Happy Winter Solstice!

Happy Winter Solstice 2024! See Live Science for more information, cheers!

Refuse & Recycling Collection During Holiday Period

Seasonal information, see above for details of refuse and recycling collection days adjustments over next few weeks, or go to Hastings Borough Council at Hastings Online.

Severe Weather Emergency Provision & Homelessness

The Severe Weather Emergency Provision (SWEP) has been activated in Hastings for tonight (Thursday 19 December - facebook). The council has been working with Warming Up The Homeless (website) to provide a place of overnight safety for rough sleepers during the severe weather expected tonight. The overnight centre will be at Gizmo House, 23 Priory Street, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 1EA.

Warming Up The Homeless have confirmed that: • People with pets are welcome • Three hot meals a day will be provided at no cost • People can access free shower facilities • People can access free laundry facilities. People do not need to approach the council in order to access this SWEP provision. But if anyone has any queries regarding this provision outside of office hours, the out of hours team can be contacted on 01424 451999.

The Council is continuing to offer support to rough sleepers this winter including support to find a longer-term home. If you are concerned about someone who is rough sleeping, please get in contact via StreetLink. Stay safe folks.

East Sussex Keep Warm & Well

East Sussex County Council offer advice and help for keeping warm (website). If you know someone who is on a low income and living with a long-term condition or disability, or on a means-tested benefit, or are yourself, a free home visit for a Warm Home Check can be arranged (website). Also, for advice about cost of living support go to their website.

Bottle Alley Festive Light Show

The lights in Bottle Alley are again in 'festive' mode, that is lasting 5 minutes twice every evening at 7.30 and 9.30 pm, extended to 30 minutes next Friday (HBC facebook), enjoy!

Nature recovery in action!

I have been contacted again by Sussex Wildlife Trust to inform me that it’s now been "over three years since a 300km2 area of Sussex seabed was protected from bottom trawling and signs of recovery are starting to be seen. Black Sea Bream and (large) Mussel beds... have been sighted in this protected area, demonstrating nature recovery in action. At the start of the century, 96% of the Sussex Kelp Forest, and the marine life it supported, had disappeared, so it is truly wonderful to see the Sussex Kelp Recovery Project bringing wildlife back to Sussex" (blog).

To find out more about Kelp and Kelp Ecosystem Benefits, including providing spawning and nursery grounds, acting as a carbon conveyor, and providing a natural coastal defence, go to the Sussex Kelp Recovery Project website. Nice one!

Premier Inn in Town Centre Update.

Well, since approval was given in February 2022 for a new hotel to be built between Cornwallis Street and Mann Street (blog), as you can see from the photograph above, it definitely is being built! This will likely change the neighbouhood, I have little doubt...

It's Now December So...

Indeed, I have held off this early seasonal blog until December because, well, just because it was too early for me in November, though apparently not too early for trees and decorations to appear around Hastings town, in shops, and in pubs and bars, so here I am...

Not only does a warm welcome meet you as you come down from from Hastings railway and bus interchange (top), but as you enter the Priory Meadow indoor shopping centre too.

Not to forget the caring bear in front of the Charity Giving Tree in aid of Hastings Foodbank, where you can make a donation by taking a tag from the tree, purchase a suitable gift, and then take the gift to Kids Stuff (website) in Priory Meadow, and many thanks for your kindness.

And a warm welcome also meets you when entering St Andrews Mews after crossing South Terrace from Marks & Spencer, there's a tree placed there since I took this photograph!

And, of course there are many other Christmas Trees, lights and allsorts of decorations around town, so, apologies, but early Seasonal Greetings folks, it's coming nery soon!

Black Friday 'Celebration'

Okay, it's 'Black Friday' but I have nothing to sell, let alone cheaply, so my 'bargain' is reporting on a beer that was my 'one for the road' last night, drank at The Jolly Fisherman, 3 East Beach Street, Hastings TN34 3AR (see my first blog about this atmospheric wee pub).

Brewed by Bristol brewery Left Handed Giant (website), this was their Celebration Blender, a 12.0% Imperial Stout, a blend of Imperial Stouts aged for 12-18 months in bourbon, maple syrup and rye wooden barrels. This was a very luxurious, smooth dark beer that smelt sweet from the maple syrup, and sweet to taste too, a bit of a dark pudding of a beer, as I said, luxurious!

Definitely a beer to end the night with, cheers, now go chase those bargains! 😁

Congratulations to The Dolphin Inn!

