Hastings Castle will welcome The HandleBards to the West Hill on Friday 10 July for a riotous open-air production of Macbeth, marking a significant step in the Castle’s long-term ambition to become a regular destination for touring outdoor performance.

Amongst the ancient ruins, audiences are invited to bring blankets or low-backed chairs, and enjoy a playful Shakespearean production with a dramatic seascape backdrop. Perfect for an impassioned soliloquy or two!

The HandleBards are known for fast, funny, and environmentally conscious Shakespeare. Their 2026 Macbeth is performed by a 3-strong troupe touring the UK by electric van, bringing a high-octane, slightly chaotic version of the Scottish play to outdoor spaces across the country. Forget solemn tragedy: this Macbeth is full of mishaps, mayhem and mirth, suitable for all ages and apparitions.

For Hastings Castle, the performance is more than a one-off summer date. It represents the first full outdoor theatre production in the castle’s current events programme and, the team hopes, the beginning of many more. As the site continues to develop its role as an open-air events space, the arrival of The HandleBards points towards a future in which Hastings Castle becomes a distinctive stop for touring theatre companies, artists and audiences looking for performances in extraordinary places.

Ellie Westbrook, at Hastings Castle, said: “We are so excited to welcome the Handlebards to help us open this next chapter for Hastings Castle. Their work is dynamic, irreverent, interactive and does everything possible to bring theatre alive in the outdoors. We want to do more of this programming and see this event as a beautiful launchpad.”

The story may be familiar: three witches promise Macbeth the Scottish Crown, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth make one spectacularly bad decision, and things rapidly unravel from there. Foul deeds are done, plots fall apart and mysterious spirits appear. In The HandleBards’ hands, however, Shakespeare’s darkest play becomes a gloriously unhinged evening of theatre.

Venue: Hastings Castle, Castle Hill Road, West Hill, Hastings, Friday 10 July, 7pm–9pm, doors open 6pm. Tickets: https://www.handlebards.com/show/macbeth-hastings-castle/. Audience advice: Outdoor performance. Bring a chair or blanket and clothing suitable for the weather. The Handlebards’ 2026 summer season includes Macbeth and As You Like It, with Macbeth touring from June to September 2026.

Away from the beach and the high streets, at first glance Hastings might appear to be a town that has resisted change. Our population has barely shifted over the past decade, rising by less than 1% to just over 91,000, a striking contrast to the 6.6% growth seen across England. 

But what makes Hastings distinctive is not how much it has grown, but how much it has changed internally. Beneath that flat population line, the town has been quietly restructured – and Hastings Independent has been there to document that change, including the concerns it has raised.

The clearest evidence lies in housing. In Central St Leonards, one-bedroom properties have declined by around 5%, while homes with two or more bedrooms have increased by over 5%. This is not new development, but conversion, as smaller, often lower-cost rental units are combined into larger homes. The effect is subtle but significant. It reshapes who can afford to live in these areas without altering the skyline.

The consequences are already visible. Demand for housing support has surged, with more than 1,000 new applicants recorded and council spending rising from £700,000 to over £5.6 million. These figures suggest that, even as parts of Hastings appear to improve, access to housing is becoming more precarious for many residents. 

Change is also unevenly distributed. While overall home ownership has risen slightly to 56.6%, one of the larger increases nationally, this masks a split within the town. In some central wards, ownership has increased, while in others it has fallen sharply. Hastings is experiencing pockets of transformation.

Work and education tell a similar story. The proportion of residents in professional occupations has risen by several percentage points, particularly in central areas, while lower-skilled work has declined. Degree-level qualifications have increased significantly in some neighbourhoods by over 10%. These are not marginal shifts. They indicate the arrival, or emergence, of a different kind of workforce, one that is likely to have higher incomes and different expectations of the town, one that has been encouraged by the increase in home working post pandemic.

At the same time, other indicators suggest a harsher reality. Hastings remains one of the more deprived areas in the Southeast, and although unemployment has fallen from 4.9% to 3.4%, it still sits among the highest in England. Improvements exist, but they are partial and uneven.

Demographic changes deepen the picture. The town is aging, with the median age rising to 43 and the number of people aged over 65 increasing by nearly 20%. Meanwhile, the ethnic composition is slowly diversifying, with the proportion of residents in ‘other’ ethnic groups tripling, and the white population falling from 93.8% to 91.4%.

Even social identity is changing. More residents now report no religion and fewer identify as married, with those never married rising to nearly 40% of adults. These are the kinds of changes that rarely make headlines, yet collectively they reshape the character of a place.

Taken together, the change in data from when HIP started out reveals a paradox. Hastings looks stable because its population has barely grown. But stability in size has concealed transformation in structure. Housing is being reconfigured, the workforce is shifting and the social fabric is gradually being rewoven. What remains clear is that Hastings is changing more than it appears. Not through dramatic expansion, but through quieter, more concentrated shifts that are easy to overlook.

‘Up-and-Come’ St Leonards
HIP 29 March, 2026
St Leonards was named among the top ten places to live in the southeast of England in a Sunday Times feature Best Places to Live 2026 published last weekend.
hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/up-and-come

Changing Hastings: Town Meeting Addresses Housing Issues 
HIP 29 November 2019
Participants were split into five discussion areas: price rises, second homes/Airbnb, private rented, who owns Hastings? and a ‘wildcard’, with three potential approaches to each of these issues: what the council and/or government could do, what campaigns locals could lead, and what practical solutions could be implemented.
hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/changing_hastings

What’s it like to be a newcomer in Hastings? 
15 December, 2020
I moved here with my partner in August, well aware that the coronavirus had turned the trickle of DFLs into a deluge.
hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/newcomer

Change to Airbnb in Hastings: Scourge or Blessing? 
HIP 29 November 2019
Of course, seaside towns like Hastings have always had transient visitors. But the current trend, accelerated by Airbnb, has made property unaffordable. When young people can’t afford to buy or even to rent in their own town, the balance is wrong. I have nothing against Airbnb, but it is adding incrementally to the housing crisis in our town. We don’t want our neighbourhoods turning into ‘ghost towns’ as they have in Cornwall and elsewhere.
hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/Airbnb

The period of striking and complex change that Hastings has undergone over the past twelve years is seen very clearly in the story of Hastings Pier.

