What to do in Hastings this Weekend?

OK, it's already begun, but Hastings Fringe Comedy Festival 2022 continues at venues across Hastings until Sunday, from The Piper in St Leonards, to The Crypt and The Good Place in the town centre, to The Jenny Lind, Electric Palace, The Nest and many other venues in the Old Town; go to the website for full details.

And, of course, as I said in a blog back in April, there is live music on Hastings Pier every weekend until late September (gales permitting!), today sees Daft Funk perform, Sunday sees free live music, and tomorrow (Saturday 18th), a charity walk of 1872 lengths of the pier will be attempted in aid of the Chestnut Tree House Children's Charity by members of John Bray Estate Agents, and good luck to them! Go to the Hastings Pier facebook page for more details of events, and of course, you can always just promenade along the pier, stop for a drink or something to eat, or bring your smaller children to the fairground towards the front of the pier.

And, as ever, there is plenty more to do in Hastings this weekend, including a socially responsible act with The Big Hastings Beach Clean tomorrow (Saturday 18th June from 10.00am - visit1066country) meeting at the Blue Reef Aquarium, exhibitions, cinema and music across town; go to visit1066country or allevents.in for further suggestions. Or you could just wander round town or along the seafront, plenty of free live music in a number of pubs and bars, plenty of eating and drinking places too, not to forget parks, shops, fairground and amusements, museums and art galleries...

Whatever you do, please don't forget the weather forecast for today and tomorrow is for wall-to-wall sunshine, so protective clothing and factor 15-50 may be sensible!

Have a great laugh/drink/sun worship/whatever, enjoy and stay safe!

Had to see the latest Norman Invasion of Hastings...

Indeed, I'd got the day wrong originally, but glad to have found out and passed that information in my last blog, where I gave details of the friendly invasion, the Normandy Food Tour 2022, and it seemed pretty friendly too! Food, drinks (where most visitors appeared to be sitting - behind the vehicle in front of me) and music...

The Food Tour is well worth the visit, and still 4 hours left for it to be open in Hastings, but, of course, the RNLI Lifeboat Station a few metres away is well worth the visit too, if not today, over the weekend. And, adding on to what I said in my last blog, of course, there are many other places to visit and things to do: Hastings Pier, the Blue Reef Aquarium, Fishermen's Museum, Shipwreck Museum, Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, Hastings Castle, the award winning Parks, pubs, bars and restaurants galore, and fish and chips galore!! Not to forget Jack in the Green this weekend...

Enjoy yourselves!

Early-ish Morning Walk...

I thought I'd get out early to beat the crowds, so, there I was down at the seafront (luckily, I only live a 4 minutes walk from the beach, so not that difficult to get there early), and it was pretty quiet indeed, here at the White Rock Theatre...

White Rock Hotel 

Opposite the White Rock Theatre and the White Rock Hotel, of course, is our (sadly not ours anymore though) lovely award winning Hastings Pier...

Just think of the film Byzantium (YouTube trailer), OK, Palace Court really, but a fine old Victorian Gothic building it is (Historic England).

Sculpture on Beach (blog) 

St Mary in the Castle (blog) 

The Hastings Lifeboat Station, RNLI, with the East Hill in the background, and with respect to the crew and volunteers who continue this proud service that is run as a charitable organisation, without central government funding (thankfully, as it means the service does not get hit by central government austerity cuts, phew!).

Hastings Miniature Railway, that travels parallel to the seafront between Rock-a-Nore and Marine Parade (website) and is run by Dan Radcliffe, who also set up and runs the miniature railway in Alexandra Park (blog).

Blue Reef Aquarium (website) 

Shipwreck Museum (website) 

Hastings Fishermen's Museum (blog), also in Rock-a-Nore Road (you can see where I'm going with this early morning walk now), and which also has been the starting point for the Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS) guided walks that returned for the year this weekend with their Stade Walk (website).

Then on to the Stacey Marie RX134 (facebook page), the Fishermen's Museum owned retired fishing boat, and a bit of a project of ours, and more about which you can either read on her facebook page, or by visiting Hastings Fishermen's Museum.

