Hastings Seafood & Wine Festival 2024 This Weekend!

Indeed, the 2024 Seafood & Wine Festival starts tomorrow and runs until Sunday (13-15 September - website); many thanks for the image above to Sussex World. Friday music from 19.30-22.30; Saturday doors open 11.00 to 19.30; Sunday doors open 12.00 to 18.30. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday cost £5 per day, or £6.00 for both days, children's entry is free. Tickets can be bought on the door, or in advance: details of events and how to buy tickets in advance can be found at the website. Have fun folks!

Hastings Pride Festival 2024 Starting VERY Soon/Now!

I've only just noticed people dressed appropriately as I went shopping, thus, I very nearly forgot, it's Hastings Pride Festival 2024 starting right about now, Sunday 25th August (website). So, very hurriedly, I apologise, the Parade begins at 11.00 at The Stade Open Space and heads along the seafront and turns up to the right, just after the Pier and White Rock Hotel, to The Oval, which opens at 11.45 for the Festival activities, 12.00 to 9.00pm, enjoy folks!

Hastings Day and Bonfire and Fireworks too!

Happy Hastings Day! 😕Coincidentally, this year, the Hastings Borough Bonfire Society's torchlit procession is on the same day, and their bonfire will be on Pelham Beach as usual, and yes, roads will be closed to traffic near the seafront from 6 pm to 11 pm this evening. Indeed, the Hastings Bonfire 2023 celebration (website) is the culmination of Hastings Week celebrations, as usual (website). 

A Past Procession

The procession congregates from 6.30 pm by the White Rock Hotel and, meanwhile, the beacon is lit up on the East Hill at 7 pm, then Hastings Runners will bring lit torches down to Robertson Street. The procession starts from the western end of Robertson Street at about 7.15 pm, heads along Robertson Street and the America Ground, where torches are lit, then turns right into Harold Place before turning left and heading eastwards along the seafront to Rock-a-Nore Road in the old town, then turns left and goes up All Saints Street, where, at the top, it will cross The Bourne to the High Street, then back down to the seafront and along westwards to the Pelham Beach car park for the bonfire and fireworks at 9 pm, see the map above.

There are a few other Hastings Week events being held today, of course (website), including the sixth Vintage and Classic Motorcycle Show at The Stade Open Space from 10.00 am to 2.30 pm.

Enjoy the day, stay safe, and please be careful for your pets when the procession gets going and, notably, when the fireworks begin 🎆 and look after each other!

Hastings Day is the anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, 14th October 1066 (blog).

Busy Busy Busy!

Outside Looking In

I have to admit, I'll never pay £6 to go into the Seafood & Wine Festival, nor for any beer festival for that matter (blog), but it was very busy when I passed by earlier, and the queue to get in was, surprisingly, longer than I thought it would be! Hmmm 😏

Enjoy the weekend folks! 👍

Seafood & Wine and Beer Festivals this weekend!

It's that time of year, meaning Hastings Seafood and Wine Festival 2023 is this weekend, 16-17 September, at The Stade in Hastings old town (visit1066country). As usual, wine, fish and music, including Lianne Carroll's Jazz Breakfast on Sunday morning. For details, and how to get tickets, go to the visit1066country website.

Also, starting at noon today, and until Sunday, is this years Brickmaker's Alehouse Autumn Beer & Cider Festival 2023 in Bexhill, 27 Sea Road TN40 1EE. Website and facebook. Enjoy your weekend folks!

And not forgetting the Coastal Currents Arts Festival! (blog) 👌

HOT Carnival Week & Hastings Reggae Festival, Busy, Busy, Busy!

An exciting 10 days coming up, including on Saturday the 29th of July, up at The Oval, Bohemia Road TN34 1EU, the Hastings Reggae Festival, with set times beginning at 12.00 noon with DJ Killa Kutz, and culminating with UB40 headlining from 20.30 to 22.00 hours. More information can be found at their facebook page (from whence the photograph above comes, many thanks) and at REGGAEVILLE, and tickets can be purchased online at skiddle, I believe that there are still tickets available.

