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!

Talk on Edward Dannreuther this evening at White Rock Hotel

Christopher Cormack is giving a talk about the Victorian musician Edward Dannreuther at the White Rock Hotel this evening, starting at 7pm. This event is free to attend and the following details are cut and pasted from The Wagner Society's facebook page:

The Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra (HPO), under the auspices of the Hastings and St Leonards Society, is sponsoring a talk at the White Rock Hotel on an eminent but overlooked Victorian musician, Edward Dannreuther, who introduced a wealth of new classical music greats to England in the latter half of the nineteenth century, which, though regarded as avant-garde at the time, now form part of an accepted list of 'classics'. Dannreuther set up a holiday second residence in High Wickham, Hastings after spending his honeymoon here in 1871 and in later life, 'Windycroft' became his main residence, setting standards in 'arts and crafts' external and interior architecture and creating a Hastings 'home' for famous pre-raphaelite artists, including William Morris, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and musicians including Hubert Parry. Dannreuther promoted the English language 'song' genre by composing music settings for Rosetti, William Morris and Shakespeare poetry and mentoring composers such as Hubert Parry (famous for composing music for William Blake's 'Jerusalem').

Most of all, Dannreuther is known for his close association with Richard Wagner and as the founder of the London Wagner Society to promote Wagner's music in London and raise money for Wagner's Bayreuth Festival. Dannreuther worked closely with Wagner and Hans Richter in the first Bayreuth Festivals. Hans Richter, who conducted the first Ring Cycles at Bayreuth, went on to be a lifelong friend of Dannreuther and became famous in London for his role in establishing the London Symphony Orchestra. Dannreuther was also a famous concert pianist who played in front of mass audiences at Crystal Palace Saturday concerts and became the first professor of piano at the Royal College of Music in 1895. Dannreuther wrote several key books on music which remain important reference works to this day; he also translated and published key works by Wagner.

Christopher Cormack, who is giving the talk, can reveal much new information on this important Hastings resident as a result of information derived from a hitherto unknown taped interview with Edward Dannreuther's son, Hubert Dannreuther. Hubert Dannreuther, who had both Richard Wagner and Hubert Parry as godfathers, gave the interview in 1969 and went on to live at Windycroft in Hastings until his death in 1977, aged 97. Hubert had had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy. More new information is disclosed from a little-known unpublished memoir of Edward Dannreuther's wife Chariclea, which was held by remaining Dannreuther family members until recently when it was deposited in the Hastings Museum archives. Edward Dannreuther had revolutionary ideas about music, art and architecture: Christopher Cormack will give a flavour of the political revolutionary origins of the Dannreuther family, which, to some extent, is shared with Richard Wagner.

The talk is free of entrance charge, subject to an entirely voluntary retiring collection for the benefit of HPO's work in promoting high-quality classical music in Hastings. It is hoped, it will be the first of several well-researched topical talks on Hastings' classical music past. If you would like to attend please email christopher.cormack@gmail.com by the 24th January.

Thanks also to Stephen Dannreuther who has done much original research of his own on his family, which greatly helped to provide further preparatory assistance for this talk.

PLEASE NOTE: This talk provides a useful introduction to the work being done by Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra (HPO) to bring to light and demonstrate how much Hastings is blessed with a rich classical music heritage. In particular, HPO will perform a 'heritage' concert on the following day, 28 January 2022 at the White Rock Theatre covering popular works by Wagner, Rachmaninov and Hastings composers, Keith Beal and Julius Harrison.

For more information, see: https://www.hastingsphilharmonic.com/28th-january

For more about the Pre-Raphaelites in Hastings see my blog.

BONFIRE 2019!

Setting up for this years Bonfire on Pelham Beach (Saturday 19th October website) this morning, the culmination of Hastings Week (blog), and I'm still guessing who will be on the bonfire, but I'm going for Donald Trump 😉

Past Procession

The torchlight procession starts tomorrow building up outside the White Rock Hotel but actually begins at the bottom of Robertson Street on the America Ground at 19.15 (website), with the bonfire and fireworks on Pelham Beach at 21.00, and the forecast doesn't look too bad... Have fun, it should be good!

