Hastings United v Hamlet (Isthmian Premier Division) Saturday 15th February 2025

[Pink Panther]

A seaside trip in February! The ground is a fair old hike from the station, at least a mile and a half inland, with a very hilly walking route. There are buses from the station forecourt that will drop you close to the ground, but groups will probably find it easier to get a cab. There are plenty of pubs around the town centre and seafront, but none I can think of on the most direct route from station to ground.

There's a half hourly train service from London Bridge via Tonbridge, as well as a slower hourly service from London Bridge via East Croydon, Lewes, Eastbourne.

Hastings pitch isn't the best and their game was off last night, but the forecast sounds fairly dry for the next 3 days, so I reckon we should be alright. I bought cheap advance train tickets in the January Rail Sale, so I've got a 3G ground tick at Eastbourne United as back up.

 

[floyd99]

I'm probably going to this one if it's on (only my second game of the season after Whitehawk away). I've been to Hastings a fair few times in recent years, mainly to watch crazy golf. The four course complex on the seafront hosts most of the British Opens and World Championships - free to watch if anybody's after something odd to do in the summer.

If a brief slighty-informed pub guide is of use to folks, here you go: Firstly, most of the best ale pubs are in the Old Town area. These include the huge and iconic JENNY LIND (multiple rooms with ten cask ales, three real ciders and a multi-level beer garden), FIRST IN LAST OUT (great beers that they brew themselves 100 yards up the road), THE CROWN (a bit posher and gastroey) and many more.

Whilst handily right by the crazy golf, Hastings Old Town is sadly completely the wrong direction for the football ground, but if you fancy a 20 minute stroll over the hill or along the seafront from the station, that's where to find the best pubs.

One great pub close to the train station that I stumbled on by accident a couple of years ago was THE PRINCE ALBERT on Cornwallis Street. It was then a 100% vegan pub (not just food but also beer and spirits etc) with the interesting selection of rarer ales and liquors that entailed. A recent change of management means it's now turned very meaty with karaoke and Sky TV etc. I suspect it's therefore a bit shit these days, but will reserve judgement for now. Either way, it's on the walk from the station to the ground, albeit only six minutes into said 35-minute walk.

A minute's walk further onto the main Queens Road, you'll find TWELVE HUNDRED POSTCARDS (so named as in the Edwardian era it sold dirty postcards) with five cask beers and a cider. This isn't super tiny for a micropub (about ten tables) but will likely get busy on a matchday. Fifty yards further up the road is THE FOUNTAIN, an LGBT-friendly pub with techno DJs at night (Danny Rambling, Jon Carter etc). Not sure how banging it will be on a Saturday afternoon.

If you're in search of interesting ales, another minute or two's walk north (ie in the direction of the ground) you'll find THE IMPERIAL, owned by the local BREWING BROTHERS craft brewery chain. Three cask and ten keg beers, many brewed onsite, and a wood-fired pizza oven await you there. This is the closest decent pub (and probably pub in general) to the ground.

That's still a mile and a half away, so time to choose between a 25-minute stroll through suburban Hastings or an Uber. Hope the above is of some use. Cheers.

 

[Bugpowder Dust]

I can't make it but this was a cracking day out last year, would recommend.

 

[Blitzwalker]

I’ll be going to this one - new ground for me and the Eastbourne United back up plan sounds a good idea.

 

[EDC]

I'm probably going to this one if it's on (only my second game of the season after Whitehawk away). I've been to Hastings a fair few times in recent years, mainly to watch crazy golf. The four course complex on the seafront hosts most of the British Opens and World Championships - free to watch if anybody's after something odd to do in the summer.

If a brief slighty-informed pub guide is of use to folks, here you go: Firstly, most of the best ale pubs are in the Old Town area. These include the huge and iconic JENNY LIND (multiple rooms with ten cask ales, three real ciders and a multi-level beer garden), FIRST IN LAST OUT (great beers that they brew themselves 100 yards up the road), THE CROWN (a bit posher and gastroey) and many more.

Whilst handily right by the crazy golf, Hastings Old Town is sadly completely the wrong direction for the football ground, but if you fancy a 20 minute stroll over the hill or along the seafront from the station, that's where to find the best pubs.

One great pub close to the train station that I stumbled on by accident a couple of years ago was THE PRINCE ALBERT on Cornwallis Street. It was then a 100% vegan pub (not just food but also beer and spirits etc) with the interesting selection of rarer ales and liquors that entailed. A recent change of management means it's now turned very meaty with karaoke and Sky TV etc. I suspect it's therefore a bit shit these days, but will reserve judgement for now. Either way, it's on the walk from the station to the ground, albeit only six minutes into said 35-minute walk.

