I've been away in Sheffield...

If you don't follow my alter ego's blog, 'tis mostly about beer and food!

Hastings Philharmonic & Food - Saturday 5th November

OK, I have to admit it, the image above is one I took of a Hastings Philharmonic concert from last year, however, I forgot to take a photograph on Saturday... Again though, I visited the quite majestic 19th century Christ Church, Silchester Road (corner with London Road) St Leonards TN37 6GL (website) for their Autumn Concert 2022. Oh yes, and my niece was singing at both 'gigs' which started this time with the rousing Magnificat in D by Bach, then My Heart is Inditing by Purcell, and finally Te Deum by Charpentier. Excellent!

Before the concert my brother and I treated my niece to a 'snacky' meal at Reel (website), the restaurant within Kino-Teatr,  43-49 Norman Road, St Leonards TN38 0EG (website), agreeing that we didn't fancy anything too heavy beforehand. I'd never visited here before, but was waiting for an opportunity, and it was not far from the church, so I suggested here, and we were all very pleased with the choice. So, convivial chat, a drink, and we shared 3 of the starters and a bowl of fries, and very tasty too: House Pate and Toast, Spicy Chicken Tacos and House Hummus and Flatbread. 👌

I excuse myself as the photographs haven't come out too well, apologies, but I'll blame the lighting 😉 and above is the entrance to the cinema, within a gallery beside the restaurant, nothing compares to you! 👍

We saw a few fireworks on the way home too... 🎆

Coastal Currents Returns & A Busy Weekend!

It is a busy weekend, sorry I'm a wee bit late with this one, but the 2022 Coastal Currents Arts Festival is on this and next weekend (website), but many events continue for another month or so! Indeed, from Bulverhythe to Rock-a-Nore, and further east, west and north too, "workshops, performances, films and exhibitions" galore!

Tomorrow (Sunday 4th) is the second year that Palestine on the Pier has been organised, from 12.00 to 6.00pm, a free cultural festival for all the family. Music, Dance, Food, a Catwalk Show of hand-embroidered dresses, Kite-making Workshop, Market, Talks, Story Telling and much more; go to the website for more information.

In addition, tomorrow sees the second First Sunday of the Bohemia Creative Quarter (BCQ) and now their regular first Sunday of every month events! The event, or events really, will be held from 11.00am to 4.00pm in the Bohemia/London/Tower Roads triangle, the BCQ covers an area with over 80 businesses. Go to their facebook page for the details of what is on, face painting, creative workshops, live performances, wellness and beauty, affordable art, home decor, music, antiques, bric-a-brac, street food, Steampunk and vintage stalls. Explore Bohemia and enjoy the day!

And, of course, so much more to do in Hastings, live music, museums and the seafront; more details of events @ allevents, but just walk around, there's plenty to enjoy...

As if we haven't had an exciting enough weekend already, enjoy folks! 👌

Hastings Pier Update: Ice Skating plus more!

So, I said I'd give updates in my last blog, and I contacted the new management of the Pier about opening times, their reply? "all opening times etc will be posted soon." Currently, they appear to be 10.00-17.00.

In addition, on their facebook page they are advertising Hastings Pier Winter Wonderland, that is, from 21 November 2020 to 3 January 2021 there will be an ice rink, festive rides, food, bars and hot chocolate and marshmallows! To book tickets go to this website.

So, we're getting there, ish...

Hastings Car Free Day 22 September 2019

It is the first time Hastings has held this international event (World Car Free Day website), a car free day on the same day around the world, which I first experienced getting on for 20 years ago when I was visiting my brother when he lived in Brussels, except in Brussels it is car free for the whole city and region! In Hastings, it is just to be for 12 noon until 6pm, with a street party and other events, but the seafront road will be closed from 10am until 8pm on Sunday, from Warrior Square Gardens to the White Rock Theatre (Eversfield Place to Verulam Place - website). 

This event is part of the Sustainability on Sea Festival (21-29 September 2019, for more details see website), a 9 day festival featuring events from Winchelsea to Bexhill. On Sunday, for the Hastings Car Free Day, there will be a range of family friendly activities, including alfresco dining, music, dancing, and much more to enjoy!

Another Beer Fest, this one in Battle...

By Steve the Beermeister (again!).

