Hastings Seafood and Wine Festival:
Programme of Events 2008
For a printed copy of the programme, please visit Hastings Information Centre
Please note: dogs will not be permitted anywhere on the Festival site, except assist dogs.
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Saturday 20 September
The Launch: Walking the Fish
Starts 10am at Breeds Place outside Iceland (opposite the fountain). To open the festival, there will be a colourful and musical procession of giant fish and seafood effigies called Walking the Fish. This tradition started 10 years ago, with Radiator Arts group and children from schools in the area working together to fashion sculptures that reflect the community in which they live.
The Plaice Festival Site - Food and Wine
Free entry - open to the public from 11am
Find a feast of food stalls and plentiful produce at The Plaice site at the Stade fishing beach. Try delicious seafood dishes with international influences, and taste Hastings' Marine Stewardship Council eco-label fish.
All exhibitors come from within 30 miles of Hastings.
Cooking Demonstrations by local chefs
Demonstration times will be posted on demonstration area notice board - please check on site.
Restaurants in and around Hastings have some of the best chefs anywhere, and a great reputation for the quality of their food - especially fish and seafood. Let your taste buds be inspired as our local chefs prepare flavoursome fish and succulent seafood dishes before your eyes.
Tutored Wine Tasting Sessions in the Wine Tasting Marquee
Tickets are required for events in the wine tasting marquee. Over 18s only.
Places are limited, so book tickets early at Hastings Information Centre
Learn to Taste Wine
1pm - 2pm
Tickets £9
With vintner, Alexander Carr-Taylor.
Learn the tricks of tasting wine while sampling the produce of one of our best local vineyards. A fun and informative talk for those who find the world of wine a little confusing. Alexander is winemaker at Carr Taylor Vineyards and won the Vinter's Scholarship in 2004.
www.carr-taylor.co.uk
Chapel Down Wines take on France
3pm
Tickets £11
With Richard Bampfield, Master of Wine
Compare select English wines from the Chapel Down Wine estate in Tenterden with some classic French wines. Richard Bampfield MW spent many years working with Brown Brothers Australian Wines, he will explain the difference in style between six wines.
www.winevents.co.uk
Matching English Wine with Fish and Cheese
5pm - 6pm
Tickets £12
With wine specialist John Radford.
Get expert guidance on how local wines can complement local fish and Sussex cheese. John Radford is a Sussex-based freelance writer, broadcaster, lecturer, speaker and actor.
www.johnradford.com
The Sole Beach Marquee
Free entry, open to the public between 12 noon and 7pm.
Entertain your soul in The Sole Marquee where top class local acts will be performing. The First In Last Out Public House will be serving their locally brewed beers, with guest ales, organic lager and local wine. Tuck into a barbecue on the beach. Kids' play tent next door.
Local Heroes
2pm - 3.15pm
Local Heroes bestow edgy and infectious rhythms upon classic songs under the influence of reggae and old school R'n'B.
Engine, Clutch and Gearbox
5.30pm - 6.45pm
This lively rock-jazz trio plays a variety of material from Armatrading to Zappa and all sorts in between.
Memphis Flyers
5.30pm - 6.45pm
A trio playing rockabilly, hillbilly, rock'n'roll, a bit of country and lots of fun. Guaranteed to get you dancing.
www.myspace.com/thememphisflyers
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Sunday 21 September
The Plaice Festival Site - Food and Wine
Free entry, open to the public from 11am
Find a feast of food stalls and plentiful produce at The Plaice site at the Stade fishing beach. Try delicious seafood dishes with international influences, and taste Hastings' Marine Stewardship Council eco-label fish. All exhibitors come from within just 30 miles of Hastings.
Cooking Demonstration by Tom Aikens
Tom Aikens
Approximately 1pm
Demonstration times will be posted on demonstration area notice board - please check on site.
Tom will be sharing his love of cooking and his passion for fish. Tom Aikens is one of the most exciting chefs in the UK. He launched his first restaurant in London in 2003 which has earned numerous prestigious accolades. He has opened two more restaurants since: Tom's Kitchen and Tom's Place, a fish restaurant. All the fish is sourced from sustainable stocks, including Marine Stewardship Council certified fish landed in Hastings.
www.tomsplace.org.uk
Local chefs share their culinary skills
Demonstration times will be posted on demonstration area notice board - please check on site.
Restaurants in and around Hastings have some of the best chefs anywhere, and a great reputation for the quality of their food - especially fish and seafood. Let your taste buds be inspired as our local chefs prepare flavoursome fish and seafood dishes before your eyes.
Tutored Wine Tasting Sessions in the Wine Tasting Marquee
Learn to Taste Wine
12.30pm - 1.30pm
Tickets £9
With vintner, Alexander Carr-Taylor.
