April 2024. St. Leonards-on-Sea
A quick Thai lunch with the in-laws in Southborough,
then an hour south to the coast to check on our caravan in Rye before the letting season starts this week. The south coast storms last Autumn sent the staff building flying (literally), partially into our patio, but all’s well now.
The Rye Harbour park seems an even more popular option since the (checks notes) murder across the estuary at Camber Sands Pontins, and of course Rye has the added attraction of a rather nice castle side pub.
And only 20 minutes by train to Happenin’ Hastings, one of the UK’s top 10 pub towns. Hey, is that a future blog series ?
But I stay on the extra 2 minutes to St Leonard’s, the Stockport of the South, where there’s a newish food court with brewery tap.
Heist advertises a “Family Rave”, something you won’t see at St Albans Red Lion,
and “Stoner Doom”.
I haven’t yet decided if St Leonard’s is part of Hastings or a town in its own right, but it’s developed a unique feel this last decade, a cosy hipness I both love and despise.
A chap/ess asks for “Two International Women’s Days please” and it takes me a minute to realise that’s a beer not a political statement.
Three Legs have moved from their Sussex farmhouse since I visited with Tonbridge Paul, and I’m not sure if this food court place is actually their tap and certainly don’t care, and I’m impressed they’ve even got a cask pump hidden away to the side,
even if it isn’t the freshest cask I’ll have that day (2.5).
I grab the high table to the side where I can admire the good folk of East Sussex forming a vertical queue which causes havoc with the delivery of Nduja pizza and the pushing of push chairs. And when the chap finally reaches the front he hasn’t a clue what he wants as he hasn’t been able to stand along the bar and read the board.
But everyone seems so nice, particularly the Three Legs guy, that I succumb to a half of keg Sabro Oatmeal IPA that was “awesome” (Untappd 4).
Even in that hideous thing glass.
retiredmartin 
” Stay in our caravan where you’ve less chance of getting murdered than across the water ” is an interesting sales pitch.
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Compelling though…
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I can’t say I remember the incident, but a spot of research reveals six people arrested on suspicion of murder, following a bar fight, over a football match, and yet no charges were ever brought. Very strange.
I’d stay on the Rye side of the water, if I was you!
On a cheerier note, I’ve still got a bottle of strong stout somewhere, that I picked up from that visit we made to Three Legs Brewing.
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This post brought up a lot of memories.
As an 18 year old I had a summer job cleaning chalets at Pontins Camber Sands and have fond memories of surreptitious all night parties on the beach one of which came to an end when the tide came in very fast at 2 in the morning.
Regarding St Leonards Poly Styrene moved there to nurse her mental health which some how sums up the place perfectly
My Aunt had a cafe in the High Street in the late 90`s and used to sit over a herbal tea with Poly although I never met her as by then I had moved away from the area.
Back then it was more cosy than hip and a lot cheaper to buy than now although renting is still affordable which is why there is still a bohemian edge
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