Paddy's Night at The Albion!

The very local and boisterous Garry Blakeley Band are playing at The Albion in George Street this evening, enjoy the craic!

Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhaoibh!

High Street continued...

As you can see, the High Street has a new pavement! Still more work to come, so roadworks to continue, hopefully they'll tidy up the pavement opposite...  

OOPS! Nearly run over in High Street, Old Town!

I had no idea! I gently meandered into the High Street from Courthouse Street, and found a car going the wrong way, downhill... but it wasn't! The High Street is cut off from the bottom, work going on, apparently, for a couple of months. So, be careful to check which way the traffic is moving when in the vicinity, be more careful than I was!  

It's not often I eat out, but...

Strange, the different reasons we eat out... When my ex-wife and I separated, I maintained that I should carry on eating out at my favourite places, even if on my own, mostly. Consequently, I carried on eating at places where I felt comfortable to eat alone. For lunch, 4 years ago, I regularly enjoyed eating at the First in Last Out (FILO), when the kitchen space was similar to a small galley kitchen at the end of the bar, for those who remember. 

Then the kitchen was moved out to the back and is much larger now, and what used to be the old 'garden' has become a restaurant area, particularly in the evening and on Saturday lunchtime, though you can still enjoy a good meal or bar snacks in the bar area. Anyway, the occasions I now eat out alone are fewer due to altered personal circumstances, and, as I hadn't eaten at the FILO for quite a while, and felt good, I decided to eat there again.

I ordered at the bar, before descending to the bright clean restaurant area, with a large glass of Merlot in my right hand, and a glass of water in my left. What did I order? Well there was a fair choice of meals on offer on the Lunch Menu, and many more on the 'Specials' Board, including vegetarian options, and so I made my request of the friendly young woman behind the bar...

I started off with 'Warm flatbread and organic houmous'. Looked to be a straight-forward choice, though not just this appeared on my wooden serving board (nice touch), but also a small pot of olives in olive oil and a lovely fresh salad of various leaves, beansprouts, grated carrot, red pepper and cherry tomatoes. Following this, I realised I wouldn't be ordering a pudding after the main meal!

My main meal was "Pan seared lambs liver, dauphinoise, buttered new carrots and fresh seasonal vegetables." The liver was tender, and served with a gorgeous port jus (there was a small jug of extra jus on the side, and the chef explained to me how it was made when I asked later, many thanks!). All the vegetables were well cooked, and I don't mean as my mother used to cook, sorry mum, but they were just right! You can take it that I enjoyed my meal, and I couldn't add a third course, as suggested, though there were tempting puddings available. Afterwards, I licked the plate, metaphorically of course... 

There is a different menu in the evenings, except on Sundays, and specialised evening menus on Mondays, 'Spanish Tapas', and Thursdays, when a rather interesting range of dishes make up the 'Indian Thali' menu. More detail and sample menus can be seen at their website and, of course, Christmas is a-coming, including  food on Sundays!

First In Last Out, 14-15 High Street, TN34 3EY.

Telephone: 01424 425079

Email: sharon@thefilo.co.uk 

Roebuck Surgery Special Meeting!

From here...

There will be a special open meeting at the Stade Hall tomorrow evening (Friday 6th), starting 7pm, to hear Dr Craig Namvar explain the reasons behind, and plans for, the Roebuck Surgery and its planned relocation to Rock-a-Nore Road, if you're interested...  

TO HERE!

What's happening to the Royal Albion?

Boards and scaffolding are up around this old pub, which started life in 1689, received its first licence in 1730, was rebuilt in 1831, and reopened as the Albion Hotel in 1832 as a coaching inn. It continued as a hotel until 1894, when it evolved as a public house...

Now, Bob and others are going to reopen this freehouse as a music venue, real ale house, and I'd suspect there will be food available too... Looking forward to it!

"Man Hunt" in Hastings!?!