Congratulations to The Dolphin Inn, 11-12 Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings TN34 3DW, which, on Monday, was awarded this certificate as CAMRA South East Sussex Branch Community Pub of the Year 2024, nice one folks, good to see CAMRA waking up locally, cheers!

£15 MILLION Wasted on Northeye! So Far...

Yes, why am I not surprised?!? £15 million was wasted by the previous Government's paranoia, with the Home Office last year buying the former prison site at Northeye in its desperation to find places to encamp migrants, and it hasn't been used since because the old prison is asbestos contaminated (BBC)! The number of times I've walked past this old prison when out enjoying the beauty of local countryside, and wondering what could be done with it, not a lot apparently!

Driving in Hastings Ain't Easy!

The town centre itself has seen numerous roads blocked, notably Queens Road (eg blog), including utility companies blocking the road, Police too, work on the traffice lights by Marks & Spencer, and trucks, including trucks with multiple trailers, backing out of Cornwallis Street into Queens Road because they thought they'd found an easy route through, notably to the building of the hotel (blog) on the other side of St Andrews Square, in that end of Cornwallis Street!

Of course there are roadworks all around Hastings too, including in St Margarets Road (above), and I don't have a car at present, but friends have regularly shared their nightmare travels around Hastings! Whatever check up before travelling (Hastings Online), and stay safe folks!

Hastings Old Town Cider Festival 2024

Following the success of the inaugural 2023 festival (blog), the second annual Hastings Old Town Cider Festival 08-16 November 2024 begins today in 7 old town venues! This includes the 4 from last year, The Albion, 33 George Street TN34 3EA, The Crown, 64-66 All Saints Street TN34 3BN, The Jenny Lind, 69 High Street TN34 3EW, and The Jolly Fisherman, 3 East Beach Street TN34 3AR; the 3 new venues joining this year are East Hastings Sea Angling Association and Social Club, The Stade TN34 3FJ, The First In Last Out, 14-15 High Street TN34 3EY, and The Dolphin Inn, 11-12 Rock-a-Nore Road TN34 3DW.

This exciting second year of the festival, first added to Hastings' many events last year, has been arranged by the licensees themselves and promises an even larger sample of ciders and perries, still and fizzy, and from near and far, and you have a week in which to sample the many delights on offer, plus their other drinks, enjoy the week folks, and cheers! 🍻

East Sussex funding gap consultations

UK local authorities face a collective funding gap of £2.3bn for the 2025-26 financial year. East Sussex County Council is facing a funding gap of £55 million. As local authorities have a legal responsibility to set a balanced budget, this means making some difficult decisions. The County Council will still have a net revenue budget of £538.1 million next year, but every department will need to find savings to close the gap. Consultations on some of the savings proposals for Adult Social Care and Health have already started and more proposals for all departments will be considered by Cabinet in November. The consultations started on 3 October and will close on 28 November 2024. Decisions are expected to be made about all of these proposals by councillors in February 2025. Take part in the consultations here to have your say on the proposals.

Sussex Kelp Recovery Project

Earlier this year I wrote a blog about the Hastings Kelp Project, and I keep on receiving more information about kelp and the Sussex Coastline, most recently in the Autumn/Winter 2024 edition of the Sussex Wildlife Trust's magazine Wildlife. This pointed out that the longer running Sussex Kelp Recovery Project suggests there have been 'glimmers of hope' during the last 3 years in Sussex Coastline's kelp, including the recovery of mussel beds, a greater diversity of fish species being caught by the fishing industry, and increases in Black Sea Bream and Lobster populations (website). For more information, go to the Hastings Kelp Project website and the Sussex Kelp Recovery Project website. Good News!

Queens Road Partially Closed to Traffic.

Queens Road remains closed for gas works, it appears, between Stone Street and Cornwallis Street/Efford Street (HBC website); sorry, can't find out until when.

Don't Forget, Time Travel Tonight!

Indeed, at 02.00 tomorrow morning the time in Britain reverts to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT - website), that is, the clocks go back an hour. This may be great for people who stay in bed until late in the day, but for me it just means I will be awake earlier, sort of, because my body clock doesn't recognise changing time, and I am an early riser. Why is there 'Summer Time' then? In many parts of the world altering clocks has been used to get the most out of hours of daylight, but why not just keep GMT in Britain, if we adopt time travel for light purposes only, surely in the summer more hours of useful daylight is unnecessary? It doesn't make sense in the modern world. However, it's not just in Britain that clocks go back and forth, no, in much of the Western World it changes too, despite many countries not following this process, including Japan, India, China, countries near the Equator for obvious reasons, similarly at, or near, the Poles, eg parts of Canada and Greenland, and Argentina.

