Procession and Bonfire this evening... means closed seafront roads

The bonfire set up on Pelham Beach earlier today (above), and yes, for obvious safety reasons, roads will be closed to traffic near the seafront from 6pm to 11pm this evening, for the return of Hastings Bonfire celebration (website), part of the Hastings Week celebrations, following the cancellation last year due to the COVID-19 Crisis. 

A Past Procession

The procession congregates at White Rock and starts from that end of Robertson Street at 7.15pm, along Robertson Street and across the America Ground, turning right into Harold Place before turning left and heading eastwards along the seafront to High Street in the old town. Up to the top and across The Bourne to All Saints Street, back down to Rock-a-Nore Road/the seafront and back to the west to the Pelham Beach car park for the bonfire and fireworks at 9pm, see the map above.

Oh yes, and I just spotted that there is a Vintage and Classic Motorcycle Show today, being set up at The Stade Open Space; I was told it closes by 3pm.

Enjoy, stay safe, be careful for your pets and look after each other!

Early-ish Morning Walk...

I thought I'd get out early to beat the crowds, so, there I was down at the seafront (luckily, I only live a 4 minutes walk from the beach, so not that difficult to get there early), and it was pretty quiet indeed, here at the White Rock Theatre...

White Rock Hotel 

Opposite the White Rock Theatre and the White Rock Hotel, of course, is our (sadly not ours anymore though) lovely award winning Hastings Pier...

Just think of the film Byzantium (YouTube trailer), OK, Palace Court really, but a fine old Victorian Gothic building it is (Historic England).

Sculpture on Beach (blog) 

St Mary in the Castle (blog) 

The Hastings Lifeboat Station, RNLI, with the East Hill in the background, and with respect to the crew and volunteers who continue this proud service that is run as a charitable organisation, without central government funding (thankfully, as it means the service does not get hit by central government austerity cuts, phew!).

Hastings Miniature Railway, that travels parallel to the seafront between Rock-a-Nore and Marine Parade (website) and is run by Dan Radcliffe, who also set up and runs the miniature railway in Alexandra Park (blog).

Blue Reef Aquarium (website) 

Shipwreck Museum (website) 

Hastings Fishermen's Museum (blog), also in Rock-a-Nore Road (you can see where I'm going with this early morning walk now), and which also has been the starting point for the Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS) guided walks that returned for the year this weekend with their Stade Walk (website).

Then on to the Stacey Marie RX134 (facebook page), the Fishermen's Museum owned retired fishing boat, and a bit of a project of ours, and more about which you can either read on her facebook page, or by visiting Hastings Fishermen's Museum.

On the other side of Rock-a-Nore Road is the Dolphin Inn (facebook page), where I decamped for a coffee and a couple of pints; they now open for breakfast at 09.00 at weekends and 10.00 weekdays, so they were open for us early birds!

Enjoy the rest of your Easter Weekend, indeed, enjoy 2019, cheers!

Rock Fall at White Rock Yesterday

Whilst we were in Rye yesterday (blog) there was a rock fall at White Rock in Hastings! Thankfully no one was hurt, but one resident's home was seriously damaged, and many others have had to/been advised to move out until their homes are ensured safe to return to (Hastings Borough Council website).

Our thoughts are with those involved, trusting you'll all have safe roofs over your head again before the holidays, best wishes!

Many thanks to the BBC for photograph.

Council Watch: Conservation Areas Public Consultation

Hastings Borough Council is reviewing the existing Hastings Town Centre, White Rock and 'Old Town' conservation areas, including the Pier, Hastings Castle, the Pelham group of buildings and Wellington Square. Before they finalise the document, they would like your views on the draft Appraisal and Management Plan, go for it! See website to make your opinion known, I already have!

Hastings Mardi Gras Ball tomorrow!?!

OK, it may not be Mardi Gras, aka Fat Tuesday, for another month, but the fun this year is being kicked off tomorrow, Saturday 28th January 2017, with the Mardi Gras Ball at The Palace, 37 White Rock! For further details go to website, or see the facebook page.

The Source Park to open very soon!

The Source Park, that is, the new BMX and skateboarding park that is being built in the old swimming baths/ice rink down near the pier at the seafront, is opening on Saturday 13th February 2016; for more information and photographs, see their website. 

... and a reminder of what it looked like when a swimming baths!