Hastings: Early Seafront Walk and Breakfast...

OK, I haven't eaten a full traditional breakfast for a long time now, mostly for health reasons, and I'm sure I'll be tempted very soon, but here you go. I walked to Marine Court yesterday, and on the way back I passed these providers at quite an early time. First, below Warrior Square Gardens on the lower promenade, the Goat Ledge Cafe (website), which opened at 09.00.

Second, and opening from 07.00 for breakfasts (I double checked inside!) is the White Rock Hotel (website), virtually opposite the Pier.

Then, a wee bit closer to the America Ground and Mungos (facebook page), which opens at 09.00.

Past the crazy golf course and you reach the Hastings & St Leonards Angling Association (website) which also opens earlier, at 07.30.

Next to last, west to east, and into Rock-a-Nore Road now, is the Mermaid Restaurant (facebook page), which opens at 09.00.

Finally, a few doors along in Rock-a-Nore Road, the Dolphin Inn (facebook page), which opens at 09.00 at weekends.

Please remember, this was a Saturday, some open a little later during the week.

Of course, and I have to recount this story, I passed the Pier twice, when I first went by just after 07.00, walking westwards, I stopped to have a chat with a gentleman waiting for the manager to let him on so he could fish from the end of the Pier; he had checked the day before that this was OK... Anyway, when I came back, walking eastwards, he was still waiting to get onto the Pier, and we had a shorter conversation, as was another gentleman in a mobility scooter, had to mention... 

Walking Along the Seafront (Yesterday!)

Yep, it's a bit damp at the moment, so this was yesterday, and, as you'll probably be well aware, Hastings Pier is still closed to the public, not even allowed to promenade along the Pier! I saw a member of staff take 2 workers (of some sort) over to the White Rock Hotel, presumably for breakfast, or coffee?

So, with the Pier's Pavilion Restaurant closed, along to the Goat Ledge cafe instead, for me, great little business, open from 9 to 4pm, I believe, nice one, cheers!

... further back in Bottle Alley I saw this, not sure if it's architecture or art, but quality construction, someone took time to present this, another nice one!

And it's true, the Children's Library in Robertson Passage no longer exists, luckily there's a great children's department in the upgraded Hastings Library (blog).

I told you so!

OK, not big news, but I did suggest yesterday (blog) that the Azur/St Leonards beach huts were returning from their winter retreat at Bulverhythe, well there 6 of them are! This was this morning, so I carried on up to Bulverhythe and guess what I saw?

Well the lorry with its wee crane, you can just see in the first photograph, arrived as I did at Bulverhythe, here they are picking up the seventh beach hut, then another one, and only two left, when I left the scene. So they're arriving two by two at St Leonards, no doubt all already there before I wrote this (I did have a pint at the White Rock Hotel on my way home, cheers!).

And no idea why the toilets there aren't open, they weren't open the other day I passed by either, what's going on Hastings Borough Council, waiting for April the 1st?

Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition Final Day!

Just a reminder that today is the final Final Day of the 14th Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition at the White Rock Hotel; see recent blog.

And there's blue sky right now! 😎

White Rock Promenade Kiosk Now Open, Honest!

Yesterday, I noticed that the kiosk that was first mooted in the plans for the regeneration of the White Rock Promenade nearly 2 years ago, is now open to provide refreshments! 

This is how it was envisaged in the plans (see my blog of 11th June 2015). I'm sure they were talking about it as an 'information kiosk' at the exhibition at the White Rock Hotel that day. Though, with even more cut-backs to funding to local councils, particularly for Hastings, from Central Government, plus noting that, despite the Borough Council keeping its own annual council tax increase to 2%, the overall increase for Hastings council tax payers in 2017/18 is 4.3%! Subsequently, I can understand that, I presume, this kiosk is now being used as a way of making income for the Council... fair enough.