On the other side of Rock-a-Nore Road is the Dolphin Inn (facebook page), where I decamped for a coffee and a couple of pints; they now open for breakfast at 09.00 at weekends and 10.00 weekdays, so they were open for us early birds!

Enjoy the rest of your Easter Weekend, indeed, enjoy 2019, cheers!

Easter Weekend in Hastings

It certainly appears that there is plenty going on this weekend, as you'd expect, I'm always happy to support Hastings RNLI Lifeboat, crew and volunteers, and this Saturday heralds Easter at Hastings Lifeboat Station! From 11.00 am to 3.00 pm you are invited to join in with "some Easter fun" including refreshments and cake, stalls and tombola, a bit of singing, the chance to meet the Easter Bunny, a goodie bag for every child who visits wearing an Easter Bonnet (facebook), and, of course, the chance to help raise money for the RNLI and Hastings Lifeboat.

Great to see that this Saturday and Sunday also heralds the return of the first of the 2019 guided walks organised by the Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS) with their Stade Guided Walk (website). If you wish to participate, you need to meet up outside Hastings Fishermen's Museum, Rock-a-Nore Road, at 11.00am both days (meet indoors in inclement weather, but the forecast looks very good with blue sky every day of the weekend - Met Office). You will be led on this tour of the Stade Fishing Quarter by an experienced volunteer from the Fishermen's Museum, and it usually lasts between 60 and 90 minutes. Strong shoes are advised, and if, like me, you burn easily, a hat and/or Factor 50 might be advisable. The walk is free, but any donations to Hastings Fishermen's Museum would be very much appreciated, many thanks!

One building along from the Fishermen's Museum in Rock-a-Nore Road is the Shipwreck Museum (website), also well worth a visit! In addition, this Saturday they have organised a guided walk of the wreck of the Amsterdam, a Dutch East Indiaman that ran aground at Bulverhythe in 1749 (website). This guided walk costs £6 for adults and £2 for children, and meets at the viewing platform above the beach opposite the wreck at Bulverhythe at 7.00 pm on the 20th of April; appropriate footwear is necessary and more details can be found at the website.

One building further down in Rock-a-Nore Road is the Blue Reef Aquarium (website), where you are invited to meet Mermaid Anna today (Friday 19th between 11.00 am and 3.00 pm), and with Easter events until Monday the 22nd April.

Back to the Stade Open Space in front of the Lifeboat Station, and Saturday, from 4.00 to 10.00 pm will be the Hastings Easter Music Festival, with EDM, Hip Hop, Rap and Soul live music featured. From 12.00 to 4.00 pm over the weekend there is also an associated art exhibition (website).

Hastings Pier (facebook page) has also announced that there will be another "grand reopening of Hastings Pier" at 11.00 am on Saturday 20th April, this time with "Free Entertainment" and an Easter Egg Hunt, Mascots, Ice Cream, Tea, Coffee and Cake.

Whatever, wherever, there will be plenty more happening with the usual sites, beach and music events, good food and drink, and gorgeous weather, enjoy!

Christmas at the Aquarium

You may, or may have not, heard that the reindeer will not be appearing at the Blue Reef Aquarium in Rock-a-Nore Road this Saturday, following the shocking revelation of animal cruelty (not by Santa!) and these wonderful animals (BBC). However, there will still be plenty of Christmas fun to be had at the Aquarium, including Santa diving in the main ocean tank, a themed trail for children, face painting, seasonal food and drinks in the cafe, and the opportunity for children to post their 'wish lists' to Santa, not to forget the usual wonders of sharks, rays and other sea creatures! Indeed, the only day in the year that the Aquarium is closed will be Christmas Day itself (website).

Enjoy an excellent time at the Aquarium, merry Christmas!

Hastings Halloween!

OK, it may seem a little early, but there are already Halloween events happening in Hastings, including a special Halloween Quiz Night tonight at the Dolphin Inn, Rock-a-Nore Road (website). The Dolphin's Quiz Night is held every Thursday, starts at 8.30pm, has cash prizes, and is free to enter!

