michel's Hospice, well it's only been lifted!

Oh yes, and before 08.00 this morning I'd already seen 2 cyclists going the wrong way down one-way streets, is there no stopping this crime wave?!? 😕

St Mary in the Castle to lose its shine?

Many years ago St Mary in the Castle was referred to as the Jewel in Hastings Crown by then leader of Hastings Borough Council, Jeremy Birch (R.I.P.), and I have written quite a few times about St Mary in the Castle on this blog, for example, and for the Hastings Independent. But I fear this wonderful building may be about to lose its shine, or should that be lose its glitter?

8 years ago I interviewed 2 of the trustees of the St Mary in the Castle Charitable Trust and the administrator, who showed me around this wonderful building, and everything looked hunky dory. Since then this nearly 200 year-old jewel became a well loved venue, indeed, friends of my niece are getting married there very soon! 

But I recently discovered that, after nearly 10 years holding the tenancy, the Trust will not be extending the lease beyond the end of October 2022, basically, their statement says that they cannot afford to continue, sadly.

The statement gives more detail of the reasons, and I have made enquiries to try to discover more about the positions of the Trust and of the Council.

28th July, still awaiting updates... 

Stay in touch for more information as and when...

Hastings Weekend 21st to 23rd July 2022

Just happy to have survived the heat of last few days and I've not melted, completely! It's not going to be cold this weekend (Met Office), but much closer to normal temperatures for this time of year. Anyway, no especially outrageous events for a week until Hasting Old Town Carnival week 2022 (website), but, of course, always something to do, live music, seaside, good food and drink, and fun. Hastings Flyer (website) provides details of events, but just turn up and there's always something for everyone, enjoy yourselves this weekend, but never forget the factor 50! 😎

Hastings Amber Weather Warning: Heatwave from Pirate Sunday!

The Met Office has issued an Amber Weather Warning for Hastings for the 3 days from Sunday (Met Office website), I imagine most people are well aware that the temperature has been a wee bit warm recently, but the particular concern for an excessive heatwave in Hastings is for those 3 days (Heatwave music video). The image above is a wee bit old, but the same information is still being issued by the NHS, indeed, the advice given for heatwaves hasn't been altered for 3 years and still includes advice regarding social distancing (NHS website). But do drink plenty of water, avoid excessive alcohol consumption, stay cool, stay out of the sun during the middle of the day, watch out for vulnerable people, and wear sun screen to protect your skin.

Enjoy the coming days and piratical events (blog), but remember to stay safe folks!

Hastings Pirate Day 2022 - Weekend 16th/17th July!

This was the scene 10 years ago (22nd of July 2012), when 14,231 Pirates turned up on Pelham Beach, Hastings (Guinness World Records), and, despite attempts to break this record elsewhere since, Hastings still holds the world record for the largest gathering of pirates in one place. Consequently, this is yet another year when, no worries, it will just be about dressing up, turning up and having fun!

If you're new to Hastings, or just visiting this weekend, do not be surprised to see people dressed up appropriately, or inappropriately (😉) wherever you are, town centre, old town, on the beach, in pubs, everywhere! The people of Hastings do love to dress up, and pirates come from near and far for this weekend. 

So, what will be happening? Plenty, in fact, with Hastings Pier (above) and the Stade Open Space (near the Lifeboat Station) being the main focal points: But things happening from music at St Leonards - Goat Ledge; to the Town Centre Pirate Treasure Trail; to Pelham Beach with Pirate Golf, drums and more; to Rock a Nore with museums, aquarium, children's craft workshop, pirates, and much more! 

Indeed, fun for all the family across town, with live music and cabaret, film, drums and cannon fire, Blackbeard's market, bars, and pubs of course, all joining in the spirit of Pirate Day, and 2 parades too! Both processions starting at 3.00pm on Sunday and heading towards Pelham Beach, one from the Pier heading eastwards, the other from the Stade Open Space heading westwards, reaching Pelham Beach to join the celebrations of Hastings being Pirate Capital of the World for 10 years!

Go to Hastings Pirate Day website to see more details of the programme, and just wander around, things will be happening in many places not listed, I'm sure.

Try not to walk the plank, but do enjoy yourselves, avast ye, me hearties!

Alexandra Park Cycle Saga

Further to my blog about the competing arguments for a cycle path to run through Alexandra Park, it now appears that the byelaw wording for all Hastings parks regarding cycle riding is incorrect! Consequently, before a decision can be made regarding the possible shared pedestrian/cycle path in Alexandra Park, revised byelaws have to be agreed by Hastings Borough Council and then agreed by the British Parliament at Westminster (update).

It's going to take a while yet... 

Remember Snow?!?

Cricketer at Priory Meadow

I own up, the sun and summer and me just don't get along, Factor 50 costs a bit too, but the heat is what really does me in! And we haven't had proper snow for ages... 😓

Fishing Beach

I'll cope...

Pirate Minigolf

Somehow! 😉

Beach Huts, Pier behind

Miniature Railway

Fishermen's Museum

The Stacey Marie RX134

Enjoy the sunshine folks! 😎

St Leonards Festival 2022 - 9th July

Tomorrow sees the return of the St Leonards Festival (website) celebrating the local community and the arts, with music, a carnival and parade, and situated mostly in Warrior Square Gardens and Kings Road. The events are accessible to wheelchair users, include diversity, and aims for sustainability; see website for details.

Plus, not far away, plenty of music on Hastings Pier too (facebook), enjoy!

Old Town Mini Pub Crawl, Someone has to do it!

