Guidebook for Hastings
Food Scene
The beacon is pop up restaurant that does delicious Sunday lunches - the menu and price are fixed (one meat and one veggie option) and you phone up to book a table in advance. Brilliantly, young children eat free and they do a special menu for them. The ambience is great, there's a garden, and the people running it are fantastic. They also have a bar on Thursdays, but I've not checked that out yet.
11 locals recommend
The Beacon
67-68 St Mary's TerraceThe beacon is pop up restaurant that does delicious Sunday lunches - the menu and price are fixed (one meat and one veggie option) and you phone up to book a table in advance. Brilliantly, young children eat free and they do a special menu for them. The ambience is great, there's a garden, and the people running it are fantastic. They also have a bar on Thursdays, but I've not checked that out yet.
There are brilliant walks in Alexandra Park and the menu at the cafe is great - not too sophisticated but hearty when you've been out and about in the park. Perfect for brunch.
8 locals recommend
Alexandra Park Cafe
75 Lower Park RdThere are brilliant walks in Alexandra Park and the menu at the cafe is great - not too sophisticated but hearty when you've been out and about in the park. Perfect for brunch.
The food here is really good and it is a stylish and popular local pub with a good range of drinks. Service is friendly and it is a pleasant place to while away the hours. It has vegan options.
100 locals recommend
The Crown
Ashford RoadThe food here is really good and it is a stylish and popular local pub with a good range of drinks. Service is friendly and it is a pleasant place to while away the hours. It has vegan options.
Perfect for breakfast (American style). It gets busy up so it is worth booking, but the pancakes in particular are definitely the best in town.
23 locals recommend
The Pelican Diner
20 E ParadePerfect for breakfast (American style). It gets busy up so it is worth booking, but the pancakes in particular are definitely the best in town.
This Deli is the best of it's kind in Hastings - they do great coffee and treats, as well as cheeses and pasties. They also know a lot about the wine they sell.
20 locals recommend
Penbuckles Delicatessen
50 High StThis Deli is the best of it's kind in Hastings - they do great coffee and treats, as well as cheeses and pasties. They also know a lot about the wine they sell.
Possibly the best fish and chips in Hastings and St Leonard's. Be prepared for a bit of a wait - they get pretty busy.
Ocean's Eleven
25 Bexhill RdPossibly the best fish and chips in Hastings and St Leonard's. Be prepared for a bit of a wait - they get pretty busy.
Rustico Italiano
31 Robertson StVery good pizzaria - friendly staff and tasty food.
Xochipilli
68 Queens RdGreat Mexican street food! Even had vegan options.
A great independent burger chain serving vegan options. Can get busy though!
103 locals recommend
Half Man! Half Burger!
7 Marine CtA great independent burger chain serving vegan options. Can get busy though!
Lovely place for homemade lunch including veggie or vegan options.
21 locals recommend
Bullet Coffee House
38 Robertson StLovely place for homemade lunch including veggie or vegan options.
This place has the reputation of being the best eat-in fish and chips in Hastings. It is nestled in amongst the working fishing area in Rock-a-nore.
48 locals recommend
Maggie's Fish & Chips
8-9 Rock-a-Nore RdThis place has the reputation of being the best eat-in fish and chips in Hastings. It is nestled in amongst the working fishing area in Rock-a-nore.
Drinks & Nightlife
The food is good as well as the drink and it has a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. There is often art work on display and it is in a good location (on George Street) for watching the world go by.
56 locals recommend
Dragon Bar
71 George StThe food is good as well as the drink and it has a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. There is often art work on display and it is in a good location (on George Street) for watching the world go by.
This friendly neighbourhood pub has a beer garden (child friendly) that faces West so gets the last of the evening sun. Inside it has recently been done up and is a very pleasant place to sip your pint. Perfectly located at the top of the West Hill, you can take a bracing stroll around the park before/after having a drink.
33 locals recommend
The Plough Inn
Vicarage LaneThis friendly neighbourhood pub has a beer garden (child friendly) that faces West so gets the last of the evening sun. Inside it has recently been done up and is a very pleasant place to sip your pint. Perfectly located at the top of the West Hill, you can take a bracing stroll around the park before/after having a drink.
Tucked behind Dyke and Dean shop, this bar is out of the way and plays good music, is comfortable and easy going. Perfect place for a drink.
19 locals recommend
The Printworks
14 ClaremontTucked behind Dyke and Dean shop, this bar is out of the way and plays good music, is comfortable and easy going. Perfect place for a drink.
Arts & Culture
The Jerwood is the perfect size for an art gallery - not too big, with a really interesting permanent collection as well as temporary shows. The best thing, though, is the cafe which has fantastic views out to the sea over the boats and fishermen - and it is usually not too busy as you have to buy a ticket to the gallery to be able to go to the cafe.
