Easter Weekend in Hastings

It certainly appears that there is plenty going on this weekend, as you'd expect, I'm always happy to support Hastings RNLI Lifeboat, crew and volunteers, and this Saturday heralds Easter at Hastings Lifeboat Station! From 11.00 am to 3.00 pm you are invited to join in with "some Easter fun" including refreshments and cake, stalls and tombola, a bit of singing, the chance to meet the Easter Bunny, a goodie bag for every child who visits wearing an Easter Bonnet (facebook), and, of course, the chance to help raise money for the RNLI and Hastings Lifeboat.

Great to see that this Saturday and Sunday also heralds the return of the first of the 2019 guided walks organised by the Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS) with 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 both days (meet indoors in inclement weather, but the forecast looks very good with blue sky every day of the weekend - 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!

One building along from the Fishermen's Museum in Rock-a-Nore Road is the Shipwreck Museum (website), also well worth a visit! In addition, this Saturday they have organised a guided walk of the wreck of the Amsterdam, a Dutch East Indiaman that ran aground at Bulverhythe in 1749 (website). This guided walk costs £6 for adults and £2 for children, and meets at the viewing platform above the beach opposite the wreck at Bulverhythe at 7.00 pm on the 20th of April; appropriate footwear is necessary and more details can be found at the website.

One building further down in Rock-a-Nore Road is the Blue Reef Aquarium (website), where you are invited to meet Mermaid Anna today (Friday 19th between 11.00 am and 3.00 pm), and with Easter events until Monday the 22nd April.

Back to the Stade Open Space in front of the Lifeboat Station, and Saturday, from 4.00 to 10.00 pm will be the Hastings Easter Music Festival, with EDM, Hip Hop, Rap and Soul live music featured. From 12.00 to 4.00 pm over the weekend there is also an associated art exhibition (website).

Hastings Pier (facebook page) has also announced that there will be another "grand reopening of Hastings Pier" at 11.00 am on Saturday 20th April, this time with "Free Entertainment" and an Easter Egg Hunt, Mascots, Ice Cream, Tea, Coffee and Cake.

Whatever, wherever, there will be plenty more happening with the usual sites, beach and music events, good food and drink, and gorgeous weather, enjoy!

Carnival Week Continues!

I have to admit yesterday I missed the fact that the Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS) guided walk of the Stade had restarted today, my apologies, but there will be one tomorrow and another on Monday too (Sunday 29th and the 30th). The free Stade Guided Walks begin at 11am each day, meeting up outside Hastings Fishermen's Museum (inside if wet), Rock-a-Nore Road, and, should you partake, you will be shown around the 'fascinating' fishing quarter of Hastings. The walk lasts between 60 and 90 minutes, and, though 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). The walk is free, but all donations to the Fishermen's Museum would be much appreciated, many thanks



Of course, the Carnival itself continues with the free 2 day music festival, the Nearly on The Beach Concert at the Stade Open Space, starting from 1pm today (Saturday & Sunday, 1-8pm and 1-7.30pm respectively), and many more events, guided walks, and so much more to enjoy over the weekend, including a Street Party on West Street tomorrow (website)! West Street has been a neglected part of Hastings recently, but no more, the West Street Community Group has formed, receiving Heritage Lottery funding for "a year long project to explore the street's lost histories."

So, from 2 to 5pm, Sunday 29th, join the group for free entertainments and refreshments, not to mention an educational afternoon and witnessing the launch of their new free publication, The West Street Chronicle! 



Easter Bank Holiday Weekend 2018

It's a public/bank holiday, and it's Friday! But what's on over this 4 day long weekend? Well, quite a bit guided towards children, but then there's always a child still in all of us, there is in me anyway... Hastings Museum & Art Gallery (website) in John's Place, up Bohemia Road and on the right, isn't open on Monday (as usual), but it is open Friday and Saturday 10.00 to 4pm, and on Sunday 12.00 to 5pm. In addition to the exhibits there all the time, and special exhibitions, from today until the 15th of April there is a, free to enter, Easter Egg Hunt, search the museum for clues, solve a puzzle, and if successful win a chocolate treat!

If you want to work off a few pounds, or just maintain a decent level of fitness, or just want to volunteer to help, every Saturday morning, starting at 9am, is the Hastings 5km Park Run (website), for anyone, young or not so young, a runner or a slow jogger, this is for fun, and good fitness-wise too. It begins at Seaside Road by Grosvenor Gardens, along the seafront to about 50 metres east of the Pier, and back again. It may not be quite as sunny as in this image (above) on their website, but you never know; if you want to be timed, you need to register before your first ever Park Run, then run!

If you'd like to explore Hastings fishing quarter, not so energetic, but the guided Stade Guided Walk returns this Saturday and Sunday (website), organised by the Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS). Meet up at 11am both days, outside Hastings Fishermen's Museum in Rock-a-Nore Road (inside if raining) ready to explore the net huts, fishing industry and beach, and learn the history of this hundreds of years old industry for up to about 90 minutes. You are advised to wear suitable footwear, and clothing if the weather is inclement, and if you have any special mobility needs please contact the Fishermen's Museum in advance. This is a free guided walk, given by a volunteer, the museum is a charity, and the OHPS would appreciate any donations to help its upkeep, and to help maintain its all-year opening, many thanks!

