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Hastings! Where to eat, drink and be merry

Callie

Callie

Pivoting
I am heading off to Hastings overnight soon so will have two days thereabouts to spend in this seaside town.

Used to go there a lot when I was a kid and have been for the day a couple of times recently but would like any recommendations of things to do/see and places to eat and drink.

What is the night life like? I have never been there for an evening.

This will also include near by places such as St Leonards so anything for there too.

Thanks!
 
Callie said:
I am heading off to Hastings overnight soon so will have two days thereabouts to spend in this seaside town.

Used to go there a lot when I was a kid and have been for the day a couple of times recently but would like any recommendations of things to do/see and places to eat and drink.

What is the night life like? I have never been there for an evening.

This will also include near by places such as St Leonards so anything for there too.

Thanks!
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Get cod and chips from the Blue Dolphin and sit at a bus stop to eat it.
 
on a serious note, i'll try dig out names of places i've eaten well there. i've a vague memory of the big art deco hotel on the seafront (white rock or something?) being well recommended for noms.. (edit: http://www.thewhiterockhotel.com/cafe-bar/. last time i was there, there seemed to be a thriving arts scene, if you're into that sort of thing. and i *think* their Annual Burning is coming up, but I might be wrong on that)
and GO ON THE FUNICULAR.
daytime wise, alexandra park's nice for an amble around.

littlebabyjesus might have some recommendations? :hmm:
 
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The Pelican Diner on the seafront is amazing for food http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restau...lican_Diner-Hastings_East_Sussex_England.html (disclaimer - my friends run it)

Dragon Bar on George Street can be good. Also up George St is the chessboard where you can see some of Leigh Dyer's work, here's a video about Leigh: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1484623194/bring-british-artist-leigh-dyers-debut-show-to-the

West Exit has a Funktion One sound system http://www.facebook.com/WestExitHastings

Norman Road in St Leonards for shops, the Old Town in Hastings for wandering, the West Hill for views and the castle, the East Hill for views and if you like walking.

If you book well in advance you might be able to get a table at Maggie's on Rock-a-Nore, it's up some steps above the fish market in the huts, by far the best fish & chips in town & probably anywhere except Whitby. They only open daytimes. (Not to be confused with Maggie's on Trinity St in the main town.)

If art is your thing there is the Jerwood on the Stade, galleries up the High Street in the Old Town, and the art deco De La Warr Pavilion 2 stops up the train line.

If you're with kids there are two child-friendly cafés called Eat@ run by other friends, one is on the Stade (next to the Jerwood) and one is in Alexandra Park (really nice Victorian park).

It's a really good town, I just moved from there.
 
The only time I went to Hastings I was about 9 and on a scout camping trip. I thought I was being well grown up when I bought coffee from the supermarket to have in the mornings.

I made it the next morning and it was flavoured with celery.

Ill never go back to hastings :(
 
Try popping up to London. It's got much better food and drinking places than Hastings. One of my Portuguese students went there, said it was the worst place he'd ever been.
 
sim667 said:
The only time I went to Hastings I was about 9 and on a scout camping trip. I thought I was being well grown up when I bought coffee from the supermarket to have in the mornings.

I made it the next morning and it was flavoured with celery.

Ill never go back to hastings :(
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are you sure you don't mean chicory? :hmm:
 
In St Leonards, Azur in the Marina Pavilion (in front of Marine Court, the building that looks like a ship) does very good food. Not cheap by Hastings standards (but still not expensive), but they often have offers on, especially in winter. Last time I went there, they did a three-course meal for 15 quid with choice of lobster or steak for mains. Just up the road from that is a small specialist seafood place. Can't remember the name, but you have to book - that's more of a treat/special occasion joint, and I'd only recommend it if you really like fish. (eta: called St Clements)

Old town by the harbour, there are some very good fish places. Best chippy, imo, is Pam's Kitchen, by the beach half way between old town and pier - locally caught fish and chips for a fiver. Best pubs are definitely clustered in the old town. Funicular up to the country park is worth it, if it's open - if you want to do any walking, I recommend heading off down the country park. There's also the new art gallery, which I've not been in.
 