Not to forget that from Friday the 28th of July to Sunday the 6th of August is Hastings Old Town Carnival Week (website); I'd normally include an image of the lifeboat in the Carnival Parade, but the new lifeboat and its tractor are too long to go around the traffic island by Iceland, and so have not been featured for a few years now. Or, more likely, I would include a photograph from the Tug O' War, but, despite what is written in the paper copy of the programme, sadly, there will not be a Tug O' War again this year. Consequently, I am missing a few of my favourite photographs to include here, instead, I have used a photograph of the Nearly on the Beach Concert, taken by Rachel Rigsby, many thanks, and featured on the website.

There will be much ado about many things for 10 days, with the Old Town Criers' Competition on Friday the 28th, from 19.00 hours on the steps of St Clements Church, Swan Terrace, just off the High Street TN34 3ES (website).  Sessions of the Nearly on the Beach Concert will be held on both days over the weekend at the Stade Open Space, near Hastings Lifeboat Station, on Saturday from 13.00 to 20.00 hours, and on Sunday from 12.00 to 20.00 hours, when it will be preceded by breakfasts and reggae music with Reggae Brek from 10.00 to 12.00 noon (website). 

Of course there will be many other events, guided walks, films, fairs and markets, cream teas at St Clements Church, Services, and much more! For further details of what's happening on Saturday go to the website, and for Sunday, go to the website. Plus, of course, there's plenty more to do around Hastings always... 😎

Enjoy your weekend folks! 👍

Not Just Jack this Weekend!

Today (Friday 29th of April) sees the Hastings leg of the Normandy Food Tour 2022, where Norman food and drink producers will be available, a stage with demonstrations, and music! More details can be found at the Normandy Food Tour website, or just pop to The Stade down near the seafront and Lifeboat Station in Hastings old town.

{This paragraph was added later: The RNLI Lifeboat Station a few metres away from The Stade and the Normandy Food Tour, is well worth the visit too, if not today, over the weekend; open day on Monday. And, adding on to what I said above, there are many other places to visit and things to do this weekend: Hastings Pier, the Blue Reef Aquarium, Fishermen's Museum, Shipwreck Museum, Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, Hastings Castle, the award winning Parks, pubs, bars and restaurants galore, and fish and chips galore!!}

For more information regarding the weekend see the visit1066country website, or just wander around, and remember, as I've already intimated, Hastings Traditional Jack in the Green is back (blog), and I shall provide further details of Monday's Procession before the day, I promise.

Enjoy your weekend!

Hastings Herring Fair 23-24 November 2019

Once again, the Hastings Herring Fair organisers invite you to celebrate the 'silver darlings of the sea' at this free fish, food, drink and music festival at the Stade Open Space this weekend; 11am to 4pm both days. Meet the fishermen and learn traditional skills. With many food and drink traders, a bar run by Lewes brewery Harvey's, live music (see at bottom of blog), cooking demonstrations, and plenty of entertainment for children, indeed there's plenty for everyone. See visit1066country website.

Herring are small tasty silver coloured fish that can be fried, smoked or cured, and they are full of healthy oils and, because they have existed in abundance, they were so named; the word herring comes from the Old German for “multitude”. The Atlantic Herring (Clupea Harengus), is caught around the British coast, though in the biggest numbers in the North Sea, and can reach up to 16 inches in length, but we usually see them at about 8 inches. There is locally caught herring in Hastings this year, so nice and fresh from our local fishing industry, nice one.

The Weekend Music

The Fair is free, so do visit The Stade Open Space in Hastings 'old town' and sample the local fare, not to mention wine, cider and beer, and much local music too, enjoy!

Herring Fair being set up...

Hastings Herring Fair 2019 (1066 Country website) is already being set up for the weekend, and word has it that there are plenty of locally caught herring this year too!

Sussex Street Food Festival

I have to apologize for not giving prior notice, but the Sussex Street Food Festival is on in Hastings over this weekend, so you still have 2 days if you wish to attend! 

The festival is on at The Stade Open Space from yesterday (when I realized and took these photographs!) to tomorrow (Monday 27th), free, and running from 12 noon to 10pm (visit1066country website). There was an impressive array of foods on offer, and drinks, and there were some very interesting aromas pervading the air, enjoy!

27th Hastings Bus Rally

Bus Rally at The Stade today...

African Night Fever at the Stade!