The police are being amazingly careful about what they publish, but I'm guessing I'm not the only person to notice a significant police presence in the old town today, including the helicopter! If whoever they're seeking is dangerous, then shouldn't they let us know who s/he is, if not, why keep his/her name and details from us?

Concerned of Hastings...    

Folk Festival continues...

Hastings Folk Festival ends this weekend; For times and further details see website... 

Friday 8th :     

Cafe Tour in the Old Town. 

Comhaltas Irish Session at The Stag. 

Green Diesel at The Jenny Lind. 

Stone Junction at The Anchor Inn. 

Saturday: 

Workshop at St Mary Star of the Sea Church Hall. 

Cafe Tour in the Old Town. 

Folk Club at The Stag. 

Wakin' Snakes at Ye Olde Pump House. 

Folk Funk DJ Session at the Dragon Bar. 

Stuart O'Connor at The Jenny Lind. 

The Full English at St Mary in the Castle. 

Bal: French and Swedish Dancing at St Mary Star of the Sea Church Hall. 

Ingrid Pitt Orchestra at The Stag. 

Garry Blakeley Band at The Dolphin Inn. 

Sunday: 

Ed Boxall at The Crown. 

Tatsmiths at The Stag. 

Good Squeeze Session at The Plough. 

Comhaltas Irish Session at The Jenny Lind. 

Elijah Blue at The Jenny Lind. 

Roger Carey & Jim Board at the First In Last Out. 

Enjoy!   

   

Mardi Gras starts early!

The music and festivities surrounding Mardi Gras, or 'Fat Tuesday' in Hastings, start tonight at Pissarros (see website), Hastings does like to dress up and party, also we know how to extend any festival!

So, music starts this evening near the centre of town in Pissarros, at shortly after 8 o'clock, and moves along to the General Havelock at 9 o'clock, and music will have already started at the Jenny Lind in the Old Town by then, and at other regular gigs of course! 

Enjoy all 5 days of Hastings Fat Tuesday, party on!

Update on Debbie's Collection Boxes 2

Paul's work in seeking donations to Macmillan Nurses now includes the box that had been left in the Olde Bell Inn at The Mint in Rye, brought to Hastings. A little over £57 was counted, with some 'coppers' added to another collection box now situated on the bar of the First In Last Out (FILO), High Street, Hastings. This means that, so far, about £360 has now been sent, or about to be sent, to Macmillan Nurses.          

The Olde Bell Inn, The Mint, Rye.

There are still 2 collection boxes, the one at the FILO, and one in the Jenny Lind, also in the High Street in the old town, Hastings. Once we get closer to the London Marathon, I'll provide details should anyone want to sponsor Paul's taking part in his 11th London Marathon, this time in aid of Macmillan Nurses in memory of Debbie McSweeney R.I.P.

Many thanks for all contributions.  

Harveys Dray to visit Hastings

The Harveys Dray is to visit Hastings this Saturday lunchtime and early afternoon (7th February), travelling from St Leonards to the Old Town, mostly along the front. I'm not sure of all the hostelries it will be stopping at, but one of the first, if not the first, is the Horse & Groom at St Leonards, also visiting the White Rock Hotel, London Trader and the Dolphin at Rock-a-Nore, among others, I'd imagine.   

Monty and Winston

These photographs are from the visit made at the beginning of May last year, and more can be found out by searching the Harveys' website. 

Housing opposite Hastings Castle?

Walking over the West Hill yesterday, passing the Castle, and to my left was this:

Now, I've been walking past this for years, it seems, still 2 of the lots not purchased, apparently, so what is going on, because it says the others have all been purchased? I haven't gone into this too much, but, if people have already paid out money to get involved with this project based on 'self-build' housing, does this mean they cannot start building until the last 2 plot have been purchased, I presume so? Any information would be welcomed, but I shall start looking into this myself, methinks... 

Anyway,another beautiful day, and my main purpose was to walk over to the Old Town, so met with this familiar, but always excellent, view, how I love living in Hastings!