HIP has regularly documented the changing fortunes of the pier over the past 12 years. In fact, the pier’s story has come to define the town’s recent history. In October 2010, a fire destroyed much of the Victorian structure, leaving it closed and derelict for years. What followed was an unusually strong local response: more than 2,000 people invested in a community share scheme to help fund its restoration, and bolster the amount provided by The Heritage Lottery Fund. When the pier reopened in 2016 after a £14 million rebuild, it was widely acclaimed as a community success story, a rare example of local people directly shaping the future of a major landmark.

The project gained national recognition, with the rebuilt pier winning the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2017 for its minimalist design. Yet, for complex reasons, the charity set up to run the pier was unable to maintain its financial sustainability, and it entered administration in 2017. In 2018, amid great controversy, the administrators sold it to the flamboyant owner of Eastbourne Pier, despite a strong bid from The Friends of Hastings Pier. Since then, the pier has faced repeated closures, changes in management and ongoing debate about its long-term role, whether as an events venue, a public space or something in between. It has now been put up for sale and is no longer fully operational.

HASTINGS RETAIL

While the pier has provided a highly visible focal point, change across Hastings has also been unfolding more gradually in its commercial streets. Areas such as the Old Town and parts of St Leonards have seen a steady growth in independent cafés, galleries and small businesses, particularly in the wellbeing sector, over the past decade. This shift is linked to a new influx of creatives and remote workers, mainly from London, drawn by comparatively lower property prices and the town’s coastal setting.

These changes have not been uniform. Hastings town centre continues to be plagued by vacant retail units to some extent caused by national trends including the decline of chain retailers and the rise of online shopping. The contrast between more vibrant, independent-led areas and quieter commercial zones has become increasingly pronounced.

Physical regeneration has also played a role. The Observer Building, once a hub for regional journalism employing hundreds of people, has been redeveloped after many years of neglect. Its transformation into a mixed-use creative and business space – along with several other major buildings in the area – reflect a broader shift away from large-scale local industry toward smaller, more flexible forms of economic activity.

Various pots of government funding have also played a part, but not always in a positive way such as with the abortive attempt to reopen Debenhams building as an events venue. An ongoing project is The Hastings Town Centre Public Realm and Green Connections Project, a £10m- £20m+ initiative to transform the town center with nature-based solutions, enhancing biodiversity, and improving walking/cycling links between the station and seafront.

Together, these developments point to a town in transition. Hastings has seen clear signs of renewal over the past twelve years, through independent enterprise and cultural investment, but also ongoing uncertainty around long-term sustainability.

Pier Future
20 April 2018
Friends of Hastings Pier (FoHP) has submitted an ambitious £3 million bid to take on Hastings Pier in an attempt to save it from being sold off into private ownership.
hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/articles/news/tide-us-over

Judge a man by the company he keeps
29 June 2018
So how did the Sheikh with a string of failed and failing companies get his pier bid approved? “The aim throughout the process was that the heritage asset be sold to the party which demonstrated the highest probability of sustaining it financially into the future and maintained the benefits for Hastings and the wider community”. So stated the administrators
hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/judge-man

What future for Hastings’ Shops? 
22 February 2019
Debenhams lies on the fringe of the main shopping area. Flaky exterior paint (take a look from the seaward side) and all the interior charm and excitement of a 1970s East German department store. It is a national chain in deep difficulty
hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/what-future

OB – ‘It’s Going To Happen’ 
22 September 2020
The Observer Building has suffered 35 years of dereliction, speculation and extraction. This is the first time it has had a deliverable planning permission, and the resources in place to deliver it.
hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/ob-happening

Central to the process is a committed network of editors, one for each section. These are listed on page two in every issue of the paper. All the editors are volunteers, bringing forward ideas shaped by their own experiences of Hastings. They are a mix of seasoned journalists, or others who have previously worked in writing and publishing, plus some new to this creative process. What unites us is not background but perspective. HIP has always drawn strength from this mix, allowing stories to emerge from within the community rather than being imposed upon it.

To encourage the community-driven process, we encourage contributors to contact us with their stories, whether they write it themselves or have one of the editors interview them to tell the story on their behalf.

1. Section editors begin to collect stories: they may come up with their own ideas, but also individuals, charities, etc, email them with ideas of what to include.

2. The editorial meeting is where the next issue really begins to take shape. This meeting acts as a planning session and open forum. Section editors pitch ideas, debate angles. With no rigid hierarchy, decisions are collaborative.

3. The editing process begins as agreed content is produced. Sub editors then fact check, correct and shape articles, uploading them with suggested photos, ready for design.

4. Layout and design are managed by HIP’s Art Director. Text and imagery are laid out in the distinctive style that regular readers will recognise over the production weekend.

5. The final stage in production involves the laid-out proofs being read and checked by section editors, proof-readers and the content coordinator on Monday before the paper goes to print.

6. Printing marks the point where the paper shifts from idea to object. 7,500 copies are produced every other week.

Distribution is a collective effort. Bundles of papers arrive on Thursday and delivered to cafés, bars, galleries, community centres and public spaces, where they are made freely available. 

The decision to keep our paper free is  to ensures that access is not limited by income so the widest possible audience can be engaged with.

Readers encounter the paper in every-day settings, often picking it up casually, sometimes returning regularly. The stories they find there, about housing, culture, politics or local life, often feed into the next cycle of ideas

Fact File

2014: The first edition of HIP was published in February – the same month as The Bristol Cable, another independent print newspaper that’s still operational – but is quarterly rather than fortnightly.

