Another Hastings Micropub! - Twelve Hundred Postcards

By Steve the Beermeister...

Hastings newest micropub very recently opened at 80 Queens Road TN34 1RL (opposite Morrisons petrol station), so I had to visit, obviously...

... and very happy I was too when I got there (above), well I was already quite happy, but pleased with how Twelve Hundred Postcards is shaping (the story behind the name is described in great detail on their website, so I suggest you have a look there if you want to know more), and I got to meet up with a couple of friends there I hadn't seen for quite some time too, nice one! 

On entering I was impressed with the bright decor, and how far back the bar room goes, consequently providing plenty of seating (I calculate room for 30-40 seated, and plenty of room for standing), as you can see from the photograph above.

The man in charge using modern technology to aid his efficiency, and the cooled beer storage area behind him, pretty much an enormous fridge that you can see into.

Obviously I'm most interested in the cask ales on sale, so I shall go into the ales first: 4 cask conditioned ales available (above, what was available yesterday evening 3rd November, but no regulars, I believe, so these will regularly change as they run out, and I also believe there are ales to come very soon from quality local brewers Franklins - website - and from Burning Sky - website). I have to admit yesterday included 2 of my favourite ales available, from Peterborough brewers Oakham Ales (website), their excellent 4.2% Citra, and from Derbyshire brewers Thornbridge (website), their stronger, and also excellent 5.9% Jaipur, quality!

Looking back towards the front

So what else is available? In addition to the ales there are 3 ciders available and a crafty keg beer, plus numerous bottles and cans in a fridge behind me when I took this photograph, including some Belgian beers, 2 red and 2 white wines, and a variety of crisps to snack on. As I said above, Twelve Hundred Postcards is bright, clean and roomy, to which I can add, very friendly too, so well worth a visit, or many visits for that matter, cheers! Oh yes, opening times: 

Sunday, 12-4 pm

Monday, not open

Tuesday, 5-9 pm

Wed/Thursday, 12-2 and 5-9 pm

Fri/Saturday, 12-9.30 pm

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! 😉