There appears to be much mentioning of beer festivals on this blog lately, but then, don't they come along in couples, if not bunches... Anyway, this weekend, Friday 1st to Saturday 2nd March (it really is March already), 11am to 7pm both days, look to a short trip to Battle Brewery (website) for the latest 'mini' Beer Fest or "Birthday Bash" at The Calf House, Beech Farm, North Trade Road, Battle TN33 0HN. Obviously, you will be able to try their own beers, but beers from other Sussex brewers too, including The Three Legs Brewing Company it appears, and ciders as well. Not to mention, food, live music, pub games and a quiz night on Friday. 

Enjoy yourselves there, cheers!

At the Tower Beer Fest 2019

By Steve the Beermeister:

I recently wrote a blog about the ale and cider festival being held this weekend at The Tower in London Road TN37 6NB, and yesterday I put in a couple of hours at the festival bar following a rather pleasant walk up through Alexandra Park (blog), looking back down to where I had been walking in the photograph above, oh, and I shall be posting a few more images soon of the Park...

Sorry about the quality of these last 2 indoors photographs, but above is the pub's bar which had 6 of the stronger ales available, out of 18 being served at any one time, plus 7 real ciders and a perry. I only drank 1 of these yesterday, though have enjoyed before the excellent pale dry hoppy bitterness of Burning Sky Brewery Aurora (5.6%) and the wonderfully full rich dark Gun Brewery Whisky Imperial Stout (7.4%). Yesterday I tried the Cwrw Ial The Apache Line, a 5% pale bitter, with a huge fruity aroma, mango and citrus in the flavour too, not so bitter and dry, but very easy to drink!

And from the bar which I worked as a volunteer on for a couple of hours, the less strong ales were served, plus the excellent stew, which I enjoyed too. I'll start with the weakest of those I tasted, the 3.9% Salopian Push, and I have to admit I was disappointed, as I'm usually impressed by Salopian's ales, though for many others it appeared their favourite, which is why drinking ales is so much fun, nearly an infinite number of possible recipes and nearly something for everyone! Push was/is a quite dry bitter ale with hints of fruit and sweet to taste at first, though not quite enough for me, though regular readers will appreciate that I am, and have been called, a "hop monster" in the past, so not enough hops for me, certainly not as many as I had expected...

I think I may have had the pleasure before, but I then tucked into Great Heck Proverbs (4.5%), with 2 excellent hops, Citra and Mosaic, used in the brew, which provided a lovely fruity and citrus aroma and taste, and lovely dry bitter finish.  Sticking with the Mosaic hop I enjoyed drinking the single hopped Downlands Mosaic (4.8% and does what it says on the label). This is a vegan friendly beer, which usually means a wee bit hazy, as no finings used, and produces a very BIG aroma, fruitiness bursting up into the nostrils! At first taste I caught a slight sourness to it, but this disappeared as I drank more of this pale golden ale with a lovely dry bitter finish.

The final 2 ales I tried were Redcastle Tower IPA (4.8%), a new (Scottish) brewery for me, and apparently using a mix of hops from Britain and the USA; this had a slightly fruity and caramel aroma, with malted biscuit in the taste and a nice dry bitter finish, enjoyable. The other was Long Man Special Tower APA Brew (4.8%), which I'm guessing was a dry hopped cask of their usual APA, with Willamette and Cascade hops, hint of citrus fruitiness, and very dry bitter finish.

My favourite of the day? Close, but the Downlands Mosaic, cheers!

The Tower Real Ale & Cider Festival this weekend.

By Steve the Beermeister...

Just a reminder that The Tower pub's second annual Real Ale & Cider Festival is being held this weekend, starting at 11.00 this morning (Friday 22nd)! If you hadn't already read last week about it, feel free to refer to my blog, which lists ales that will be available over the next 3 days, although not quite all on at once, but pretty much 20 ales on at a time, so enjoy yourselves, and cheers! 

The Tower's Second Real Ale Festival Next Weekend.

By Steve the Beermeister.

