Not Open, Library and Pier Today (24th December)

I meant to say the other day that Hastings Library is closed today, and until Thursday 27th, then closes again on Sunday, as usual, but not opening again until Wednesday 2nd January 2019. Should you wish to borrow books, or use other facilities, such as access to the internet, you'll have to wait until Thursday, sorry.

And Hastings Pier? What can I say, but who knows when it will open again, if ever with the current owner!?! Over recent days it was because of the "weather/strong winds" but today is lovely (above), and with winds of between only 6 and 8 miles per hour... 

Locked!

Now that it is out in the open that only £60,000 was paid for the Pier (at least that is what is recorded with Her Majesty's Land Registry), it appears from sources that staff have not been paid wages and have walked out, meaning no staff to open the Pier (unless he buses in staff from Eastbourne Pier, but not today it seems). So all the promises of Christmas Opening Hours being published were rubbish, and it looks ever more likely his company will go into liquidation so that Mr G can sell the Pier, we'll see...

Oh, and just a reminder of what the Hastings Pier Charity (for all their faults) organised 2 years ago, from 18th November 2016 to 2nd January 2017, a Snow Slide in the centre of the Pier, Pirate Ship, Fun Fair rides, a Christmas Market, and a Christmas Menu in the Pavilion Restaurant, plus 'festive kiosks' (sheds to you and me, all that Mr G has put in planning permission for, sheds!). Now the Pier isn't even open to promenade along though, Merry Christmas!

I'll share some of the ever evolving information about Hastings Pier, Mr Gulzar and his companions and failed businesses very soon, as more information keeps coming out, and not to mention brown envelopes stuffed with banknotes! 😉

A visit to Hastings Pier yesterday...

OK, not the most picturesque photograph (better below), but important as these are the 2 certificates that show there is an 'alcohol licence' for Hastings Pier now; something I'm not surprised about as it is pretty much a necessity if they want to make any money! But, to the right is the copy of the Certificate of Employer's Liability Insurance for the HASTINGS PIER CHARITY, not for Lions Hastings Pier Ltd, the new owner...

Now, as many of you will know, a valid Certificate of Employer's Liability Insurance has to be on display for staff to see by law, though not necessarily in view of the public like the Charity posted whilst they managed the Pier. So I ended up talking to a man who said he is the 'manager' and suggested he'd better check if they have this insurance, and that a copy of the certificate is on display for staff to see, otherwise they're breaking the law. He said they must have a copy somewhere, and he'd better take down the invalid Charity certificate, which he did. I wished him good luck!

If you didn't visit St Leonards Festival yesterday you will have missed the Friends of Hastings Pier stall in Warrior Square Gardens, and a chance to speak with people who really care about what should be a community-owned asset, and whose excellent plan for the future of the Pier had been spurned by the administrators in favour of Mr Gulzar and Lions Hastings Pier Ltd.

The principles of Friends of Hastings Pier can be read at their new Crowdfunder page, where you may also contribute to their campaign, but essentially it is about the people in a community having a say in what happens to community assets and that they should stay in community ownership. My best wishes to Friends of Hastings Pier and their campaign, which I do and will continue to support.

Hastings Pier Shareholder and/or Supporter?

With the Hastings Pier Charity in administration, and the Pier having been put up for sale by the administrators, the Friends of Hastings Pier has been re-formed as a voice for shareholders and supporters, and to campaign to keep Hastings Pier in community ownership. 

An emerging local business plan is being compiled and the Friends of Hastings Pier is seeking to unite shareholders and supporters behind the plan to keep the Pier in community ownership. Consequently, a meeting has been called for Monday 23rd of April 2018, from 7.30 to 9.30pm at the White Rock Theatre opposite the Pier. Members of Friends of Hastings Pier will be having a coffee on the Pier beforehand at 6.30pm.

Your support is being requested at the meeting, on their twitter page, join their facebook page, or email them at friendsofhastingspier@gmail.com if you cannot make the meeting but would like to join Friends of Hastings Pier and/or to offer your support.

Indeed, we can still save Hastings Pier as a community asset!

Hastings Pier: Meeting of Shareholders and Supporters

Most local people will probably be aware that Hastings Pier/Charity has gone into administration, with Smith & Williamson LLP (website) appointed administrators of the Charity towards the end of last year. They are looking at ways of bringing the Charity out of administration, whilst the Heritage Lottery Fund is supporting shortfall (to a limit) until the end of the year, by which time it is hoped a solution will have been found. If you have any spare £millions please get in touch with Adam Henry Stephens and Finbarr Thomas O'Connell, the licensed insolvency practitioners appointed.

