Menu

Hastings & St. Leonards on-line community newspaper

SUPPORT HOT

HOT is run by volunteers but has overheads for hosting and web development. Support HOT!

ADVERTISING

Advertise your business or your event on HOT for as little as £20 per month
Find out more…

DONATING

If you like HOT and want to keep it sustainable, please Donate via PayPal, it’s easy!

VOLUNTEERING

Do you want to write, proofread, edit listings or help sell advertising? then contact us

SUBSCRIBE

Get our regular digest emails

Claudine Eccleston, on the right, is wearing a flowery hat and a white crocheted shawl reminiscent of the one worn by Margaret Sullivan – ‘the Black Flower Seller’.

The story of the Black Flower Seller brought bang up to date for Black History Month

In 2014, Claudine Eccleston was browsing a local history page on Facebook when she saw a photograph of a black flower seller outside 44 Marina on St Leonards seafront from around 1900. She was fascinated by the image and started sharing it in the hope of finding more about the woman. This week, after ten years of research, she was proud to present her findings to a packed audience at Hastings Museum. Continue reading…

Hastings’ musical witches cast a spell with debut album Crowdfunder

As the leaves turn and the air crackles with the enchantment of autumn, Hastings finds itself graced by a remarkable coven of talented witches, ready to weave their magic through music. This week marked the launch of a crowdfunder for Message From The Ravens, a captivating Hastings band looking to record their debut album and share their unique sound with the world. Sharon Rhodes is spellbound…

Hastings nurse fights ‘houmous’ charge in stand against Israeli genocide

A nurse from Hastings will be in court next week, fighting a charge of criminal damage to a brand of houmous which he says is ‘helping to fund Israeli genocide’. Hastings & District Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s chair Katy Colley reports.

Ed Boxall launches new book at Alexandra Park greenhouse Halloween event

CHILDREN’S author Ed Boxall will launch his latest book at the Alexandra Park Greenhouse community hub in October. Lynda Foy tells the story so far.

Celebrating Marianne North

LOCAL artists will help celebrate the life of Marianne North in a special exhibition at the Alexandra Park greenhouse community hub on 24 October, Lynda Foy reports.

Hastings Pier proposals not as hunkydory as repeatedly alleged

The Pier is the subject of another application to Hastings Borough Council (HBC). Are they actual improvements or trying to lock in mediocrity that’s outstayed its welcome? Bernard McGinley reports on a situation compounded by feeble assertions and Council indulgence.

Council to draw up local child poverty plan

Moves to tackle child poverty, including the preparation of a local plan to combat it, have been decided by Hastings Borough Council after the matter dominated September’s Full Council meeting. Nick Terdre reports.

1 comment

Paul Pirie

Laugh Out Loud comedy club at Hastings White Rock

Hastings latest new comedy show brings three TV comedians including Scottish comedian of the year, to the start of a regular venue comedy night in the newly refurbished Studio at Hastings White Rock.

©Luke Stephenson 99x99s

Three exhibitions at PhotoHastings Festival

It’s October which means the PhotoHastings photography festival is upon us. It started with a great energy, three very different exhibitions showing the range of photography and photographers there are in this town. HOT’s Lauris Morgan-Griffiths, a member of PhotoHastings, went along to look.

Sign up to explore a new skill

Hastings Commons is currently running a programme of courses tailored to suit people who have never felt comfortable in formal learning situations. Erica Smith encourages you to sign up to a short course and discover how much fun it can be to learn a new skill.

What’s to be done about the buses? MP gets involved

Hastings & Rye MP Helena Dollimore has picked up the case of our deteriorating bus service and will hopefully meet with Stagecoach to discuss how it can be improved. While the bus company has a role to play, action – and money – are required from other parties, as Anna Sabin explains.

5 comments

© Gary Willis 'No Home. No Hope.'

PhotoHastings Festival: There, not Here

There, not Here is a compelling exhibition staged by six photographers: Anne Lydiat, Derek Cottrell, Gary Willis, Giles Stokoe, Imogen Bloor and Neale Willis. Last year many of the same photographers staged Here, not There which was a really stand-out show, and the quality has not diminished this year. A variety of challenging themes reflect the title from global warming and studies of the homeless to personal memories. HOT’s Lauris Morgan-Griffiths, who is also a member of PhotoHastings, was impressed.

Five people stand in a line against a coloured background. They are all participants in Safe Operating Space. Tullis Rennie is the person in the centre of the photograph.

Safe Operating Space – audio stanzas constructed with music – composer Tullis Rennie

Safe Operating Space – audio stanzas constructed with music – composer Tullis Rennie

Fresh call for public to help ensure that vulnerable pensioners receive Winter Fuel Payment

Official figures suggest that 10,000 vulnerable East Sussex pensioners risk missing-out on Winter Fuel Payment this year. Energise Sussex Coast’s Gabriel Carlyle reports.

Council persist with press censorship and being down on free speech

Recently HOT reported how Hastings Borough Council (HBC) have a persistent habit of censoring comment that they disagree with. It continues — but when the planners are asked by colleagues not to publish something, they do. Bernard McGinley reports.

Auction of 1930s and 40s collectibles at Kino Teatr

You are invited by Lori Stone-Wisdom to an all-day auction of collectibles – cars, trucks, planes plus other items from the 1930s and 1940s – at the Kino Teatr in St Leonards on Norman Road on 23 October from 10am til 7pm. The items belonged to Lori’s beloved husband, the wonderful Hugh Stone-Wisdom, who sadly passed away in September 2021. 60% of proceeds to RNLI. HOT’s Zelly Restorick spoke to Lori Stone-Wisdom about her husband’s collection and the auction.