The Tower, up on the corner of London Road and Tower Road, Bohemia TN37 6NB, and following its successful first Real Ale & Cider Festival last year (blog), is next week holding its second real ale festival from Friday the 22nd to Sunday the 24th of February 2019, 11am to 11pm Friday and Saturday, 11am to 10pm Sunday; oh yes, and real ciders too! There will also be good value, and great tasting, food served on Friday and Saturday, from Cafe 67 of Bohemia Road (facebook), including at least one meal containing an ale from the festival, and one containing a cider. Plus a raffle on Saturday and a Meat Raffle (vegetarians please look away) on Sunday...

Excellent ales on when I recently visited!

Ales for the Festival (with tastings notes), and may be a few extras:

Gun Brewery Whisky Imperial Stout 7.4% Dark English pale and roasted malts give a rich, full body to this strong ale;

3 Legs Brewery Oatmeal Stout "7ish%" Dark Special brew;

Cromarty Ghost Town 5.8% Dark Classic dark roasted malty porter with blackcurrant & liquorice;

Burning Sky Aurora 5.6% Pale Premium strength pale ale with juicy malt backbone and big citrus and tropical hop flavours;

Goose Eye Pommies Revenge 5.2% Gold Extra strong single malt bitter;

Cwrw Lal Apache 5% Light Big mango fruit aromas with a smooth bitterness. Hoppy awesomeness;

Downlands Mosaic 4.8% Light Single hopped APA. Festival of tropical and citrussy notes;

Redcastle Tower I.P.A. 4.8% Amber Combination of British and American hops. Fruity aroma with a hint of toffee on the palate;

Long Man Special Tower APA Brew 4.8% Light DDD dry hopped;

Iron Pier Cast Iron Stout 4.7% Dark Dark chocolate and coffee notes with a smooth bitter finish;

Wild Beer Co Millionaire 4.7% Dark Salted caramel stout;

Purple Moose Dark Side Of The Moose 4.6% Porter Bramley crossed hops making a delicious dark ale with a dry biscuit flavour;

Long Man Old Reserve Special Tower Brew 4.5% Dark A twist on Old Man with cherry and blackcurrant;

Old Dairy No Bull 4.5% Dark Milk Stout with chocolate and coffee;

Great Heck Proverbs 4.5% Golden Citra and mosaic hopped golden ale;

Thornbridge Rocky Road 4.5% Porter Ice cream porter;

Great Heck Swanky 4% Light;

Holler Boys Honest Burger 4% Pale Limited edition oaty hoppy pale;

Salopian Push 3.9% Golden Pineapple aromas and tropical fruit cascade over floral and grassy hops;

Dancing Duck Ayup 3.9% Pale Session pale ale, subtle malt and floral notes, dry finish;

Ilkley Joshua Jane 3.7% Brown Rich nut brown Yorkshire ale;

Dark Star Pekko 3.8% Light Tropical fruit with herbal notes;

Franklins Cigar Sour 3% Amber sour beer brewed with a smoked malts, based on a German Licteheiner.

As you can see, many local ales included, plus a vast range of styles, enjoy!

Clare's Back in a Kitchen at...

OK, I've given away the surprise already (above), but I said in a blog last month that I would share news of where her next venture will be, well from Saturday morning (19th January 2019) she will be working from the kitchen of the Dolphin Inn, 11-12 Rock-a-Nore Road TN34 3DW (Tel: 01424 434326, facebook page). Her relevant facebook page previously 'Clare Kittiwake' is now known as Clare Paula.

You can take it from this that Marcus has moved on, and is now working in Brighton I believe, and I wish him all the best for his own new venture, cheers Marcus!

On Saturday, the Dolphin Inn will be open for breakfast from 09.00 to 12.00 (menu above). To begin with, future breakfast opening times will be Monday-Friday 10.00 to 12.00, and from 09.00 to 12.00 at weekends. The lunch menu will be available every day from 12.00 to 17.00 (below, plus light lunches and additions to the menu further below, the Fish Supper evenings on Mondays will continue (18.00 to 21.00), and expect further additions, maybe changes, as the Dolphin Inn New Year New Menu settles in! 

Best wishes to Clare in her new venture at the Dolphin Inn too!

Beer Festival this weekend in nearby Bexhill.

By Steve the Beermeister...

