Hastings Pier, Music & Summer 2023

Walking past Hastings Pier earlier, on my way back from Bulverhythe, and things on the Pier reminded me that music has returned at weekends, presumably just for the summer, but who knows, via Piertown Hastings (website).

Not sure how that will effect La Belle Vue (blog), although I imagine it will not be great for the view whilst enjoying your French cuisine Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, and maybe a bit noisy too... 😕

Hastings Jack in the Green Weekend & May Day

Yesterday morning I wandered into Hastings Old Town to take some photographs helping to map out how the 40th anniversary Hastings Jack in the Green procession develops, which I wrote about in a blog on Friday. Tomorrow, May Day, the main event kicks off when Jack is released from Hastings Fishermen's Museum (website) in Rock-a-Nore Road at about 10.15 usually. Jack is welcomed, there's a wee bit of music and dancing and twirling around, then the procession begins by heading westwards; see their website for further details of the event.

I am using specific landmarks, including the museum, which I've chosen as pubs en route that are using the Hastings Old Town Cup, as I mentioned in my blog, as a decent attempt to be more environmentally friendly this year, hopefully with significantly fewer plastic cups being thrown away. The first such pub the procession passes will be The Dolphin Inn, 11-12 Rock-a-Nore Road (website).

After passing by, the procession will then turn right and proceed up All Saints Street, where it will pass The Crown, 64-66 All Saints Street (website).

The procession continues up the street and reaches The Stag Inn, 14 All Saints Street (website), just before turning left to cross The Bourne; remember that much of the Old Town will be shut off to traffic for a while to enable the safe crossing, and the safety of the procession and the many members of the public who will be watching/following.

The procession will then continue down the High Street, passing The First In Last Out, 14-15 Hugh Street (FILO - website) before reaching...

The Jenny Lind Inn, 69 High Street (website), where by now participants will need a rest, and a few ales, with about a 45 minutes break at 11.30-ish. Following the break the procession then continues down and turns right to head up Swan Terrace, passing by St Clements church (blog) on the right, and then up Croft Road, heading for the top of the West Hill. Once there, partying continues, music, food and drink (bar run by the FILO), craft wares, including the event T-shirt, and, by now, necessary facilities for those who have already been drinking, phew!

By now you may have realised, not only did I not carry on up the hill yesterday, but that I'd actually been heading in the opposite direction all the time, whilst taking my photographs. I'd decided to have a couple of drinks out of a Hastings Old Town Cup (blog), just to provide you with a relevant image. The things I do for research. 😉

Oh yes, there was dancing around the old town and at the Stade, as I suggested (blog), for example at Winkle Island yesterday (website), above image. And similar today, also drums, and much more happening too (website).

Enjoy the rest of the weekend, and tomorrow's procession folks, which will look something like the photograph above! 👍

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! 👌

Here comes the Weekend!

There will be a Pop Up Market at the Stade Hall close by to the RNLI Lifeboat Station (always well worth a visit too!) on Saturday and Sunday 11.00 am to 4.00 pm (2-3 October- website), featuring the work of creative 'makers' and small businesses.

And plenty of music up at the Oval with UKG By the Sea on Saturday 2nd October from midday to 11.00 pm; to purchase tickets please go to this website.

Indeed, here comes the weekend (YouTube), enjoy it, but stay safe!

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!"

Pirate Day 2017 - Sunday 16th July...

OK, there's always plenty happening in Hastings every weekend, but this weekend, events are likely to be dominated by Pirate Day on Sunday and, despite it not being a year needed to count the pirates in town (yet again, as Penzance still hasn't caught up with the Hastings' record of 14,231 achieved in 2012), Roger Crouch returns as organiser to ensure that much pirate fun will be there for young and old; see website.

And it's not just another event dominated by the 'old town' as plenty is going on from the end of Rock-a-Nore Road at the Blue Reef Aquarium, all the way to Grosvenor Gardens and the Bo Peep Inn, where I've been told pirate flags are flying already! The old town will see mermaids, shanty songs and drums; Hastings Lifeboat has an exercise launch at 09.00am and Pirate Day Refreshments from 11.00am; Pelham Beach will see free-fall parachuting and flags; the town centre and Priory Meadow will see music and workshops; the Pier and White Rock Theatre will see a treasure hunt and children's entertainment; then there will be 'Treasure Island' at St Leonards Warrior Square... Not to mention the procession, Punch & Judy, sword fighting, pirate films, and much more, and, of course much rum me 'arties!

Have piratical fun! 💀 

May Day and Jack in the Green

Refreshments will be served all day at the RNLI Hastings Lifeboat Station. Pop in there and enjoy a cuppa and a cake, see the lifeboats and browse around their well stocked shop! 

May Day fun may also be had at the People's Pier of the Year, including plenty of food and beverage outlets available, and music, motorbikes and scooters from the 1960s! See their website for more details, and details of all events on Hastings Pier. 

Of course, the Pier isn't the only place to see motorbikes this May Day, but thousands will be coming into Hastings, notably to the Pelham Beach car park, which is always closed to other road users on this one day of the year. The arrival of motorbikes is heralded quite early in the morning, when they can be heard coming into town down Queens Road, down both London roads and along the beach road too; another reason to welcome May Day!