This week's Stade Saturdays event (29th September) sees a fusion of West African rhythmic culture with modern electric guitars as Diabel Cissokho is presented by Afrikaba and African Night Fever from 7.30pm at the Stade Open Space (website). Promises to be an evening of vibrant music and a celebration of African culture, enjoy!



Coastal Currents Arts Festival: 1-30 September 2018

A new mural painted in town, it's September, so it must be the Hastings & St Leonards Coastal Currents Arts Festival 2018! The festival officially starts today, and continues throughout the month, too much is happening to mention everything here, and at so many venues, so I suggest you peruse the website. Though, I have no doubt you'll notice events as you wander around Hastings & St Leonards during the month...

Also, to help launch the Coastal Currents Arts Festival, from 6pm this evening, Stade Saturdays (website) presents Incubate Showcase Night at the Stade Open Space. Local young musicians will play (admission free) and enhance the evening from the stage; Incubate is supported by the Eggtooth Project, developing and 'hatching' the potential of emerging young talent from the town (website). Enjoy the whole day!

Hastings: What's On?!?

If you're trying to avoid the Football World Cup (which is likely to be shown in virtually every pub and bar, well, certainly the England match!)...

For people (mostly) younger than me, and following the hugely successful Pier Jam in April, today (Saturday, 13.00-23.00) sees the return that is Pier Jam Hastings - Part Two (facebook). The new owner apparently accepting already arranged events may be held on Hastings Pier, nice one, enjoy!

Back at the Stade and a slightly more tranquil Strictly Stade Saturday for people of all ages, of course (website pdfs)! From 5pm there will be free workshops to help you learn the trade, then from 7pm until 9pm you can enjoy 2 hours of ballroom, salsa and tango dancing! This is a free HBC event held in collaboration with Hastings Salsa and Dance Hastings CIO, so dance the night away and enjoy!

And, my apologies for missing this so far, but the Hastings Beer & Music Festival 2018 is on its last day up at The Oval, off Bohemia Road, again (website). This event is organised by Hastings Round Table, subsequently, is a charity event and, as such, "every single penny raised goes to local good causes." There will be a Family Afternoon with too much on to list, so look at the website, with the gates opening at 11am until 4pm; and from 4.30pm gates reopen for the evening music with 5 live bands (website), if you haven't already bought your tickets, hurry hurry hurry!

I know where I'll be watching the football, and of course there's music on in bars all over town as ever, but, whatever you do today, please enjoy yourselves!

Hastings Herring Fair 2017 - This Weekend!

The Herring Fair organisers invite you to celebrate the 'silver darlings of the sea' at this free fish, food, drink and folk festival at the Stade Open Space this weekend; 11am to 4pm both days. "Meet the fishermen, learn traditional skills, and witness the blessing of the nets. With around 20 food and drink traders, non-stop live music, a ceilidh, cooking demonstrations from Billingsgate Seafood Training School and top local chefs, and plenty of entertainment for children, there's lots to do. Please note that because the site can get very busy, and there are lots of young children and very hot cooking equipment around, only assist dogs are allowed into the marquee." See website.

Herring are small tasty silver coloured fish, and can be fried, smoked or cured, and are full of healthy oils, and because they have existed in abundance they were so named; the word herring comes from the Old German for “multitude”. The Atlantic Herring (Clupea Harengus), is caught around the British coast, though in the biggest numbers in the North Sea, can reach up to 16 inches in length, but we usually see them at about 8 inches. The photograph above was taken of recently caught herring in Hastings, so this year you will be able to sample locally caught fish, not always so in previous years, but the effort was made to ensure local supplies this year, nice one.

The Fair is free, so feel free to visit The Stade in Hastings 'old town' and sample the local fare, not to mention wines, beers at the FILO bar, and much local music, enjoy!

This Weekend, AND Hastings Week Commences!

So, Hastings Week starts tomorrow (website and facebook page), with the Opening Ceremony from 3pm up at Hastings Castle, with free entry to the castle from 2.30pm, there's a treat! Of course, there will be other events going on before that time, for example, in conjunction with Stade Saturdays on the Stade Open Space will be a Classic Cars & Motorcycles Show from 10am to 3pm, which continues on Sunday, and much more; go to website for further details of events, exhibitions, guided walks...

