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Devolution minister Jim McMahon laid the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill before Parliament on 10 July (photo: MCHLG).

Decision day nears for local government reorganisation proposals

With the results of the public consultation to hand, the time is approaching for Hastings Borough Council’s Cabinet to make its decision on how local government should be reorganised in the era of devolution. Before that comes into force, there will be one more round of elections at both borough and county level, in May 2026. Elsewhere in Sussex, Brighton is attempting to take over parts of Lewes. Text by Nick Terdre, research and graphics by Russell Hall. Continue reading…

Barefoot Opera reimagines Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor for a 14 night tour

HOT’s Judy Parkinson will be wearing her best cocktail gown and accessorised to the nines for this year’s Barefoot Opera production of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor opening at St John the Evangelist in St Leonard’s.

Every Pitcher tells a story

Ben Thompson introduces us to photographer Jeff Pitcher who is part of this weekend’s Sunday Afternoon at the Mint House.

Marathon man Joe runs 47 miles in one day to raise £5,000 for Gaza

Local Joe Cruttenden ran nearly 50 miles on Saturday 23 August to raise essential funds for the Al Mawasi community in Gaza which has longstanding ties to Hastings. Hastings & District Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s Katy Colley reports.

A Summer Sunday extravaganza at The Mint House

Say farewell to summer with a once in a lifetime coming together of musicians, artists, writers, photographers, potters and off-duty tattooists. Erica Smith looks forward to an afternoon of exceptional entertainment.

Women’s Voice invite you to Side with Pride this Sunday

In response to the article in last week’s Hastings Independent Press voicing the trans-exclusive beliefs of East Sussex Women’s Rights Network, Women’s Voice today released a statement via their social media channels and newsletter. They also welcome all women to show their support for intersectional feminism by joining the group on the Hastings Pride march this Sunday. Erica Smith shares the statement below:

BAAM 2025 is here

Zeroh & Hell Yeah invite you to support the local creative economy by visiting the Bottle Alley Art Market this Saturday. Erica Smith encourages you to attend this free public event which showcases fine art from curated local and national artists – and includes live music and performance.

Crowhurst community solar farm secures planning permission

A community-owned solar project in nearby Crowhurst will help tackle fuel poverty while creating a highly biodiverse nature area. Energise Sussex Coast’s Gabriel Carlyle reports.

Walls Have Eyes – they’ve seen it all

HOT’s Judy Parkinson caught up with The Two Ians who are making a name for themselves by creating alternative gallery experiences in Hastings.

Andy Panayi and his quartet on the Jazz Hastings stage

On Tuesday 2 September Jazz Hastings welcomes Andy Panayi, an exceptionally gifted jazz musician, skilled not just in performance but also in composition and arranging, and his quartet. Julian Norridge fills in the background.

Michael Madden and Rosie

Three new environmental paintings by Michael Madden

Michael Madden, local painter, sculptor and former campaigner, talks with HOT’s Chandra Masoliver about his recent work, where, as before in his triptych ‘The Weighing of the Souls’, he paints animals with haloes.

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Hiroshima Day 2025

Wednesday 6 August saw the annual Hiroshima Day commemoration in Alexandra Park as people gathered to remember those killed in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 80 years ago. John Enefer writes.

Exterior of Electric Palace cinema

National Cinema Days events August 2025!

During Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 August, head along to the Electric Palace cinema in Hastings Old Town to immerse yourself in cinema nostalgia, grab yourself some cool film merchandise, and support your local independent venue to continue, as times are tough for cinemas nationwide, says Annie Waite.

Women wasting their time fighting other women…

The latest edition of Hastings Independent Press (HIP) has caused upset amongst regular readers because of an article over the definition of what is a ‘woman’. Erica Smith looks at why some of HIP’s readers and stockists have lost faith in the newspaper as a result of the anonymous opinion piece.

Adventures in Pop welcome Mark and the Clouds to the Jenny Lind

The band spoke about their music to Jude Montague in advance of their gig at the Jenny Lind on Tuesday 2 September.

Very poor form from HBC planning department

On Thursday 7 August the mature lime tree outside Gensing Manor was felled. This was only two weeks after the planning application to destroy the tree was passed, and one week into August – the month when tree surgeons decree that the bird nesting season is over. Erica Smith mourns the death of her arboreal neighbour.

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