Hastings Old Town and Stade Guided Walks Cancelled...

Unsurprisingly, the Old Hastings Preservation Society free guided walks of the Old Town, due to begin today, have been cancelled until further notice (website), understandable in the circumstances. I only noticed a few minutes ago, and, of course, the Stade walks, due to have started for this year at Easter, are also cancelled.

Keep safe folks, let's hope this is over soon.

OHPS Guided Walks of the Stade this weekend...

The last 2 guided walks of the year organised by the Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS) are to be held this weekend during the Hastings Herring Fair, (Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th November, previous blog). The free Stade Guided Walk begins at 11am both days, meeting up outside the Hastings Fishermen's Museum, Rock-a-Nore Road (inside if wet; may be Saturday less likely on Sunday, Met Office website). Should you partake, you will be shown around the fishing quarter of Hastings. The walk lasts between 60 and 90 minutes, and, although on the flat mostly, you will be walking over uneven ground, so sensible walking shoes would be, well, sensible (website). The walks are provided free, but all donations to the Fishermen's Museum would be very much appreciated, many thanks, enjoy!



OHPS Guided Walks this Weekend!

The Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS) guided walks of the Stade are also held during the Seafood and Wine Festival, so this Saturday and Sunday (14th and 15th September). The free Stade Guided Walk begins at 11am both days, meeting up outside the Hastings Fishermen's Museum (inside if wet, though very unlikely!), Rock-a-Nore Road, and, should you partake, you will be shown around the fishing quarter of Hastings. The walk lasts between 60 and 90 minutes, and, although on the flat mostly, you will be walking over uneven ground (though walks can be tailored to mobility needs, and interests), so sensible walking shoes would be, well, sensible (website). The walks are provided free, but all donations to the Fishermen's Museum would be very much appreciated, many thanks, and enjoy!

In addition, tomorrow afternoon (14th September) a Heritage Week Special free guided walk of Hastings Old Town is being provided by the OHPS (website). If you wish to take part meet up by the top of the West Hill Lift by 2.30 pm (the lift is still out of order I am afraid, so a walk up the hill will first be required; the website suggests a gentle-ish route). An OHPS volunteer will guide your exploration of the historic buildings of the old town, walking the twittens and cat creeps, and will tell you why celebrities of their day flocked to Hastings, and, indeed, many still do visit/move here.

The walk proceeds gently downhill, with some steps, and lasts about 2 hours. It is provided free of charge, although the OHPS would be grateful for any donations made, many thanks. Wearing comfortable walking shoes is sensible, of course, and the weather forecast is for a bright sunny weekend, so please be prepared, especially is, like me, you catch the sun easily. Whatever, please do enjoy yourselves!

OK, this is my last blog for the weekend, although there are obviously numerous regular live music sessions in bars, great places to eat and drink in addition to the Seafood and Wine Festival, the earliest Norman castle built in England, Aquarium, museums, seafront, etc etc, enjoy your weekend!

Carnival Week: Saturday & Sunday

Hastings Old Town Carnival Week really culminates in the Grand Carnival Procession which starts at 5.00 pm on Saturday, but assembly begins from 4.00 pm in Rock-a-Nore Road (website). I have included this photograph (above) to remind us that, sadly, the new lifeboat will not be able to take part, due to length and the roundabout by Iceland, although I presume, unless it is in service, the inshore lifeboat will join in. There will be live music at various points along the way, and from 9.00 pm to 10.00 pm up on the West Hill there will be Fireworks at Dusk, although the weather forecast is for high winds tomorrow, although dry, so a wait and see...

Of course, much more is happening this Saturday, including a few walks, like the Foyles Walk, hence the photograph above, the Twittens and Cat Creeps Walk, and the OHPS Stade Guided Walk (see previous blog for relevant details). See the website for further events this Saturday, and Sunday (website). Enjoy your weekend!