Volunteers: Our writers, editors and photographers are all volunteers. These have included a politician/activist, the multi-talented Des Wilson; musicians, numerous successful writers and journalists; and several young writers, including an eight-year-old who loves knitting.

Independent: HIP is independent because it’s not owned by a media corporation and has a flat structure with no overall editor. Decisions are made by editorial committee members at our regular meetings. Note: HIP should not be confused with the other HIP (Hastings International Piano) or HIG (referred to as Hastings independents).

Distribution: Around 7,500 copies are distributed per edition across 100+ locations in Hastings & St Leonards including cafes, shops, supermarkets, libraries, NHS waiting rooms and even the local police station. Can’t find it? Look on our website for a list of locations under the dropdown About us.

Our Readers: Most of our stories are only relevant to the local community, although we do have readers from as far afield as New Zealand.

Sections: Several section editors have come and gone over the last twelve years, including the much missed satirist, bass player Colin Gibson (Bird Guano) who once survived life in the supergroup Ginger Baker’s Airforce. The longest serving section editor is the poet, Pete Donohue, a founding member of HIP and editor of the Literature Section.

300 Editions: HIP has been published every fortnight since it began (although it was online-only during the pandemic), a major achievement for a volunteer-run publication – marking over a decade of continuous local journalism.

Mentioned: Helena Dolimore MP mentioned the paper twice in parliament: once to thank “the journalists who helped expose the scandal [of Owens]” and once to ask the Leader of the House to join her in wishing HIP a happy 10th birthday and “thanking them [and Rye News] for all their hard work”.

National/International: Several items in HIP have been picked up by the national press, including The Observer and Private Eye. One article was even republished in the International Flute Journal.

Hastings Independent seems to be, at the same time, both bucking and setting trends in local journalism. As more local commercial newspapers fold, the community model initiated by HIP (Hastings Independent Press) is being increasingly adopted around the country.

Currently, five-and-a-half million people in the UK live in an area with no local press at all, a state of affairs decried by the Media Reform Coalition: “Unaccountable concentrations of media power are amongst the greatest threats to a free and open democratic society. We need a proactive, future-proof framework for media plurality that supports a greater diversity of media owners, and public interest reforms to promote and uphold the highest standards in journalism.”

Of course, just having an existing local newspaper doesn’t guarantee diversity or quality. It was because of considerable dissatisfaction with the content of the Hastings Observer – then owned by Johnston Press, now by National World – that HIP was created in February 2014. Now, 300 editions later, it is something of a miracle that it is still going – and is still determined to present an independent voice for the community of Hastings.

Over the years, many individuals have devoted large amounts of time on a voluntary basis to ensure that the town continues to have an alternative voice. Making use of a non-hierarchical structure, we are able to ensure that there are no entrenched editorial views or support for one group or political party over another.

And this is where HIP seems to have set a trend. In the past few years, a number of other ‘hyperlocal papers’ have followed its lead. In the Manchester area, five ‘Post’ community print publications cover Stockport, Manchester, Trafford, Chester and Salford, while the Bolton, Bury and Tameside Posts are due to be launched this year. Elsewhere in East Sussex, the free Hailsham News follows the Post model and is distributed door to door, while the Eastbourne News and Bexhill News (all three published by Regional Media Group) are found mainly in supermarkets. In London, the Social Spider Community Interest company publishes titles in Harringay, Waltham Forest, Enfield and Barnet. Few have paid staff, but all seem to survive on local advertising and donations.

Relying on volunteers allows HIP to draw on contributors with diverse skills while keeping operating costs to a minimum. However, a steadier income, whether through government funding or increased community support, would give the paper an enormous boost. It would enable us to work more efficiently (by improving software and employing administrative staff), broaden our outreach and strengthen our capacity to train and support aspiring journalists.

We all know money is tight, but if the community wants to see another 300 editions of HIP, we need more people to become Friends and more local organisations to advertise with us, so we can continue to reach residents across the town. HIP’s mission statement seems to resonate with our estimated 16,000 plus readers: “The newspaper recognises that there will be a wide range of views within the community and it seeks to cover a broad spectrum of those views.”

The Hastings Hustings, that most alliterative of general election staples, got off to a lively start yesterday, as seven candidates (and one empty chair) made their case directly to their electorate. Questions had been submitted in advance, with each of the hopefuls given exactly one minute to respond. The moderators Lorna Hamilton-Brown and Father Thomas Crowley could have put the BBC to shame (at least, to anyone who had seen the interrupt-a-thon between the two main party leaders the night before) such was their professionalism and rigour. 

The audience, on the other hand, didn’t fall under nearly as much scrutiny, and while the event began with a request for respect and civility, a few polite rounds of applause, and the occasional unsolicited comment, by the end there were cheers, boos, raucous laughter, and cries of ‘shame!’ every time someone mentioned the atrocities currently taking place in Gaza. The setting, therefore, in the grand White Rock theatre, on a balmy summer evening, could not have felt more appropriate.   

If the biodiversity of candidates on offer could be used to take a reading of the health of local democracy, Hastings holds its own against much larger and wealthier cities. Nicholas Davies, representing the Communist Party of Britain, sat next to Lucian Fernando of Reform UK. The middle ground (literally speaking, readers can make up their own mind whether the metaphor holds up) was occupied by Guy Harris of the Liberal Democrats, Becca Horn of the Greens, and Labour’s Helena Dollimore, who is currently leading in the polls. To the right of her were the incumbent MP Sally-Ann Hart, and to the left of our MP was Phil Colley, who is standing for the Workers Party of Britain. 

The empty chair belonged to Paul Crosland, an independent, unable to attend due to ill-health, but who requested the minute allocated for his answers be given over to a contemplative silence. Due to time-constraints, this wasn’t possible to accommodate, but it was an interesting idea regardless. 