OK, to May Day, indeed, and this is May the 1st for a change, and to the Jack in the Green procession, and all that surrounds the event... The Jack will be released from the Fishermen's Museum in Rock-a-Nore Road at 10.15am, according to the programmme, and the procession goes on from there, I'll be in the Dolphin Inn from 9am, because I can be, and I shall bring my own tankard, and, if you don't want to drink out of a plastic beaker, bring your own drinking vessels too! Much more happens before, during, and after, when it arrives at the top of the West Hill, and the Jack is slayed, not far from the bar on the hill! For more details of what else does happen, go to the website.

Enjoy the day, and I should too, cheers! 😉

A Quieter Weekend, 22nd-23rd April 2017, perhaps...

Well, it should be a quieter weekend following Easter last week, and in-between that and May Day and next weeks Jack in the Green Festival (website) Friday 28th April to Monday 1st May, with music and fun all weekend... 

Anyway, this weekend could provide the opportunity to have a walk along the seafront to Bexhill and visit the excellent De La Warr Pavilion, with a last chance to see the free exhibition that ends 1st May In a Dream You saw a Way to Survive and You were Full of Joy, plus, until June 18th George Shaw's My Back to Nature, also free. I visited a couple of weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised, considering what it costs to see a similar number of paintings/sculptures at the Jerwood! See the De La Warr's website for these and other events, or just visit to enjoy the building itself and/or have a coffee and one of the tasty cakes they sell! 

Or, if you'd prefer a shorter stroll, walk out and promenade on the National Pier of the Year 2017, which appears to be quiet this weekend too, though a drink or a meal there isn't such a bad idea; see website. And pubs and clubs will continue with their usual music sessions from St Leonards through to Rock-a-Nore, Hastings Fishermen's Museum, Rock-a-Nore Road in the old town is always worth a visit (website), crazy golf, Alexandra Park, or just walk along the Promenade, whichever, enjoy the relative peaceful weekend, next week will be more demanding! 😉

Hastings Half Marathon... and Ale & Arty this weekend.

Today, if you feel up to walking along the seafront to Bexhill (or catching a bus or train, or driving for that matter) is the Ale & Arty Beer Festival at the De La Warr Pavilion. In addition, between 11am and 3pm, is the Battle of the Bands, for young musicians, later the AYU Funk Band and The Cavaliers will be playing; see their website for full programme. The nearby award winning Albatross (RAFA) Club will also be open all day to non-members, should you wish to have a drink or eat in there.

Tomorrow, Sunday 19th, sees the 33rd Hastings Half Marathon start off from Sea Road, by Marina Gardens, opposite the Bo Peep pub at 10.30am, and finishes there too, an hour plus later... See website for more details, and details of how to enter for next year!

Yesterday, I noticed temporary toilets already being placed... Good luck to the runners and the charities that many are sponsoring!

PS. Check for closed roads in Hastsings during the event...

Fat Tuesday Music Images

Nigel Clark of Dodgy, the well known headlining act for Hastings Fat Tuesday this year, here photographed playing at the London Trader; they also played at the Albion and were the last act to play at the Carlisle.

My roving photographer, Marcus, took these photographs for me (many thanks Marcus!), chosen because he has much better photographic equipment than I do. Oh yes, and he knows quite a number of people who play in the 24 bands that were on show on Tuesday evening, and these images are unique and all rights are owned by him...  

And this is Captain Clagnut playing at the Old Market; they also played at the Jenny Lind and the Standard. An eclectic selection of bands shown here, indeed!

This is Sand Rabbit playing at the Dolphin Inn, and this trio also played at the First In Last Out (FILO), and at Porters, earlier in the evening.

Local band, Kid Kapichi, the last act to play at the Admiral Nelson; they also played at the Albion, and at the Carlisle.

Soul Xpress playing at the Dolphin Inn; they also played at Porters earlier in the evening, and were the last act to play at the Anchor.

We Are Baz were the last act to play at the FILO, here photographed playing earlier in the evening at the Albion; they also played at the Anchor and at the Dolphin Inn.

Thanks again to Marcus J Lamb-Bentley for allowing me to publish these images, cheers!

It's Mardi Gras, Party Time!

OK, unlikely to see anything quite this exotic locally this evening, but today is Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday in Hastings... Which means hours of music in many locations: The Jenny Lind, Nelson, Standard. Trader, Dragon Bar, Albion, Old Market, Carlisle, FILO, Porters, Dolphin, Anchor. plus The Fringe: See the Fat Tuesday website for which bands are playing where, SIX playing at each venue from 8pm!

Another Full Hastings Weekend, Fun and Terror!

As usual, there is plenty happening in Hastings this weekend, and we all know about the decent pubs, and music in pubs and bars, that will be enjoyed, but, in St Leonards, during Saturday daytime, there will the Frost Fair, see internet link.

In the town centre, at Priory Meadow, there is the annual Christmas ice rink...

On, and from, Hastings Pier, mucho stuff happening too! The Snow Slide, Neverland at Christmas, the Pirate Ship, Fishing from the Pier, and so much more (website).

