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Mike Willis – photo Kate Butts
Mike Willis, singer-songwriter and venue owner, moved to Hastings from Nashville, Tennessee, in 2015 after being seduced by the Hastings music scene (and specifically a local bands’ take on Dee-lite’s Groove is
in the Heart which he heard while out drinking with a pal.) Willis has been instrumental in developing ideas and making music happenings in Hastings ever since. Andrew Logan pays a visit. Continue reading…
In the last few days media reports have suggested that the government is preparing to hand the oil and gas industry a massive tax break, while at the same time slashing investment in warmer, safer homes. Energise Sussex Coast’s Gabriel Carlyle reports.
A crowd of several hundred gathered in Alexandra Park this morning to attend the Remembrance Day ceremony. They listened respectfully as the Last Post was sounded, stood quietly during the two minutes’ silence and watched as several dozen wreaths were laid at the War Memorial. Nick Terdre reports.
Hastings Sinfonia takes to the De La Warr Pavilion on Saturday 29 November to present its Christmas Spectacular – music, song and dance also featuring the singers of St Richard’s Catholic College choir and dancers of East Sussex School of Performing Arts. Alexandra Hudson sets the scene.
Academy Award nominee Stockard Channing brings her production of Samuel Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape to the Kino Theatre in St Leonards on Thursday 13 November. It is a play about a journey through an old man’s life, filled with hilarious memories and hopes for the future, coupled with the mourning of lost love and unfulfilled ambition, writes John Cole.
Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra have chosen one of the most popular pieces by Beethoven and a specially commissioned work by Philip O’Meara to celebrate the start of their 10th season. Press officer Gareth Simpson explains what lies in store.
The Alexandra Park Greenhouse Group in Hastings has been honoured with a Gold Award for Community Engagement in the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Community Awards 2025, and recognized as ‘Outstanding’ in the It’s Your Neighbourhood category of the South and South East in Bloom competition. Secretary Veronica Pedrosa reports.
You’re invited to a 1920s celebration party with the Fabulous Red Diesel at The Beacon on New Year’s Eve. HOT’s Zelly Restorick asked Kat Lee Ryan about the event and about the band’s history.
Trying to work out where the Battle of Hastings was really fought is evidently a fascinating pastime. Among those fascinated enough to undertake their own research is retired civil servant Kevin Casey, who claims the distinction of detecting that the battle was fought in two stages, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, at two different locations. He explained his version of events to Nick Terdre.
We are unsure what our future will be when our long-standing editor Nick Terdre retires from active duty at the end of November, writes the HOT collective.
News that Hastings pier is up for sale has revived hopes that it can be brought back into community ownership. As the pier is registered as an asset of community value, the Friends of Hastings Pier and other local community groups have a period of six months to mount a bid for it. Nick Terdre reports.
The Queensway Gateway Road is at last finished (almost), but the saga goes on. Sea Change Sussex, previously a partner in the project, has launched a campaign of criticism at East Sussex County Council’s handling of the final works. Meanwhile Hastings Borough Council has appointed a new representative to the Sea Change board, after the previous one resigned in 2022. Nick Terdre reports.
A musician hailed by Rolling Stone magazine as the 16th greatest drummer of all time will be featuring in the Jazz Hastings session on 4 November. The great Bill Bruford of Yes and King Crimson will be appearing as part of the Pete Roth Trio on Tuesday 4 November 4. Julian Norridge reports.
Local campaigners will be holding a 12-hour public exhibition about Palestinian political prisoners on Saturday 1 November, 9am – 9pm, at Butler’s Gap (the chess board area on George Street) in Hastings Old Town. Gabriel Carlyle explains what’s happening and why.
Can heat pumps be used effectively to heat old houses? Energise Sussex Coast’s Gabriel Carlyle interviews someone who’s done it.
Following last year’s sold-out storytelling session, the Alexandra Park Greenhouse Group is once again inviting families to gather for a magical afternoon of stories, songs and Halloween mischief at the Alexandra Park Greenhouse on Friday 31 October 2025 at 2pm. Media contact Veronica Pedrosa explains what lies in store.
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