Carnival Week: Friday

Hastings Old Town Carnival Week carries on this Friday (website) with walks galore, including Lost Pubs of Hastings Old Town (West), Twilight Smugglers Walk, Windows and Glass Walk, and the OHPS Stade Guided Walk (see previous blog). And so much more, including the continuing Guess the Weight of the Cheese, Old Town Country Market, Cheese and Wine Lunch, Old Town Gurning Competition and, from 4.00 to 5.00 pm at Reeves Corner, Onion Eating Competition, a case of mixed wines for the winner, that is, the fastest to eat a raw onion and to whistle 'Sussex by the Sea', and another case for the "most tears" 😵

Have an excellent day!

Carnival Week Monday: Seaboot Race!

Still plenty to do on Monday 5th August, and within Hastings Old Town Carnival Week too (website), including the OHPS led free guided walk of the Stade from 11.00 am, as I mentioned in one of my Friday blogs. In addition there is the Seaboot Race that starts at 6.00 pm in Courthouse Street (website), and in which a friend of mine joins in every year, silly man, just joking Jason! 

In addition events include the Old Town Treasure Trail, Guess the Weight of the Cheese, Music, Coffee Morning, Craft Stalls, more walks and tours, and the Cheese & Wine Extravanza, and much more (website), have fun!



Hastings Old Town Carnival Week 2019

Carnival Week (3rd to the 11th August - website) returns! As traditional, it really begins with the Tug-o-War at 10.30 am, by the Stade, and in front of Hastings Lifeboat Station by the railway line, but officially the opening ceremony begins at 12.00 by the flagstaff outside Hastings Fishermen's Museum, Rock-a-Nore Road.

Every year plenty is organised for Carnival Week, including many recurring events, for example, in liaison with Stade Saturdays, the Nearly on the Beach concerts, Saturday and Sunday afternoons/evenings (3rd-4th): starting 1.30 pm on Saturday and 1.00 pm on Sunday (website). For full details of events for the week, please go to the website, as there are way too many to mention here, although I have written a separate blog about the return of the OHPS free Stade Guided Walk (among many other guided walks this week!) that meets outside Hastings Fishermen's Museum on many days this week.

Whatever you do this week, enjoy yourselves!

Guided OHPS Stade Walks

In conjunction with Carnival Week, the Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS) guided walks of the Stade restart again this Saturday (3rd August), and there will be another on Sunday, and yet even more on Monday, Friday, and next Saturday and Sunday too (10th and 11th)! The free Stade Guided Walks begin at 11am each of those days, meeting up outside the Hastings Fishermen's Museum (inside if wet), Rock-a-Nore Road, and, should you partake, you will be shown around the fishing quarter of Hastings. The walk lasts between 60 and 90 minutes, and, although on the flat mostly, you do need to cover uneven ground (though walks can be tailored to mobility needs, and interests), so sensible walking shoes would be, well, sensible (website), of course. The walks are provided free, but all donations to the Fishermen's Museum would be very much appreciated, many thanks, and enjoy!

1066 Walking Festival, 3 Days Left...

A lovely treat for walkers visiting Hastings, there are just 3 days left of the 1066 Walking Festival, but you get two chances to take part in the free Stade Guided Walk! Indeed, today (Friday 25th May) and tomorrow (Saturday 26th), this excellent guided walk organised by Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS) will be meeting up outside Hastings Fishermen's Museum, 21 Rock-a-Nore Road TN34 3DW at 11.00am; if it's raining, inside! You will be taken on this 60-90 minutes long tour of the Stade Fishing Quarter by an experienced volunteer guide from the Fishermen's Museum. Strong walking shoes are advised and, well the weather today, in particular, may be a bit unpredictable, though tomorrow looks fine, but be prepared (Met Office)! The walk is free to partake in, but donations to Hastings Fishermen's Museum would be much appreciated (the museum is a registered charity - website). 