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I used to live ten miles from Hastings, on my regular bike training rides it was noticeable that the level of things being chucked from cars and verbal aggression went up the nearer you got to the town centre.
However that's not to say that there's some interesting bits, the Fishermans Museum, Hastings Museum and Gallery up the hill, the Jerwood gallery, the Old Town in general, West Street and the The High Street both have some good places to eat and drink, the pubs often have live music round there.. Stick to West Street/High Street in general.
The east of the old town towards the country park is a great place for a walk
Have fun
 
dessiato said:
Try popping up to London. It's got much better food and drinking places than Hastings. One of my Portuguese students went there, said it was the worst place he'd ever been.
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try engaging brain before replying next time :) I am going to Hastings, I want to know about things to see and do in Hastings.
 
Ok I think we will have plenty of stuff to do for the short time we are there now. I think fish and chips HAVE to feature at least once cos well of all the fishing :D Used to come home as a child with a pint of prawns to eat at when we got back :cool:

Went up the FUNicular to the country park and went for a walk - it was very blowy and we got as far as walking to the bottom of on eof the deep ravine bits but decided to head back as we didnt fancy heading on for miles then having to face all the climbs and stair on the way back :D amazing landscape along there though

Didnt go up the otherside though which I assume is where the caves are? That might be nice if the weather isnt utter shite :/
 
Hastings is a great place to visit, callie. Don't listen to the expat. ;)

Not my bag, but there are loads of antique/junk/nicknack places too, both in the Old Town and in St Leonards. For an evening stroll, walk all along the seafront down to West St L. At low tide, you can walk on a sand/mud bit on the beach too. Plus there's a Banksy to look out for if you venture into St Leonards. About 200 metres or so past Marine Court, by one of the stairwells down to the beach.
 
How easy is it to get to Bexhill? Is there a bus? I am fairly familiar with Bexhill as Ive been there a few times in the past to go to the DLWP and its very cute along the seafront with the little houses :)

I dont really know what a portuguese student would be expecting to find at a british seaside but I cant help but think 99% of what we can offer is going to disappoint them :D
 
Yes, there's a bus. Or it's two stops on the train (or one from Warrior Square). Delawarr Pavilion can have good stuff in it, if you're into looking at art. Last time I went to Bexhill, there was a Joseph Beuys exhibition on there. :cool:

I used to walk to Bexhill from St Leonards sometimes. It's an interesting walk along the sea front, with some grotty bits, but they're interesting grotty bits. West St L and Bexhill virtually blend into one another.
 
I like the seaside :) if the weather is like today - cold, sunny and windy that will be perfect I think. well for october/november anyway!
 
Stick to the High St in the old town and there's plenty - Judges Bakery, First In Last Out.

For a fancier dinner, Lathams on George St is really good
 
Agree with the above about the Blue Dolphin for the best fish and chips and FILO pub on the Hight St. The Jenny Lind is also good.

If the traffic is still bad along the road to Bexhill it would be quicker to get the train. DeLa Warr definitely worth a visit.
 
Loads of people rate the Blue Dolphin.

Pam's Kitchen's better, I'm telling ya. Here's a piccy:

12351672.jpg
 
fish and chip fight!

I would suggest a fish and chip rating day out for us all but if you had to eat 20 lots of F&C it might finish you off. I suppose you could share with the seagulls once you had assessed the foods?
 
Callie said:
try engaging brain before replying next time :) I am going to Hastings, I want to know about things to see and do in Hastings.
Click to expand...

I'd recommend a rampage of murder then:D. Grew up there might have some issues about it.
Old town has some museums and is nice to wander around
Smugglers caves is a unique attraction and the funicular railway is just odd.
 
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