Learn the tricks of tasting wine while sampling the produce of one of our best local vineyards. A fun and informative talk for those who find the world of wine a little confusing. Alexander is winemaker at Carr Taylor Vineyards and won the Vinter's Scholarship in 2004.
www.carr-taylor.co.uk
Red, White and Rosé - a splash of local colour
2.15pm - 3.15pm
Tickets £11
With Master of Wine, Clive Barlow
Clive Barlow MW will show you classic white styles as well as the latest fresh rosés and aromatic reds from within 30 miles of Hastings. Clive runs an independent wine merchant business at the Goods Shed in Canterbury.
Matching English Wine with English Fish and Cheese
4pm - 5pm
Tickets £12
With wine specialist John Radford
Get expert guidance on how local wines can complement local fish and Sussex cheese. John Radford is a Sussex-based freelance writer, broadcaster, lecturer, speaker and actor.
www.johnradford.com
The Sole Beach Marquee
Free entry, open to the public between 12 noon and 6pm.
Entertain your soul in The Sole Marquee where top class local acts will perform. The First In Last Out Public House will be serving their locally brewed beers, with guest ales, organic lager and local wine. Tuck into a barbecue on the beach. Kids' play tent next door.
Jazz Breakfast
11am
Tickets £10 including breakfast
Spaces are limited so book early at Hastings Information Centre
Bar open from 11am
By popular demand, Herbie Flowers on bass and Mike Hatchard on keyboard and vocals return to entertain you with their unique brand of jazz music and humour. This time they are accompanied by Malcolm Mortimore on drums/percussion, a founder member of 'Kilburn and the High Roads' with Ian Dury, he has also worked with Tina Turner and Chuck Berry.
Ticket includes breakfast of an organic pastry, plus organic fruit juice, or fairtrade coffee/tea. Free entry for children under 14 if accompanied by an adult (breakfast not included).
Mike Hatchard, Malcolm Mortimore and Herbie Flowers
The Fabulous Cinque Port Lindy Hoppers
1.15pm to 1.45pm and 3.30pm to 4pm
Back by popular demand! Entertaining you with energetic Lindy Hop from the 30s and 40s brought to Europe by American GIs.
Tea-Chest Blues
2pm to 3.15pm
T-Chest Blues were formed about five years ago, inspired by the Sun Record Company sound of the 50s. Expect to hear the songs of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Arthur Cruddup and Muddy Waters.
Soul X Press and the Blues Brothers Show
4.15pm to 5.30pm
This local band is possibly the biggest Blues Brothers tribute band touring the UK. The 12-piece outfit will knock out all the film classics and selection of soul favourites.
The Lifeboat House
A Choral Banquet for the Seafood and Wine Festival
12.30pm to 1.30pm
Free, but donations to the RNLI welcome. The community choirs of Hastings and its French twin town of Bethune will be raising the roof of the Lifeboat House. Shore Sounds will welcome La Choeur de la Lys to present an exciting and vibrant vocal blend, including folk, African, gospel and French chanson.
Alexandra Park
eat @ the Park Café - Seafood and Wine Barbecue
Open 9am - 7.30pm
Enjoy a delicious Seafood and Wine barbecue lunch at eat @ the Park Café (weather permitting) in the fabulous setting of Alexandra Park.
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All Weekend
English Wines Marquee at the Plaice Festival Site
English wine is gaining deserved recognition for being among the finest produced today. Within a radius of 30 miles of Hastings there are many vineyards producing award winning wines that bear comparison with the best in the world.
Take your time to browse and talk to the wine producers. The vineyards will bring a wide range of their finest wines and fruit juices for you to try and to buy - by the glass, or the case! Sit under our outdoor gazebo and relax with your favourite tipple. Participating Vineyards:
Battle Wine Estate
Battle Wine Estate prides itself on producing English wines of a consistently high quality, along with a range of delicious fruit liqueurs and exciting kir.
www.battlewineestate.com
Biddenden Vineyards
Kent's oldest family owned vineyards invite you to taste their selections of wine, traditional strong Kentish cider and pure apple juice.
www.biddendenvineyards.com
Carr Taylor Vineyards
Carr Taylor Vineyards in Westfield have won a cellar-full of awards for their sparkling, still and fruit wines.
www.carr-taylor.co.uk
Harbourne Vineyard
Established in 1979, the wines are grown, hand-made and bottled at the vineyard. Traditional methods are employed throughout the process.
www.harbournevineyard.co.uk
Sedlescombe Organic Vineyard
England's premier organic vineyard. A family business established in 1979, producing award-winning whites, oak matured red and quality sparkling wines.
www.englishorganicwine.co.uk
Across the Site
Pirates Butler and Brown
Watch out for Captain Brown and Pirate Bob as they search the festival site for new crew members. Bringing you mystical magic from the four corners of the earth and the silliness of the seven seas!
