Archives for Top Stories - Page 8
Owens Directors’ £4m loss
HUGH SULLIVAN Draft accounts of CFEC Ltd, the company which developed the Owens entertainment centre in the former Debenhams building in Robertson Street in 2022 and which filed for insolvency…
ATHLETICS: Hastings Parkrun 20th Anniversary
CHRIS SANDERSON, runner and volunteer at Hastings Parkrun, explores the popularity of the weekly event, that’s not run in a park Probably most people across Britain are aware of Parkrun.…
The Centre of the Community
The Clifton Community Centre in Central St Leonards recently welcomed supporters, funders, and partners to a celebration event to mark the end of a year-long project to make the building…
Pier Events Prompt Council ‘Investigation’
Newcomers to Hastings Pier, Rum Shed, have been advertising a programme of electronic music to be staged this autumn and winter in the three-room, two-storey wooden reception building in the…
Restoring Forgotten Brilliance
VICTORIA KINGHAM talks to Carina Cosgrave about the Sabi Ensemble Going to a concert of classical music, we expect to see accomplished performers playing written music perfectly. We are often…
SCHOOL SPORT: ‘Make It Happen’
Olympian Athlete Inspires Hollington Schoolkids HUGH SULLIVAN Sport is part of the curriculum at Hollington Primary School. There are two PE lessons a week with staff teacher Marlon Diamond. There’s…
Kneecap Packs a Kick
EBM HUMPHREYS Rave reviews led me to expect polished and perfect mayhem from Kneecap. Actually it’s imperfect, but full-blooded, solid entertainment, made brilliant by its context, message and moment. It…
Council Launches Housing Strategy Consultation
PAUL McLAUGHLIN Hastings Borough Council (HBC) has launched a public consultation as part of its plans to develop a new housing strategy for the town. At a well-attended launch in…
County Council Set to Slash Social Care Spending
The cabinet of East Sussex County Council (ESCC) wase due to meet on Thursday this week to discuss savings proposals on next year’s budget, which at present is predicted to…
Former University Building Under Hammer
The six-storey University of Brighton building at Priory Square was due to be auctioned on Wednesday this week by London agent Allsop. The building consists of the former main Hastings…
Alexandra Park Greenhouse Fully Restored After 10 Years
Volunteers have celebrated 10 years of progress at a Hastings community hub with a surprise presentation to its chairman. Photos: Colin Foy Linda Pearson receives a presentation album from Linda Foy…
Historic Revelations at the Edith Festival
A couple of years ago, HIP published DAVID DENNIS’ article on the life of ‘Edith the Swan Neck’. He introduces another Edith Festival coming to Hastings soon. Everyone loves a…
More Murals Help to Transform Town
TINA MORRIS With one more mural to come, and a selection of BT Boxes appearing, Coastal Currents has been leaving street art wherever they appeared in 2024. The Old Bathing…
CRICKET: The Royals’ First Season
HUGH SULLIVAN The Sussex Cricket League, whose 2024 season ended earlier this month, spreads over 39 Divisions, accommodating over 370 teams between Bosham in the west and Rye in the…
FOOTBALL: Two Sent Off as United Suffer Third League Defeat
31 August: Hastings Utd 3, Redhill Town 1 7 September: Hashtag Utd 4, Hastings Utd 0 Hastings United suffered their third successive defeat in this season’s Isthmian Premier League, finishing their match against Essex…
Pier Issued with Revised Licence Conditions
Following a meeting of the licensing sub-committee of Hastings Borough Council (HBC) on 2 September, the management of Hastings Pier has been issued with fresh licence conditions governing music events…
Politics Returns with End of Summer Truce
PAUL McLAUGHLIN The relationship between council leaders and the local MP can often be a tricky one, even when they are from the same political party. When there is harmony…
O’Callaghan Unveils her Shadow Cabinet Team
Margi O’Callaghan, the Labour Group Leader on Hastings BC, has announced her Shadow Cabinet team following May’s local elections. The Braybrooke Councillor took over the leadership of the Labour group…
BMX Battle of Hastings Was a Banger
The sold-out 2024 BMX Battle of Hastings at Source Park was a banger, delighting the audience and bringing a lot of people to the town. Photo: Jason Ellis Photo: Jason…
Bach to the Future – a Four-Part Invention
