Goat Ledge Cafe Light Breakfast, Honest!

I've been mentioning the Goat Ledge Cafe many times over recent years, for example, when it reopened for takeaways after the first lockdown (blog), and in my last blog, and I keep on saying I must write a blog about the cafe soon. Anyway, I thought I'd have a light breakfast there today.

Okay, not as impressive as the light breakfast I had on the Pier recently (blog), but a similar price. The bap/bread roll/bread cake came out a wee bit flattened, so not so great to look at, but a decent amount of tasty bacon (sorry vegetarians, I'm sure they have something for you too). I've had a few drinks on the beach there too over the years, mostly with my brother and sister-in-law, and their daughters and her friends. Convivial indeed. But yes, by choice, in future I'll go to the only facility for me on Hastings Pier and a breakfast in/by Casa de Pier at the Pavilion.

Hastings: Updates, Good & Bad News, What's Going On?

I was out earlier, walking along the seafront, and saw this quite lovely view of the Channel and a cafe, Goat Ledge (website), which I really do have to write a blog about soon. It reminded me of the Hastings Pride Festival and Parade on Sunday (blog). I found out earlier that our new Member of Parliament Helena Dollimore M.P. was the first ever Hastings M.P. to speak at Hastings Pride (twitter, wants to be called X); make your own assumptions about the previous 2.

I did wonder earlier this month (blog) whether the Hotel plan for Cornwallis Street Car park would be going ahead, well, something is definitely happening there! Let's wait and see...

Whilst in the area, surprise surprise, yet another water leak, this time in St Andrews Square, and it has been dug up since before the weekend. I spoke to a Highways official this morning, and yes, he said, there is a water leak... Waiting for it to be fixed, and remember all these leaks when you are paying your water rates/bill, and a wonderful visitor to the area decided to park, basically, where she shouldn't, thankfully she left before anyone turned up to work on it, laugh stifled!

There will be an exercise launch of the Hastings Lifeboat this evening at 18.00, recovery planned for 19.00 (facebook), worth a visit if you haven't seen a launch yet!

Do you recognise this man? Seen here entering the Dolphin Inn, Rock a Nore Road, early yesterday morning after breaking in through a window, after which he stole a number of charity boxes, obviously he has no conscience or scruples! If you do know the thief/criminal please get in touch with the Police (website), or call 101 or 01273 475432 for Hastings Police.

He rode off on a cycle, tats on arms/hands, and generously left his fingerprints behind...

Hastings Pride Festival 2024 Starting VERY Soon/Now!

I've only just noticed people dressed appropriately as I went shopping, thus, I very nearly forgot, it's Hastings Pride Festival 2024 starting right about now, Sunday 25th August (website). So, very hurriedly, I apologise, the Parade begins at 11.00 at The Stade Open Space and heads along the seafront and turns up to the right, just after the Pier and White Rock Hotel, to The Oval, which opens at 11.45 for the Festival activities, 12.00 to 9.00pm, enjoy folks!

RX134 - Stacey Marie

RX134, Stacey Marie, was the retired fishing boat that, until recently (blog), sat opposite the Dolphin Inn, Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings, and had been looked after by Hastings Fishermen's Museum, and a couple of local volunteers, until she became unsafe, and funds were not available to carry out the necessary work to make her safe. She was built at Newhaven in the 1940s for the Grant brothers, one of whom Alfred "Puff" Grant named the boat "Linda" after his Grand-daughter; the boat's original registration was NN39 (Newhaven registration). She was built as a punt, becoming a decked boat in the 1950s, thanks to a grant from the White Fish Authority, a government scheme set up to rebuild the country's fishing industry following World War II. The Grant bothers fished out of Eastbourne until the early 1960s, when a tragic accident saw one of the brothers swept overboard, whilst his brother was below deck. The body was later trawled up at Hastings, a sad reminder of how dangerous commercial fishing still remains, RIP.

Jack Edmunds brought the boat to Hastings in 1961, where she became registered at Rye, and thus became RX134. Jack sold her to Rod Knight in 1976; who re-named her "Andrew Peter" after his two sons. Robert "Podgy" Ball later bought her in 1985 and gave her the name "Stacie Marie". RX134 worked until 1997, when she was the oldest boat working from Hastings beach (many thanks to Hastings Fishermen's Museum for the photograph immediately above). In June 1999 she was acquired by the Fishermen's Museum and was placed on display in Rock-a-Nore Road in front of the fishing huts/net sheds/net shops, next to the Fish Market, to the west of the Museum, where she was often seen in the local media, and was a well known landmark and focal point, eg during Jack in the Green (top image), after her colour was changed to red.

Information was provided for a facebook page (facebook), which thankfully looks like it is still available (blog) and this blog, by Hastings Fishermen's Museum at Rock-a-Nore, and the sadly no longer with us local fisherman, Jimmy 'Toller' R.I.P. (blog), many thanks to all.

