Businesses (& Street) still closed but Cafe/Bar and Butchers open!

Following the significant East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service call outs last month (blog) one end of George Street remains closed, now with a CCTV van in situ (probably due to suspected re-entering of the premises by persons). Also, some shops and businesses, including HMV, remain closed at Priory Meadow (blog) and parking is still restricted in their car park; see Sussex World.

Whereas, a new South American Cafe/Bar has opened up at 44 Marina, St Leonards TN38 0BU, that is Cumbia Kitchen (website). The business having been going for over 4 years selling 'pop-up' street-style food at various festivals and venues around town, eg at the Dolphin Inn, and with a kiosk on Hastings Pier, remember the pier? 😒 

Also, a new butchers is opening at 34 Robertson Street TN34 1HT on Thursday 9th (Sussex World). Beak & Tail is the result of many years of experience working as butchers in East Sussex, London and Kent, of 2 young (compared to me) brothers, one of whom, Tom, I met this morning, Great to have a butchers back in town lads!

Anyway, very good luck to the new businesses👍

Good news and bad news here folks...

The America Ground

I noticed the image above on the Hastings and Area, Past and Present facebook page today, which is the anniversary of a great storm (4th February 1287) that not only helped to alter the coastline of South East England with many coastal towns, like Rye, becoming landlocked, but also damaged the West Hill cliff with much of Hastings Castle falling into the sea. But, of course, earlier storms that century had also helped to create, what was to become, The America Ground in Hastings, and I noticed that, despite referring to The America Ground quite a few times, I have never written about why it is called "The America Ground" or its history, so here goes, briefly...

The great storms of the 13th century deposited a vast bank of shingle to the west of Hastings Harbour, beginning the end to the harbour in central Hastings (over which the Castle had towered), this area became new land which people quickly moved on to, living and working there. By the 1820s The America Ground was inhabited by over 1,000 people, rent, tax and rates free as no-one owned the land. Hastings Council tried to tax the residents living there, who subsequently rebelled, raising the flag of the USA and declaring the area an American State! However, this wasn't tolerated for long by the authorities and, in December 1827, the Crown claimed legal ownership (1066 online).

The America Ground is now covered by the triangle that is Robertson Street, Trinity Street and Claremont, and towards the sea, including Robertson Passage. Every year now, July the 4th is celebrated here, so watch out for special events coming up in July, including Independents Day, and enjoy the revolutionary spirit!

Wines, Books, and Beer!

16/08/19 - This business is now closed down...



I'd thought for a while now that something Hastings was missing is a good quality off licence, selling decent wines and beers, not just specialising in one or the other, and we have got one, and, thanks to a wee chat I had with Becky, who works at Hastings Museum & Art Gallery, whilst I was admiring the Turner painting up there (recently reported on this blog), I discovered Borough Wines, Beers and Books exists in Robertson Street; American Pale Ales in the America Ground, indeed! 

Now, for many of you, no doubt, this does not come as news, because it's been there for nearly a year! So, how did I miss this? Well, I'll use as my excuse, that I rarely walk down Robertson Street at times they would be open, as I tend to walk down there early doors, and I'll stick to that... anyway, better late than never! Wine? Well, they even sell it by refilling your 'bottle', indeed!

Plus they sell a good selection of already filled wine bottles, and, a dream of mine is having my own pub with a book shop attached, this is an off licence with a book shop within, as you can see here! There are a couple over half a dozen Borough shops in London, one of my favourite areas of London, actually, Borough Market, and expanding to have our very own one down here in Hastings (website).

And, of course, beers! There is a very interesting selection of local beers, as well as beers from around the UK, and, indeed, many from abroad. I, on my first visit, bought a couple of cans (!?!) of beer, both incredibly delicious, a grapefruit pale ale, High Wire from Magic Rock brewery, and a 'blood orange' IPA, Bloody 'ell, from Beavertown brewery; more about the beers at the Beermeister blog.

I'll be back soon!

Pier and Promenade Update.

Looking down to the Pier, and I noticed that most of the funfair had disappeared! However, on reaching the Pier I saw that it had been resettled further down, just after The Deck, all excepting the carousel, in fact, and the reason why? A circus is coming to the Pier, towards the evacuated front, although, I was told, the carousel will remain towards the front of The Deck (Pier website).

The White Rock Promenade's resurfacing is complete...

And the Kiosk towards Robertson Street is about to get there too! See my blog last year about the plans for the regeneration of this stretch between the Pier and America Ground.

Celebrating July 4th at the America Ground!

It's that time of year, and why not celebrate July 4th at the America Ground in Hastings? (History)

Looking down Robertson Street, still very early doors...

Setting up food stalls and a stage in Claremont... 

Enjoy the day! 

White Rock promenade regeneration

Earlier today I visited the White Rock Hotel, where Hastings Borough Council exhibited a public display of the plans and images of the proposed improvements to the White Rock promenade, providing an “attractive link” from the end of Robertson Street at the America Ground, to the pier itself. The Council are seeking feedback, which they will accept until Friday next week (19th June). 

The first new feature you will reach on leaving Robertson Street (on the other side of the road, on the promenade, of course!) will be a raised decked area with a kiosk. This will be situated before you reach the old White Rock Baths (I've previously blogged about it becoming a BMX park etc), which itself will have its entrance building and walls repainted.

After passings the baths, the existing water feature will be “revitalised”, a small stage area added for licenced buskers, with a new water cascading feature below the stage. After the Boer War Memorial, another new decked area will be added, providing space for “pop-up” trading and food stalls, before reaching the rebuilt People's Pier.  

The new features will be made of sustainable hardwood timber, railings will be repainted, up to 10 mature trees grown in timber planters will be added to the scheme, the existing tarmac surface will be repaired and covered with a resin bound material, and East Sussex County Council have provided assurance that all the street lighting columns will have been replaced in time for the completion. Further details can be found at the Council website.    

The project will be jointly financed by a central government Coastal Communities Fund grant, the Foreshore Trust and Hastings Borough Council. The architect is Neil Choudhury (website), who was also at the presentation.