Questions were an equally healthy mix of national and local issues, with the audience cheerily booing both water company bosses, and the University of Brighton Academies Trust, the latter forthe alleged mishandling of school funding that has come to light. Perhaps it’s a testament to our unique position as a coastal constituency from which France can be seen on a clear day, but the debate had a distinctly more internationalist flavour than many of the televised leaders’ debates. 

Anti-immigrant rhetoric was swiftly countered by rumblings of dissent from the crowd. The largest rounds of applause were reserved for those who made a firm commitment to greater cooperation with the international community, more decisive action on climate change, and more compassion for refugees, an area where those representing smaller parties seemed to shine.

So, who came across best? The range of views and policies which appeared to cut across traditional political divisions was fascinating to behold. Harris was an excellent orator, with a polished, yet engaging, manner. He even had cheering those of the generation never to forgive the Lib Dems for the coalition years but lost the crowd a little when he appeared to defend selective schooling. 

Davies was humble and forthright, with a strong closing address. But an unexpected comment in relation to the debate on trans rights stirred up animosity in some sectors of the audience. 

Fernando, sharp-suited and energetic, spoke with great passion and energy, but only a few pockets of the crowd found much to like in the things he spoke with great passion and energy about. 

Horn worked the crowd well, avoiding any stances which could come across as too tribal, while displaying a sincerity of conviction. But, understandably, due to the time-constraints, she had a habit of continuing to make a point over the applause, rendering some of what she said completely inaudible. 

Colley emerged as an unexpected favourite with many sections of the audience. His clear compassion and concern for the people of Gaza struck a chord, even if he occasionally lacked substance on domestic issues. His dig at rival Helena Dollimore’s career in the charity sector, however, though it made for a good soundbite, felt a little crass, on a par with those who mock lifelong vegetarians for not going vegan.

And what of the two main parties, in what is, after all, a Tory-Labour marginal and key battleground seat for both? The “two cheeks of the same arse” remark, made by Colley, and echoed by Davies is an old one. In fact, its origins can be traced back to the 1970 general election, when celebrated illustrator Ralph Steadman created a caricature showing the faces of Edward Heath and Harold Wilson superimposed on a pair of buttocks. It was adopted by the obscure, prog-rock Edgar Broughton Band on a poster encouraging people not to vote, which is probably where this author’s disgruntlement with the saying comes from.     

Any similarities between Hart and Dollimore were fairly superficial. Both are local (is that not what we expect of our MPs, even in a country where parachuting is depressingly common?) both are women, and both have a reasonable chance of being in government next week. Beyond these accidents of biology and geography, wider differences emerged. Hart was keen to stress her longevity in the role (though it was perhaps not what the audience wanted to hear) and her rival’s inexperience of elected office. Despite the clear dissatisfaction with her party, a stance especially acute in towns like Hastings which have felt the sharp end of the cost of living crisis, her determination to present herself as the continuity candidate was clear to see. 

Dollimore came across more like a graduate at her first major job interview, smartly dressed, enthusiastic, and well prepared for the inevitable wall of misdirected aggression over the actions of her party’s leadership. With the average age of a parliamentarian still hovering in the early 50s, her relative youth could work against her, or it could be perceived as a breath of fresh air by the electorate, only time will tell.

We owe a huge debt to the enthusiasm of those who got the paper off the ground and helped keep it going. This is what they said.

Sam Kinch
founder member and former director

When HIP started back in 2014 on the back of the financial crisis, phone-hacking scandal and three years of coalition government, we could all feel that Hastings was changing in ways which we couldn’t quite put a finger on. It was exciting but with a vague hint of threat. We’d seen what gentrification was doing to similarly deprived London boroughs and it felt as if Hastings was venturing down the same path: HIP was part of our response.

At the time of the newspaper’s launch, we did everything we could to appeal to readers from across the board. Newcomers or Hastingers, we didn’t really care, but what we did try to make sure of was that, provided you weren’t out-and-out libellous, or doing anything to attack or talk down vulnerable groups, we would act as a platform for your voice.

In the years since we started, Hastings has changed in ways that perhaps we never expected. Some of that change is for the better, bringing new energy and ideas and passions, but some of that change risks tolling the death knell for the creativity and activism which launched the paper in the first place.

HIP itself seems to be feeling impacts from those changes. The average age and level of financial stability of volunteers has changed significantly as the cost of living and generalised insecurity has increased. The impacts this has had on the editorial position are noticeable, a more ‘grown-up’ voice has emerged, for good or ill. 

Regardless, it’s a joy to know that something started 10 years ago, in a pub that no longer exists, by a group of people (some of whom are sadly no longer with us, others having been priced out of town) lives on without us. Here’s to another 10 years. 

Paul Osmond
founder member and former director

 Who’d have thought that an off-the-cuff comment to Sam saying: “We should start our own newspaper” would result in the formation of Hastings Independent Press. At the time, I’d envisaged something akin to Private Eye meets The Anarchist Cookbook, but that kind of thing is frowned upon and probably wouldn’t have mileage and, these days, attracts a prison sentence. However, after many meetings, we gathered together a great team of friends, all with a gritty determination to take back control of our local press. 

We had a very clear vision. We wanted a fluid movement of editors, contributors and directors, which would help keep the content and opinions expressed fresh and not become too stymied by one editor or the directors. No one should gatekeep the local press. The fact that 10 years later the paper is still going is a testament to all those who have and continue to volunteer their time and skills.

Kate Renwick
former director and arts editor

I was asked to write a short and light-hearted piece about the birth of the paper, and of course I jumped at the chance to do so. Then I struggled with what story I wanted to tell. It occurred to me after a few days of really wrestling with it, that my writer’s block was down to the word ‘light-hearted’. I don’t think it’s possible for me to convey the urgency and passion that each contributor possessed that brought about the birth of HIP. I can tell you that fun was had, but that was also due to the nature of its creation. 

