My weekend, and much walking...

My brother visited at the weekend, and, as ever, we walked a fair bit, hence my not being around so much to write blogs, sorry...

Started off at Battle on Saturday (train from Hastings to Battle) and walked south to Crowhurst and St George's, the parish church (website), where we ate our first sandwich of the day, before going to...

The Plough, where we drank a pint of the decent 4% Long Man Best Bitter (website).  

Then we carried on towards Bexhill, though with a couple of deviations, due to the building of a Bexhill/Hastings link road (website), that added a few miles to the walk! This photograph was taken from a grid reference of about 756106.  

Anyway, we finally reached Bexhill, and saw our first Cornish flag of the day...

And, at the house I call the Bexhill Flag Raiser's, saw this ensign, presumably because of the 2015 Eastbourne Air Show (website), of which we spotted quite a few planes towards the west, including the Red Arrows...

We then returned to Hastings, where we searched for somewhere to watch the football on television, to no avail (though I today discovered that it was on at the Wellington in the High Street), but Dan wanted to try the FILO Pirate Gold (5.8%) anyway, so we visited the First In Last Out, where we enjoyed a nice pint or two before heading home.  

On Sunday, we just walked to Cooden Beach and back, as Dan had to catch a fairly early train home, so, passed the ever-developing Pier (website)...

Then saw this new cafe, by the old lido, that I'd never seen before (so new, obviously!). 

At Bexhill, we saw even more flags, no idea what this is about!

We had a coffee each, and an excellent piece of carrot cake, at the wonderful Art Nouveau/Modernist De La Warr Pavilion (website), always a delight to visit, sit on the balcony, and watch the world go by, not to mention the boat races this Sunday!

Then we headed off to Cooden Beach, before returning to the Albatross Club (RAFA club) at Bexhill seafront, of which I happen to be an Associate Member, so reasonably priced ale, and free roast potatoes on a Sunday, thank you very much!

And another excellent local ale we enjoyed too, the 5.5% Franklins New Zealand IPA!

And the Dutch tricolour had been added since the morning!

The new cafe was now open too... Anyway, Dan caught his train home, and I visited the Dolphin Inn yesterday evening, but that's another story, cheers!

Midsummer Fish Festival this weekend!

Saturday 20 June 11.00 to 21.00, Sunday 21 June 11.00 to 17.00, Stade Open Space, Old Town, Hastings.

Free event funded by Hastings FLAG: 

"Great foodie delights" are promised at this second Hastings Midsummer Fish Festival, from numerous stall holders, including local restaurants, producers and organisations. The stalls will "showcase their best fish dishes and local products."

Visitors can also enjoy real ales with a mini-beer festival run by the FILO, ie their own Crofters, Churches Pale Ale and Gold, and 2 ales from other East Sussex brewers, Harveys IPA and Dark Star Hophead.  

The empty marquee at the Stade early today

Exhibition at the Stade Hall -  Laetitia Yhap, All Hands.  A time before Steel boats, tractors and mobiles on the Stade, 1974-1995.  

Non-stop live music, kicking off with Hastings Sinfonia, conducted by Derek Carden. For more details go to www.visit1066country.com/events/seasonal-highlights/midsummer-fish-festival.    

Winch Road - FLAG response

I am very grateful for the following response from FLAG, which says pretty much what I said in Part 2 of the Winch Road saga, though it puts a bit more meat on the bones! 

"The Hastings FLAG (Fisheries Local Action Group) was successful in obtaining grant funding towards the upgrade of the Winch Road and improvements to lighting along part of it. This is a key component of the Hastings Fishing Beach Improvement Programme that seeks to improve the working environment for the inshore fishing fleet and encourage responsible visitors.   

The Winch Road will be resurfaced in reinforced concrete with an exposed aggregate finish. The project will also improve lighting and security along the eastern section of the Winch Road and is jointly funded by Hastings & St Leonards Foreshore Charitable Trust and the Marine Management Organisation. A compound has been set up on the beach adjacent to the RNLI station and work started on Monday 18th May and will last for approximately 11 weeks until the week commencing 20th July (weather dependent).   

Paul Joy and indeed the fishermen are all fully aware of the planned works and have been closely involved in securing the funding and planning the works." 

There you go then, one shouldn't believe gossip...

Fishermens' Road

Rumours, rumours, rumours! Whatever the rumours, the road/track (Winch Road) behind the fish market is being rebuilt, resurfaced, fixed (however you want to phrase it).

Work has already started, though it looks like it may take a while to complete. A little birdy tells me that this will not be a public road, but continue as an access route for the local fishing industry, with better pedestrian access to the car park at the end of Rock-a-Nore Road. It looks to be funded (if only partially, perhaps) by Hastings FLAG, but, as soon as I find out more, I shall share it, but try not to add to the rumours peeps, cheers! 

Wander to Bexhill...

By Steve the Beermeister 

I had a nice wander to Bexhill on St George's Day, beautiful weather, and I hadn't visited the Albatross Club (R.A.F.A. Bexhill) for quite a while, indeed, I still had to collect my 2015 membership cards! It's a 10-mile round trip, and you can walk along without undulations, unless you fancy tackling Galley Hill once or twice. It's easy to forget how nice it can be walking along with the sea lapping at the nearby beach...    

One of the first sights on entering Bexhill is what I call the "Flag Raiser's Home", always a flag flying, unsurprisingly, it was the Cross of St George, but I've recorded many a different flag flying here... I always take a photograph, I have so many images of the owner's roof! 

I reach my destination (website), collected my cards from the pigeon hole, and had a wee drink there; some lovely ales at just £3 a pint (4 different real ales and a good range of bottled and real ciders). As an Associate member, I can enjoy a drink and a chat here, and, of course, I may sign in non-members. As a member of CAMRA, I was allowed in anyway before joining. A suggested donation of £1 is requested of non-members. 

The Bar is now run by the new (ish) Head Bar Steward, Karen, my mate Geoff having wandered off to run his own pub in Kent. Karen is ably supported by her Assistant Head Bar Steward, Peter, with whom I chatted yesterday. I was a little apprehensive of what ales would now be served following the departure of Geoff, but shouldn't have been concerned, because Karen and Peter are still stocking some wonderful ales, cheers!  

Anyway, time to leave Bexhill, and, as you can see, the sky was still clear, and a wonderful walk home ensued, a venture I would always recommend. 

I will be writing about the ales on my own blog very soon...