So why is the 'Prime Meridian' line at Greenwich, and has been since 1884? This boils down to "that in the late 19th century, 72% of the world's commerce depended on sea-charts which used Greenwich as the Prime Meridian... (and it) ...would be of advantage to the largest number of people" (website). So there you have it, I trust that 'night owls' will enjoy the extra rest. However, let's just stick to GMT I suggest, I'm not so fond of this type of time travelling! 😉

Hastings Lifeboat Fish Supper: Just A Few Tickets Left!

Hastings RNLI Lifeboat Station has just annoinced that only a few tickets remain for their 2024 Fish Supper (facebook). This is being held on Wednesday the 6th of November at 19.00, food served from 19.30, at The Old Town Fryer, 1 East Beach Street TN34 3AR. There will be a quiz, raffle, entertainment from the 'Completely Scuppered Shanty' singers, and food served by lifeboat crew. Tickets are £14 cash only, available at the RNLI Shop and the Old Town Fryer.

Hastings Lifeboat Jewellery Sale & Open Day!

It’s the RNLI Hastings Lifeboat Station 'fantastic' Jewellery Sale this weekend (19th and 20th) and on the Sunday they are also having a mini open day! 10:30 onwards. (facebook) "Come down and purchase some beautiful pre loved jewels, see the boats and meet the crew" 😊 All money raised goes to help save lives at sea, much respect from me!

On this day in 1066 Edgar the Ætheling became King!

History! On this day in 1066, Edgar the Ætheling was pronounced King of England, indeed, he was the last in the line of Saxon Kings of England, being the last male descendant in direct line from Edmund Ironside (Edmund II). Image above thanks to BBC.

Although he was never crowned, Edgar was King until 10th December 1066, when William the Bastard (as he was known in those days) took him into custody. Indeed, as natural heir, Edgar should have been King since January 1066, but he was considered too young then, and war was being faced. Instead, Harold Godwinson was chosen as King by the Witenagemot; the Council of the Anglo-Saxon Kings of England that had existed for over 400 years.

Edgar escaped capture in 1068, and led a very eventful life, living into his 70s. Looking him up is well worth the read; eg see the English Monarchs website.

14th of October is Hastings Day!

Happy (?) Hastings Day, the 958th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, which by chance was held a few miles inland at a place called Battle, although that is disputed by some. Anyway, the fun kicked off on Saturday with the annual Bonfire Procession, Bonfire and Fireworks (blog), and events continue throughout this week; go to the website for full information.

The photographs I have used in this blog are from a blog I wrote nearly 9 years ago about Hastings Castle, seemed appropriate, enjoy!

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!

St Andrews Square Back to Normal, at last!

I first mentioned the leak and 6 excavations in St Andrews Square the month before last (blog), this morning the final work finished, until the next time, at least, phew!

Hastings Tap Takeover at 15 Venues!

Hastings Tap Takeover 2024 I can herald for this weekend, 4th to the 6th of October 2024 (website), in 15 venues right across Hastings & St Leonards, with ales and crafty keg beers, from 15 different breweries from across the country! 🍺 In Hastings Old Town: The Crown, 64-66 All Saints Street TN34 3BN (website) has beers from Fauna Brewing; The Jenny Lind, 69 High Street TN34 3EW (website) has beers from Loud Shirt Brewing; The Jolly Fisherman, 3 East Beach Street TN34 3AR (above image - website) has beers from Left Handed Giant; and The Albion, 33 George Street TN34 3EA (website) has beers from Three Acre Brewery.

In Hastings Town Centre: The Imperial, 119 Queens Road TN34 1RL (website) has beers from Rivington Brewing; 1200 Postcards, 80 Queens Road TN34 1RL (facebook) has beers from Dark Revolution; The Prince Albert, 28 Cornwallis Street, Hastings TN34 1SS (above image - website) has beers from Cloudwater Brew Co; Eel & Bear, 28 Waldegrave Street TN34 1SJ (website) has beers from Pomona Island Brew Co; The Courtyard, White Rock TN34 1JA (facebook) has beers from Chain House Brewing; and The Seadog, 32 Station Road TN34 1NJ (website) has beers from State of Kind Brew Co.

