Hastings: Early Seafront Walk and Breakfast...

OK, I haven't eaten a full traditional breakfast for a long time now, mostly for health reasons, and I'm sure I'll be tempted very soon, but here you go. I walked to Marine Court yesterday, and on the way back I passed these providers at quite an early time. First, below Warrior Square Gardens on the lower promenade, the Goat Ledge Cafe (website), which opened at 09.00.

Second, and opening from 07.00 for breakfasts (I double checked inside!) is the White Rock Hotel (website), virtually opposite the Pier.

Then, a wee bit closer to the America Ground and Mungos (facebook page), which opens at 09.00.

Past the crazy golf course and you reach the Hastings & St Leonards Angling Association (website) which also opens earlier, at 07.30.

Next to last, west to east, and into Rock-a-Nore Road now, is the Mermaid Restaurant (facebook page), which opens at 09.00.

Finally, a few doors along in Rock-a-Nore Road, the Dolphin Inn (facebook page), which opens at 09.00 at weekends.

Please remember, this was a Saturday, some open a little later during the week.

Of course, and I have to recount this story, I passed the Pier twice, when I first went by just after 07.00, walking westwards, I stopped to have a chat with a gentleman waiting for the manager to let him on so he could fish from the end of the Pier; he had checked the day before that this was OK... Anyway, when I came back, walking eastwards, he was still waiting to get onto the Pier, and we had a shorter conversation, as was another gentleman in a mobility scooter, had to mention... 

Kittiwake @ Hastings & St Leonards Angling Association

I have written about Clare running the kitchen before, for example this blog, well, she has recently shared her winter opening times: Closed on Mondays, 7am to 3pm Tuesdays to Sundays. She will also be closed between Monday the 22nd of January and Tuesday the 30th January 2018, reopening as normal from Wednesday the 31st.

This poster says it all, plus advises that on Friday the 19th of January will be a Curry Night, with curry being served from 5pm to 8pm, then live music from 8pm. If you wish to keep up-to-date with news from Clare Kittiwake, follow her facebook page. 

If you have any news to share from your local business, ie in Hastings & St Leonards, feel free to contact me by email at stevehastings251@gmail.com.

Hastings Day, plus 12 Hour Charity Indie Gig...

Hastings Day... as in, the 951st anniversary of the Battle of Hastings! Of course there's much much more to do today, culminating in the Torchlight Procession, Bonfire and fireworks; see yesterday's blog for more information...

In addition to all the usual music, and Music Month to boot, there is a one-day indie-pop festival today (midday to midnight) at the Hastings & St Leonards Angling Association, Marine Parade, which will bring together current indie bands and those of yesteryear. The event is to raise money for the suicide prevention charity, GrassRoots, who provide support across East Sussex. See website for further information and details of bands.

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!

No more breakfasts here... but yes there are!

Since writing this, Clare has returned, see latest blog.

In January, I wrote one of my irregular blogs about eating Full English Breakfasts, well, I'll carry on writing them (though I'm trying to lose some weight at the moment, so not too soon), and, yes, there will be more breakfasts here, soon-ish. But! I recently found out that Clare, sadly, is no longer cooking breakfasts at the Hastings & St Leonards Angling Association club, and it was such good value, missing you already! 😢

Full English Breakfasts by the Old Town Seafront.

I haven't visited two of these establishments for a while, but am having some time off eating Full English Breakfasts, as I need to lose weight, but I can't keep putting off this blog, or I'll have to visit all three all over again! Though I probably shall do some time anyway, but not for my next blog about breakfasts (which will be near the seafront again, to the west of the old town though), but the one after that, maybe, so a while to go...

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!

It's a while since I've been here, but I enjoyed a very good value, HUGE, breakfast at the East Hastings Sea Angling Association for a fiver, likely this would cost more now though.

The Full English Breakfast cost £4.45 then, plus sautéed potatoes or chips for another 50p. The breakfast included 1 decent sausage, 2 rashers of very good bacon, 1 fried egg, 2 hash browns, mushrooms, a choice of tomatoes or baked beans (I went for the healthy beans option), and a thick slice of buttered toast. This was good value for a nice breakfast! 

Just after leaving George Street, you come to Taylor's, Marine Parade. I sat looking out of the window here, with a view of the sea too! A very decent breakfast was enjoyed, indeed, for £6.50, the meal includes a tasty Cumberland sausage, 2 good thick rashers of bacon, a fried egg, a choice of tomato or mushrooms (I went for the mushrooms, thank you very much), baked beans, a slice of toast and a mug of tea or coffee, good value... 

The breakfast was well cooked, very tasty, and excellent value, and the service was friendly. I sat in the room up to the left as you walk in (in the photograph, the window on the left under 'cafe'), which felt quite like a home environment, especially when a group of older people sat behind me, enjoying the morning and banter. Taylor's also "doubles up" the breakfast for £11.50, but I'm not sure that even I could eat that much, as I was pretty full eating just the 'normal' breakfast! A vegetarian version of the 'Full English' is available here, without the Cumberland sausage or bacon, of course, but with 2 vegetarian sausages and bubble and squeak included. 

You can sit outside the establishment on the pavement here, which is a bonus in warmer weather, but I shall return to all 3 when I'm a wee bit fitter, no doubt about that!