insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 12 - February 2016 | Page 70
TOWNSPOTLIGHT
HASTINGS cont.
Things to do
Jerwood Art Gallery
Situated next to the historic fishing beach in
Hastings' picturesque Old Town, the awardwinning Jerwood Gallery put Hastings firmly on
the cultural map and is home to the Jerwood
Collection of 20th and 21st century British
art, as well as a diverse temporary exhibition
programme. 2016 kicks off with John Bratby’s
Everything but the Kitchen Sink, including
the Kitchen Sink – a collection that, rather
than being formed from a retrospective of his
oeuvre, exhibits a collection of privately owned
Bratbys, along with personal recollections,
letters and photos, submitted to the gallery by
members of the Bratby-owning public.
Electric Palace Cinema
A gorgeous independent cinema in the heart
of Hastings Old Town, the Electric Palace is a
specially developed cinema that aims to screen
a diverse choice of films and film-related events,
with regular screenings of contemporary, classic
and world cinema alongside live comedy, music
and theatre nights. There’s a licensed bar too.
Classroom on the Coast
The world’s first seafood school on the landing
beach of a small boat fishery, Classroom on
the Coast is a seaside lunch and supper clubcum-cookery school that gives its ‘pupils’ the
opportunity to learn to cook fish straight from
the boats of the town’s skillful fishermen, led
by expert chef, Toby Welfare. Classes run up
to three times a week and are whole, half day,
or evening affairs, covering topics such as ‘fish
on a budget’, parent and child classes, and
‘cooking fish for friends’.
Smugglers Adventure
Head up the West Hill on the historic funicular
railway and travel back in time at Smugglers
Adventure, where you can journey through a
labyrinth of secret tunnels and passages and
discover the dangers and hardships faced by
Sussex smugglers of the eighteenth century. Join
notorious smuggler ‘Hairy Jack’, as he leads you
through the underground caverns on a voyage
back through time to the heyday of smuggling.
Hastings Castle
Just a stone’s throw from Smugglers Adventure
stands Hastings Castle, Britain’s first ever
Norman fortress. Take in the breathtaking views
of the coastline while you explore the history of
this iconic building, and learn how the Battle of
Hastings unfolded in the medieval siege tent, as
a 20-minute video show takes you on a journey
from 1066 right up to the present day. Wander
through the castle grounds and be transported
back through time, exploring the whispering
dungeons and the remains of the chapel.
Dining out
First In Last Out
A pub as pubs should be, the First In Last Out,
or the Filo as it’s affectionately known locally,
definitely isn’t a trendy gastropub and definitely
isn’t trying to be anything other than what it is –
a sociable place with a relaxing atmosphere that
serves really good food and really good beer;
there are five home-brewed ales available. With
no intrusive fruit machines or loud music to take
the attention away from good old conversation,
it’s a homely, welcoming pub. Try the Filo corned
beef hash, free-range poached egg, and homemade baked beans for a proper plate of comfort.
Pier Nine
The interior of St Leonard’s restaurant, Pier
Nine, appears like a throwback to the gorgeous
early 20th century Belle Epoque era, all sparkly
chandeliers, ornately-framed mirrors dripping in
gold, and elegant candelabras. And rightly so;
it’s very swish, but not uninviting – the staff are
helpful and smiley, the sea laps gently to and
fro out of the window, and the food is divine.
This year’s winter menu is suitably warming;
I’d go for slow-cooked duck rillettes with saltbaked baby vegetables, baked Hastings hake
with cocotte potato and spinach, then blood
orange cheesecake served with ginger biscuit
and honeycomb.
Maggie’s
Serving generous portions of fresh fish wrapped
in crispy, light batter with golden chips that can
soak up lashings of vinegar without getting
soggy, many a mouth that’s eaten at Maggie’s
has declared it ‘the best fish and chips I’ve ever
70
tasted’. Yo u’re supposed to eat fish and chips
when you’re at the seaside and, trust us, if you
swerve this Rock-A-Nore Road stalwart you’ll
only be doing yourself a disservice.
Annual events
Jack in the Green Festival // May Day
Bank Holiday
An 1800s tradition revived in 1979 by a group
called Mad Jack’s Morris Dancers (which sort
of says it all…), the Jack in the Green festival is
a brilliantly bonkers weekend of (responsible)
drinking, dancing and general merriment. The
Jack in question is a green man covered in twigs
and leaves with a crown on his head and a black
mask on his face who leads the procession
followed by ‘bogies’, ‘giants’, and a witch called
Hannah; Morris Dancers line the streets and
pubs; and a May Queen is crowned too.
Hastings Old Town Carnival Week
// August
An entire week of fun and frolics, this summer
party started in 1968 after Old Town residents
felt the original Hastings Carnival should have
included the Old Town in its route and decided
to set up their own carnival, and it’s a jolly
good job they did. Events include the ‘seaboot
race’, in which each entrant has to run from
the start/finish line around a lobster and back,
wearing seaboots and a top hat, and the ‘bike
race’ where the entrant has to ride up the
steepest road in the Old Town, using a butcher’s
bike, in the quickest time possible without
taking their buttocks off the saddle. Genius. The
rest of the week is packed full of entertainment,
music, shows and processions, not to mention
the crowning of the new Miss Hastings.
Hastings Seafood and Wine Festival
// September
Taking place at Stade Open Space in the Old
Town, this two-day festival is a celebration of
local food, local drink and sumptuous seafood
with over 30 stalls showcasing their wares
alongside cooking demonstrations from celebrity
chefs, non-stop live music, a beer festival and
lots of fantastic family entertainment. Superb
live acts and all sorts of street entertainment
complete the lively party atmosphere.