More likely, if you are a shareholder, or would like to become active and support the survival of the People's Pier, there will be an informal meeting of supporters/shareholders tomorrow (Saturday 3rd February 2018) at 2.30pm in the Sussex Rooms at the White Rock Theatre, opposite the Pier.

Fingers crossed this will be sorted out by the administrators with local support.

More congratulations to Hastings Pier!

Congratulations to Hastings Pier, the Hastings Pier Charity, and to the people of Hastings, and others, who have supported the Pier of the Year and her regeneration, it has won another prestigious award, the 2017 RIBA Stirling Prize (website)! The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) president, Ben Derbyshire described Hastings Pier as a "stunning, flexible new pier... a masterpiece of regeneration."

For more information, have a look at the BBC website, here's hoping that this award encourages more investment in the Pier and congratulations to the architects for again putting the People's Pier of Hastings on the map!

Hastings Pier financial problems...

In a letter to shareholders, chair of Hastings Pier trustees Maria Ludkin said "trustees had examined what was successful this year and were working on a new business plan with a restructuring expert.

Cuts would be in areas which will "be fundamentally altered in the future". However, poor weather forced it to close on three occasions in August and the first night of its Beano On The Sea festival in September was also cancelled.

"Sunny holiday weekends made a lot of money for the charity, however when we had to cancel events the opposite was the case," Ms Ludkin said. She added that it would not be right to go to shareholders to raise extra funds or to borrow money and increase the pier's debts.

Jo Stewart, chief executive officer of the charity, said she was 100% sure that with the right business plan the pier would be safe in the future." See BBC website.

Fishing from Hastings Pier

This morning 08.40, and, OK, it may not be obvious, but there, at the end of the Pier, are people fishing; sessions until the 1st of November 2017 are, Monday to Friday: 

Monday – Wednesday: 8 am-7pm

Thursday - Friday: 8am-10pm 

Rules are: 

Anglers to keep where they are fishing clean and tidy.
Take their rubbish home with them.
Wash down their fishing area with bucket & brush provided when they leave.
Sign in and pay at Paul's Tackle, 38 White Rock, TN34 1JL (tel: 01424 433404).
When entering the Pier before 10 am, entrance is through the West gate. Close the gate behind.
Overhead casting only, no pendulum casts.
When leaving the fishing area to obtain refreshments etc, all tackle must be removed from the water and hooks must be un-baited.
Use toilets provided.
No Radios, or portable stereos.
Alcohol prohibited.
No drugs.
No Smoking.
No unaccompanied under 16 year olds.
Catches to be dispatched in a humane manner.
No fish to be gutted on the pier.
Catches to be retained in bags or buckets, out of public view.
Bait cutting boards to be used at all times.
Anglers must agree to catch bag inspections, refusal will mean a ban.
Please weigh and photograph specimen or large fish, for pier records.
Duty Manager, bailiff or security guards decision is final.
Hastings Pier takes no responsibility, as fishing is carried out at own risk.

I hadn't realised fishing from the Pier had recommenced, there you go!

Hastings Pier Food & Drink, plus new opening times.

I wandered onto the Pier t'other day, quite beautiful weather, and decided to investigate the food and beverage facilities, now that the Hastings Pier Charity has taken over running the catering facilities in the Pavilion and on the Upper Deck Bar & Terrace, and it all looks pretty good indeed. This isn't about the food, as I haven't eaten there yet, but I did like the look of the breakfast menu (more of very soon, I imagine), and other menus, and the fish & chip bar at this end of the Pavilion (in my photograph) is providing typical seaside fare of course; oh yes, and locally sourced produce is used, including freshly caught fish from the Hastings Fishing Industry down at the Stade.  It is still very early days, of course, having only taken over catering since the beginning of July, but I was assured that things will only get better! See website.

Facilities include the bars, of course, ale from East Sussex brewer Harveys, including their own bottled ale (and I do know what it is!), a good wine list, and hot and cold soft drinks. It does look good too inside, and with the side of the Pavilion open in the lovely weather, as not too much wind on this day, though it is amazing the protection you get from the glass up on the Upper Deck when there is a strong wind! 

Oh yes, new opening times of the Pier from Monday 4th September: 

Sunday to Wednesday 10am to 7pm

Thursday to Saturday 10am to 10pm

The Deck Building and shop will be open 10am to 5pm every day.

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!

Hastings Pier Update

Update from the most recent Hastings Pier Charity Newsletter:

The Pavilion
As you may be aware, we have been experiencing some unexpected technical difficulties with the catering launch. We have been working hard to alleviate these issues, but have had to extend The Pavilion's closure until this weekend.