Whilst you're at Hastings Fishermen's Museum (website), you would also be advised to have a tour inside this wonderful building, it's a delight. Open since 1956, the museum is situated in the former Fishermen's Church of St Nicholas, a mission chapel serving the local fishing community since 1854 until it was requisitioned during World War II. The Grade II listed building and museum are managed by the OHPS who rescued the building, now leasing it from Hastings Borough Council. Inside are many excellent exhibits, including the sailing lugger, the Enterprise (above), an audio visual presentation and great gifts to peruse. Outside, net huts and fishing boats are on show from as far back in the road as RX134, The Stacey Marie (blog and facebook page) just before the Fish Market, a good 70 to 80 metres before you reach the museum!

Just beyond the Fishermen's Museum is the Shipwreck Museum (website), also with free admission, and a charitable museum of the Nautical Museums Trust Charity, exhibiting many artefacts from ships wrecked in the English Channel, and locally found fossils. Just after, and on the same side of the road, is the Blue Reef Aquarium (website), which from today, and for the Easter school holidays, is running an Easter Trail: find the easter eggs hidden around the aquarium, and unscramble the letters found to find a 'magic word' and take part in colouring and the 'maze activity sheet.'

On the other side of the Stade, by the beach, offers the chance to visit the Hastings RNLI Lifeboat Station and their Visitors Centre (website). As you can see above, tomorrow (Saturday) there will also be special Easter 'fun' meeting the Easter Bunny, entertainment including the Shanty Singers, refreshments and cakes, a tombola and a raffle, and a chocolate egg for "every child wearing an Easter Bonnet!" Though that may upset a few wee lads without bonnets. 😉

Also tomorrow (Saturday), up at Hastings Castle (blog) on the West Hill, they are holding an hour-long Easter Egg Hunt for the third consecutive year, from 10-11am, where hundreds of chocolate easter eggs will be hidden around the grounds for children to find; there will be a dedicated time slot for under 5s. See their facebook event page for details of cost etc, and people are advised to wear sensible shoes.

OK, there will be fun to be had in many other areas, parks, and along the seafront not to mention for adults in bars and restaurants, but I'm finishing this blog at Hastings Pier (website). As we've now come to expect, there won't just be the regular facilities, and special events like Automata on the Pier, but Easter events too, including aPIERtite, an Easter Street Food Festival today and tomorrow, 11am to 8pm both days. APIERtite will include food, drinks, music and entertainment for all ages (website), plus the Pier itself will be organising Easter Family Fun, with Easter 'crafts' including making a "mini moving chick in an egg to take away."

Enjoy the 4 day weekend, and, if you're working in the service sectors, including the NHS, Fire & Rescue, Police, Coastguard and Hastings Lifeboat, many thanks, respect!

Busy, busy, busy, this weekend!

To start with, and it may appear a few days late, but the America Ground features its annual Independents Day today (Saturday 8th July) from 10am, celebrating independent businesses, creativity, thought, music, and art in the area. Head for the America Ground around Robertson Street, Trinity Street and Claremont; see website.

Around the corner, on Hastings Pier, the Pavilion Restaurant reopens today under new management (the Hastings Pier Charity going in-house now), and the extended Summer Opening Times begin too: 10am to 10pm (website). In addition to the usual Pier facilities, promenading, and events, there is also a Classic Car Boot Sale on both weekend days from 10am, with vintage fashion and accessories, homeware, collectables, vinyl records and much more (website).

Meanwhile, back to the old town and the Stade Open Space, and enter the 2017 Midsummer Fish Festival, with music, local wines and ales, cooking demonstrations, and, oh yes, fish! Since losing funding from the European Fisheries Fund a small entry fee is charged, £1 (for the whole weekend) available from the tourist centre at Muriel Matters House, or £2 on the door; under 18s get in free (website).

Meeting at the Fishermen's Museum in Rock-a-Nore Road at 11am both days, and you can take guided walks of the Stade with Old Hastings Preservation Society guides, exploring the Stade Fishing Quarter, and discovering the history of Hastings' sustainable fishing industry; the walks last about 90 minutes (website). Wearing strong shoes is advised as you will be walking on pebbles and uneven ground and, although the walks are free, donations to Hastings Fishermen's Museum are very much welcomed, many thanks! 

Of course there's much more around town, music, food and pubs, museums and parks, and, not to forget, as I wrote yesterday, the last day of the Hastings Beer & Music Festival (website) with its Family Day today. Have fun!

Stade Walks back today!

Starting today, Saturday 15th, at 11.00, the first of many free guided Stade Walks this year, meeting outside the Fishermen's Museum in Rock-a-Nore Road; another Stade Walk will be held tomorrow (sorry, a bit late, but I just found out about this!), then the timetable changes a bit, go to the Old Hastings Preservation Society website for more details. Also, don't forget the Tuesday Old Town Walks which start  on May 2nd! 

