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! 😁

Leaking Pipe and SIX Pits!

Well, since I last wrote about the leak in St Andrew's Square 2 weeks ago (blog), it's still leaking! The only difference is that 4 holes/pits have been dug off each corner of the square, one just down from the leak in Cornwallis Street close to queen's Road, the second just in Cornwallis Street at the diagonally opposite corner of the square opposite where the foundations for a hotel appear to be being dug (blog).

The other 2 pits are at either end of Waldegrave Street, one virtually opposite Marks & Spencer, and the other just below Earl Street which, as you can see in the photograph above, means that the road is blocked off! How many weeks is this going to continue with parking spaces depleted and a road cut off? How many gallons of water are going to be lost? I give up!

Hotel in Cornwallis Street

I've been monitoring the development of this 'building site' I guess it should be called now, but the hotel rising from the Cornwallis Street carpark (blog) certainly appears to be going ahead!

Hastings Seafood & Wine Festival 2024 This Weekend!

Indeed, the 2024 Seafood & Wine Festival starts tomorrow and runs until Sunday (13-15 September - website); many thanks for the image above to Sussex World. Friday music from 19.30-22.30; Saturday doors open 11.00 to 19.30; Sunday doors open 12.00 to 18.30. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday cost £5 per day, or £6.00 for both days, children's entry is free. Tickets can be bought on the door, or in advance: details of events and how to buy tickets in advance can be found at the website. Have fun folks!

The Shard: My Birthday Treat!

OK, not strictly about Hastings, but my brother completely surprised me with this treat, where I thought he was just seeking information when we met up for lunch at Borough Market, by London Bridge. He said that whilst nearby he wanted to see John Keats blue plaque (Keats Locations), but months ago (cheaper apparently) he'd booked for us to go up to the top of The Shard (website). Above was my first view from way up, and HMS Belfast (website).

After catching the 2 lifts up to the first view, we walked up a couple of flights of stairs to the highest point for visitors, and the view, among others, of Tower Bridge and looking out towards the Thames Estuary. Indeed, this blog is not about Hastings, but simple enough to visit from Hastings, usually with 2 trains an hour going to London Bridge from Hastings railway station, and I'd suggest well worth the visit for the views, even if only once, we avoided the bars!

Good News: Supriyaa Found.

The good news is that Sussex Police have reported on facebook that they are pleased to announce that Supriyaa has been safely found after their appeal (blog). They thank the public for their support and help in finding her. I like good news, good stuff!

Waste & Recycling, and Leaks!

I've been away for a break celebrating my birthday and when I returned, this leak in St Andrews Square is still there and uncovered; they know about it, obviously, they did this work there weeks ago, but not a big enough leak for them to worry about, I presume. Meanwhile water is being wasted and 3 car parking spaces, in an area with precious parking spaces, cannot be used!

From Hastings Borough Council: "If you use pink sacks for your recycling and have run out, there are now more in stock at Muriel Matters House. You can collect these from main reception during office opening hours. You just need to give your address when you collect them. You can also use any plastic bag other than black bags to put your recycling in for collection.

Your waste and recycling should be left outside your property on the morning of your collection day. You can check your collection day using our online checker at the website."

15 Years Old Supriyaa Missing From Hastings

Police Message from facebook, "We’re concerned for Supriyaa, 15, who is missing from Hastings. She was last seen in the Mountfield area at around 8.50pm on Wednesday (4 September). Supriyaa, who has links to Shoreham, is 5’5”, has long dark wavy hair, green eyes. She is believed to be wearing black joggers, a black hoodie and black, red and white trainers. If you see her, or have any information on her whereabouts, call 999 immediately quoting serial 1411 of 04/09."

It's September, it's Coastal Currents Arts Festival 2024!

Pinch punch, first day of the month! Indeed, it is the first day of September which means that it's Coastal Currents Arts Festival time, running throughout the month, with Open Studios this weekend and next weekend (7/8th September), and much more happening. For details of all the planned events, please go to the website, and have a great September folks!