Hastings Seafront Walk & Homage to Byzantium...

I was out quite early this morning, shopping at Morrisons just after 07.00, and then walking via back streets to St Leonards Church at the end of Undercliff, then crossing to the seafront. I walked eastwards and took this photograph looking back to the west (my earliest photographs today are all facing away from the sun 😎), with Eastbourne and Beachy Head way over there in the distance. Indeed, the tide would be turning back towards shore about 10 minutes after I took the photograph.

The first photograph with a direct reference to the vampire film Byzantium (YouTube trailer), half of which was filmed in Hastings and half was filmed in Cork, is of the lower promenade part of the Azur Marina Pavilion (website), which was built in the 1930s; Hastings & St Leonards has quite a few art deco buildings from this time! This part of the building is featured in the film as the lounge of a home for older people, and the character played by Saoirse Ronan plays the piano here, and more, but I shan't ruin it in case you haven't seen the film yet, and decide to... 😉 I first wrote about the Azur over 7 years ago, when I reviewed the breakfast served, and eaten by me, here (blog).

I carried on eastwards, deciding to look back and take this photograph, with the Azur Marina Pavilion dwarfed by, and apparently listing towards it, Marine Court, which I have written about before (blog). Marine Court is another fine 1930s building and modelled on the Cunard Liner the Queen Mary, the blog is well worth the read.

Carrying on to the east and I walked through Bottle Alley, shortly before the end of which I looked back westwards again and took this photograph. I have written about Sidney Little's Bottle Alley before when the new lighting was installed 5 years ago, when I also mentioned it featuring in the film Byzantium (blog).

Carrying on further to the east and I soon reached one of the main stars of the film Byzantium (trailer), as in, the building used in the film as Byzantium. This was originally called the Palace Hotel, and was built in 1885-86, it is now the Grade II listed Palace Court, and is across the road from the beach.

Again looking back westwards, although nothing to do with the film, indeed, it wasn't even here when Byzantium was being filmed in Hastings, but I photographed this really quite marvellous sculpture on the beach. This was created as part of the 950th Battle of Hastings anniversary celebrations and depicts a Norman Longboat (blog).

First of all I have to admit the photograph above is one I took quite a few years ago, so you may well have seen it before, but in the film Byzantium the beaches of Hastings are filmed quite a bit, so a decision? I thought about photographing the groyne on the beach where the other main character, played by Gemma Arterton, well, I shan't say what she was doing there, but she was playing a vampire... 😉 Anyway, the beach above, and some of the fishing boats there, was featured in the film too, and this photograph also includes the East Hill in the background. Very early in the film, when the 2 main characters Clara and Eleanor Webb (Arterton and Ronan) are about to enter Hastings, they cross the East Hill and the camera looks down into Hastings Old Town, I have shared quite a few photographs of similar images before, particularly when walking back across Hastings Country Park during recent 'lockdowns.'

Anyway, the destination of my walk was Rock-a-Nore, and when the footpath ended, and Rock-a-Nore Road enters into car parks, unless walking down to the beach and rocks, this is as far as one can walk, and this one (me) didn't fancy walking any further eastwards today, particularly as the tide was coming in now. So the view of the cliffs looking eastwards from Rock-a-Nore, and up on top there Hastings Country Park.

I hope you have all enjoyed your August Bank Holiday, stay safe folks!

Hastings to Bexhill Walk "The Musical"

I had to include this image at Pelham Beach because it is so amusing, an outdoor beach gym thingamabob and notice saying "This facility is closed" - Honest! 😂 Anyway, an eclectic mix of music, something that tells a story for each image: Walking From Hastings to Bexhill & Back The Musical, first link to YouTube. Oh yes, and I took these photographs earlier today, mostly...

My second image is, well you can see it, Hastings Pier, sadly closed until who knows when, and there was such hope for an expanding and exciting future at one time (for example, blog), but either the Administrators' ineptitude, incompetence and/or a stuffed brown envelope left it in the hands of Mr G, annoyingly; anyway, YouTube.

OK, I really should have posted the photograph I took of the Azur Pavilion, but it doesn't look great with all the shutters closed, so I posted this, if you've seen the film Byzantium, you'll know what I'm getting at, cue YouTube.

This wonderful building I have written about many times before, particularly detailed in this blog, and a highly appropriate song from YouTube.

And you really can hear the echo of the sea hitting the beach, and quite severely today too, off the sand cliffs here; Great song (for me anyway) at YouTube.