Rye International Jazz & Blues Festival 2024

I usually make a trip over to Rye each week, but not this week, because it will likely be too busy for me, what with the 2024 Rye Internationl Jazz & Blues Festival starting today and running to Monday (22-26 August 2024 - website). Feel free to call me miserable or a killjoy, but I'm not really, I just dislike crowds, indeed, if you do go, enjoy yourselves folks!

I've been away in Sheffield...

If you don't follow my alter ego's blog, 'tis mostly about beer and food!

RX134 Stacey Marie in Hastings facebook page alert

I'm trusting it was just spam, but I've had a message that the Stacey Marie's facebook account (facebook) will be closed down because of a copyright infringement. I never knowingly infringe copyright, and on a couple of occasions when I have been contacted by offended folk I have corrected immediately with apologies. I have sent a message to Meta believing the message to be spam, there was no way I was going to click on what was suggested I click on by the message. I trust this is just someone trying to mess up my page and IT, and the page will continue, as I dearly wish to keep the memory of Stacey Marie RX134 alive. However, should it be serious I am sorry, but it will mean that facebook/Meta doesn't want to keep the memory of this old fishing boat alive, and I haven't a clue why?!? 🤔 I will keep her alive on this Steve on Hastings blogspot whatever, fingers crossed folk. 🤞

Not Art for Art's Sake?!?

I saw this in George Street earlier this week, now is this the result of an impressively neat and fastidious 'rough sleeper' or is it a work of art? The clues include a copy of the programme for the 2024 Coastal Currents arts festival (website) in between the sleeping bag and the pair of shoes... A juxtaposition of Tracey Emin's artwork perhaps?

H.O.T. Carnival Procession et al... Plus.

OK, this is a library photograph of mine as the current Hastings Lifeboat can no longer get around the island in front of Iceland, with it's tractor it is just too long. However, images of the procession yesterday can be found on the H.O.T. Carnival facebook page (I was away due to the reintroduction of football in England following the inter seasons break, my bad!).

The image immediately above, however, was Hastings Lifeboat contribution yesterday (image thanks to their facebook page), trusting they raised serious money, and trusting others taking part did similarly too, Respect to Hastings! Things are still happening in connection with the Carnival Week; see website for today (Sunday), and tomorrow, Monday 12th, sees the annual Fancy Dress Litter Pick (website) organised, as ever, by local councillor James Bacon, and meeting at The Stade Open Space at 10.30. Many thanks in anticipation of their effort.

Steve the Beermeister says to not forget that there are some rather interesting Polish beers still available at The Jolly Fisherman, East Beach Street (blog), enjoy folks!

By Steve the Beermeister: Mini Tap Takeover!

Indeed, I had a chance to get in on the takeover early last night, but beers from the Polish brewery Pinta Barrel Brewing (website) will be served up for this weekend (9/11th August) mini tap takeover at our favourite Hastings micropub. Beers will include Rose Wild Ale, a hazy IPA collaboration with Third Moon Brewing Hazy Discovery, Wild Ale, Scarlet, and Harmony (above). This event is being held over this weekend at The Jolly Fisherman, 3 East Beach Street, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 3AR (facebook). So far I have only tried the 12.00% Imperial Stout, Harmony, brewed with cocoa nibs, dried bananas, and peanuts, and aged for 18 months in Bourbon and Madeira barrels! It basically does what it says with chocolate being the more dominant of the flavours, but peanut and banana coming through too, luxurious, cheers! Where to drink this weekend, and so much to do!

H.O.T. Carnival still on, ignore misinformation!

I say 'ignore misinformation' because a friend missed the Pram Race because he was told it had been cancelled! Poor him, and he was all ready to go too; I won't say where he was drinking that had customers full of this rubbish, I've heard too much this week. Events ARE going ahead, including today (Thursday 8th), between 5.30 and 6.30pm, the Donut Eating Competition at Butlers Gap in George Street, eat all you can in a muinute (website); try not to throw up! Also, from 6.00 to 8.00pm, at Hastings Adventure Golf course, the Winkle Club Crazy Golf competition (website). For events today go to the website. For events tomorrow (Friday 9th) go to the website, including the Gurning Competition 6.00 to 6.30pm at Butlers Gap (website).

Clearing up Hastings the Following Morning...

This morning, you'd expect the Pram Race would have left more debris, the worst cause now is the Herring Gull, our perpetual litterlout. Taken before Paul, our intrepid street cleaner, had even started on George Street, just after 06.00, so it was reasonably well cleared up after the pubs shut last night, and many £££s were raised for charity, nice one Hastings!

And what about the forecast trouble? Well, no doubt the Police handling and preparation, not to mention catching, charging and prosecuting rioters, and some already in prison, has made a big impact. So my thanks to local dignitaries, the Police and Courts is well deserved, the organs of State are now well prepared. But I also believe the good people of Hastings, East Sussex, and around the country made an impact too. Hundreds, thousands in some places, turning up to protect our town centres and local people, and to stand against violence. Indeed, in Brighton the handful of thugs present were hiding behind the Police they'd been battering elsewhere, and were happy to seek an exit in Police buses, which they've been setting on fire elsewhere! As you can see above, squeaky clean in Hastings Cambridge Road at 06.00 this morning.