Already on up on the West Hill at Smugglers Adventure is a Ghostly Quiz Trail and at Hastings Castle there's Halloween Fun (website), and there's Halloween Fun at the Blue Reef Aquarium too (website), in Rock-a-Nore Road! If you know of other Halloween events please feel free to add a comment, and Visit 1066 Country suggests quite a few alternative Halloween events as well (website).

Don't be too scared, just be very wary... 



Hastings Weekend, 23rd/24th December...

Fed up with shopping? As already advised in a previous blog, there's plenty happening at the Blue Reef Aquarium at Rock-a-Nore, including Santa Diving at 11.00 today.

Also, the nearby Hastings Fishermen's Museum, also in Rock-a-Nore Road, is open both days too, indeed, it is only closed on the 25th! See website.

In the town centre, there is still the Ice Rink to visit at Priory Meadow, if you can either skate, or don't mind getting a cold backside... See website.

On Hastings Pier, both days, there are Christmas Movies from 11.00 (website), and a Festive Trail for children, not to mention a brisk promenade!

Then, of course, there is always shopping in St Leonards, the town centre, or in the old town, if you need to buy late gifts! For example, in the old town, at the Black Market in George Street is the POP-UP Christmas Indoor Emporium, a chance to get late gifts there, perhaps, plus much more (website).

And, no doubt festivities all over the place, notably in pubs, but we should always remember that not everyone celebrates Christmas, notably those with health problems (see my earlier blog), and that many people will be working to provide emergency and other essential services, or to provide you with facilities that you would otherwise be denied on a public holiday. 

So, my best wishes to everyone, whoever and whatever your beliefs, at this time of year, and please let us take over into 2018 the spirit of 'Peace and Goodwill' that usually exists, if only for a short time, during the festive season, indeed, let us make it a much better and ever improving world for the future of us all...

Santa takes the plunge at the Blue Reef Aquarium!

With thanks to Leanna of the Blue Reef Aquarium at Rock-a-Nore, I have been informed that younger visitors are being invited to help Father Christmas find his missing reindeer, now there's an interesting story! OK, not real reindeer, but hidden 'reindeer' around the aquarium, then they can write down the letter next to each one found to unscramble 'magical' festive words...

Also, on Saturday (23rd), at 11am, allegedly, Father Christmas is going to be taking the plunge in the aquarium’s main ocean display; as it's the last day before the busiest day of his year, he may just have a little time free. He will be donning scuba gear and 'making a splash' to entertain visitors.

Indeed, the 'festive season' is well worth a visit to the aquarium to escape the colder weather, with naturally-themed tropical displays, and its underwater walkthrough tunnel, the aquarium is an 'oasis of light and colour' even on cold winter days; see website.

Beach Clean Cancelled!

I've just read on their website that the Beach Clean arranged for this morning by the Blue Reef Aquarium has been cancelled due to the forecast bad weather.

Another Weekend in Hastings

Though having calmed down a bit, there is still much to do this weekend in Hastings, eg you could visit Hastings Fishermen's Museum (website) in Rock-a-Nore Road, or Hastings History House (website) in Courthouse Street, or the Blue Reef Aquarium (website) or the Norman Hastings Castle (website), or the beautiful Alexandra Park or St Leonards Gardens, or promenade along the seafront and/or drink a beer or two in many great pubs, or extend the promenade onto the Pier... 

Oh yes! The Pavilion Restaurant & Bar on Hastings Pier is now open and "champions fresh, seasonal ingredients from local Sussex producers and an eclectic collection of homemade traditional and contemporary dishes." The restaurant  is located in the original western Pavilion building and is now operated by Hastings Pier Charity. "Local suppliers include Sussex Ice Cream, Harveys Brewery (a new beer is to be available exclusively at Hastings Pier) and Nyetimber Vineyard as well as locally-sourced seafood." To book a table call 01424 445588. 

Apart from the usual facilities on the Pier, see website for other events. Have fun!

Pirate Day 2017 - Sunday 16th July...

