HASTINGS OLD TOWN – A SLIGHT RETURN

June 2023. Hastings.

Mrs RM is enjoying her walk in the flat lands of the Sussex coast more than her walks up the hills of Sheffield. Should have stayed in Waterbeach.

We ended a gorgeous couple of hours in St. Leonards-Hastings in the Old Town, where the neo-classical facades of Pelham Crescent tower above bingo halls and gift shops.

Many of you will be familiar with the Old Town‘s warren of streets due to pubs like the Jenny Lind and First In Last Out,

but until a decade ago and my first lollop up George Street I didn’t even know Hastings had an old town, having only seen the grim modern shopping centre, and now I reckon it’s one of the UK’s unmissable sights.

Even the Shepherd Neame pubs look good.

Despite this being a mandatory recovery day, Mrs RM dragged me where that finger was pointing,

which is ironic as she always blames me for dragging her in pubs.

Ye Olde Pumphouse was worth the stop.

As Americans will know, a pub with “Ye Olde” in the name is always a sure fire winner.

and this one has the bonus of bars named after regulars.

and a 16th century pool room.

Two decent coffees with those little Swiss biscuits were less than a fiver, the staff were lovely, the cask trade non-existent. If it gets in the GBG I’ll consider it ticked.

We really will get that proper Hastings crawl organised at some point this year, though we seem to have missed our chance to pump pennies into machines at Old Town Amusements on the corner.

Where’s the Campaign to Preserve Amusement Arcades when you need it ?

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

11 thoughts on “HASTINGS OLD TOWN – A SLIGHT RETURN”

  2. That Sheps pub looks interesting -my husband is not too keen on their beers ,although he does enjoy plenty of their stout down at ‘t bowls club.We have attempted crawls in Hastings but after lunch in The Crown (definately a “Ow much ! moment these days )we gravitate to the Jolly Fisherman,start enjoying the music & stagger out when it’s time to go for the train.We also enjoy sitting outside the White Rock hotel where the beer is usually good too.

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      1. Whitstable Bay Oyster Stout -enjoyed by the old codgers at Maidstone bowls club -aparantley not many pubs sell it

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      2. It’s always interesting what beers bowls clubs have on, Pauline. I guess the bar steward knows what they like and how to order it. I was at Ipswich Indoor Bowls Club for a funeral last year and they had some real old names on.

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  3. Martin as a native of Hastings, when you do your crawl, if i’m welcome to join you, let me know, or come and drag me out of The Jolly Fisherman, Cheers, Derek.

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  4. Pingback: Introduction to retirement in Hastings – Visit Planner

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