There are so many stories to tell as each person involved had their own motivations. For me, the paper represented resistance, a small whisper of revolution. We were taking on the vastness of Johnston Press, the company that owned 75% of all local newspapers at that time. The right-wing ‘local rags’ in nearly every town in the UK, printed by one media conglomerate. 

Our very first meeting was at the Union Bar, a now legendary pub, sadly one of many consumed by the inevitable gentrification of the town, that we were so painfully aware of at the time. The first meeting had coincided with an established anarchist group meeting, which will give you some idea of where the paper was politically when it started. 

Those months running up to our first issue were a mix of fevered excitement, terror, and finally joyful disbelief when we succeeded. It was a mammoth effort, one I think none of us were prepared to duck out of. Then when pouring our celebratory drinks it dawned on us all that we had to do it all again – but this time we only had two weeks! 

It was like this for a long time, a good couple of years of financially winging it while reaching for the stars. It was, for me, one of the best times of my life, whilst also being one of the most stressful. I can’t imagine the years of rollercoaster that have come since those days. I don’t imagine it’s any easier than it was back then. 

I no longer live in Hastings, so I don’t have access to the paper now, but I hope it runs forever and I hope it never stops reaching for the stars and planting its seeds of revolution. 

Happy birthday HIP! 

Alan Bolwell
former director and politics/news editor

What was great about working on the Hastings Independent was that it used to have politics. It used to be an alternative to the right-wing sludge of media working its way downriver with the rest of the sewage. 

Sarah Young
former politics editor

Being a part of Hastings Independent Press at the beginning felt so exciting. Volunteering on the Politics section during a period of such immense social change for the town was a highlight. We ran Q&A with local candidates in the run up to the general election, as well as covering the Brexit vote.

I’m going to unashamedly say that when we held a Hustings and Amber Rudd got absolutely put through her paces by residents, that was a good day. When you have a group of people together who love where they live, are aware of the issues and want to enact positive social change, that’s a very powerful thing.

The roots of the paper were based on giving the town the media coverage it needed and deserved – there were lots of things to care about. I loved the meetings. They changed location but at one point ended up in the Horse and Groom and are amongst some of my fondest memories. We got stuff done but also had a few pints and a lot of fun.

It was an eclectic group of people, some with very niche interests and experiences and there was room for that. It gave me an appreciation for how unique the town is and how many people wanted to make good things happen – often being innovative and stretching resources to bring creativity, moments that felt magic or make life a bit more bearable for others.

Congratulations to HIP volunteers who have made sure the paper has reached its tenth year. I’m not living in Hastings but always pick up a copy when I’m back and it’s still such a good read. More than ever, I think that local journalism is hugely important and am pleased to see important topics being covered, and challenges made, as well as passion for what is a very special place to live.

Katie Rogers
former content coordinator, contributor and sub-editor

Firstly, Happy 10th Anniversary HIP! What an incredible achievement for an independent, community-led, volunteer-run newspaper. 

I joined HIP when it was relatively in its infancy, when the meetings took place at The Tub, a pub I once frequented as a teenage something! A recent English Language graduate, I wanted to continue my skills in writing and learning more about what was involved in working with a newspaper; the fact this was a community-led publication celebrating my hometown felt like a perfect fit.

My key memories are of the HIP people at the time, Cathy often leading each issue, making the most of the scramble of people and pieces involved. Kate, Paul, Jon, Alan, Sam and the gang, ensuring we all had the heart of the paper intact, our town and the residents.

 Gathering of an evening, chatting mostly about what was going on in the town, the good news as much as the bad. There was an overwhelming sense of wanting to showcase the real spirit of Hastings, the artists, the charities, the projects, the music and food scene, the events!

I started contributing some small features in the Community section, and eventually took on other roles with photography, section editing, and eventually editing the newspaper as a whole. As is the nature of newspapers, it could feel chaotic, rushed, but always fun.

 I am sure I still have some of the issues I worked on somewhere. It is wonderful to see the HIP spirit continuing all these years later.

Let’s face it, Hastings is a rather unique and kooky place, and the mainstream newspapers at the time weren’t always doing the best job of highlighting it; HIP very much took up that neglected mantle and worked tirelessly to make each issue happen. Hastings at its best.

Ade Peachment
former listings editor

Those who believe in Telekinesis, raise my hand! Hastings is blessed with numerous musicians, promoters, bands, DJs, and artists; so when HIP offered me the keys to the Listings Bunker I jumped. An honour to document such a rich and talented music scene via samizdat newsprint. Wandering streets, jotting down events, emailing and texting, endeavouring to create the definitive gig calendar for the most musical borough in the UK. 

The palpable excitement before Jack in the Green, Fat Tuesday, Pirate Day, and The Frat Cave/Beatwave were slavishly documented, and Flairz was always a terrible name. I saw Krautrock legends below Borough Wines, played records to Hells Angels and pagan flower folk, drank responsibly throughout bonfire season and raved about Riddles: a dark force of nature (RIP). Watched Kid Kapichi unplugged at SEED, danced the Argentine Tango, and plugged The Piercings, Marie White Band, Sine Waves and The Lennys. I experienced The Roomz Psych-fest, checked out the Funk and Soul of Voodoo, led the Pier to Eternity Acid House bike ride, and skanked with the Dub Generals. 

I forever banged on about Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell: “English tribal grease rock channelling the true spirit of Stonehenge era Hawkwind and Motorhead” and danced until dawn at Remi’s Body Circus. Interviewed Sir Norman Jay and documented every essential gig down The Union Bar. Attended the filming of King Size Slim, Matilda’s Scoundrels and Maid of Ace videos, and checked out Puffy Fetlock and Lil’ Vinegar Stroke spitting carnage at the Silverhill Abyss. Got all Balearic with Los Twangueros at Trago, sang shanties, followed Dr Savage’s coffin procession, and supported psychedelic troubadours Ceyote. It was one hell of a ride.

