Urgent! Register to vote by tomorrow night.

As I suggested in my blog of 25th of October, a General Election was imminent, well we know now it is to be held on Thursday the 12th of December 2019... And, you have until before midnight tomorrow (11.59pm/23.59 hours, or if you want a postal vote, it needs to be before 5pm/17.00 hours), Tuesday the 26th of November, to register (Government website). Registering online "usually takes about 5 minutes" only, and remember, if you are not on the register you cannot vote, and you may be fined!* 

If you want/need to register to vote please do hurry to the website and register.

* Explained in older blog

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!



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!

Hastings RNLI Lifeboat Quiz Night

This Tuesday evening, and another fun money raising activity for Hastings Lifeboat Station (facebook), Tuesday 19th of November 2019, 7.30pm start, Quiz Night at East Hastings Sea Angling Association at The Stade; £2.50 per person, maximum 6 people per team... Have fun supporting the RNLI in Hastings!

Burning Sky Tap Takeover at the Jolly Fisherman

By Steve the Beermeister:

This weekend, at The Jolly Fisherman, 3  East Beach Street, Hastings TN34 3AR, there will be a tap takeover by Sussex brewery Burning Sky (website), 9 Burning Sky ales and crafty kegs available! Indeed, yesterday I had to drink their rather wonderful Aurora, a 5.6% pale golden ale with plenty of hops from the USA producing a fruity aroma and taste with plenty of body, please may I have another, cheers!

SoCo RX19 Exhibition

From today until the 24th of November an art exhibition inspired by Hastings Fishermen's Museum and the local fishing community, SoCo RX19 is being held at the Stade Hall, with some 'small artworks' integrated into the Hastings Fishermen's Museum too (Katherine Reekie). To find our more about SoCo Artists, who are based in East Sussex, go to their website.

Will this ever be used again?!?

This was from two years ago (at the west end of the Stade Cafe), I cannot remember the last time this advertising display was working/being used?!? 😕

Hastings Pier Former Staff Damages Payouts

2 former employees of Hastings Pier have each been awarded £3,500, one for 'damages' and the other was an out of court settlement for similar, the money being paid up by Lions Hastings Pier Ltd (facebook).

South Terrace Closed

South Terrace (photograph from corner with Queens Road, by M&S) will remain closed for another 2 to 3 weeks due to Southern Water undertaking Sewer maintenance.

Old Town Hall Clock Repaired!?!

I took this photograph earlier, and, as you can see, the clock at the Old Town Hall Museum (blog I wrote about the building and its closure over 4 years ago) has been fixed and up again, although not sure if it's actually running yet! Anyway, the building is still up for rent, which has been reduced to £19,500 per annum (HBC website), with the closing date for offers being a couple of weeks time, the 19th of November 2019.

Oh, and I took this photograph when it was a bit darker this morning, but you can tell that the clock is well lit, nice one!

Breakfast and Rugby at the Dolphin

Earlier this year (blog) I reported that Clare was now the chef at the Dolphin Inn, 11-12 Rock-a-Nore Road, TN34 3DW (website), but I have not eaten a Full English Breakfast there since, although I have had many excellent bacon (locally 'smoked' across the road) sandwiches, because I'm being sensible about my diet these days, and despite having eaten breakfasts all around town before, eg at the Anchor Inn (blog). But yesterday, I was there for the Rugby Union World Cup Final, along with many others of various ages, male and female, all of whom were a wee bit upset at the result, except 2 Scotsmen, oh well, I did enjoy my breakfast, ales, and the craic!

So, to the food, of the various breakfasts available, I had to chose the Full English, of course, as it's what I've always compared when writing about breakfasts before, and above you will see a photograph of my meal, costing £6.75, and the price including a mug of tea or mug of various coffees. This is a slight variation on the usual Full English, which includes bubble & squeak, but without the beans and fried potatoes.

They also have a smaller version at £4.25, a Vegetarian Breakfast, Welsh Breakfast, Kedgeree, GEG (a pretty special scrambled eggs on toast, but look up all the breakfasts at the website!), and a Classic Omelette, all at £6.75 and including a tea of coffee in the price too. Breakfast is available until lunchtime (12.00 noon, then lunch) every day, starting at 10.00 am on weekdays, but at 09.00 at weekends. Food is locally sourced, particularly from Hastings Fish Market, which is opposite the pub.

Of course there is always ale, including these 2 excellent guest ales yesterday, another guest ale (Harveys Old Ale yesterday), and 3 regular ales, including 2 ales brewed in Sussex, Dark Star Hophead and Harveys Sussex Best. But to the breakfast I ate!

As I said above, a slight variation on the usual Full English, with Double Bacon (Clare's own and delicious!), a Pork Sausage (very eatable), Fried Egg (perfectly cooked, only a wee bit runny), Plum Tomato, Mushrooms (should always be included in any Full English in my opinion!), Black Pudding (not everyone's favourite, but I'm happy to eat it), Fried Sliced Potatoes (liked these muchly!), Baked Beans and Toast (lovely bread). Also, they are always happy to omit or add other ingredients when asked, eg if you hate Black Pudding, which I don't, indeed, you can create your own breakfast! 😉

Anyway, good value, nicely cooked and presented, thanks to Clare and colleagues, but maybe I shouldn't leave it so long before I have a cooked breakfast next time...

Snowflake Winter Night Shelter 2019/20

The Snowflake Winter Night Shelter will return again for 2019/20, providing supervised overnight accommodation to homeless people who would otherwise be sleeping rough in Hastings & St Leonards from the evening of Friday 29th of November 2019 to the morning of Wednesday 18th of March 2020. Users of the service are referred by various local organisations including Hastings Borough Council Housing Department, the Seaview Project, St John Ambulance Homeless Service, and other agencies. They are calling for volunteers to help run the service during the coming winter months (website).

Registration and Training Evenings will take place at the following venues, starting at 6.30pm and lasting approximately 2 hours (see website for further updates).

Sunday 3rd of November at St Matthew's Church Centre, Silverhill TN37 6PD.

Tuesday 5th of November at St Mary, Star of the Sea Church Hall, Hastings Old Town TN34 3BD.

Wednesday 6th of November at Wellington Square Baptist Church, Hastings Town Centre TN34 1PN.

Thursday 7th of November at Chapel Park Community Centre Hall, St Leonards TN37 6HR.

Saturday 9th of November at Christ Church, Blacklands & St Andrew Hall, Laton Road TN34 2ES.

Friday 16th of November at St John the Evangelist Church Hall, Brittany Road, Upper St Leonards TN38 0RD.

As suggested above, check the website for any further sessions and updates.