The Pavilion will reopen with a bar service only (no food) from Saturday until we become fully operational, hopefully by the end of next week. We will keep you fully informed of any developments.

The Upper Deck Bar
The Upper Deck Bar will be serving our taster menu and a variety of drinks every day from 10am Wednesday - Friday this week. On Wednesday last orders will be at 4.30pm (owing to the pier's early closure - see below), and on Thursday and Friday last orders will be at 9.30pm.

The Upper Deck Bar will be open every day from Monday 17th July.

Wednesday 12th July
Hastings Pier will close at 5.30pm this Wednesday for a private event.

Saturday 15th July
The Upper Deck Bar, Pier Head and Central Section will be closed to the public this Saturday for Zooquarium Music Festival. Tickets are only £15 for the whole afternoon/evening - book your tickets here.

Sunday 16th July
The Upper Deck Bar will be open to Pirate Day VIP Deck ticket holders only this Sunday. VIP ticket holders will enjoy meet and greets, prosecco, canapes and the best seats in the house (£20 per adult and £7 per child, plus booking fee). Limited to 100 people so get yours quick - book your tickets here.

Kiosks
A variety of food and drink is also available from the Pelican, Cut & Grill and Billycan Coffee kiosks (opening times vary).

Memories and Birch Rooms
The Memories and Birch Rooms are closed all this week for events and will reopen next week. Please feel free to explore the pier's heritage with our On The Spot trail and Digital Touchtable in the meantime - both are available in our Hastings Pier Shop.

Busy, busy, busy, this weekend!

To start with, and it may appear a few days late, but the America Ground features its annual Independents Day today (Saturday 8th July) from 10am, celebrating independent businesses, creativity, thought, music, and art in the area. Head for the America Ground around Robertson Street, Trinity Street and Claremont; see website.

Around the corner, on Hastings Pier, the Pavilion Restaurant reopens today under new management (the Hastings Pier Charity going in-house now), and the extended Summer Opening Times begin too: 10am to 10pm (website). In addition to the usual Pier facilities, promenading, and events, there is also a Classic Car Boot Sale on both weekend days from 10am, with vintage fashion and accessories, homeware, collectables, vinyl records and much more (website).

Meanwhile, back to the old town and the Stade Open Space, and enter the 2017 Midsummer Fish Festival, with music, local wines and ales, cooking demonstrations, and, oh yes, fish! Since losing funding from the European Fisheries Fund a small entry fee is charged, £1 (for the whole weekend) available from the tourist centre at Muriel Matters House, or £2 on the door; under 18s get in free (website).

Meeting at the Fishermen's Museum in Rock-a-Nore Road at 11am both days, and you can take guided walks of the Stade with Old Hastings Preservation Society guides, exploring the Stade Fishing Quarter, and discovering the history of Hastings' sustainable fishing industry; the walks last about 90 minutes (website). Wearing strong shoes is advised as you will be walking on pebbles and uneven ground and, although the walks are free, donations to Hastings Fishermen's Museum are very much welcomed, many thanks! 

Of course there's much more around town, music, food and pubs, museums and parks, and, not to forget, as I wrote yesterday, the last day of the Hastings Beer & Music Festival (website) with its Family Day today. Have fun!

Hastings Pier Update & New Catering Plan

This is an edited version of Hastings Pier’s latest newsletter which explains that the catering and hospitality operation on the Pier will be handed back from Centerplate to the Hastings Pier Charity on Saturday the 1st of July 2017. A phased reopening is planned, with future emphasis "on quality food and drink" from local suppliers (including fresh fish from the local fishing industry), and there will be appropriate training opportunities for staff. 

The reopening begins with a "pop up" provision on the Upper Deck bar & terrace from Saturday the 1st of July, whilst the Pavilion building and fish and chip bar will be closed from Saturday the 1st to Friday the 7th of July inclusive to enable slight refurbishment and staff training. The restaurant will be unveiled to the public with a new food menu and wine and cocktail lists on Saturday the 8th of July. Weather permitting, a DJ will be playing in celebration of the new opening in the afternoon and evening on the Pavilion terrace.

In addition, a new food kiosk (also operated by the Hastings Pier Charity’s catering team) will be open from Saturday the 8th of July, and will serve "traditional seaside fare" including doughnuts and candy floss. 

In line with the new catering plan, Hastings Pier’s opening times will be extended to 10pm from Saturday the 8th of July until the end of September 2017.