There are other walks to take part in over these 3 days, though not all free, including Historic Experiences in Hastings, Pilgrimage to Hastings Castle, 10.66 Walk from St Leonards to Bexhill and back on Sunday, and many other walks in Rye, Battle, Winchelsea and Robertsbridge (website).

This Weekend & 2 Festivals...

Just noticed my last blog, about the Old Town Walk, has had over 450 views, so I thought I'd start this blog with notice of the 1066 Walking Festival...

Indeed, the 1066 Walking Festival (Saturday 19th to Sunday 27th of May 2018 - website) kicks off with another guided walk organised by the Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS), this time their Stade Guided Walk (website). If you wish to participate, you need to meet up outside Hastings Fishermen's Museum, Rock-a-Nore Road, at 11.00am on Saturday (meet indoors in inclement weather, but the forecast looks good - Met Office). You will be led on this tour of the Stade Fishing Quarter by an experienced volunteer from the Fishermen's Museum, and it usually lasts between 60 and 90 minutes. Strong shoes are advised, and if, like me, you burn easily, a hat and/or Factor 50 might be advisable. The walk is free, but any donations to Hastings Fishermen's Museum would be very much appreciated, many thanks!

And starting tomorrow (Friday) until Sunday, at the adjacent Stade Open Space, is the Sussex Street Food Festival organised by Street Food Warehouse (website). This event is free to enter, open from 12 noon to 10pm each day, and provides a wide range of cuisine, from Japan, Thailand and India, to the Americas, and 'delicious drinks' of course, including cool craft beers and cocktails, enjoy your weekend!

This weekend, and it's not just about a lifeboat...

Cyril & Lilian Bishop with Auction Items today

Indeed, this weekend isn't just about the Cyril and Lilian Bishop (see recent blog), though memories of another lifeboat, the Priscilla MacBean, being hauled up The Bourne in November 2014 do tend to prejudice which event I believe to be the most important this weekend (see blog)! It is intended to start hauling the Cyril and Lilian Bishop up All Saints Street at 11.00am tomorrow, but speeches and blessings, and no doubt some music, will occur from 10.30. In addition, this evening from 6pm, there will be an auction of donated goods, and more, from the boat, on the Stade below All Saints Street and Winkle Island.

Of course, there are also the usual places to visit and enjoy, not least Hastings Pier, where Cinema on the Pier continues this weekend, and an interesting looking Street Food Festival is being held on Saturday and Sunday (see website). Also, the Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS) have organised a guided walk around the Stade Fishing Quarter on Sunday morning (18th), meeting up at the Fishermen's Museum in Rock-a-Nore Road at 11am. The walk is free and lasts about 90 minutes; you are guided by an experienced volunteer so any donations to Hastings Fishermen's Museum would be most welcome, many thanks. See website for further information, you are advised to wear strong walking shoes, and the application of Factor 50 may not be entirely unwise!

Enjoy the weekend.

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!

950th Anniversary: Today's the Day!

So, today is the day, but the main celebrations are coming tomorrow folks (today, in Battle), ie mixed up with the Bonfire parade and fireworks, etc... However, today and tomorrow see the last OHPS free guided walks of the year (website for more details):

At 11.00 each day are the Stade Walks, meeting at Hastings Fishermen's Museum, and...

At 14.30 are the Old Town Walks, meeting up at the West Hill Lift. The Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS) is a charity and provides for these walks freely, but a donation to the Fishermen's Museum or the OHPS would be welcome, many thanks! 

St Mary's Restaurant + Walk.

Well, I've been waiting for the new management of St Mary's Restaurant, below St Mary in the Castle, to reopen the restaurant/cafe, but not a lot appears to be happening. I had a chat with someone in the know, and we'll have a little longer to wait, some technical problem apparently...

Oh, and don't forget the free guided 'old town' walk that starts up at the top of the West Hill Lift at 2.30pm this afternoon; see the Old Hastings Preservation Society website for more details of this, and of their Stade guided walks.