And the terrorists?!? Well, the Cycling Fascists appear to have decided to break the law, yet AGAIN, as in, many cyclists are happy to jump traffic lights, and pedestrian and zebra crossings, on the odd occasion that they actually do use the road (which they're allowed to use legally), many don't use the cycle lanes they have been crying out for for years, and many prefer to use footpaths, as it is so much easier to ride into pedestrians, very soft targets, obviously...

and they now appear to be ignoring the fact that the cycle route through Alexandra Park hasn't actually been approved yet! The Borough Council does not seem to be supporting the safety of nature lovers, pedestrians, mothers and pram pushers who enjoy the Park, indeed, a shame if it ever does get approved (council website), let's trust the County Council looks after the law abiding people of Hastings, pretty please!

Be very careful on Sunday... cyclopaths/psychopaths are on the loose!

Hastings Herring Fair 5-6 November 2016

This weekend sees the fifth Herring Fair at the Stade, 11am to 4pm both days (free entry). There is music, classes and cooking demonstrations, children's activities in the Stade Hall and face painting on Sunday, ales, stalls galore, and, of course, fish, and I hear that some herring has been caught locally very recently! For more details visit the website.

Yesterday morning I saw that the marquee was already fully erected, so no worries about the weather, though the forecast looks clear all weekend it will be colder than recent times, so wrap up appropriately for the temperature, and, no doubt, chilly wind!

Oh yes, and a special Stade Guided Walk returns just for the Saturday morning, meeting up at the Fishermen's Museum in Rock-a-Nore Road at 11.00, bring strong shoes for walking on the uneven pebbles and warm clothing, as above. The guided walk is free (website) and organised by the Old Hastings Preservation Society, but donations to Hastings Fishermen's Museum would be appreciated, many thanks.

Whatever you do, enjoy the weekend!

Music on the Pier and Fishing from the Pier!

There's been quite a lot of music on Hastings Pier recently, and well-supported too, I've borrowed these images from the Pier's facebook page, many thanks!

Happy Mondays

And don't forget, there is fishing from the Pier every weekday this week (26-30 September) 10am to 8pm. From Paul's Tackle facebook page: 

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

Hastings Weekend: Pier & Beyond!

After a full weekend with an eclectic mix of music last week, again, areas of the Pier are closed this weekend due to a Pier Jam this Saturday (24th), with 2 outdoor stages and room for 2,500 people to enjoy the DJ talent on display (website); please note that Early Bird tickets are sold out, but Final Release tickets are still available. Also, on the Pier this Sunday, there will be a Wedding Fair from 11.00, and a Wedding Dress Walk, for all those who thought they may never wear their dresses again, starting at 10.00, and in aid of raising funds for St Michael's Hospice (website).

Of course, the Festival of Contemporary Arts, Root 1066, continues with numerous events around town, including The Story of Hastings in 66 Objects at the Museum, I Am A Norman, seven Hastings choirs performing Barefoot Opera/CLASH in the atrium at Sussex Coast College, and the Feast of the Dead at the Stade Hall has its final performance on Sunday evening; see website for full details.

And, if you want to go a bit further afield and partake in some exercise, the annual Sussex Walking Festival starts this weekend, 24th September to 2nd of October 2016, a joint event that is organised by Eastbourne Borough Council and Wealdon District Council. For full details of a wide variety of walks, and variety of difficulty and length, go to the Sussex Walking Festival website.

Whatever you do this weekend, either partaking in these specific events, visiting the beach, castle, aquarium, museums, restaurants, pubs and clubs and music, or whatever, enjoy!

Music Galore, plus more, this Weekend!

Music galore, notably 3 gigs on the Pier, but not just there! 

The weekend kicks off with Dizzee Rascal on the Pier this evening (Friday), and the weather forecast suggests the rain should have eased up later with, mostly, light showers this evening, still not good, but certainly better than what's outside right now! Much of the Pier will be closed off over the weekend to facilitate the music, please see the website for details of gigs and other events on and around the Pier.

Tomorrow, on the Pier, Happy Mondays are playing, supported by ORB, and on Sunday, The Levellers play. The weather forecast is much better for the rest of the weekend and, should you not have tickets, I am sure you'll be able to have fun still, and hear the sounds, in the area, an eclectic mix indeed!

Of course, this being Hastings, there's very much more this weekend, and music all over the shop too! Not least the Seafood & Wine Festival, of which I'll write more later, with a music tent on the Stade Beach, commencing with Ska and Blue Beat this evening with the Two Tones and Mighty Sounds; for details of the weekend music see the website.

Search elsewhere for music, of course, as there's plenty, eg the Jenny Lind and the Dolphin Inn have music this evening and tomorrow evening... and the Route 1066 Arts Festival continues (website), not to mention the free guided walks of the Stade provided Saturday and Sunday mornings, starting at 11am, by the Old Hastings Preservation Society (website), and the regular weekly 'fun' 5km Parkrun that starts Saturday morning at 9am at Seaside Road, opposite the Bo-Peep, to the Pier and back (website).

Have fun!