Wed 28th - Friday 30th June: 10am-8pm

Saturday 1st July: 10am-4pm (early closing for Pier Jam)

Sunday 2nd – Friday 7th July: 10am-8pm

Saturday 8th July – end of September: 10am-10pm 

The new catering and hospitality offer is being spearheaded by Erika Holland, who said: “I am very excited to be joining Hastings Pier Charity for this new venture. We will be sourcing our ingredients locally where possible and sustainability is key. Going forward we will be looking to put together a training programme with the aim to provide job opportunities for local people.” Jo Stewart, CEO at Hastings Pier Charity, added “Bringing our catering offer in house is pivotal to our business plan and will bring the Pier one step closer to becoming self-funded in the future. It also opens up funding opportunities which will further bolster our business plan ensuring the Pier has a sustainable future.”

Please note that opening times may vary in the case of inclement weather and for events. Go to the Pier website for further information.

Hastings Pier Wins 2017 National Award!

This news is so hot off the press that, at the time of writing, it's not even on the National Piers Society's (NPS) own website yet! So, Hastings Pier has been voted in as the National Pier of the Year 2017, with the NPS president, Gavin Henderson praising the pier as "truly a phoenix!" Go to the BBC website for an excellent article.

Excellent news, congratulations must go to the Hastings Pier Charity, trustees, volunteers, indeed, congratulations to the people of Hastings for supporting the People's Pier!

Hastings Pier Seasonal Opening Times

Opening times and photograph from the Charity's website:

Celebrate a Memory on Hastings Pier

I have taken this from the latest Hastings Pier Charity newsletter, where the charity is asking people to "consider a Pier Plaque on the pier – celebrate a birth or a birthday, a marriage, a proposal, a special anniversary or any anniversary, give it as a gift or a thank you, in remembrance or in love; celebrate your family or friends, your club, society, institution, group or company – we simply ask that the wording be acceptable to all." 

Go to their website for further details and cost.

Hastings Pier: Revised opening times from 3 October 2016.

Not just revised opening times (and look at my previous blog concerning opening times during October regarding booking to fish from the Pier), but much more you can arrange here, for example, the Pier is licensed for weddings, not to mention providing for wedding breakfasts, other celebrations, conferences, and don't forget early bookings for Christmas Parties these days (see website for further details)!

From Monday 3rd October, opening times for the Pier and Pavilion Restaurant & Bar:

Monday-Wednesday: 10am-5pm
Thursday: 10am-9pm
Friday: 10am-10pm
Saturday: 9am-10pm
Sunday: 9am-6pm

Please note that these hours are subject to change dependent on weather.

Fishing from Hastings Pier Latest!

Sorry, but I only just found out, so missed this week! 

"It has been agreed with the pier charity that day fishing be allowed during the day in September on the following dates:

Fishing will be on:

12-14th September (Mon - Wed)

20-23rd September (Tue - Thur)

26-30th September Mon- Fri)

Fishing times each day are 10 am – 8 pm.

Price per session will be £5 - 1 rod £8 - 2 rods maximum.

Tickets will be issued (from Pauls Tackle) for each session, carried at all times and available for inspection.

Maximum 20 anglers at any one time.

Signs for rules and general info will located around the pier.

Bookings and payments taken in advance or on the day on a first come first served basis through Pauls Tackle Hastings:

Tele: 01424 433404

Updates for October, which will be more relaxed will be posted late September." 

I found the above information on his facebook page, cheers Paul!

Pier Update

The Hastings Pier Charity is looking for volunteers, particularly with the busy summer season now upon us; see website for more details... and a new share offer finishes at the end of the week, again, see website for more details; though shares can also be bought offline, visit the Hastings Pier Shop, in The Deck pavilion for application forms.

Extra events on the Pier this Wednesday 27th June include a performance from The Extreme Cellists at 10.00, Yoga on the Pier at 10.30, a concert by the Eastbourne Lions Youth Brass Band at 14.00 (website), and 10.30-15.30, in Alexandra Park (and on 3rd August), the Charity's Learning Team is organising Play Days in the Park, with free arts and crafts activities. 

Finally, if you haven't already read it, there was a very supportive article in the national Guardian newspaper about the Pier; see link.

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. 

Hastings Pier, more on and of!

This weekend, 'Heritage Interpretation' volunteers and members of the Pier’s volunteer archive group have been on hand in The Deck’s new heritage space, the Memories Room, to assist visitors with the new exhibits and to share their knowledge of the history of Hastings Pier. To access the absorbing Charity's "Digital Memories" go to the website.

The wee shop downstairs in The Deck, and I already have my first keepsake, a china mug, from which I am currently sipping tea! There are also refreshments downstairs now...

And more seating, and now appropriate information panels, are appearing round the Pier.

And here are a couple of photographs, being shared on facebook, of the Madness concert at last week's Grand Opening ceremony, many thanks to whoever originally posted them!

That's all for now folks!