Hastings Park Run and O.W.E.N.S

Hastings Park Run was held this morning, as usual on a Saturday starting at 09.00 at West Marina Gardens, 2.5 Km along the seafront to just beyond Hastings Pier and back again. I took my photographs just as they were passing the Azur Pavilion the first time, looking down on the lower promenade; they return on the upper promenade. 262 runners took part, with 17 achieving personal bests, respect to them, young and not so young, and to all volunteers who help to make this a fun 5 Km run (website).

On my return to the town centre I ventured into O.W.E.N.S as it was open, and, apparently, at least for weekends and school holidays anyway, it is open from 09.00am to 11.00pm, so feel free to visit!

Hastings Bonfire, Pier, RNLI Stall & O.W.E.N.S

Apologies for the language, but this was the effigy destroyed yesterday evening, self-explanatory, and cheers to Rod for sending this photo to me - credit for this photo goes to @allybobble from twitter - many thanks to you, nice one! But no fireworks last night sadly, as the wind was too strong to enable their safe display, still, looking on the bright side, plenty of fireworks available for next year!

I had chatted to a few of HBBS members clearing up before wandering to the west and passing the very empty Hastings Pier, apparently not to open up for Christmas, sadly.

A wander through Bottle Alley to just below Warrior Square Gardens and on the lower promenade was, and is still I presume, a RNLI Lifeboat Stall. Had a good chat with the 2 volunteers, good luck to their endeavour!

Oh yes, and carrying on home, walking into Robertson Street, and O.W.E.N.S appears to be open, sort of, they're not great with the online explanations (website), but the notice (above) is in the window of what was Debenhams, and presumably shows the opening times until they open 'officially' on the 11th of November... Not sure if it meant yesterday or next Saturday, but be watchful in the town centre. Anyway, the website gives alternative opening times to the 12.00 noon opening times in the notice.

I have spoken to friends who have visited O.W.E.N.S, so go for it people!

Early Morning Wander Around Town and...

I've been getting out early the last few days when it's relatively cool, with a nice breeze too, until the sun pops up above buildings from about 07.00, and I'm not good when it's hot! Indeed, today should be the last 'too hot' day for me for a while, with the forecast seeing tomorrow peaking at just 20/22 degrees Celcius in Hastings (Met Office).

So I wandered around the Town Centre in the peace & quiet, although the small street cleaning wagon was a bit noisy, thankfully cleaning up the mess left behind by the very messy Saturday night revellers/litter louts! And good old Debenhams, well, the building, which I shared a short piece of it's history in a blog a little over a year ago following it's closure... Oh yes, good, not so old, O.W.E.N.S 😏 

Indeed, Owens Entertainment, 1-3 Robertson Street TN34 1HT, is opening soon, still no firm date yet, but in the 'Summer' they say (facebook) and 'twill be announced soon, an 'entertainment venue' on 3 floors, with 'over 20 things to do!' The 'fun' will include 'amusement' machines, pool table(s?), 10 Pin Bowling, and many other facilities including Crazy Golf Courses, I wonder if this influenced the plans to enclose the Pirate Course at Hastings Adventure Golf, as I mentioned in a blog a couple of months ago? And restaurants/bars too, indeed, they are advertising vacancies at indeed 😉 and I noticed on one of the notices about change of use, WC facilities will be provided too, necessary of course with food being served, but for general public use too?

I then sauntered along Queens Road, which I wrote about how the area had been moving upmarket in a blog before the pandemic hit us, indeed, the excellent Queens Deli & Shop was situated at the address above... Well, now it's housing Hair & Hound, 196 Queens Road TN34 1RG (tel: 07710 507380), and which brings together a hairdressers with a bar/cafe/Friday evening cocktails: food includes cakes, cookies, very interesting looking toasties, and 'small plates featuring meat and cheese.'

I continued my walk along Queens Road, which still contains many good businesses, not a few hairdressers/barbers, small grocery stores, fast food businesses, but with a significant number of empty premises, some closed since the pandemic hit us, sadly. But I was surprised to see what I last remember was called the Drift In, although it's had numerous names over the years, is not a bar anymore! 

No, the Bottle of Hastings has very recently opened at 91 Queens Road TN34 1RL (website), which is a quality family owned wine merchants and shop. They are aiming to be able to sell over 200 different wines, which can be collected from the premises, and deliveries can be made of orders requested from their website. They have a premises licence, so welcome customers to 'enjoy wines by the glass and bottle' in their seating area, and will soon be offering 'regular tastings hosted by world class sommeliers.'

When I got back indoors, as well as looking up information to do with the above businesses, I also read the Summer Edition of East Sussex County Council's Newsletter, received by email. Interestingly, the County Council has agreed to the request by Hastings Borough Council to extend by another 3 years the Anti-Social Behaviour Public Spaces Protection Order (ASB PSPO) first applied for in 2017 (see HBC Report for plenty of information!).

In addition, the County Council reminded us that Central Government is carrying out, until the 1st of September, a public consultation regarding Creating an offence of public sexual harassment. You have until the end of the day (23.59) on the 1st of September 2022 if you wish to respond on the Government website.

Well, I wish the best to all new businesses opening in Hastings, good luck! And, as I passed the old town centre Post Office building in Cambridge Road, sadly closed now, I wondered when that building will be found a new use within the town? The old Debenhams building appears to have found a new lease of life (above), as has the old Observer building (blog), which is just up the road...

A breath of fresh air makes me think, you know, dangerous! 😁