From today, the RAFA Albatross Club at 15 Marina Arcade, Bexhill TN40 1JS, is holding its Novemberfest! There will be live music each day, food available, and, of course, 10 extra ales served straight from casks downstairs, in addition to the 5 poured by handpump on the bar at ground level. Opening hours are 11.00 to 23.00 today (Friday 23rd) and tomorrow, and 12.00 to 17.00 on Sunday (25th), and you don't have to be a RAFA member or CAMRA member to visit this weekend, all sensible drinkers are welcome, cheers!

The 10 special festival ales come from up and down the country: Including Gunpowder Mild (3.8%) from Coach House Brewery in Cumbria; Blackthorn Sloe Porter (5.0%) from North Yorkshire Settle Brewery; Saltaire Blonde (4.0%) from the excellent Saltaire Brewery in West Yorkshire; the ever excellent Titanic Plum Porter Grand Reserve (6.5%) from Titanic Brewery in the Potteries; Pop Up IPA (5.0%) from The Cronx Brewery in Croydon; Gadds Dogbolter Porter (5.6%) from Ramsgate Brewery in Kent; plus 4 more pale, golden and copper coloured bitters from Yorkshire to Kent!

Hastings Vegan Fayre today.

This August Bank Holiday Monday (today) sees the annual Hastings Vegan Fayre at the Stade Hall TN34 3FJ, between 10.30 am and 4.30 pm (website). 

Today should see a much brighter day than yesterday, fingers crossed (Met Office), and so it should be an easier public holiday to enjoy! At the Vegan Fayre will be a wide range of stalls with gift choices, food, cruelty-free products, speakers, music and films... 

It's a "Fab day out!"

The Jolly Fisherman, Hastings First Micropub...

By Steve the Beermeister:

The Jolly Fisherman (facebook page) is at 3 East Beach Street, Hastings TN34 3AR (tel: 01424 428811), and is now a micropub as well as a B&B. Opening hours (usual, but can be a little flexible) are Wednesday/Thursday 12 noon to 10pm; Friday/Saturday 12 noon to 11pm; Sunday 12 noon to 10.30pm; closed Mondays and Tuesdays (and for a one off, also closed just for this Wednesday 15th August 2018). Previously, it had been a cafe bar, as well as a B&B...

The current owners, Oliver and Becky, took over the premises a couple of years ago, converting it from a Pie & Mash shop/cafe/restaurant and B&B, into the Cafe Bar and B&B, and which is now a Micropub and B&B; and can be found on the Micropub Association micropub finder.

Foyles Pie N Mash

In its earlier life, The Jolly Fisherman was a public house for the 125 years from 1834, when James Mann became the first licencee, until 1959, when the landlord was Brian Hone. Brian had held the licence from 1954, and Hastings Winkle Club (see older blog) was based at The Jolly Fisherman between 1954 and 1959, with Brian as the Winkle Club Treasurer during those 5 years. Please note, I have found this information in David Russell's informative book The Pubs of Hastings & St Leonards 1800-2000 (2014, publisher: Lynda Russell, pp171-174). It is great to see the building returned to an earlier use, more of below...

Walking into The Jolly Fisherman I was rewarded with a friendly greeting from Oliver, as I was bombarded with information above, in front, and to the side of me! First there is an impressive list of Belgian beers available here; memories of 15 years of regular visits to my brother when he lived in Brussels came to mind. Immediately above the bar (photograph below) are details of the 3 ciders/perries, 2 crafty keg beers, and 3 cask-conditioned ales (all local) on offer, though only 2 real ales were available this day because of the extra day closed this week.

Real ales available were Pig & Porter (website) Black Pale (4.2%) and Brighton Bier (website) Batting Practice - Three C's Pale (3.5%), a refreshing seasonal pale bitter, very easy to drink, and with tropical and citrus in the flavour, obviously the result of the 3 C's hops from the USA used late in the brewing process, and dry hopped too. Also, me loving ales from the not-so close brewery, I had to have a pint of the Tiny Rebel perry (website) Peariscope (4.8%), which did what it should, nice balance of bitter and sweet, and very nice too, thank you very much!

What of the B&B and food then? Well, there are 3 large bedrooms upstairs, one family room and two doubles, one of which can take a further camp bed if required, so a maximum of 9 people at a time, and there is just about enough room to seat them all for breakfast in the bar area. Food on offer is a Tapas style menu at lunch, and in the evening; as can be seen to your right as you enter The Jolly Fisherman (photograph above); a very interesting selection indeed!

