November December 2018

LOCAL & LIVE
WITH MIKE RAXWORTHY
There’s a lot to tell you about this time
so I’ll waste no time and dive right in!
Hastings Herring Fair: Saturday 18th
November and Sunday 19th November
on The Stade in Hastings Old Town.
Celebrate the ‘silver darlings of the sea’
at this FREE, fishy, foodie, folky festival.
Meet the fishermen, learn traditional
skills, and witness the blessing of the
nets. With around 20 food and drink
traders, non-stop live music, produced
and presented by myself, plus a ceilidh,
(I like to call it a Barn Dance), cooking
demonstrations from Billingsgate
Seafood Training School and top local
chefs, plus plenty of entertainment for
children. ALL UNDER COVER!
Saturday 1st of December sees the
streets of Central St Leonards come
alive for the Fabulous Frost Fair,
centred around Kings Road Market.
Soak up the wonderful atmosphere
and browse the many unique shops
and cafes that St Leonards has to offer.
Grab something tasty and warm up
with a spiced cider or mulled wine from
the wonderful street food vendors.
Shoppers will be entertained by a
variety of circus performances, carols,
sideshows and singers. At 1pm the
streets are taken over by the spectacular
Frost Parade with Jack Frost and the
Snow Queen, her court, winter fairies
and other wonderful characters. The day
culminates in the switching on of the St
Leonards Christmas Lights at 5pm! Don’t
miss this!
The Soul Town Christmas Soul Party -
St. Mary in the Castle, Hastings Seafront
- Saturday 8th December- doors open
at 7pm. The yearly Charity Christmas
Soul Party is a must! This year it features
3 great live bands: Zachery Dogwood,
The Kytes (the very best 60s band
around - come and catch their version
of Slade’s classic yuletide song ‘Merry
Christmas Everybody’!) Top-of-the bill is
the Soul Town 15 piece Blues Brothers,
Soul Sisters Show playing 90 minutes
of non-stop hot soul classics! It’s now
in it’s 21st year and to date has raised
£170,000 for local charities, the lions
share of which has gone to the Surviving
Christmas Charity and St Michaels
Hospice. Tickets are only £10 in advance
available from Hastings Tourist Info
office on Hastings Seafront and £12.50
on the door.
The Old Market, George Street,
Hastings Old Town. Had to give this bar
and restaurant a quick mention. They’ve
had a change of Chef and the food
in my humble opion is superb. They
occasionally include live music and on
Saturday 14th December are putting
on a Christmas Special. It features the 8
piece Soul Town Band performing with
The Hastings Voice Squad. Expect Soul
and Tamla Motown classics plus some
great Christmas songs! Free entry - but
check out their menu if you fancy an
early dinner! theoldmarkethastings.co.uk
Just lately the team at The De La Warr
Pavilion in Bexhill has been presenting
some fantastic acts. Big names but
not always big ticket prices. There’s 3
concerts this December I’d recommend
- Wednesday 19th December: Steve
Harley and Cockney Rebel: £30 -
Friday 21st December: The BBC Big
Band’s Swinging Christmas Show with
tickets ranging from £20 and our very
own local lad making good, Sam Calver
on Saturday 22nd December. Sam has a
recording deal and a massive following
so tickets at only £16.50 will go like hot
cakes!
Want somewhere to go for New Year’s
Eve? Try The East Hastings Angling Club
opposite the Lifeboat Station in the
Old Town. They are putting on a great
night featuring the 10 piece Mad about
Motown Band. Members: £5 - Nonmembers:
£7. Check out membership
- there’s always weekly live bands, free
to members, as well as a variety of other
events all year!
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year - hopefully I’ll see you at one
of these events - please come and say
‘Hi’!
26 GOLDEN TIMES MAGAZINE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018