Hastings Old Town Guided Walks Return

The Old Hastings Preservation Society (OHPS) Tuesday afternoon guided walks of Hastings Old Town begin again on Tuesday the 3rd of May (website), that is, a guided walk of the old town, of the "premier ancient Cinque Port." You are now asked to book your place in advance, cost £6 per person, either on their website, or pop into Hastings Fishermen's Museum, call 01424 461446, or email ohpswalks@gmail.com.

On the day, you should meet up by the West Hill Cafe (just above the lift going up to Hastings Castle, with its lower entrance at the west end of George Street) at 2.30pm on Tuesday 3rd of May; then, every Tuesday until the 27th of September, plus a few other days too... There is a wealth of historic buildings, twittens and cat-creeps to explore in Hastings old town, and the volunteer guide will explain why celebrities of their day (for example, the Pre-Raphaelites in the 19th century, see blog) have, indeed, and still do, flock to Hastings. 

The walk will proceed gently downhill, including a number of steps to manage, and lasts about 2 hours. It's worth wearing comfortable walking shoes, obviously, and the weather forecast suggests it will be bright on Tuesday (Met Office), so be prepared with Factor 50 or hat if, like me, you redden as soon as the sun casts its rays on you! 

Enjoy the day!

Had to see the latest Norman Invasion of Hastings...

Indeed, I'd got the day wrong originally, but glad to have found out and passed that information in my last blog, where I gave details of the friendly invasion, the Normandy Food Tour 2022, and it seemed pretty friendly too! Food, drinks (where most visitors appeared to be sitting - behind the vehicle in front of me) and music...

The Food Tour is well worth the visit, and still 4 hours left for it to be open in Hastings, but, of course, the RNLI Lifeboat Station a few metres away is well worth the visit too, if not today, over the weekend. And, adding on to what I said in my last blog, of course, there are many other places to visit and things to do: 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!! Not to forget Jack in the Green this weekend...

Enjoy yourselves!

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 May Day Weekend - Jack in the Green Returns!

Hastings Traditional Jack in the Green isn't just about the impressive May Day bank holiday Monday morning procession (above, near the start in Rock-a-Nore Road), no, it is returning with much merrymaking, drinking, music and dancing from Friday the 29th of April evening, and over the weekend, and culminating with the Procession through Hastings old town on Monday the 2nd of May, an afternoon of entertainment up on the West Hill, and the Slaying of the Jack from 4pm. See the website for fuller details.

Also, the organiser of Bike1066 has retired, so there will be no official Bikers' event in Hastings on Monday (HBC), but Hastings Council is allotting dedicated motorbike parking in Pelham Place car park and at The Stade open space. I am assured by a friend that quite a few motorbikes will be turning up to Hastings over the weekend, particularly on Monday, since the event hasn't happened since 2019 (blog). Indeed, biker groups are now consulting one another about organising an event for next year.

Roll on!! 👌 

Carnaval do Brasil returns!

Indeed, as I wrote just before Hastings own Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday festival (blog), Carnaval in Brazil was postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic, indeed, more than just the 3 weeks originally planned for, but it is on right now, continuing until next weekend (Sky), if you fancy flying out there! 😉 It's like the spectacle and glamour never went away, for example, see YouTube for evidence on film. 

Great to see, but let's not forget we have our own spectacle with Jack in the Green next weekend (blog), I'm so looking forward to our May Day Festival this year!

St George's Day, Art in the Park & This Weekend

I took this photograph (above) whilst walking through Alexandra Park yesterday morning, and thought it an appropriate time to mention this excellent use of the old bowling green and pavilion to provide help for mental health in Hastings through Art for Wellbeing (website). Hastings Borough Council advertised its new use as Art in the Park on its website in March, and photographs of last weekend's successful activities and fete can be seen at the Sussex Express website. Nice one!

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

And Happy St George's Day! The day that William Shakespeare was coincidentally born on (at least his birth is celebrated on the 23rd of April... he was baptised on the 26th of April 1564), and died on, the 23rd of April 1616.

So, apart from the sharing of St George's Day cards aplenty, what else is happening this weekend? Well, music, beer and cheer are still available this weekend on Hastings Pier (see earlier blog), and the weather appears to be staying fine (Met Office), so that's nice. Other events can be found online (eg visit1066country), or just walk along the seafront, or in the parks, and enjoy your weekend, have fun!

Congratulations to Hastings United!

Many (belated) congratulations to Hastings United Football Club for winning the Isthmian South East Division Title last week (website); how did I miss this at the time?!? Anyway, they won the title with 3 games in hand, 2 of which they have already won (Hastings United 3 VCD Athletic 0 and Lancing 0 Hastings United 2), with the remaining match at home to Sevenoaks Town on Saturday 23rd April, kick-off 15.00 hrs.

Great stuff, and congratulations again!!

Many thanks for the image above to the Sussex Express website. 

Easter in Hastings, and more to come!

If you'd like to explore Hastings fishing quarter, the Stade Fishing Quarter 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, though not expected to rain this weekend) ready to explore the net huts, fishing industry and beach, and learn the history of this hundreds of years old industry for a walk of up to about 90 minutes. You are advised to wear suitable footwear and clothing, and if you have any special mobility needs please contact the Fishermen's Museum in advance. This used to be a free guided walk dependent on donations, but now costs just £4, and is delivered by a volunteer. Great to see the return of these walks!

Of course there is much more to do over the weekend, for all ages, eg see Hastings Pier's facebook page, and, as I said last week, for most Sundays there is free live music on the pier too (blog). For further details of events this weekend, see Hastings Easter Festival website, or go to visit1066country.

If you've wondered what this (above) was, situated by the Hastings Contemporary Art Gallery, indeed, which arrived during the evening of the 31st of March, it is the Green Lady, and the harbinger of Hastings Traditional Jack in the Green, which returns to 'normal' over the May Day weekend this year (website). Incidentally, this week the gallery was accepted as a donation from the Jerwood Foundation to Hastings Borough Council; it will continue to be run by its current local management.

Have a good extended public holiday weekend folks!

Free Live Music on Hastings Pier!

I said I'd try to be more jolly this blog 😉 and a free live gig on Hastings Pier, which reopened at the beginning of the month (blog), what more do you want, oh yes, and the forecast looks favourable too (Met Office). 1066 LIVE brings Big Blue to the Bier Garden on the Pier from 3.00 to 7.00 pm tomorrow afternoon, and many other Sunday gigs until late in September too (see image above, weather permitting).

Enjoy! 

Sad Sight, and apologies, but I've been away again!

Again, my apologies for not writing recently, but I was up int' frozen North! But I'm back now, and was saddened to see the obvious loss of the fishmongers in Queens Arcade when I walked through it (blog from March), shakes head... 😢

I'll try to be jolly next blog! 😉