Of course, much more happening and places to visit, as ever, Hastings Fishermen's Museum, the Aquarium, Lifeboat Station, Parks and Gardens, Miniature Railways, Music Month continues (today as well, see website) and, amongst other things, there will be the Retrobella Vintage & Retro Indoor Market on the Pier both days (website).

The Cyril and Lilian Bishop

The Cyril and Lilian Bishop being towed onto the beach this morning; I've written about this lifeboat, the "Ghost of Dunkirk" a few times now, for more information about her and her history, go to one of my previous blogs, for example here...

Tush and Dee-Day supervising her movements, thanks to the help of volunteers...

Now sited on the Stade Open Space, just below All Saints Street, and from where the annual Blessing of the Sea will be made this evening, just after 6pm.

The Cyril and Lilian Bishop will remain on the Stade until she is towed up All Saints Street on Saturday at 11.00 am to her final dry dock below All Saints Church. Tomorrow evening will see some musical events held on her, and on Friday evening there will be an auction from her deck of numerous donations, where the proceeds will go to her upkeep. 

Another important piece of Hastings history being preserved, nice one!

On today (Wednesday 14th)

The annual Blessing of the Sea will be held this evening, from 6pm, I believe it will be held from the Cyril and Lilian Bishop, due to be moved onto the Stade Open Space this morning, and to be pulled up All Saints Street to its final dry dock on Saturday.

Hastings Fringe Comedy Festival starts this evening and continue until Sunday in the Old Town, we need a good laugh these days! See their facebook page for more details.

Hastings Jazz & Blues Festival 2-4th June 2017

Hastings Winkle Club's Jazz and Blues Festival returns to The Stade Open Space this weekend, Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th June 2017. Free music starts tomorrow (Saturday) at 2pm with the Helen Sharp Jazz Quartet, culminating with the world famous, multi-award winning, Liane Carroll Band, 7.30-9pm. 

Sunday entertainment starts with the Jazz Breakfast, yes, includes food, tea and coffee being available, 10.30am at The Stade Open Space, and winds down with The Tom Fitzpatrick Band 6.30-7.30pm; see website for full details of the free music at The Stade. There will be collection buckets for people, encouraged to make donations to the Winkle Club, who support local charities and poorer folk and people in need (website).

There are 8 other official venues with music starting this evening (Friday), ie the Albion, Anchor, Dragon Bar, Jenny Lind, Old Market, Porters, Nelson and Trader (website for individual gig information). Of course, we're blessed with plenty of live music around the town centre and old town, I know there is music at the Dolphin Inn this evening, and with an act from the Stade crossing the road tomorrow evening (Saturday) to continue their gig! Also, music at the East Hastings Angling Club tomorrow evening! If you know of any further music venues, please let me know, cheers!

Anniversary, Bonfire and more this weekend!

Anyhow... I drank a pint or three of this rather nice 950th anniversary ale from Old Dairy Brewery in the Dolphin Inn, Rock-a-Nore Road, earlier today, after a rather painful root canal experience at the Dentist! Not bad at all pale ale, for a Kent brewer, and spot on delivery for the 950th anniversary.

 Saxons arrive at Battle today

At the Stade Open Space this Saturday, 15th, there is plenty more happening, regarding ale, for example, I believe there will be another couple of anniversary specials on the bar set up by the FILO for the day, and plenty of children's events throughout the day too (website). The earlier part of the day's events are situated in Battle, but a Grande Promenade of Normans and Saxons start at the Stade, 4pm to 5.15pm. 

Also, quite a bit happening on Hastings Pier; see website. By the way, these photographs show the bonfire being built up earlier today, and rumoured to be the biggest and best firework display to come, plus, the most supported Bonfire procession ever tomorrow! So says my contact at the Bonfire Society, though I couldn't get details of what will be placed on the bonfire this year, he denied any knowledge as this is a big secret, but my money would be on either a Norman Longboat, or effigies of Harold Godwinson and William the Bastard (as he was then known).

So, although more will be happening on Sunday too, the real culmination will be Saturday evening with the rather impressive Torchlight Procession, Bonfire and Fireworks; the Procession starting at 7.15pm outside the White Rock Hotel; see the Bonfire Society website for further details and a map of the procession. Have fun!