If you've walked this walk before you will be aware that this is the cliff side of Galley Hill, I did take a photograph of the road going up the hill, but it wasn't good, anyway cue YouTube, and I didn't run... By someone I had a bit of a crush on as a younger man, and who I would have been very happy to run up hills with in those days. 😉

So, here we are at Bexhill, and I own up, this wasn't taken today (as if you couldn't have guessed), but my brother calls me lots of things, maybe the best of which is 'Mr Blue Sky' (don't fall for that one 😉), as he says I regularly exhibit Blue Sky Thinking. As it was pretty overcast earlier I used this photograph as an exquisite image with plenty of blue sky! The De La Warr Pavilion (blog), championed by the 9th Earl De La Warr, however, his father, the 8th Earl De La Warr, turned Bexhill on Sea into the "Birthplace of British Motor Racing" from 1902, indeed, running up Galley Hill (website).

Anyway, my final piece of fun music @ YouTube, hope you enjoyed the musical! 😊

More Filming in Hastings, if you hadn't already noticed!

Yes, yet more filming is happening in Hastings as I write! Unless you've avoided the town centre or seafront since Tuesday you can't have failed to see evidence of the filming of a new Channel 4 drama, Close to Me. Filming in the town certainly helps to bring revenue to local businesses (eg location staff eating and drinking in local restaurants and pubs, indeed, some took part in the regular Thursday evening quiz night at the Dolphin Pub on Thursday), as well as to Hastings Borough Council, thanks to charges for parking and 'facility fees.' 

Most of these photographs were taken this morning, the one above was taken down at the car park west of the Azur Pavilion, and the set and caravans etc, for Close to Me. Filming appears to be happening from St Leonards and all the way across to and up on the East Hill, where they were filming yesterday. Car parking here (above) will be limited until the 26th of September, by the way.

Again, this morning, a rather high up camera situated on a crane was cordoned off, so filming from dead in the centre of town, and surrounded by cafes! 😉 And yesterday, whilst I was visiting the reopened library in Claremont, similar cones preventing parking, and workers in high-viz jackets, were very much observed.

And (above), a couple of the film-makers lorries photographed a day or two ago, opposite the golf course, and which I saw similar of in Robertson Street and Harold Place earlier this morning.

So, something to look forward to at last!

A 10 Mile Walk along the Seafront

Recently, and it was a beautiful day as you can see, I walked the approximately 10 miles round trip just beyond Bexhill and back to Hastings. Starting off at the town centre, and an early sight is the Victorian gothic Grade II listed Palace Court, (Historic England website), 'eponymous' star of the film Byzantium. 

Palace Court

Then I came to another beautiful art deco masterpiece at St Leonards, the tallest apartment block in Britain when it was built, and designed to replicate the Queen Mary ocean liner, also Grade II listed, Marine Court (Modernist Britain website).

Then underneath Marine Court, and just past the 1930s Azur Marina Pavilion (website), looking back at the storm encroaching pebbles from the beach on the lower promenade, and yet another 'star' of the film Byzantium, in which it 'played' an older person's residence.

Very soon I reached the Royal Victoria Hotel, originally called St Leonards Hotel, but its name was changed soon after Princess Victoria stayed here, shortly before she became Queen Victoria. I have written about the building in an older blog.

Walking on and one could almost be at the Cote d'Azur, almost... 😎 

As we know, along the beaches on the seafront between Hastings and Bexhill, old and new fishing boats are aplenty, eg here at Bulverhythe.

I walked on westwards to just below Collington at the end of the promenade. Then on my return just to the west of Bexhll town centre, is a Clock Tower originally built to commemorate the 1902 coronation of Queen Victoria's son Edward VII, although it was not finished until 1904 (Public Sculptures of Sussex website).

Carrying on with my return journey and what do we see, but the De La Warr Pavilion, which I have often mentioned in my previous reports, eg blog.

The De La Warr Pavilion is a magnificent structure, built when art deco met the modern architecturally, and now is a great music venue, restaurant, exhibition site, you name it, indeed it is well worth a visit (website).

One of the purposes of the walk was to visit the reasonably new micropub in Bexhill, which I hadn't visited before, Brickmaker's Alehouse at 27 Sea Road, just down from the railway station, and on the other side (east) of the road. I shall not write anymore here about this lovely wee hostelry, but feel free to read the report in Steve the Beermeister's blog, cheers!