Hastings Pier call for volunteers.

I received an email from the Hastings Pier Charity regarding volunteering, and that they are having a volunteer recruitment day on Tuesday 8th March, noon-3pm, at the White Rock Hotel (talks at noon, 1pm and 2pm). I cannot see anything on their website about this yet, but here is a link to their page concerning volunteering.   

St Mary's Restaurant new management!

Despite not being sent a copy of the press release, shame on them, I can happily announce that Laurence and Catherine from the White Rock Hotel are the new management, now it's out there, good luck to them! 

White Rock promenade regeneration

Earlier today I visited the White Rock Hotel, where Hastings Borough Council exhibited a public display of the plans and images of the proposed improvements to the White Rock promenade, providing an “attractive link” from the end of Robertson Street at the America Ground, to the pier itself. The Council are seeking feedback, which they will accept until Friday next week (19th June). 

The first new feature you will reach on leaving Robertson Street (on the other side of the road, on the promenade, of course!) will be a raised decked area with a kiosk. This will be situated before you reach the old White Rock Baths (I've previously blogged about it becoming a BMX park etc), which itself will have its entrance building and walls repainted.

After passings the baths, the existing water feature will be “revitalised”, a small stage area added for licenced buskers, with a new water cascading feature below the stage. After the Boer War Memorial, another new decked area will be added, providing space for “pop-up” trading and food stalls, before reaching the rebuilt People's Pier.  

The new features will be made of sustainable hardwood timber, railings will be repainted, up to 10 mature trees grown in timber planters will be added to the scheme, the existing tarmac surface will be repaired and covered with a resin bound material, and East Sussex County Council have provided assurance that all the street lighting columns will have been replaced in time for the completion. Further details can be found at the Council website.    

The project will be jointly financed by a central government Coastal Communities Fund grant, the Foreshore Trust and Hastings Borough Council. The architect is Neil Choudhury (website), who was also at the presentation.

WORLD ADVENTURE GOLF MASTERS!

The 2015 World Adventure Gold Masters kicks off tomorrow morning, and where else? It's back in Hastings of course! 

This evening will see the opening ceremony at the White Rock Hotel, and hostilities will commence at 09.00 tomorrow/Saturday morning! See website for more details. 

Good luck to all participants! 

Where to Eat a 'Full English'

23 07 2018 - Please note that Hoagies and Tutti Frutties no longer exist, certainly not around the America Ground anymore, sadly...


I shall be writing about good 'Full English' breakfasts in 3 instalments (who knows, maybe more to come yet!), the first is for central Hastings, then a second to the west, and a third to the east. All three establishments discussed today are within a very small radius of the America Ground, and a version of this blog has already been published, in my name and with fewer photographs of course, in the Hastings Independent. 

First up is Hoagies-Reloaded, 39 Robertson Street, TN34 1HL (telephone: 01424 427830). £3.95 if you get there before 11.00, and £4.95 thereafter, and that's literally. I walked in the door at 10.59 and was still given the cheaper price, nice one! 2 rashers of very decent quality bacon, 1 fried egg on either toast or fried bread (I went for the less unhealthy option of toast this time), baked beans, half a large tomato, a not great sausage, and a mug of either tea or coffee. Excellent value, indeed! 

Hoagies' Breakfast

As I will often say, and often have in the past, for the sake of another 50p or £1, a good quality sausage would make it a very good breakfast and still great value, but often cafes do seem to go for the cheaper option over quality, sadly... Oh well, I still enjoyed my meal very much. They also provide a vegetarian option, at the same prices, before and after 11.00, and includes 2 'veggie' sausages (I rarely like these, told you I'm fussy, I prefer just simple ingredients for my vegetarian option, eg I'd pack it with mushrooms, and maybe sautéed potatoes, but that's me!), fried egg on toast or fried bread, baked beans, tomatoes and a mug of tea or coffee.