These are free, but donations to the Fishermen's Museum are appreciated, many thanks!

Free Guided Stade Walk this morning.

Don't forget that the Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS) provide for a guided walk around the Stade Fishing Quarter this morning, meeting up at the Fishermen's Museum in Rock-a-Nore Road at 11am. The walk is free and lasts about 90 minutes, and you are guided by an experienced volunteer; so any donations to Hastings Fishermen's Museum would be most welcome, many thanks (website).

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!

August Bank Holiday Monday 2016

Well, Bank Holiday Monday sees the last day of Zippos Summer Festival Circus on the Pier, so, if you want to see it before it leaves, hurry, hurry, hurry and roll on up! An extra event has been organised too, a free (funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund) 'family fun' workshop in the Birch Room in the Lower Deck (in the middle of the Pier), starting at 11am, ie Paper Puppets and Windchimes (see website). 

This Monday also sees the Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS) organised, free Stade Walk, meeting up outside the Fishermen's Museum, Rock-a-Nore Road at 11am; please remember that this walk is organised by the charity, so any donations to the Fishermen's Museum would be very much appreciated, many thanks! More details of this, and other walks, can be seen at the OHPS website, wear sensible shoes!

And remember, there is so much else to do and places to visit, Alexandra Park, St Leonards Gardens, the beach, Castle, Blue Reef Aquarium, and the Fishermen's Museum itself, of course, to name a few... whatever and wherever, enjoy yourselves!

Fish Festival and much more this weekend!

After all the excitement, joy and dismay, following the Referendum, Hastings gets back to what it does well, with the 3rd Midsummer Fish Festival starting today at The Stade, 11.00 until 20.00 hours; tomorrow until 18.00 hours. This means a free event sponsored by Hastings Fishermen's Protection Society and Hastings Borough Council with music galore, childrens' activities, cooking and fish filleting demonstrations, beer, and, of course, fish! See HBC website, and links from there, for further information about the event.

In conjunction with the Midsummer Fish Festival, the free guided Stade Walk returns, starting at the Fishermen's Museum in Rock-a-Nore Road at 11.00, and arranged by Old Hastings Preservation Society! A donation to the Museum or OHPS would be appreciated, though; for more information, see their website. 

Of course, Hastings Pier cannot be ignored either! Music here too from 13.00 hours, with Helen Sharpe and the Soulshine Band, and Chill @ The Pier from 16.00 hours, with a Terrace DJ Set, and, of course the Vintage Funfare continues from 10.00. See website for more details and have fun!

What's on for the weekend...

Well, there's quite a bit happening, and here's a taste...

Hastings Pier continues to have its funfair, cinema, a "Heritage Weekend", with volunteers helping visitors to the Memories Room, and free workshops for everyone in the family, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (see website).   

Until they return on the 25th June, this Saturday will see the last free Stade Walk organised by the Old Hastings Preservation Society, meeting at the Fishermen's Museum at 11.00 (the programme of organised walks is on their website).

And I have no idea how I missed this! But this year's 1066 Wine & Food Festival comes to an end this weekend, culminating in a finale celebration on Sunday 29th at St Mary in the Castle (website).

Furthermore, Hastings’ Blue Reef Aquarium is going green for the May Half Term holidays (Saturday, May 28^th- Sunday, June 5^th), marking World Environment Day on June 5^th and World Oceans Day on June 8^th. The popular TV show Octonauts has joined forces with the organisers of World Oceans Day to create a series of events and Octonauts-themed activities based around conservation.

Blue Reef will be using the Octonauts trail provided by World Oceans Day, as well as having special ‘conservation stations’ set up beside the aquarium’s main ocean display where younger visitors can record what they plan to do to help the environment. There will also be Octonauts’ colouring sheets to complete and a scavenger hunt around the displays highlighting the major threats posed by pollution and other manmade factors like global warming. 

Blue Reef’s Leanna Lawson said: “We wanted to put together a positive package of activities, talks, trails and events which highlights the importance of the natural world for all of us; wherever we live in the world. Our aim is to provide practical advice which visitors of all ages can follow which will help safeguard the environment. As well as international projects and campaigns we are also focusing on local issues; like our regular beach clean events.”   

Now in its 44^th year, World Environment Day (WED) aims to raise global awareness to take positive environmental action to protect nature and the planet Earth. It is run by the United Nations Environment Programme.  

World Oceans Day's aim is to celebrate the world's ocean and its rich diversity of life; highlighting global ocean awareness, education and action programmes to promote a healthy and productive ocean. It also acts as a reminder to nations, governments, businesses, and individuals, of their responsibility to protect the world's living oceans and conserve resources for present and future generations. 

Have fun!.   

Free Guided Stade Walk!

Starting tomorrow, Saturday 14th, at 11.00, the first of many free guided Stade Walks this year, meeting outside the Fishermen's Museum in Rock-a-Nore Road; the walks continue for another 2 weeks, then the timetable changes a bit, go to the Old Hastings Preservation Society website for more details. Also, don't forget the Tuesday Old Town Walks!

These are free, but donations to the Fishermen's Museum are appreciated, many thanks!