And the image immediately above is borrowed from Twitter (wants to be called X), and taken yesterday evening, shows that decent people turned up, not the busload of muslims I was told by someone yesterday were coming; I told him he shouldn't believe everything he hears in Wetherspoons! And this morning someone told me that hundreds of Palestinians were there last night, can anyone else see the hundreds of Palestinian flags she said were present? No, I can't, I told her to not believe everything she hears or reads on the internet, as Socrates once wrote, "Don't believe everything you see on the internet." Indeed, the anti-hate counter movement followers, the Defenders of Hastings, shall we call them, stretched back to where the Post Office used to be; I know the Police asked people not turn up, but well done those folk, respect!

Stay Safe!

We're all aware of violence around the country as right-wing thugs have been visiting local communities, attacking businesses and houses of worship, looting, burning cars, and attacking the Police who are there to defend us. Many businesses and health centres have closed early, and many people have been allowed to stay away from work. The Pram Race in the Old Town is still going ahead this evening, as I write, so the road along the seafront will be closed for most of the rest of the day, and some of the smaller H.O.T. Carnival events are not going ahead. The Police and local politicians have urged us to not get involved with any counter demonstrations, as this will just make the work of the Police harder, and they assure us that sufficient Police resources are available, as are prison cells for anyone arrested (Sussex Police Statement), respect. Updates can be found at the Argus website. Stay safe folks...

Marina

I've walked by this many times, appreciated it for its portrayal of mussel shells, but have been too lazy to read up about it... Well, not any more, I took this photograph this morning, not too bad an image, and discovered it is called Marina, and the sculptor is called Leigh Dyer, and it has been there for over a year! Other rather lovely sculptures from Leigh include...

The Winkle on Winkle Island, the Sea Creatures at Butlers Gap, and the Battle of Hastings 950th anniversary Norman Longboat on the beach, which was part of the Route 66 arts festival (blog).

H.O.T. Carnival & Road Closures, and MORE Events!

Notice of the road along the seafront being closed on Wednesday evening to allow for the annual Pram Race (website), which begins outside The Cutter, Marine Parade, from 7.15pm and lasts all evening, and great fun and raises significant money for charity; more Wednesday events at the website. Also, the road will be closed off for the Hastings Old Town Carnival Parade during the late afternoon and early evening on Saturday 10th August (website).

Today (Monday 5th), events include the Cheese and Wine Extravaganza in Courthouse Street from 12.00 noon (website) and, once cleared up, again in Courthouse Street, the Seaboot Race from 6.00pm (website); for all events today go to the website.

Tomorrow (Tuesday 6th), events include the Jimmy Read Memorial Bike Race from 5.30pm up Crown Lane, starting at the Crown Pub (website), and Winkle Tossing on Winkle Island from 6.00pm (website). For all tomorrow's events go to the website. Have fun!

Hastings Old Town Carnival 2024 Weekend Events

Indeed, Hastings Old Town Carnival continues to entertain this weekend with plenty to do for everyone. On both Saturday and Sunday the Nearly on the Beach Concert starts at 12.00 noon and other events can be seen for Saturday the 3rd on the website, including HM Coastguard Station Open Day and guided walks, and for Sunday the 4th on the website, including Swing Breakfast featuring Swing Street. Enjoy your weekend folks, whatever you're doing!

Carnival Keeps On Keeping On!

This was the scene about 4.00pm yesterday (blog), and it got busier and busier, a great start for the Hastings Old Town Carnival Week (and a bit), and money raised for the RNLI and Hastings Lifeboat too, nice one! But Carnival continues today, including the Old Town Criers Competition from 7.30 on the steps of St Clements Church (register from 7.00pm), and Reggae on the Stade from 7.30 to 10.00pm (entry from 6.30pm) (more on website).

2 Years Later, Oh Yes, a New Hotel, Maybe Not...

Where did those 2 years go, a little over 2 years when approval was given (blog), and 2 years ago when it looked like things were progressing (blog)? Well, it came to a no-go for 2 years, I'm not sure why, but now it's being levelled apparently; photograph taken this morning. Now, I'm not a builder, but surely some type of foundation or footings (OK, I chat to builders, and listen) would be necessary if a hotel is to be built? Turning back into a car park I wonder...

Hastings Lifeboat Concert kicks off Carnival!

Indeed, the Concert kicks off Hastings Old Town Carnival Week 2024, 1st to 12th August (website), at the Stade Open Space, preceeded by the Carnival Opening Ceremony at 14.45. The concert is being held to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI, facebook), and is free to enjoy from 15.00, although entry is from 13.00.

Although the concert is free, any donations to the RNLI and Hastings Lifeboat would be "warmly welcome and hugely appreciated." An excellent tribute to our local heroes!