OK, there's always plenty happening in Hastings every weekend, but this weekend, events are likely to be dominated by Pirate Day on Sunday and, despite it not being a year needed to count the pirates in town (yet again, as Penzance still hasn't caught up with the Hastings' record of 14,231 achieved in 2012), Roger Crouch returns as organiser to ensure that much pirate fun will be there for young and old; see website.

And it's not just another event dominated by the 'old town' as plenty is going on from the end of Rock-a-Nore Road at the Blue Reef Aquarium, all the way to Grosvenor Gardens and the Bo Peep Inn, where I've been told pirate flags are flying already! The old town will see mermaids, shanty songs and drums; Hastings Lifeboat has an exercise launch at 09.00am and Pirate Day Refreshments from 11.00am; Pelham Beach will see free-fall parachuting and flags; the town centre and Priory Meadow will see music and workshops; the Pier and White Rock Theatre will see a treasure hunt and children's entertainment; then there will be 'Treasure Island' at St Leonards Warrior Square... Not to mention the procession, Punch & Judy, sword fighting, pirate films, and much more, and, of course much rum me 'arties!

Have piratical fun! 💀 

Weekend Fun in Hastings:

Cinema on the Pier returns this evening with Back to the Future, Titanic tomorrow, and Mamma Mia on Sunday. Tomorrow and Sunday, there are Zooquarium Music Festival auditions for 14-24 year-olds; on Sunday and Monday there are Punch & Judy shows at 11.00, 1.30 and 3.00 pm; and from Monday there are Half-term Family Workshops each day; see website for further details. Of course, there is still Fishing from the Pier, go to Paul's Tackle shop, 38 White Rock, for further details and permits.

Music is your first love? OK, plenty on... this evening (Friday), music at the Carlisle, Royal Standard, Whistle Trago, Black Cat, Dolphin Inn, Marina Fountain, Jenny Lind, and Rufus Stone at the Palace. Tomorrow evening (Saturday) sees Sam Calver & Friends (unique line-up, the drummer tells me!) at the Dolphin Inn, and music at the Palace, Printworks, Black Cat, Brass Monkey, Marina Fountain, Standard, and "Stars from the Commitments" at the White Rock Theatre. Mostly earlier starts on Sunday with music at the Black Cat, Marina Fountain, White Rock Theatre, Jenny Lind, Albion, Brass Monkey, and Cushty at the Standard from 5pm. Enough for you? 😉

Of course, you may just want to explore the old town, or walk along the seafront, indeed, promenade on Hastings Pier, explore Alexandra Park, or relax in St Leonards Gardens, or just sit back outside a seafront bar, or on the Pier, watching the world go by... Or visit the Fishermen's Museum or Hastings Museum & Art Gallery, or Castle and Smugglers' Adventure, or Monsters' Week at the Blue Reef Aquarium, from tomorrow to the 4th of June (website).

Whatever you do, slap on the factor 50, and enjoy your weekend!

Easter Weekend Fun has already started!

Tomorrow, Saturday 15th April,, 11am to 3pm at Hastings Lifeboat Station, is a fun day for Easter, including an Easter Bonnet competition, Shanty Singing, Refreshments and Cake, Tombola, and more fun... and you can even meet the Easter Bunny! See website. 

But Easter fun has already started today, and continues throughout the weekend, of course, including on Hastings Pier with an Easter Egg Trail and Family Workshops every day and including Monday, in addition to most of the usual events, bars and restaurant (see website), and the Easter Egg Hunt in conjunction with the White Rock Theatre today and tomorrow (see website).

In addition, an Easter Egg Hunt at Hastings Castle tomorrow, Saturday 15th (see website), an Easter Egg Hunt has been ongoing for a while now at Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, Bohemia Road, continuing until Sunday (see website), and the Shark Trust Easter Egg Case Hunt Trail and Easter Colouring at the Blue Reef Aquarium in Rock-a-Nore Road (see website), even a friend of mine is having an 'Egg Hunt' in his garden, but he doesn't want me to publicize that, it's for grandchildren! 😉

I'm sure there are many more Easter events, plus music in pubs and bars all over town, indeed, something for everyone, enjoy!