I shall be returning soon, cheers Oliver and Becky! 😉

Tower Ale & Cider Festival 2018...

OK, it looks like I've been preoccupied by this ale and cider festival, but that's just the way it has happened, mostly because I've visited friends elsewhere in the country for nearly a week, and because, well, it's happening right now (blog)! Also, because I've just returned from there, and, even if you don't like ale and cider, the beef & ale stew (£1 a bowl!) is very tasty, rich and great value, and you only have the next couple of hours to enjoy it, if that! I cannot wait to taste the pork & cider stew tomorrow... Indeed, both made with ale and cider available at the bar.

As to the ales, well, I volunteered to help serve at the festival bar, so didn't go over the top, but tried 6 of the ales available, all at least were very good. The first I found to be a wee bit too malty and sweet for me, but Lisa, my colleague at the time really enjoyed it, and she's a wine and cider drinker; though she liked quite a few of the ales, so a new ale drinker signed up! But two in particular were very good, the Welsh Tiny Rebel Full Nelson and, especially, the Sussex brewery Downlands Mosaic, which I noted as "gorgeous"- say no more! 

As I suggested 'hurry, hurry, hurry!'

Food at the Hastings & St Leonards Angling Association.

I have previously said that Clare stopped cooking at the Hastings & St Leonards Angling Association club, but she's now back, and I feel quite guilty, because she's been back 2 or 3 months apparently, and I wasn't aware! Anyway, I thought I spotted her from afar recently, so dropped in to make sure, and, lo and behold, there Clare was, in the Kittiwake kitchen, excellent! See the Clare Kittiwake facebook page for up to date news regarding her kitchen and meals, and club events.

So, breakfasts from 07.00 to 12.00, and more variety than just the Full English I previously reviewed (see below), but more on that another time, and lunch from 12.00 to 15.30, every day! Thursday lunch includes a special offer for customers 60 or over, who can buy a roast dinner (includes tea or coffee) for just £5.75, 12.00 to 14.30, and she now provides a Curry Night on Wednesdays, between 6pm and 8pm. Guests to the club are very welcome, though I believe it doesn't cost that much to join.

"My most recent visit was to the Hastings & St Leonards Angling Association club (virtually opposite the Albion and just to the east of the Crazy Golf courses), where a bargain of a breakfast, and drink, is just £3.50, and they open at 07.00 hours! The only drawback seems to be a dislike of dogs, fair enough, as a friend of mine and his wee mutt weren't allowed in to enjoy a full English brekkie!

OK, it's not the most enormous of breakfasts, but see what you get for just £3.50: a very tasty 'classic' pork sausage (from M&S I believe), a nice thick rasher of bacon, fried egg, black sausage, half a tomato, sauteed potatoes, mushrooms, baked beans, a thick slice of fresh bread (or toast), and a mug of tea or coffee too... Well cooked and presented, and jolly excellent value, many thanks Clare, nice one!" (Previous blog).

The only difference I can see is that the price is now £4, so still very good value, I need to come here again soon, indeed!

Bank Holiday Weekend & Hastings Pier

OK, the bank holiday weekend starts off this evening on Hastings Pier, with a Boyzone gig, and I really do know two people who are going (a friend's wife and daughter), and no doubt at least a couple more... but shouldn't they now be called Olderboyzone? Anyway, see website for further information, though I doubt there'll be more than a hundred or five hundred tickets left...

Getting ready earlier today

And so much more! The Summer Marquee continues with daily events until the end of the month, as does the Pirate Trail, Ocean Colour Scene are playing, and a 'mod spectacular' (my words), tomorrow the 26th, plus their own restaurant and refreshment facilities, and much more, well, go to the Pier's website for further event information!

No Irish Folk Music at the Dolphin this evening, BUT!

The usual 'fiddly dee' music with the Tune Raiders is not on at the Dolphin Inn this evening, apparently a few of the musicians are not available this week, but the family are putting on a 'Games Night' to cover for the lack of live music... That is, a large variety of pub games (including chess, shove ha'penny, cards, dominoes, and many more) will be available from 6pm until closing time, and cheese boards and biscuits (I've eaten one last week, and decent value at £5, indeed!), and a number of Lou's decent value cocktails, will be available too! Should be fun...

