Seafood and Wine Festival this weekend

The Seafood and Wine Festival, one of Hastings’ flagship events, takes place this weekend, 17 and 18 September. There is the usual wide diversity of food and drink offerings and a full musical programme, not to mention the traditional jazz breakfast on Sunday morning. Nick Terdre reports. Images courtesy of HBC.

Hastings’ Seafood and Wine Festival takes place on the Stade open space this weekend, where food and drink producers will be setting out their stalls – some 32 of them – while a full complement of music acts will perform in a marquee alongside the RNLI station.

Last year the event was marking its return after a year’s hiatus caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. This year it comes as the period of mourning for the death of Queen Elizabeth approaches its climax, with the state funeral scheduled for the following Monday.

It was decided to go ahead with the event only after careful consideration, the organiser says. To mark the queen’s passing one minute’s silence will be held before the start of each day’s music performance and cookery demonstrations, and a book of condolence will be available to sign throughout the festival.

Among the stall-holders there will be returning favourites such as Olly’s Fish Shack and the BBQ Project, as well as new faces, but there will be something for everyone to sample, from roast hog, wrappers, olives and breads to pastries and sweet things, not to mention exotic foods from the Middle East and Thailand as well as Spanish paella.

A range of wines and beers will be on offer from a growing number of local producers, in addition to sloe and flavoured gins. Harvey’s beer will be served in the music tent.

Preparing for the jazz breakfast.

The show goes on in the music tent from noon to 7.15pm on Saturday, with Nadia Moon, the Right Time, Big Blue, the Sam Calver Band and Buddha Triangle. On Sunday the programme runs from 12.30 to 6pm, featuring Gumbo, The Intercepteurs, The Blues Bros/Soul Sisters Show and Ska-Per.

In the Classroom on the Coast, there will be cooking demonstrations from Tush and Pat Hamilton and Sunday Brunch star CJ Jackson, while alongside in Stade Hall there will be children’s activities, including stories from Ed Boxall at 2 and 4pm on Saturday.

On Sunday morning Hastings’ eminent jazz lady Liane Carroll serves up her usual jazz breakfast from 10am to 12. Tickets are £20 for adults and £10 for children, available only in advance from Hastings Visitor Information Centre in Station Plaza, and include a continental breakfast as well as entry to the festival.

For the festival only wristbands for the two days can be purchased in advance from Hastings Visitor Information Centre for £4 or on the gate for £5.

Hot summer days may be over, but the weekend promises to be rain-free, with a decent amount of sun.

More information here.

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