Secondly, I enjoyed the atmospheric Tutti Frutti's, 4 Trinity Street, TN34 1HG (telephone: 01424 423946). This is a 1940/50s themed restaurant/cafe. I very much enjoyed the music and decor. The pot of tea was extra to the cost of the meal, £1.30 for a single pot, and £1.80 for 2, though the 'wee pot' was pretty big! Oh yes, or £1 for a mug of tea or coffee. The breakfast was £5.00, and the food was advertised as 'locally sourced', something I look for too, of course.

Inside Tutti Frutti's

The meal included 2 sausages, not too bad at all (you'll appreciate I'm very particular about the quality of my sausages and will go on about them!), 2 rashers of nice thick bacon, very tasty, 1 egg, perfectly fried, with the 'yellow' just the right amount of soft, gently cooked tomatoes, and 2 slices of fresh toast. Again a vegetarian option is available, but at slightly cheaper price, that is £4.50 a meal, and includes a hash brown, scrambled egg, tomato, baked beans, mushrooms and a slice of toast.  

Tutti Frutti's Breakfast

My third breakfast was at the White Rock Hotel, virtually opposite the pier at White Rock, TN34 1JU (telephone: 01424 422240). A bar as well, and usually serving 4 real ales from Sussex brewers (bar opens at 10.00!). There are 2 sizes of breakfast, I had the "Full Audrey's Breakfast” for £9.00, which consists of a glass of fruit juice, a pot of tea or coffee, toast (white or brown), 2 free range eggs (choice of how served, I had fried eggs, just perfect), 2 sausages with herbs in, probably Lincoln, 2 rashers of bacon, a tad overcooked, a fried tomato cut in half, and good portions of mushrooms and baked beans. I've always had excellent service here from friendly staff (I've been more than once, usually after working a night shift), and enjoyed the view of the seafront from the window.  

There is also a smaller breakfast available at the White Rock Hotel, ie “Little Jill's”, for just £6.00; which includes just one egg, a sausage, bacon, baked beans, mushrooms, and tomato, with either fruit juice, tea, coffee, or milk. The 'vegetarian' option is £9.00, and includes 'veggie' bacon and sausages, free range eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, baked beans, toast, fruit juice, and either tea or coffee. 

 Full Audrey's Breakfast

There are obviously many other places nearby that provide decent breakfasts too, but I have tried all three of these recently, and found them all to provide excellent value, with Tutti Frutti's just edging it, taking into account the quality of food, value, and ambience, but neither should disappoint you, so enjoy whichever you visit!

Next stop, to the West, and St Leonards!

POSTSCRIPT: Tutti Frutti's has closed down, the lease being sold (a neighbour told me), so we shall have to wait and see what develops there. I have a few other ideas in central Hastings, though, research required, but I'm sad, I did like Tutti Frutti's...

Congratulations to the White Rock Hotel!

Congratulations to the White Rock Hotel for winning the local CAMRA LocAle (website) Pub of the Year Award!  

The LocAle tag goes to pubs and bars that sell local ales, it does what it says on the label, basically, and fully deserved for the White Rock Hotel, as I've never seen anything but Sussex brewed ales coming from their 4 handpumps! I visited yesterday, and, although only 2 of the handpumps were in use on this visit, they had Sussex brewer Dark Star's Original, and even more local, Hastings Handmade Number 5, their galaxy hopped Hop Forward Pale Ale, a lovely pale, dry and bitter ale. Hastings Brewery has to be local, as I've walked up to it a few times!  

Congratulations again! 

Harveys Dray to visit Hastings

The Harveys Dray is to visit Hastings this Saturday lunchtime and early afternoon (7th February), travelling from St Leonards to the Old Town, mostly along the front. I'm not sure of all the hostelries it will be stopping at, but one of the first, if not the first, is the Horse & Groom at St Leonards, also visiting the White Rock Hotel, London Trader and the Dolphin at Rock-a-Nore, among others, I'd imagine.   

Monty and Winston

These photographs are from the visit made at the beginning of May last year, and more can be found out by searching the Harveys' website.