This Weekend on the Pier

Yesterday, after visiting the Museum and Art Gallery (more of very soon), I wandered down to the Pier, bought a bottle of their beer brewed by Harveys, then was perusing the menu and decided to have something to eat... Not being the richest person in Hastings, I rarely eat out, but, it was a bit damp and windy, so, why not dip into my resources, and I had been told by a friend that their menu is quite reasonably priced, and good quality too, so who was I to argue unless I ate there?

So, I ordered their Chicken Liver and Brandy Pate with Quince Paste, and Char-Grilled Baguette for £7, to be served a large portion of a very tasty pate (sorry Vegetarians, but I do like pate made from chicken livers), the 'paste' was a nice thick jus, quite tart, which went well with the richness of the pate, and the butter seemed superfluous to me, but I suppose many people would prefer butter. I'll be back to eat here again, no doubt!

Oh yes, and the funfair continues on Hastings Pier until the 28th of this month, and tomorrow (3rd July) there will be a Science on Sea Family Workshop with Blast Science from 11.00; see their website for further information. 

It's not often I eat out, but...

Strange, the different reasons we eat out... When my ex-wife and I separated, I maintained that I should carry on eating out at my favourite places, even if on my own, mostly. Consequently, I carried on eating at places where I felt comfortable to eat alone. For lunch, 4 years ago, I regularly enjoyed eating at the First in Last Out (FILO), when the kitchen space was similar to a small galley kitchen at the end of the bar, for those who remember. 

Then the kitchen was moved out to the back and is much larger now, and what used to be the old 'garden' has become a restaurant area, particularly in the evening and on Saturday lunchtime, though you can still enjoy a good meal or bar snacks in the bar area. Anyway, the occasions I now eat out alone are fewer due to altered personal circumstances, and, as I hadn't eaten at the FILO for quite a while, and felt good, I decided to eat there again.

I ordered at the bar, before descending to the bright clean restaurant area, with a large glass of Merlot in my right hand, and a glass of water in my left. What did I order? Well there was a fair choice of meals on offer on the Lunch Menu, and many more on the 'Specials' Board, including vegetarian options, and so I made my request of the friendly young woman behind the bar...

I started off with 'Warm flatbread and organic houmous'. Looked to be a straight-forward choice, though not just this appeared on my wooden serving board (nice touch), but also a small pot of olives in olive oil and a lovely fresh salad of various leaves, beansprouts, grated carrot, red pepper and cherry tomatoes. Following this, I realised I wouldn't be ordering a pudding after the main meal!

My main meal was "Pan seared lambs liver, dauphinoise, buttered new carrots and fresh seasonal vegetables." The liver was tender, and served with a gorgeous port jus (there was a small jug of extra jus on the side, and the chef explained to me how it was made when I asked later, many thanks!). All the vegetables were well cooked, and I don't mean as my mother used to cook, sorry mum, but they were just right! You can take it that I enjoyed my meal, and I couldn't add a third course, as suggested, though there were tempting puddings available. Afterwards, I licked the plate, metaphorically of course... 

There is a different menu in the evenings, except on Sundays, and specialised evening menus on Mondays, 'Spanish Tapas', and Thursdays, when a rather interesting range of dishes make up the 'Indian Thali' menu. More detail and sample menus can be seen at their website and, of course, Christmas is a-coming, including  food on Sundays!

First In Last Out, 14-15 High Street, TN34 3EY.

Telephone: 01424 425079

Email: sharon@thefilo.co.uk 

The Albion reopens!

The Albion in George Street, reopens at 7pm today, according to their facebook page, with a gig by the (London band?) Congo Faith Healers: "The Congo Faith Healers are like nothing you have heard or experienced before, and combine down and dirty swamp infested gypsy blues with wild savage guitar playing voodoo vocals, latin american drum and trumpet grooves with rockabilly swing double bass and hooks that you will be singing for days..."

However, I've been advised that 8pm may be a better time to turn up... 

Tomorrow, Saturday, will be "a festival of traditional Irish Music, and Sunday afternoon the London based Dirty Spoons will play Skiffle music!" 

Oh yes, and they'll be selling ale...

Good luck to Bob and Adam et al, et ale even!