Pump House
A new café/bistro in Alexandra Park opens at last. STEVEN SHORT finds out more.
Anyone who’s ever opened a café, bar or restaurant will know that opening dates can often be pushed back… several times. This was certainly the case for Pump House, the new café and deli in Alexandra Park. “We were hoping to be up and running in February, so that we had time to iron out any kinks, but we’ve been thrown in at the deep end…” says Michael Fawcett, who has taken on what was once, as the name suggests, a Victorian pumping station, with Rikki Finegold.
Both Fawcett and Finegold have impressive foodie CVs. Finegold runs a successful catering company while Fawcett has been in the world of food and drink for many years. He opened Manchester’s famous Greens vegetarian restaurant, has run a bistro in Southern Spain and, prior to his move to Hastings, was general manager at St John’s Tavern in Archway, north London.
The pair met when their now-grown-up children started at the same school and, says Fawcett, had long wanted to do something together. That something almost happened just as lockdown loomed and so had to be shelved. But then fate intervened. “Rikki said she’d heard something was going on with this old building in the park, so we decided to take my dog for a walk and have a look,” says Fawcett.
As luck would have it, the owner was on site and the three of them got chatting. “We asked what he was going to do with the place and if he had anyone lined up, and he didn’t.”
And so Pump House was born
Coffee comes courtesy of Redemption Roasters – “proper specialist coffee!” says Fawcett. “They’re in London and actually roast their beans in prison. It’s really good coffee, and the guys who run it also train people in prison to be baristas.” And as well as a selection of cakes and pastries, Pump House’s launch menu, described by Finegold as “New York deli, meets the Med meets Hastings” includes “overstuffed focaccia or ciabatta sandwiches – there’s a BMW (broccoli, mushroom and vegan ricotta) as well as a classic BLT – quiches, soups and salads.
“At the moment, we’re getting a feel for what people want. We’ll hopefully start doing small plates soon, some charcuterie…” says Fawcett.
The Pump House is licensed and currently offers a tightly curated selection of white and reds, “I’m using my suppliers from my time at St John’s,” and with warmer weather just around the corner, Fawcett is about to add a rosé, that summer essential, to the mix.
“We’re licensed until 7pm, and we’re planning on introducing some cocktails. Hopefully people will come down for an early evening drink on our terrace when summer arrives.”
Being licensed also makes the place perfect for events, something the pair are currently looking into.
Pump House is dog friendly and also wheelchair accessible.
Pump House, Alexandra Park, St Helens Road, Hastings, TN34 2EL pumphouse.uk
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