My Second Hastings Pub Post-Lockdown...

By Steve the Beermeister: 

A confident message from the publican, Louisa, and amusing too, the story is based on the events of Sunday the 23rd of May 1943, when a bombing and 'strafing' raid was made on Hastings during World War II, with one pub, the Swan Inn in the High Street in the Old Town, receiving a direct hit. The Swan Inn has a long history, indeed the Duke of Wellington was honoured with a dinner and dance there soon after he returned home from Ireland with his new wife, Kitty Packenham, in 1806 (blog). A memorial garden is now on the site, opposite St Clements Church. You'll have guessed by now that wasn't the pub I was in for a few pints...

No, I was at The Tower, 251 London Road, on the corner with Tower Road, in Bohemia, Hastings & St Leonards TN34 6NB, I've been there twice, actually, since my last blog. So, during that air raid back in 1943 an interesting wee story evolved when a 1,000 lbs bomb hit the road outside The Tower, which had its cellar doors open for a delivery, and it bounced along and dropped into the cellar of the pub, I kid you not, and it did not explode! I am certainly grateful for that, because The Tower is one of my favourite local watering holes, thankfully the building is still standing.

The Tower

The sapper who diffused the bomb that day rendering it harmless, and who returned the next day to remove it, was a gentleman from Coventry called Patrick Kavanagh. A photographer from the Hastings Observer recorded the removal of the bomb from the cellar, but the image was never published in the newspaper because of wartime restrictions. Coincidentally, Patrick's daughter moved to Hastings, just round the corner from The Tower in Springfield Road, and when visiting her in 1990 he strolled to the local pub for a drink. Not realizing he was in the same pub he was reminiscing with locals about his wartime experience and was told to have a look at a photograph on the wall, which was the photograph taken 47 years earlier, and the photograph is still on the wall now! I have found an interesting account written by his son 9 years ago (website).

So, drinks at The Tower, excellently served by Lou, and the pub that couldn't be closed by the Luftwaffe, even after they bombed the building, has been reopened with suitable restrictions taking into account Government Covid-19 Guidelines, following Johnson closing the pub!

The photograph immediately above is from my second visit, an interesting variety of styles, but the first ale I shall describe was the very good 'best bitter' I drank on my previous visit, from the Sussex brewer, Gun Brewery (website), their 4.4% Chummy Bluster, brewed with 7 malts and 3 different English hops. It is described as 'Vegan Friendly' being unfined, and gluten free, so drinkable for all! And it did what it said on the label, my notes say: "traditional coloured, plenty of body and flavour, like a good Best Bitter" which says it all!

I started with a guest session bitter for my second visit, from the Kent brewer, Northdown Brewery (website) Pale Ale Mary (4.0%), brewed with Northdown, Brewers Gold and Bobek hops, pale, but not as fruity and flowery as many contemporary pale ales. Indeed, quite subtle flavours with a nice dry bitter finish, a very decent session bitter. I've drunk and written about the 'classic' Dark Star Hophead (3.8%) many times, and I didn't drink it on this visit, as 'researching' and someone has to do the job! But I did try the very different beer from Cumbrian brewer Fell Brewery (website), their Cask O'Joe, a 4.6% 'Coffee Milk Stout.' Very smooth, rich and creamy, not too much coffee in the taste and with a hint of chocolate, a bit too sweet for me really, although it did have a slightly dry bitter finish, but I did drink a pint with no bother!

My last pint was another from Gun Brewery, a 6.5% Vegan IPA with a big citrus and tropical fruit aroma and taste, presumably hops from the USA used, as this is an APA style. It's advertised as being 'hazy' because 'Vegan' but hardly hazy at all, with proteins in the brew obviously dropping naturally. My favourite ale of the lot, hic... cheers to Lou, and to you the reader!

Wellington & Hastings illustrated talk

Well, there's certainly plenty happening in Hastings this weekend, indeed tomorrow, Brion Purdey will be giving an illustrated talk "Wellington and Hastings" to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo (on Thursday 18th), a subject I have briefly looked at in previous blogs, but in no way as in-depth as will be heard and seen tomorrow! This talk is part of the Hastings Museum Association programme (See website for all events on the calendar at the Museum) and will be held from 14.00 to 15.30 on Sunday 21st June at Hastings Museum & Art Gallery, Bohemia Road, TN34 1ET.      