157 locals recommend
Hastings Contemporary
Rock-a-Nore RoadThe Jerwood is the perfect size for an art gallery - not too big, with a really interesting permanent collection as well as temporary shows. The best thing, though, is the cafe which has fantastic views out to the sea over the boats and fishermen - and it is usually not too busy as you have to buy a ticket to the gallery to be able to go to the cafe.
Hastings museum is quirky and fun - there are some interesting (slightly random seeming) exhibits and it is child friendly. A short stroll from the town centre, it is worth a visit.
54 locals recommend
Hastings Museum & Art Gallery
Bohemia RoadHastings museum is quirky and fun - there are some interesting (slightly random seeming) exhibits and it is child friendly. A short stroll from the town centre, it is worth a visit.
Worth checking their website to see what is on - films, theatre, live music and exhibitions... Also worth going just for the iconic architecture and the views over the see from the very nice cafe.
99 locals recommend
De La Warr Pavilion
MarinaWorth checking their website to see what is on - films, theatre, live music and exhibitions... Also worth going just for the iconic architecture and the views over the see from the very nice cafe.
A great cafe attached to this gallery is an added attraction. The art work is reliably enjoyable and the food in the cafe is generally excellent. Norman road where the gallery is situated is definitely worth exploring for its interesting shops.
13 locals recommend
Baker Mamonova Galleries
43-53 Norman RdA great cafe attached to this gallery is an added attraction. The art work is reliably enjoyable and the food in the cafe is generally excellent. Norman road where the gallery is situated is definitely worth exploring for its interesting shops.
Parks & Nature
This is a sweet little plant nursery run as a charity with a beautiful little walled garden you can wander in. From here you can walk into St Helens Wood for real nature exploring.
Friary Gardeners
Farm The RidgeThis is a sweet little plant nursery run as a charity with a beautiful little walled garden you can wander in. From here you can walk into St Helens Wood for real nature exploring.
Take the furnicular (or walk up the many steps) to the breath taking East Hill in Hastings. You can access this from the Old Town but in minutes are in a beautiful natural park with breathtaking views out to sea.
7 locals recommend
E Hill Lift
Take the furnicular (or walk up the many steps) to the breath taking East Hill in Hastings. You can access this from the Old Town but in minutes are in a beautiful natural park with breathtaking views out to sea.
This is a half hour drive from Hastings but the grounds of Great Dixter are fantastic and it is a perfect day trip with plenty of garden to explore.
117 locals recommend
Great Dixter House & Gardens
This is a half hour drive from Hastings but the grounds of Great Dixter are fantastic and it is a perfect day trip with plenty of garden to explore.
Sightseeing
It is reopening this summer, but looks great already and will certainly be worth a visit.
114 locals recommend
Hastings Pier Shop
1-10 White RockIt is reopening this summer, but looks great already and will certainly be worth a visit.
The furnicular gives a short ride from the Old Town to the West Hill with fabulous views out over the channel.
11 locals recommend
West Hill Lift station
The furnicular gives a short ride from the Old Town to the West Hill with fabulous views out over the channel.
Entertainment & Activities
Interesting little independent cinema in the Old Town - worth checking out what they are showing.
38 locals recommend
Electric Palace Cinema, Hastings
39A High StInteresting little independent cinema in the Old Town - worth checking out what they are showing.
The aquarium in the Old Town is brilliant if you have children who are enthusiasts. Plenty to see and not usually too busy - it is an exciting visit.
39 locals recommend
Blue Reef Aquarium
Rock-a-Nore RoadThe aquarium in the Old Town is brilliant if you have children who are enthusiasts. Plenty to see and not usually too busy - it is an exciting visit.
Kino-Teatr
43-49 Norman RdAnother usually styled independent cinema - worth checking what is on.
Shopping
A carefully chosen combination of antiques and new things that are beautifully made. Certainly a one-off shop and always something to tempt...
13 locals recommend
Butler's Emporium
70-71 George StA carefully chosen combination of antiques and new things that are beautifully made. Certainly a one-off shop and always something to tempt...
A curiosity shop to explore - they sell vintage crockery and vintage-inspired brushes and homewares. A one-off experience.
20 locals recommend
A G Hendy & Co
36 High StA curiosity shop to explore - they sell vintage crockery and vintage-inspired brushes and homewares. A one-off experience.
You go through a small passage to a hidden secondary-hand heaven... there is loads to look through and find - all kinds of stuff - furniture, clothes, plates, pictures, kitchen utensils.......
Courthouse Street
Courthouse StreetYou go through a small passage to a hidden secondary-hand heaven... there is loads to look through and find - all kinds of stuff - furniture, clothes, plates, pictures, kitchen utensils.......
Hastings Antiques Centre
59-61 Norman RdInteresting, strange and wonderful antiques to be discovered here.