By Steve the Beermeister:

I walked to the Old Town from Hastings Town Centre, and started at the Dolphin Inn, 11-12 Rock-a-Nore Road TN34 3DW (website), because it's open by 11.00. This pub is in the heart of the Hastings Fishing Industry, with a balcony facing the famous tall black net huts. The Dolphin has returned to having 3 regular ales, 2 brewed in Sussex, Harvey's Sussex Best and Dark Star Hophead, and Young's Special, now brewed in Bedford, and I refuse to call it what they've re-badged it as 'London Special' as it's not been brewed in London for years now! Anyway, this recent visit saw 3 quite local guest ales too, that is, 2 from Sussex brewers, Lakedown (website), their 4.2% Pale, and Gun (website), Project Babylon, a 4.6%  American Pale Ale. I drank the third guest ale, from Kent Brewery (website), their rather easy to drink 4.2% The Quiet American, a light refreshing APA style with subtle flavours, noticeably grapefruit, nice one. 

I walked out of the pub to the right, and turned first right and walked up to the Crown, 64-66 All Saints Street TN34 3BN (website), which also opens at 11.00. Since the Covid-19 lockdowns they have reduced the number of their cask ales to 2. On this visit they had 1 from a Sussex brewery, that is Battle (website), and their 4.5% One Hop Wonder, not sure which hop, but a quite subtle APA, and not bad at all. The other ale was from Kent brewer Pig & Porter (website), their Slave to the Money, a 4.1% bitter, using Bramling Cross hops. They also have a regular keg stout from Sussex brewery Only with Love (website), their 4.9% Halland Oatmeal Stout, which uses Columbus, Magnum and Willamette hops.

If you go straight down Courthouse Street opposite the pub, cross The Bourne main road, continue up Courthouse Street and it leads you to the Jenny Lind Inn dead opposite (website), 69 High Street TN34 3EW. The Jenny Lind was built on the site of a much older pub that dated back to the early 17th century, The Bell, but with a gap whilst not a pub of 200 years, before the Jenny Lind started trading in the 1850s. It's named after the Swedish Nightingale, the famous opera singer who, under the wing of the German composer Felix Mendelssohn, became widely followed throughout Europe, including by Queen Victoria; she moved to England in 1855, where she lived until her death in 1887.

The Jenny Lind, which opens at 12.00, usually has 6 ales available, but with room and handpumps available for quite a few more ales for special events. Their 2 regular ales are from Sussex brewery Long Man (Best Bitter - website) and Greene King (Abbot Ale - website). They had 4 guest ales including 2 from Sussex brewery Only with Love (one was their Halland Oatmeal Stout cask-conditioned and Grizzly RYE IPA - website). Also 2 from Kent breweries Pig & Porter Skylarking, a 4.0% Session IPA, and the one I drank, from Kent Brewery (website), their 4.8% The New Black, a Black APA, an oxymoron perhaps? I have written about Black IPA/APAs for my older blog, where I briefly explain how 'Black' IPA/APAs are brewed. Anyway, The New Black really is, surprisingly maybe, light and citrusy, and very tasty indeed!

Then, I continued down the High Street to the seafront and turned left to reach the Jolly Fisherman, 3 East Beach Street TN34 3AR (website), which opens 14.00 weekends, 16.00 weekdays). They had 2 ales available, a 5.0% milk stout from Pentrich Brewing (website) Glass Half Empty, and the ale I drank, from Verdant Brewing (website), their 4.4% Where Can I Find Friday, a collaboration with Fyne Ales (website). Brewed with Mosaic and Strata hops, this was a very drinkable golden bitter. There was also a keg stout from Kent brewer Time & Tide (website), and they have 6-8 real ciders and perry available, usually including a couple from local cider makers, on this day, from Nightingale Cider Co (website), their 6.0% Discovery.

I then walked back westwards towards Hastings town centre, soon reaching the Albion, 33 George Street TN34 3EA (website), but with an entrance on Marine Parade opposite the seafront too, and which opens at 12.30. They had 4 cask ales available, all from Sussex breweries, Harvey's Sussex Best (website) is their regular, and there is usually an ale from Bedlam too (website), which, on this day, was their Phoenix, a 3.9% APA. Labelled an Extra American Pale Ale, and brewed using hops (Cascade, Citra and Amarillo) and a yeast from the USA, indeed, a nice refreshing bitter. Also, there was Yacht Rock, a 3.8% 'extra pale ale' from Only with Love (website) and the 4.2% Pale Ale from Lakedown Brewing (website). Please note that you do need to pay electronically here as they do not take cash. 

Cheers!

Follow that Duck!

Yes, Follow that Duck! Yesterday a friend castigated me for not writing anything about the ducks that have appeared across town, there are more than 50 apparently, so I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, cheers Louise, I deserved it! 😉 Particularly, as the 'rubber duck' sculpture opposite Johnny Swan's The Net Shop in Rock-a-Nore Road, and next to Hastings Contemporary, features the local fishing industry, notably standing out on the Duck's 'bow' (above)  RX134 Stacie Marie (blog).

Outside M&S, Queens Road

If you haven't stopped to read what it's about, it's about raising money for our local hospice, St Michael's (website), directly below each sculpture is the prompt to text DUCK to 70580, which would donate £5 to the hospice. There are other ways of supporting suggested too, and the sculptures will be auctioned off to raise more money to support the great service that the staff of St Michael's provide (website). Sculptures go westwards as far as Bexhill, and the event is due to end on the 4th of September.

Follow that Duck! 👉