Jon Dunham
former sales director and listings editor

Due to a bit of media sales experience from my London days, when I saw a Facebook message about a start-up newspaper, I thought I’d see if I could help. And so it started: from a cold and derelict basement office in what would become Rock House, I got on the phone and managed to drum up some advertising business. It soon dawned on me how important this free-of-charge paper could be for independent traders to promote themselves to the local community. 

Although brought into the fold to fill this commercial gap, it soon became apparent that it was all hands on deck, as I soon helped collate the Listings section and eventually took over the all-important Tidal Times. I recall one night at the Horse & Groom, a gentleman took out a hand-torn section of the tidal times from his wallet, stating it was his go-to guide for future dog walks. I couldn’t have been more proud! 

Another well respected artist said the paper reminded him of the legendary Village Voice in New York, as HIP covered the counterculture and was never afraid to be politically aware. During an event on the Pier to celebrate Hastings Independent’s 100th issue, the question was asked to local dignitaries: Which one word summed up the paper? The majority of responses were simply ‘community’. However, the answer from the then Hastings Borough Council Cultural Regeneration Manager, came: “Bolshy!”. 

I remember thinking, “Our work here is done.” Being a volunteer for the paper opens up the opportunity to learn new skills and be a part of something unique. In these times of fake news, oligarch-owned, biased press and social media click-bait rabbit holes, it’s a blessing that Hastings has this independent voice, written by the community, for the community. 

Michelle Shakesby
former director and art director

Heavily pregnant, I met Colin, Zoya and Jon Dunham in a random pub on a random Wednesday in 2016 and got the first issue out the following Monday. I somehow then only missed a couple of issues, to give birth, during the next seven years. 

Thinking back to some of the highlights, the opportunity to be a key organiser of the HIP Election Hustings of 2019, was up there. The event was fully booked and grabbed the attention of the press, both local and national, for some “interesting” comments on the night.

 Another highlight was a transformative programme called the “Organisation Workshop.” These workshops weren’t just about honing professional skills; they were about empowering and uplifting members of our community who may traditionally not have accessed resources like this. Witnessing individuals from varied backgrounds gain practical experience and confidence was very fulfilling. It showcased HIP at its best, with a commitment to inclusivity and social impact – not “just a local newspaper” but a force for positive change.

Of course, working on a deadline-focused publication with a flat democratic structure also brought its challenges… A phrase that came to mind, often, was ‘herding cats’. I am happy to say, we were always more or less on time – even if I have a few more grey hairs to show for it. 

As an independent publication, there were a lot of strong opinions around the table – some of which were not always to my taste – but that’s democracy! I hope HIP continues to provide an independent voice for Hastings for the next 10 years and wish it the best.

Kim Batty
former food and arts editor

 I got involved with HIP when my daughter started school. I had become quite lonely from the constraints of being a single parent, which had eroded my confidence. I was a journalist and copywriter before having my daughter, so I offered to volunteer with HIP. The first meeting I had was really fun, getting involved in all the discussions and planning, I felt included and ready to write again. I became the Food Ed and then the Arts Ed. As well as lifting me out of quite a low point, it kick started my writing again, which is a big part of my job – and I met some great people. My quite ‘out there’ writing style seemed well received, and sometimes I did a cartoon or two – Thank you HIP.

Simone Witney
former director and features editor

I joined in the second/third year, made good friends, leant a lot about conflict resolution – especially when to keep quiet – and developed some skills I wasn’t sure I had. This led to the projects I’m involved in now, and to my moving away to Edinburgh. Here in Scotland, farmers are restoring meanders to straightened rivers as it is understood that this organic form is vital for the environment and wildlife to flourish. Everyone who has been involved in HIP is familiar with the vulnerabilities of an organic structure, but this, and the individuals who have worked on it have been essential to the flow of its survival and character. I’m super proud to have been part of this articulate, inclusive and resilient paper.

Andrew Myers
former arts editor

Happy 10th birthday, HIP! 

I’m so grateful for the time I spent as co-editor of the Arts pages, somewhere between 2018 and 2020. The exhilaration/panic at the sight of two blank pages that needed filling by Wednesday still hasn’t left me – I was always a fan of the Very Large Photo! Such a fantastic opportunity to get involved in the town. 

Particular highlights were getting the chance to interview some great artists and musicians, including sax legend Trevor Watts and composers Chris White and Polo Piatti. But probably my masterpiece was managing to write a 900-word review of a gig I wasn’t even allowed into. 

Ultimately, I couldn’t sustain working for HIP alongside the dreaded 9 to 5, but I still look back with pride. Sadly, I haven’t written a word since – but now you’ve got me thinking… 

Força, HIP – Hastings is lucky to have you! 

My placement year at HIP, during my degree course at the University of Sussex, was my first real experience of working in the media industry. With the practical elements of my journalism course being interrupted and restricted by the pandemic, I wanted to put some of the skills and principles that I had learned on my course into action.

During my first week, I was tasked with exploring Hastings and St Leonards to get acclimatised and have a better understanding of everything going on in the local area. As someone who was not a local and hardly knew the town, this was extremely beneficial. It was also helpful when settling into my present job as a reporter for the Times of Tunbridge Wells as I felt comfortable integrating myself into a new community.

While in Hastings, I covered all sorts of topics and stories from sewage leaks on Bulverhythe Beach and safety on our streets to pickleball. It was crucial for me to write as much as I could and build my portfolio. After writing over forty articles and with the help and guidance of the various section editors throughout, I firmly believe that there was a clear growth and development in my writing compared to when I first joined.

Very early into my placement, I volunteered to take over writing the weekly online newsletter and handling the social media accounts. This digital experience has been very useful in my current employment as I have now taken over similar responsibilities for the Times.