Beach Clean Images

From the Blue Reef Aquarium facebook page: "Thank you so much to everyone that came today! The turn out was incredible. We will do a count up of the rubbish bags this afternoon and let you know. If anyone took any pictures they would be happy to be used on future publicity material, then please do post them on here or email them to hastings@bluereefaquarium.co.uk. 

"Enjoy the rest of your weekend knowing you kicked it off to a good start by helping the environment and your local community."

Good stuff!

Hastings Beach Clean Today.

Join staff of the Blue Reef Aquarium, Rock-a-Nore Road, in "helping make a difference to the marine environment, and volunteer at their first Beach Clean of 2017. All equipment is provided and they will be covering the Rock-a-Nore stretch by the Aquarium. Meet in the aquarium cafe at 10.30am to start for 11am."

Please note, they ask you to pre-register for this event in order to take part. You may call on 01424 718776, email hastings@bluereefaquarium.co.uk or message them on their Facebook page. Hurry up, though I'd be surprised if they turn down help...

Hastings Weeks kicks off this weekend!

Hastings Week 2016 (8th to the 16th October) kicks off on Saturday with its opening ceremony up at the Castle; marching units meet at West Hill Cafe at 10.30, and the parade commences at 10.50 for the short distance to the Castle, starting a week commemorating the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings! There will be walks, talks, tea and coffee and, well take a look at their website if you haven't already procured a copy of the free programme (try pubs, shops, the tourist centre if lacking said programme).

And, if you weren't aware, Saturday the 8th is also World Octopus Day, which, of course, will be celebrated at the Blue Reef Aquarium, towards the end of Rock-a-Nore Road (website). At noon there will be a talk and demonstration of feeding the aquarium's resident Giant Pacific Octopus, Count Oswald, and younger visitors can join the Octo-trail and create designs relating to Octopus Day.

Of course there is much more to do and visit, eg the Pier, Hastings Fishermens Museum and the Shipwreck Museum, both close by the aquarium, Hastings Museum and Art Gallery in Bohemia Road, Parks and Miniature Railway, Fair, etc etc... Have fun!

Even more to see and do this weekend!

There's a new display at the Blue Reef Aquarium to capture your attention this weekend, featuring a miniature representation of the Amazon riverbed, incorporating a selection of living plants and 10 different types of smaller Amazonian fish species, ie a variety of different iridescent coloured tetras, hatchetfish and five different types of catfish! 

The aquarium’s Leanna Lawson enthused that “although the display is only relatively small, our aquarists have worked really hard to provide a realistic representation of a part of the Amazon. The use of living plants and natural theming helps to create a fascinating environment populated by dozens of brightly coloured fish. Alongside the display we have also incorporated interpretation panels to give visitors a better insight into this unique and fragile habitat and why it is so important to protect it.” And there's plenty more to see and do at the Blue Reef Aquarium, of course! Visit their website for more information. 

Stade Saturdays hits the Stade open space this Saturday with a trio of amusing productions by Avanti Display (website), including Reliquary (above, 1-4pm), Mr Lucky's Party (2.30 and 5.30pm), and The Spurting Man (7.30pm), expect very surreal humour, and not a little water... See the Council's website for further details and the full Stade Saturdays programme for this summer.

Of course, there are very many other of the usual places to visit and enjoy, music in pubs and bars, I've already mentioned Hastings Pier in my previous blog, and specifically the arranged Night Fishing off the Pier this weekend and during the following week, the Castle and Fishermen's Museum, and, dead opposite the Pier on Sunday (10am to 4pm) at the White Rock Theatre, there will be Ruby's Vintage & Retro Fair (website), with stallholders selling vintage clothes and accessories, costume jewellery, homeware and linen, furniture, retro gifts and plenty more. Plus there will be a 'pop-up' vintage tea room! There will be a small £1.50 entrance charge, with U16s free.

Indeed, plenty to see, go to, and do!