The Museum Association's events are usually held at the Museum & Art Gallery, and are free for members of the Museum Association (£7 annual membership fee, £12 for couples), £3 for non-members and £2 for concessions (more information at HMAG website). 

Waterloo, Wellington, and Hastings!

By Steve the Beermeister

Coming from an Anglo-Irish family, Major General Sir Arthur Wellesley, perhaps better known later as the Duke of Wellington, was born in Dublin in 1769. His family bought him a commission in the British Army in 1787 as he was not that interested in furthering his education after school.

He was Knighted for serving a very successful term in India from 1796 to 1805. When he returned to England he was posted to Hastings on 25 February 1806 in order to take command of a brigade of infantry. His troop was based locally and he stayed at 54 High Street, which was used as his headquarters.

The Swan Inn (which was situated opposite 54 High Street, but now a memorial garden following its destruction from bombing in WW2) was used for a public dinner and dance in his honour, soon after his marriage to Kitty Packenham in Dublin on 10 April 1806. She returned with him to Hastings, where they lived at Hastings House, a Palladian Mansion at the North end of Tackleway. The plot where Hastings House and gardens once stood is now occupied by Old Humphry Avenue.

Wellesley was MP for Rye from 1806 to 1809; he had before sat a couple of terms as MP (for Trim) in the Irish House of Commons in the 18th century, and later became the British Prime Minister in 1828.

This Thursday, 18^th June, is the 200^th anniversary of his famous victory over Napoleon at Waterloo, and Harveys Brewery have brewed a special beer in honour of that achievement, Waterloo Rye IPA (6.1%). British malt, and rye malt from Belgium (where the battle took place) was used in the mash, whilst French bittering hops were used in the copper, and the casks are dry-hopped with British and German hops; France, Britain and Germany being the main protagonists in the battle. I'd like to think rye malt was used with a link to his having been MP for Rye, but I can find no evidence it was, sadly.

Waterloo Rye IPA should be a very interesting drop of ale, which I am looking forward to drinking at the Dolphin Inn, Rock-a-Nore, Hastings, this Thursday, cheers!

Vacancies available...

By Steve the Beermeister 

While the FILO, Dolphin, and Duke of Wellington, all report a crackin' time was enjoyed yesterday evening, many historic pubs across Hastings are currently seeking new landlords/landladies/licensees/managers, notably the Stag in the old town, the Dripping Spring up in Bohemia, and the General Havelock in the town centre! 2 pubs owned by Enterprise Inns and the other owned by Shepherd Neame...

What is going on?!?

Paddy's Night in Hastings!

So... Where is there a celebratory Paddy's Night in Hastings this evening? 

The Dolphin, down at Rock-a-Nore, always has 'traditional' oirish music provided by the 'Tune Raiders' on a Tuesday evening, whether it's St Patrick's Day or not... Also, I was assured earlier, that the Irish landlady, Bev, at the Millers Arms in Winchelsea Road, Ore, also means there will be something special going on there this evening. There is music at the FILO in the 'Old Town' High Street and the addition of a guest to the group playing tonight, 'Stone Junction', means a wee bit of 'fiddle dee dee' is highly likely too, and Adam suggested to me there may be an Irish influence in the restaurant there this evening, and where I was served a lovely pint of the FILO Cardinal Porter by the persuasive Elina, before I took this photograph...   

Just down the road from the FILO, the Duke of Wellington is certainly looking geared up for Paddy's Night, there's music, though I'm unsure how oirish it will be, though the 'complimentary boiled bacon and cabbage' looks to be making an effort! Most Shepherd Neame pubs appear to be offering cheaper Guinness and Jamesons Whiskey, and some are giving away those silly Guinness hats; I've already seen some customers wandering around wearing them... and most of the bars in the town centre also seem to be selling Irish drinks cheaper, notably Guinness and Irish whiskey... 

No doubt I've missed places out, but please feel free to add a comment about other 'parties', but, whatever, enjoy the 'craic' this evening and Sláinte! 