My time at the Hastings Independent ignited my passion for local journalism and community news, and I am extremely thankful for the entire HIP team for taking me on and for their endless trust and support. 

The experiences and lessons I learned at HIP have helped me get to where I am today and will help me as I continue my journey as a journalist for years to come. If you are thinking of pursuing a career within the industry or just looking to try something new, then I would definitely consider getting involved in your local newspaper.

There are three categories of outlets: bulk outlets, which take more than 100 copies, smaller outlets which take up to 100, and cafés, hairdressers, estate agents, doctor’s surgeries, etc that take copies to read while customers are waiting. Bulk outlets can run out quickly although they are restocked several times after the first delivery, so smaller outlets can be a good bet. 

For space reasons, we are only including a list here of those taking more than ten copies, but we thank them all. For a full list go to hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/where-can-i-find-a-copy. Apologies for any we have missed.

Bulk Outlets

• Asda, Silverhill
• Bookbusters, Queens Rd 
• Co-op, Fairlight Rd
• Convenience Store, Whitefriars Rd
• ESK, Cambridge Rd
• Lidl, Bohemia Rd
• Londis, Norman Rd
• Morrisons, Queens Rd
• Old Town Launderette, High St
• Priory Meadow Shopping Centre
• Saint Coffee, Warrior Square Station
• Spar at Shell Garage, the Ridge
• Spar, Kings Rd
• Tesco, Church Wood Drive
• Tesco, Ravenside, Bexhill-on-Sea
• White Rock Hotel
• Wonderfill, Kings Rd 
• Full Distribution List
• Hastings Town
• Trinity and Cambridge Rd
• The Common Room, 27 Cambridge Rd
• ESK, 18-24 Cambridge Rd
• Trinity Refills, 41A Cambridge Rd
• The Corner Shop, 55 Cambridge Rd
• Sweet Selection Robertson St, 11 Cambridge Rd
• Jempsons, 18 Wellington Pl
• Bullet Coffee House, 38 Robertson St
• Stooge Coffee, 4 Trinity St
• Trinity Wholefoods, 3 Trinity St
• Hastings Library, Brassey Institute, 13 Claremont
• Hastings Station
• East Sussex College, Station Plaza
• Hastings Visitor Information Centre, Station Plaza – closed for winter
• Reception, Station Plaza Health Centre
• The Seadog, 32 Station Rd
• Queens Rd
• Morrisons Cafe, Morrisons, 170 Queens Rd
• Morrisons Petrol, 170A Queens Rd
• Imperial, 119 Queens Rd
• Fountain on Queens, 93 Queens Rd
• Bottle of Hastings, 91-92 Queens Rd
• Printed Matter, 185 Queens Rd
• Bookbusters, 39 Queens Rd
• Prince Albert Pub, 28 Cornwallis St
• Pissaro’s, 9-10 South Terrace
• Eel & Bear, 28 Waldegrave St
• Priory Meadow shopping centre 

Old Town

• The Albion, 33 George St
• George’s Bookshop, George St
• Dirty Old Gallery, 31 West St – closed for Winter
• Old Town Stores (Premier), 21-22 George St
• Select Convenience, 61 High St
• The Nest, The Old Town Hall, High St
• Old Town Launderette, 44 High St
• The Bourne Mini Market, 29 Courthouse St
• The Crown, 64-66 All Saints St
• Hastings Contemporary, 1 Rock-A-Nore Rd
• Isabel Blackman Centre, Winding St
• Stables Theatre, The Bourne
• Hastings Borough Council, Muriel Matters House
• The Shipwreck Museum
• St Leonards
• Cambia Kitchen, 44 Marina
• Poffley’s Coffee Shop, 40b Marina
• Nisa Convenience Store, 41 Marina
• Hastings Arts Forum, 36 Marina
• Dark Circles, 6 Marine Court 
• Pizzarelli, 12 Marine Court
• Bonjour, 13 Grand Parade
• Kassa, 15 Grand Parade
• Forbidden Fruit, 22 Grand Parade
• Goat Ledge, Lower Promenade, Warrior Square
• White Rock Hotel, White Rock
• Central St Leonards
• Lucy Bell Gallery, 46 Norman Rd
• Kino Teatr, 43-49 Norman Rd
• Gizem Nur Newsagent, 17 Norman Rd
• Londis, 23 Norman Rd
• Heist Market, 22-26 Norman Rd
• The Piper, 1 Norman Rd
• Saint Coffee, Warrior Square Station
• Dandelion Deli, 14 Kings Rd
• Wonderfill, 43 Kings Rd
• Spar, 29-30 Kings Rd
• Milk + Hustle, 45B London Rd
• Launderette, 42 London Rd 
• St Leonards Grocery, 15 London Rd
• Collected Fictions, 4 London Rd
• Launderette, 22 Silchester Rd
• Sugar Pie Honey Buns, 235 London Rd
• The Tower Pub, 251 London Rd
• Tower Launderette, 142 London Rd
• West St Leonards
• Marina Park Stores, 1 Seaside Rd
• Dove Café, 19, Bexhill Rd
• Marina Fountain, 26 Caves Rd
• The Bo Peep, 25 Grosvenor Crescent
• Costa Coffee, Bulverhythe Retail Park 
• Greggs, Bulverhythe Retail Park

The Ridge

• Premier, 220-222 Harrow Lane
• Harrow Stores, 821 The Ridge
• Conquest Hospital convenience shop
• Spar at Shell Garage 364 The Ridge
• Esso Garage, 54 The Ridge

Ore

• Good on Greens, 466 Old London Rd
• Londis – Drishi News, 492 Old London Rd
• Ore Community Library, 469 Old London Rd
• Co-Op, 4-6 Fairlight Rd
• The Steamie Launderette, 53-55 Mount Rd
• One Stop, 77-79 Mount Rd
• Beneys Londis, 51 Hughenden Rd
• JN Convenience Store – Premier, 9 Whitefriars Rd