A minute's walk further onto the main Queens Road, you'll find TWELVE HUNDRED POSTCARDS (so named as in the Edwardian era it sold dirty postcards) with five cask beers and a cider. This isn't super tiny for a micropub (about ten tables) but will likely get busy on a matchday. Fifty yards further up the road is THE FOUNTAIN, an LGBT-friendly pub with techno DJs at night (Danny Rambling, Jon Carter etc). Not sure how banging it will be on a Saturday afternoon.

If you're in search of interesting ales, another minute or two's walk north (ie in the direction of the ground) you'll find THE IMPERIAL, owned by the local BREWING BROTHERS craft brewery chain. Three cask and ten keg beers, many brewed onsite, and a wood-fired pizza oven await you there. This is the closest decent pub (and probably pub in general) to the ground.

That's still a mile and a half away, so time to choose between a 25-minute stroll through suburban Hastings or an Uber. Hope the above is of some use. Cheers.

The Price Albert was fine last year.

 

[floyd99]

The Price Albert was fine last year.

Cools. I haven't been since it changed hands (during 2023) and it seems like a big change - from 100% vegan to sponsored by a local butchers - hence why I qualified any recommendation!

 

[Pink Panther]

Brad's pre-match interview:



"We're in a battle." (Not the first time that's happened at Hastings!)

 

[Pink Panther]

Beware train delays or cancellations due to morons on the track. The train I'm booked on (1124 from London Bridge) is shown as running 38 minutes late.

 

[Sir Nikolai]

Currently stationary at etchingham....build up of trains on line due to trespassers earlier

 

[Pink Panther]

1124 cancelled, so now waiting for the 1154 and hoping for no further delays.

* FFS 1154 cancelled now, only running from Tonbridge to Hastings. I'm going to have to get the slow route via Lewes now. Can't British Transport Police shoo these c*nts off the track any quicker?

 

[Sir Nikolai]

They are off the track. Trains are backed up.

 

[Blitzwalker]

I managed to get to Tonbridge and am now on the shuttle train to Hastings. It’s a complete and utter shitshow at Tonbridge though, the staff have no idea what is happening. They’re either blaming signal failure at Charing Cross, or someone trespassing on the tracks, depending on who you speak to!

 

[Pink Panther]

The platform indicators at London Bridge were saying signalling problems, but the live running information online said trespassers. I'm now at Haywards Heath on the scenic route, due in about 2pm. Bang goes my pre-match stroll along the seafront and through the Old Town.

 

[Blitzwalker]

I’ve just left Battle - will have a sharp one in The Imperial and then head up to the ground. Beers might be taken afterwards.

 

[Nivag]

Remember they want £1 for a beer cup here and seem to prefer cash. Minimum card spend is £3

 

[Don't Slow Down]

Ft 0-0

 

[Ryan Moss No.9]

Ft 0-0

And it was pretty much as 0-0 as 0-0s get. Cracking spooky caravan though.

 

[Pink Panther]

I think you could say that was a hard fought draw. Not pretty to watch, few clear chances at either end. Hastings had a bloke with an enormous long throw that asked a lot of questions. One of which led to a corner from which I think the ball touched the face of the crossbar, but ultimately we defended well for the clean sheet. The pitch looked alright from the sidelines, but it was deemed unplayable only 4 days ago and seemed to be heavy going for anyone attempting to pass or carry the ball. Bremang and Kaunda worked hard again up front, but the latter especially made little impression this time. We carried more of a threat after they were replaced by Wanadio and Porter during the final quarter.

Hendon's narrow defeat at home to leaders Dartford inches us to 7 points clear from the bottom four. Bognor won 4-0 at Canvey, who are now at greater risk than we are of being reeled in by the strugglers. Bowers look dead and buried after a 6-0 home defeat to Wingate & Finchley.

 

[Ryan Moss No.9]

Double post, soz.

 

[Alex W]

Remember they want £1 for a beer cup here and seem to prefer cash. Minimum card spend is £3

It should be illegal to operate a deposit scheme unless you actually make it possible to regain your deposit imo.

Making a performative attempt at sustainability isn't an excuse to mug punters off.

 

[editor]

Max pics!

In photos: Dulwich Hamlet haul in a handy point at Hastings United, Sat 15th Feb 2025

A trip to the chilly south coast was rewarded with a much needed point, as Dulwich Hamlet drew 0-0 with Hastings United. Max was there to grab some photos for Buzz:

www.brixtonbuzz.com