Our thriving seaside town is back with a bang with more than 3.2 million day visitors enjoying a visit here each year. Just a 90-minute train journey from the London, Hastings is the perfect place to enjoy a weekend in the sunshine.
With a bustling Old Town, a selection of great places to eat and drink and an exciting calendar of events, there isn’t a better place to be this summer.
At The Electric Palace – the town’s independent cinema in the heart of the Old Town – we love everything independent, so have picked out our favourite places for you to hang out like a local. From lunch to pubs and events to walks, we’ve got you covered.
A foodie’s haven
There’s plenty going on food-wise in Hastings, especially if you’re a fan of seafood. The Rock A Nore Kitchen serves up some of the best seafood, but they only do one sitting per night so make sure you book! We’d recommend the sharing platter of Hastings-caught fish which includes two whole fish, whitebait, a selection of seafood as well as roast potatoes and veg.
If you fancy a taste of Morocco, Café Maroc is the place to be. With a great atmosphere and even better food, it’s nestled in the heart of the Old Town so you can enjoy what the rest of the town has to offer.
Café des Arts in Robertson Street (also known by the locals as America Ground) provides people with autism with an opportunity to showcase and sell their art work. And coffee always comes with a smile.
Borough Wines, just a few doors down, will recommend the finest tipples for you to take back to your rental cottage or onto the beach for a sunny picnic!
Evening adventures
Just two doors down from Café Maroc is the Electric Palace. Which is convenient, as we run a Thursday eve Dinner and a Movie night with Café Maroc. Electric Palace is a not-for-profit venue bringing a wide choice of films to the town. From screenings of contemporary, classic and world cinema, we make sure there’s something for everyone. What’s more, we have a licensed bar so you can enjoy a glass of wine or local ales during the film!
If you’re looking for authentic Hastings nightlife, we’d recommend a trip to The First In Last Out pub. With its very own brewery, it’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy proper beer and proper food. With monthly quiz nights and weekly live gigs, there’s rarely a quiet night.
Places to explore
For the adventurous among you, Hastings has some charming old funicular railways that scale the tall cliffs that hug the town. Head up to the East Cliff Railway for lovely views over the town and beaches then take a walk along the network of trails that cover Hastings Country Park heathland and woodland.
Lastly, a trip to Hastings wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the seafront.
For those of you who like to skateboard or BMX, Hastings now boasts Source Park, a huge underground all-ages skatepark situated under the seafront.
You can also enjoy the seafront by bicycle. It has wide cycle lanes along the promenade and you can hire bikes at Bells Bicycles, near the Old Town. If you’re feeling energetic, you can cycle all the way to Eastbourne along the coast, stopping at three brilliant galleries: Jerwood Gallery in Hastings, De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill and the Towner in Eastbourne.
We know there’s something to suit everyone in Hastings so enjoy your stay, pop in and see us and feel free to share your favourite places!