Hastings Day 2025, indeed, in Hastings Week!

Indeed, today is Hastings Day, being the 959th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings (English Heritage) and, as usual, Hastings Week has been set up around this anniversary. For details of Hastings Week events still to come go to the website. For specific details about the Bonfire on Saturday, go to the HBBS website. Whatever, enjoy your week, and Happy Hastings Day!

Hastings Bonfire Day/Night 2024 This Weekend!

Hastings Week 2024 commences tomorrow (Saturday 12th September - website) and, of course, tomorrow also coincides with Hastings Bonfire celebrations (website). The bonfire is already being set up, indeed, saw people working on it yesterday, and leads up to Hastings Day on Monday 14th September, the 958th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings (Britannica).

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. Enjoy!

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).

Hastings Day, Week and Beer!

Hastings Week begins today and, as ever, is based around the anniversary of the Battle of Hastings on the 14th of October 1066, beginning with the opening ceremony at 10.30 today (Saturday 7th) on Winkle Island, Rock a Nore Road, and culminating with Hastings Day itself, and the torchlit procession from the America Ground along the seafront and around the Old Town, and back to Pelham Beach for the bonfire and fireworks; all weather permitting! For more details of these and other events for the next week plus, go to the website.

And beer? Well. this weekend sees a beer festival across 16 venues from the Marina Fountain, West St Leonards, to the Crown in the Old Town, that is, Hastings Tap Takeover 2023 (website). Each of the venues has its beer taps taken over by beers from different independent breweries from around the country, for example, I've already enjoyed drinking Scottish brewery Newbarns' beers at the Prince Albert, Cornwallis Street, in the town centre, and more of that soon... 

Enjoy the weekend, indeed, enjoy the week!

Hastings Bonfire, Procession & Fireworks and more!

The bonfire set up on Pelham Beach earlier today (above). Roads will be closed to traffic near the seafront and in the old town between 6.00 and 11.00pm this evening, to allow for the Procession and Hastings Bonfire celebrations to go ahead safely (HBBS), the culmination of Hastings Week 2022 celebrations. The procession will congregate at White Rock and starts from that end of Robertson Street about 7.15pm, following the lighting of the beacon at 7.00pm up on the East Hill and the arrival of lit torches. The procession will proceed along Robertson Street and across the America Ground, turning right into Harold Place, then turning left and heading eastwards along the seafront to Rock-a-Nore Road in the old town, turning left and walking up All Saints Street to the top. Then crossing The Bourne to the High Street and back down to the seafront and turning right to the west and to the Pelham Beach car park for the bonfire and fireworks at 9pm, see the map below, and website for full details.

I wonder who the effigy will be of this year... Putin? 😏

As it still is Hastings Week (website), there are other things going on too this weekend. Today (Saturday) includes the 5th Hastings Vintage & Classic Motorcycle Show, from 10.00am to 2.30pm at The Stade, and the 69th National Town Criers Championship at Butlers Gap in George Street from 11.00am. Tomorrow (Sunday) sees the 13th Sprat & Winkle Run, which begins in Sevenoaks from 7.00am, driving through Kent and East Sussex before arriving in Hastings between 10.00am and 12.30pm, and finishes at 4.00pm. What is the Sprat & Winkle Run? It is a run organised by the Historic Commercial Vehicle Society (website), so expect to see about 70 vintage commercial vehicles at The Stade tomorrow...

The closing ceremony, that is The Reflection, will be held in St Clements Church, Swan Terrace from 4.00pm tomorrow (Sunday). 

Further details for the weekend can be seen at the website, enjoy, and stay safe!

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!

BONFIRE 2019!

Setting up for this years Bonfire on Pelham Beach (Saturday 19th October website) this morning, the culmination of Hastings Week (blog), and I'm still guessing who will be on the bonfire, but I'm going for Donald Trump 😉

Past Procession

The torchlight procession starts tomorrow building up outside the White Rock Hotel but actually begins at the bottom of Robertson Street on the America Ground at 19.15 (website), with the bonfire and fireworks on Pelham Beach at 21.00, and the forecast doesn't look too bad... Have fun, it should be good!

Fireworks and Jollity earlier...

This time in the centre of town at Priory Meadow, because...

the Christmas lights are back on, festive greetings! 

The Bonfire and Fireworks: a few photographs...

Borrowed from facebook, consequently, shared all over the place, so I can't be sure who posted them, but many thanks to the individuals concerned. Anyway, the Longboat above.

Fireworks, and there were a lot! 

The end of the Longboat!

Nearly cleared up! (My image)

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!

Carnival Ends with a Bang!

The fireworks last night were quite impressive, always good to enjoy their majesty! There's still plenty of Carnival events to enjoy today, including numerous walks and exhibitions Garden Parties (see website). And don't forget the postponed Jimmy Read Memorial Bike Ride is set for this evening up Crown Lane!

Plus plenty more to do and visit elsewhere, Hastings Fishermen's Museum, the Castle, Blue Reef Aquarium, and Hastings Pier with the Circus and today, The Science on Sea Family Workshops with Blast Science! See the Pier's website for further details. 

Have fun!

Carnival Day! Saturday 6th August 2016

There is plenty going on, of course, so I shall mention the events that I feel are most important, and the ones I tend to support (you'll probably know which interests I tend to follow by now, if you're a regular reader!), however, the full details are at the website, and don't forget, there will be music in other pubs and bars not mentioned too, after all, this is Hastings on a Saturday! There is an Arts & Crafts Fair, together with refreshments appropriately, at St Clements Church 10am to 2pm, where friend of William Morris, Dante Gabriel Rossetti married Elizabeth Siddal in 1860 (see my blog of 7th March 2015).

From 11am to 4pm Mick Barrow is on duty in Rock-a-Nore Road talking about Fishing, Past and Present at an Open Net Shop and Display of Nets and Pots; any donations will be passed on to Prostate Cancer UK. Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS) have organised for their 2 regular walks on the one day, so, meeting at Hastings Fishermen's Museum at 11am for their Stade Guided Walk and at 2.30pm by the top of West Hill Lift for their Original Old Town Walk, for which donations to the Fishermens Museum and OHPS respectively would be appreciated, many thanks.

Of course, the climax of the day will be the Firework Display up at the Castle at dusk, following the Carnival Parade, which starts at Rock-a-Nore Road at 5pm and wanders around the old town for a few hours, with breaks for music at various locations; for further details of the organisation of this event, please go to the website. 

Enjoy Carnival Day!

Sunday in Carnival Week; It hasn't stopped yet!

I loved the fireworks last night, but there is still much to do today (see website), including a 'Pop Up' fete organised by the Winkle Club at Winkle Island, where else?!? I do believe there will be a piratical influence, enjoy!

Carnival Parade today!

The Carnival Week just carries on, and not completely over at the end of today either! Today's events are designated on the website, but pretty much culminate in the parade that builds up for much of the day at Rock-a-Nore, and starts at 5pm (assembly commences at 1.30pm), then ending the day with a firework display up by the castle on West Hill later in the evening. 

Don't forget that Rock-a-Nore Road is closed to traffic for most of the day, DO forget about parking in the car park there, but don't forget to enjoy yourself!