After a few drinks I set off back to Hastings...

The view back westwards once back in Hastings

Great day, feel free to copy my adventures, certainly drink at the Brickmakers! 😉 

Hastings Pier, and more beach moving...

Sorry, had problems uploading my photograph (sorted, now below!) of the still closed gates at 10.15, with golden balloons above, but guessing that Mr Gulzar hadn't arrived on time for the reopening at 10.00 today, at least, no sign of any golden painted cars, unless he is having Fools Day fun...

And yes, it is now open!

Hastings Pier 01 04 19 (10.15)



Oh yes, and more beach moving (reclamation) down by the Azur Pavilion earlier.

Basically, posting this at Hastings Library as IT problems at home, sorry, not sure how I'll be blogging over coming days, wish me luck, cheers!

International Women's Day 2019

Anna Campbell

Today, Friday 8th of March 2019, is International Women's Day (website) with the theme #BalanceforBetter, that is, to build a gender balanced world. I have used this photograph of Anna Campbell of Lewes, who died a year ago (15th March 2018) fighting for the YPJ* and women's liberation in Syria, killed by jihadists working for the Turkish Lira when they invaded Afrin in Syria, supported by Turkish aircraft and tanks; Afrin had been one of the few areas in Syria that had remained peaceful during the Syrian civil war, a very sad day when it was invaded, and Anna's body still hasn't been recovered and returned to her father in Lewes. Anna Campbell R.I.P. 

To celebrate International Women's Day in Hastings an event is being held on Sunday 10th March 2-4pm at the Azur Pavilion organised by Women's Voice (event's website), including presentations, workshops and discussion, and to launch the Women's Voice project Finding Our Voices: Women's Peer Support Network. The event will be preceded with a march along the seafront from Hastings Pier, starting at 1pm, and participants are encouraged to dress as their favourite women from history.

Today, Friday 8th March, sees a Female Tap Takeover at Twelve Hundred Postcards (blog) from 1pm, 80 Queen's Road, TN34 1RL (opposite Morrison's Petrol Station).

*The YPJ translates as the "Women's Protection Units" (website) and is part of the SDF that has been the ground force of the US-led intervention in Syria (website). 

Hastings Weekend Pre-Jack in the Green.

We all are aware that on Monday, thousands will swell Hastings old town streets, notably with the great weather forecast, but also sees the 40th May Day Run, so thousands of motorbikes too (website), and with events all over the weekend at the Stade and Rock music at the Azur Marina Pavilion on Sunday, plenty to do... Also at:

Saturday to Monday and Hastings Pier has 3 days of aPIERtite (website), too much to mention here, but free admission, street food from all over the world, music and other entertainment, not to mention walking onto the award winning Hastings Pier! As you will have seen in other blogs (for example), there is a campaign to raise money to keep the Pier in community ownership by Friends of Hastings Pier, I've pledged money at Crowdfunding, if you have any money to pledge too, please do, the people of Hastings and visitors who love the Pier will be extremely grateful, many thanks!

Of course, by Monday morning we'll have built up the tension to see the Jack released from the Fishermen's Museum in Rock-a-Nore Road and the ensuing procession, but music, dancing and general entertainment is to be had all over the old town today (Saturday) and tomorrow; go to the website for more details.

Lots of fun to be had this weekend, indeed!

More beach huts!

More beach huts east of the Pier?!? I've not seen anyone occupy those at St Leonards, west of the Azur Pavilion, opposite the Royal Victoria Hotel, yet, this year!

One Step Beyond...

The Azur Pavilion, which was used as the older peoples' home in the film Byzantium.

Our very own Banksy...

We could be living on the Cote d'Azur!

The Winter home of the St Leonards beach huts!

And this was "one step beyond" - as in, one step further than the sign that tells you you're entering the Combe Valley Countryside Park.

The wonderful De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill...

On my way back...

Here, I met a couple of older lads (my Devonshire coming out here!) who fish from boats launched from the beach here by Bulverhythe, and we had a great chat, and when I was advised that cod hasn't appeared this winter, and whiting is quite small, but this was a couple of weeks ago, indeed, confirmed by a Hastings fisherman I know since, but, some cod has since been landed by Hastings' boats...

And I ate the last locally caught cod and chips that they had at the Dolphin this lunchtime, excellent piece of fish, and the chips weren't bad either! Looking forward to some more locally caught cod soon, I hope, but I do like huss, and plaice too, for that matter