Silverhill

• Lidl, 63 Bohemia Rd
• Esso Garage, 64 Bohemia Rd
• Co-op, 45-47 Bohemia Rd
• Asda, Battle Rd
• BP Garage (Londis), 12 Sedlescombe Rd North
• Silverhill Laundry, 49 Sedlescombe Rd North
• The Welcome Pub, 55 Sedlescombe Rd North

Hollington

• One Stop, 39-45 Blackman Avenue
• One Stop, 2 Bodiam Drive
• Wishing Tree Stores, 3 Wishing Tree Rd North
• Parker Building Supplies, Highfield Drive
• Hollington Oak, 210 Wishing Tree Rd
• Tesco Extra, Church Wood Dr
• Welcome (Southern Co-op), Battle Rd
• Best One, Battle Rd
• Co-op, Battle Rd

Hastings Independent is a print newspaper that attempts to be both for the community and by the community – but given that our town is a particularly diverse community, that can be a difficult task. On the one hand Hastings has a high concentration of creatives, but on the other, there’s a lack of job opportunities; there’s also been a recent influx of wealth, but Hastings maintains its unenviable status as one of the most deprived areas of England.

It’s a difficult balancing act and, inevitably, we sometimes get it wrong. That’s why, on our tenth anniversary, we would really like this redesigned issue to connect with all kinds of people in Hastings. The look of a paper has a surprising effect on who picks up a copy, and the more people pick one up, the more we hope a wider range of people will engage with it. 

We hope this article will give you information and insight into why you should. 

LISTINGS 

The HIP List has been part of Hastings Independent in one form or another since 2014, when it started as a Music Listings page. It went on to deliver free advertising for local activities: music, film, performance, general events and classes. There have been many attempts to replicate this in print and online, but we still feel it is one of the best. We also think it can be improved – which is why we have increased the section from four to eight pages. This not only gives space for more listings but also allows us to preview articles and include adverts.

We’ve increased the space, so now it’s up to you to provide us with the content. We would particularly like to have add a section on things for children: toddlers to young teenagers, so why not volunteer as a Listings coordinator for that section? 

Of course, to find Listings, you first have to pick up a paper and open it; so we’re glad to see you already have.

FINANCING THE PAPER

We rely heavily on advertising to finance the paper, with printing being the most costly aspect. Why print? Because it’s still in demand and sets us apart from other media outlets that are online only (and still has a kind of status). With a current distribution of 7,000 copies, many of them read multiple times while people are out and about enjoying a break or waiting for a haircut, HIP is a good platform for advertisers – and the rates are reasonable.

But advertising doesn’t fund all our outgoings, so we have to find other income. The other sources are:

The Friends subscription: (find out more here hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/become-a-friend) It’s an enormous help to have a steady income. Thanks to those who already subscribe – and to those who are about to!

Donations: If you feel you suddenly wish to donate rather than subscribe, please do. 

Supplements: For organisations and businesses that have a lot of information to put to the community, this is a very reasonable option (see here for a typical supplement: tinyurl.com/5n7acstm)  

Events: Our most recent event, the Hootenanny, hosted by Henning Wehn, went down a storm. We also raised money via three art auctions in 2018, 2021 and 2022.

MISCONCEPTIONS

People who regularly read the paper may still be unaware that the paper is also available online – even some of our contributors or subjects of our articles may not realise they can post their article online to spread their message further. In fact there are several web versions of the paper, the first two available on the website:

• The fully laid out paper that you can read online as a pdf
• Individual articles – that you can read and comment on should you wish.
• A weekly newsletter that provides a digest of the paper with some additional comment

If you read articles online, you can comment at the end of the article. If the comment is interesting and sufficiently short, we can also publish it in the print edition (or we can also edit the comment). If you read the print edition, you can email us at letters@hastingsindependentpress.co.uk or go online and add the comment to the article there. However we get it, we’re always happy to hear your views – in as polite a form as possible.

Perhaps the biggest misconception is that we work from a comfortable office with high tech equipment and a helpful administrative department to keep the wheels well oiled. In reality, we are all volunteers working from home and doing it for whatever reason that motivates us (except money). Having said that, our designer is paid, but below market rate and our sales director is paid on commission.

As our biggest expense is printing, we need to keep the money flowing in every month. This can be a nailbiting process sometimes, especially at this time of the year which is the quietest time for many businesses – who are also counting their pennies.

And for those interested, we operate as a Community Interest Company (CIC) rather than a charity because this gives us a greater degree of flexibility as well as being easier to set up.

WHAT DO WE GET OUT OF IT?

There are many reasons that people start working with HIP and there are numerous ways to get involved:

• As a contributor: you can contribute whenever you have something you want to write about, so this doesn’t involve too much commitment. And you don’t have to be the new Charles Dickens, just someone with something to say. 
• As a subber: you can check other people’s articles to make sure there are no mistakes and that they are fit for purpose – or so we hope.
• As a distributor: we always need help with delivering HIP to our expanding range of outlets.
• As a section editor: you would look after one of the sections (or part of one of the sections) of the paper and decide which articles to put on our pages. At the moment, several sections need volunteers, including Health, Community and perhaps something for people with young families.

Compiling Listings can be for those who like finding out about what’s going on in the town or are motivated to do so by a two-week deadline; others, perhaps altruistic, just like to feel they are providing a useful service. Our listings coordinator often needs help with compiling the different activity types, so get in touch if you feel you could help out.

Like all media outlets, we’re also on social media, so we have a social media editor as well as a newsletter editor. Then of course there’s the art director and the sales director (their importance demonstrated by their job titles). 

What we don’t have is a the ‘helpful administrative assistant’. If there’s anyone who would like to help keep this show on the road, we’d be very happy to hear from you. Just one day a week – or even every two weeks – would be very wonderful.