VICTORIA KINGHAM It seems to me exceptional the way that musicians in this part of the world seem happy to link up, be open to, and enjoy each other’s particular…
Meffs promote local gigs atthe Piper
Known for their raw energy and unyielding punk ethos, electrifying post punk duo The Meffs have taken a significant step in supporting the live music community by becoming Music Venue…
Concert at Hastings Castle
A group of local Hastings artists will be hosting a unique and captivating performance event in the ruins of Hastings Castle, bringing the historic grounds to life with an innovative…
Pier Licence At Risk Over Safety Concerns
HUGH SULLIVAN The future of mass gathering events at Hastings Pier could be under threat when a licensing sub-committee of Hastings Borough Council (HBC) meets on Monday 2 September to…
Transformation Boost
Council Unveils Partner for Castle Project and West Hill Café Ambitious plans to transform Hastings Castle and the West Hill Café are set to get a major boost next week…
A Young Person’s Guide to the Musical
MIRI (7) and RUPERT (10) enjoy an evening out It’s too late to see the musical version of Charlie and the Chocolate factory at the White Rock Theatre, but the…
Wish You Were Here
GILL GOLDENBERG explores the iconic Judges building on Bexhill Road with James White (Design Innovation), looking at the past, present and future of the postcard industry. How many photos do…
Jazz, Folk, and Forests
VICTORIA KINGHAM talks to Rebecka Edlund ahead of her performance at Jazz Hastings Thomas W. Stephenson To talk to Rebecka Edlund about her music is to talk to her about…
FOOTBALL: United Up And Running
HASTINGS UNITED 2, HORSHAM 0 HUGH SULLIVAN Hastings United made an encouraging start to their Isthmian Premier League season last Saturday when they beat Horsham 2-0 at the Pilot Field.…
The Poverty of Modern British Cuisine
TIM SEARLE argues that modern British cuisine is hollow Tyson on UnsplashChicken nugget: ‘profoundly infantile’ According to the media, we British seem to think of our modern cuisine as an…
Housing Targets ‘Ridiculous and Unrealistic’
Green-led council at odds with Labour MP over government plans PAUL McLAUGHLIN Government plans to tackle the housing crisis by overhauling the planning system and introducing mandatory targets for all…
Hastings Rejects Racism
Hastings rose to the nationwide challenge of violent anti-immigrant protest last week with three anti-racist gatherings. Dave Young In the week beginning 5 August a message was circulated on the…
A History of Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve
We recently marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Country Park. Local historian, STEVE PEAK adds to the celebration with a history. Postcard of Ecclesbourne Glen in the…
Town Plan Stalled
PAUL McLAUGHLIN Ambitious plans for the regeneration of the town centre in Hastings have been put on hold. Hastings BC and the Hastings Board were only notified last Friday (19…
Massive Council Losses
PAUL MCLAUGHLIN reports that ‘bewildering’ housing decisions by the former council will cost Hastings residents dear. Dave Young22 Wellington Square Hastings Borough Council is facing losses of hundreds of thousands…
Look Out, Cratediggers!
HARRY HAWKINS recounts a musical banquet to be had in just two of the town’s several record shops, Tough Love Records and Dayglo Studios Charles DaviesBorough Council at DayGlo Records…
Jazz, Jamaica, Joy
VICTORIA KINGHAM talks to legendary jazz pianist Monty Alexander Monty Alexander has lived and played in the US for more than sixty years, since being discovered as a young pianist…
Pride Reprieved
As HIP goes to press it seems hopeful that the Hastings Pride Festival at the Oval and LGBTQI+ parade through town on 25 August will go ahead after an 11th…
FOOTBALL: United Gear Up For New Season
HUGH SULLIVAN Hastings United kick off a new season of the Isthmian Premier League at the Pilot Field next Saturday 10 August. Their first opponents will be Horsham, play-off semi-finalists…
Artist Spotlight: Living Light Summer Exhibition
After relocating to Hastings Arts Forum (HAF) earlier this year, international photographic exhibition Photopia wanted to collaborate on a new summer show. Over 160 images were submitted from 33 photographers…
New MP Raises UBAT Concerns
PAUL MCLAUGHLIN Helena Dollimore, the newly elected MP for Hastings and Rye, has raised her concerns about the ongoing dispute between local members of the National Education Union (NEU) and…