Hastings Oldest Pub Part IV

By Steve the Beermeister 

Very soon after passing the sign welcoming you to Hastings & St Leonards you reach The Bull Inn, 530 Bexhill Road, Hastings, East Sussex TN38 8AY (website). Some may argue this is really in Bexhill, but The Bull falls within Hastings Borough Council's boundary and is licensed by Hastings, and is on the Hastings' side of this sign... 

Though I can think of something else!

The main building, bar area and kitchen of The Bull Inn is a Grade II listed property, mostly built in the late 18th century, with an early 19th century extension added to the eastern side, ie to the right as you look at my photograph of the pub. According to licensing records, this building was first licensed to James Kenward in 1795, though records show a license was given as early as 1622, with only the kitchen area at the back apparently surviving from the 17th century.  

The Bull Inn

A couple of hundred years ago, the sea came up much closer to the pub and the port of Bulverhythe, but nothing now remains of that port except the ruins of the Church of St. Mary, which is close to the back garden of The Bull Inn. There is evidence to suggest that stone used in the construction of the pub is very likely to have come from the ruins of the church; church cornerstones, windowsills and window tracery are all in evidence, and much old stone work can be seen in the rear walls of the building. 

Stories of tunnels going 'to and fro' the pub and smugglers abound and, almost certainly, the earlier Bull Inn played host to the investigators of the wreck of the Amsterdam, the Dutch East Indiaman that was beached the other side of the railway bridge (which was built much later of course) in 1749, and which can still be seen when the tide is out, notably at Spring and Autumn tides. Though the last time I walked out to it, the deck was virtually full of silt and sand. 

The Amsterdam

The Shepherd Neame website mentions this premise, and also says that "in the eastern part of the old pub, John Keats sat and did his writing while looking out to sea. Part of the pub was used as a court house and in the basement under the bar were the cells where condemned prisoners were held before hanging at Gallows Hill." 

You can take it from this that The Bull is a Shepherd Neame pub, though with an interesting alternative ownership and brewery linkage over the years. Indeed, Thomas Breeds bought The Bull Inn a few years before establishing the Hastings Brewery in 1828; The Bull becoming one of the first pubs to trade under the Breeds’ name, as was the Duke of Wellington in the High Street. 

Warmth coming from the older end of the pub

The Bull was much later sold to George Beer and Rigden of Faversham in 1931, then Beer and Rigden was taken over by Fremlins of Maidstone in 1949. In 1967 Fremlins became part of the Whitbread group, before Lord Young's Beer Orders from 1989 restricted the number of 'tied' pubs that could be owned by individual breweries to 2,000. Shepherd Neame since bought many of the Whitbread pubs in the Hastings area, including The Bull Inn.  

A year ago, The Bull Inn was faltering, but the return of the present tenant, Dawn, and her 2 daughters, Jo and Lisa, has brought life back to the pub and its restaurant trade. When I walked into the pub yesterday, I felt very much welcomed into the bar, and I immediately noticed the beer handpumps, (well I am the "Beermeister") which I imagine are Victorian, art nouveau methinks! 

The handpumps caught my eye

Anyway, The Bull is now a Shepherd Neame tenancy, and 3 of their beers are served from the 4 handpumps. The pub is open all day every day, except on Mondays during this winter season, when it closes at 3pm and for the rest of the day. Food is served between 12 and 2pm every day, and from 6.30 to 9pm Tuesday to Saturday, with an impressive looking choice of 3 roast dinners every Sunday lunchtime. 

To the ales! I tried 2 of the 3 on offer, the Spitfire and the very good Kent's Best, which was nice and bitter, and both were in very good form, and well served by the affable chap behind the bar, yet another 'Steve'; as was the rather eatable BLT with salad on the side I enjoyed. The other ale was their Masterbrew, and they have plans to replace the Kent's Best with Shep's 3.9% Whitstable Bay Pale Ale, a very pleasant session bitter. 

Welcome back!

I also had a nice chat with Dawn, and I wish her well, my only suggestion would be to have a 'guest ale' from a more local Sussex brewer, but what do I know? Dawn's the person making a success of The Bull Inn, not me!   

Also, my thanks to John Hodges for suggesting I investigate The Bull Inn, and for sharing historical information that helped me to write this, cheers!