In St Leonards: Collected Fictions, Unit 1, 6-8 London Road TN37 6AE (instagram), and no, I don't use instagram either 😣 with beers from Baron Brewing Co; Heist Market, 22-26 Norman Road TN37 6NH (website) with beers from Three Blind Mice; The Piper, 1 Norman Road TN37 6NH (website) with beers from The Kernel Brewery; Goat Ledge, Lower Promenade, Warrior Square TN37 6FA (website) with beers from Earth Ale; and at The Tower, 251 London Road TN37 6NB (above image - facebook) with beers from the excellent Bristol Beer Factory.

More details of breweries etc at Steve the Beermeister. Enjoy your weekend folks! 🍻

Leaks, Pits and Hotels!

I've recently been reporting about the LEAK, pits and trenches in and around St Andrew's Square (eg blog), but now I can confirm that something is happening. The photographs on today's blog were taken over the weekend, you'll appreciate, it's a bit more damp this morning! Anyway, the leaky holes are still there in the car parking spaces, but the leak looks to have been fixed; I hope my raising the matter with Southern Water had some influence. Meanwhile the pits at the 4 corners of the square have been roughly filled in, but still need road surface replacement.

But I noticed another leak in Priory Street! I'm sure there are many other leaks around town, feel free to mention them in the comments below so that othere are aware, cheers!

And the hotel in Cornwallis Street (blog)? Well, as you can see above, notices have been added to the fencing around the building site which confirm the planned hotel is to be situated there.

Hastings Lifeboats On Exercise This Evening!

The RNLI Hastings Lifeboat Station is launching both of Hastings lifeboats on exercise this evening (25th September). You are invited to go down and see what they do. The ILB launch is scheduled for 1700, and followed shortly afterwards by the launch of the ALB. Recovery will be at approximately 2000, subject to operations (facebook), respect! Well worth the visit folks.

Oktoberfest in September!

Oktoberfest at The Prince Albert, 28 Cornwallis Street TN34 1SS (website), comes early each year. I'd been meaning to check up on when its Oktoberfest was being held, as I remembered from last year I just got in on the last day, which I did again this year, ie yesterday, though some beers should still be available. And they do have quite a busy period coming up... 🍺🎉🍻

I started off with the cask ale, brewed by Anspach & Hobday (website), their 4.3% session IPA Wunderbar, brewed in collaboration with German Kraft Brewery (website). German hops are used in abundance, Callista (BarthHaas), Hersbrucker (hopslist), and Huell Melon (hopslist), producing a cornucopia of fruit taste and aroma, notably, melon, dark berries, forest and citrus fruits. The beer was slightly cloudy and, yes, packed full of fruity flavours indeed, with a dry bitter finish, and I thought a wee bit different, and not bad at all! 🍺

I then started on the lagers, first from Edinburgh brewery Newbarns (website), who the pub featured during Hastings Tap Takeover last year (blog). I drank their 5.6% Festival Bier (5.7% last year) brewed using a blend of 10 different malted barleys, producing a German style golden lager. It was slightly bitter, with plenty of flavour, and very easy to drink for its strength! 😁

I then moved on to the real thing 😉 from Bavarian brewery Hacker-Pschorr (website), their special seasonal 6.0% Oktoberfest Bier, brewed with Alpine Spring Water and 'noble' Hallertau hops (hopslist), and brewed in March specifically to mature for Oktoberfest. This was a slightly darker amber colour, a subtle maltiness with a clean finish; my notes say 'folks will realise I'm not a lager drinker, but this is pretty damn good!" Which says it all really, nice one. 👍

Then, from another Bavarian brewery Hofbrau Munchen (website) and their 6.3% Hofbrau Oktoberfestbier, another festival 'special' beer brewed with Herkules (hopslist), Perle (hopslist), and Spalter Select (Hop Alliance) hops. This is a pale golden colour with a subtle sweetness and hints of grapefruit and dried fruits to the taste, very refreshing, and 6.3% (!) so dangerous to drink. My notes say "so much better than the commercial lagers brewed over here." So obviously true, no comparison, I could (shouldn't) drink this all day, cheers. 🍻

I finished off with another Bavarian brew from Flotzinger Brau (website) and their 5.8% Wies'n-Marzen, brewed specifically for the Rosenheim Autumn Festival, not Munchen Oktoberfest like the previous 2 😉 but available all year round. Brewed with Hallertau (hopslist) and Tettnanger (hopslist) hops, and I'll just repeat my notes: "I could get addicted to proper European beers brewed in their own country, pale, drinkable, in fact tasty! Nice one 👍" Oktoberfest done for another year, cheers folks! 😁