Punch and Judy Show
Saturday 1pm to 1.30pm and 3.15pm to 3.45pm
Sunday 12.30pm to 1pm
Julian first performed his show in 1978 and it's based more on traditional family life than the traditional Punch and Judy punch-ups - and they all live happily ever after!
Kids' Play Activity Tent
The Council's play workers will be on hand to help your little ones create sea-themed crafts and have plenty of maritime fun.
The Bohemia Ukulele Band
6 piece ukulele band with a quirky edge; zingy, positive and very entertaining. Guaranteed to get you feeling on top of the world!
The Story of the Stade
12noon on Saturday and Sunday
Free
With local historian Steve Peak.
Meet outside the Fishermen's Museum, Rock-a-Nore Road.
Guided walk around the Stade looking at the many old and new features of the fishing beach. This tour is unfortunately not suitable for wheelchair users or those with mobility problems, as it involves walking on the working beach. No unaccompanied minors.
Time and Plaice
2pm - 3pm on Saturday and Sunday
Free entry to the museum - donations welcome.
Illustrated talk by local photographer George Greaves.
Fishermen's Museum, Rock-a-Nore Road.
A brief trawl through the past and present of the Hastings fishing fleet. George Greaves has chronicled the fishermen and fishing boats of Hastings for 20 years.
Net Making
At The Plaice main Festival Site.
Come and watch local fishermen making nets, splicing ropes and showing the knots they use to catch fish for your plate.
George Street
Pretty Crafty at Butler's Gap
Visit the special festival Arts and Crafts Fair at Butler's Gap. You'll find original pieces from some of the finest established and up and coming artists in Hastings and St Leonards.
Shipwreck and Coastal Heritage Centre
Canals in Sussex
Saturday 20 September
7.30pm
Tickets £5 including glass of wine and light refreshments.
An informative talk by Nick Kelly.
Discover the history of the canals and barges of Sussex, including a guided tour around the last Rye barge housed at the Shipwreck and Coastal Heritage Centre.
Call 01424 437452 to book.
Seafood Sustainability and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
Sunday 21 September
2pm
Free entry to the centre - donations welcome.
With Toby Middleton from MSC UK.
Fish stocks in our oceans are declining. How can you as a consumer be sure that the fish you eat has been caught responsibly? Find out what the Marine Stewardship Council eco-label is, why you can trust it and how you can make the choice of buying sustainable seafood.
Events in St Leonards on Sea
Coastal Currents Arts Festival brings you Shakespeare in the Park
A Midsummer Night's Dream (abridged) at St Leonards Gardens
Saturday and Sunday at 8pm
Tickets: Adults £8, Children £3, Concessions £6 and Families £18
Tickets from: McCarron's of Mercatoria, 64 Norman Rd, St Leonards on Sea or telephone: 01424 201192 / 07903 561007
www.coastalcurrents.org.uk
Azur at Marina Pavilion - Special Festival Seafood Menu
Azur at Marina Pavilion is a sophisticated new development on St Leonards promenade. Savour the Special Festival Seafood Menu offering locally-sourced fish in the Azur Restaurant for lunch or dinner, accompanied by live music and a full bar.
Open 7am to 10.30pm for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just a drink in the beach front bistro.
For more information call 0845 812 1066.
Arts Forum Seafood and Wine Festival Exhibition at Marina, St Leonards
Exhibition of local artists' work inspired by the events and themes of the festival.
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Other Events and Participants
Across the site and throughout the town
Alexandra Leadbeater
The Muse, Harold Mews, St Leonards, TN38 0EA
Telephone: 01424 423457
Fresh from the Coastal Currents Open Studios event, local artist Alex Leadbeater will be displaying her unique art work at the seafood festival site. Choose from the menu of paintings, prints and cards of the sea, fish, shells, everyday objects and the wide horizon... a glimpse of Hastings.
www.alexleadbeater.com
Arcade Fisheries
Queen's Arcade, Hastings, TN34 1PA (Hastings Town Centre, opposite the Town Hall)
Telephone: 01424 435459
Saturday 19 September is Competition Time! - there will be three varieties of local fish on display - identify them, and you could win a tasty selection of lovely local fish. Plus, on the counter, free samples of handpicked crabmeat and roasted salmon. Arcade Fisheries are now selling Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified fish.
Cornish Taste
3 East Beach, Hastings, TN34 3AR
Telephone: 01424 428811
Cornish Taste, a cosy tea shop/café serving delicious cornish cream teas, pasties, fresh crab salad and sandwiches. Special daily lunch with glass of wine or beverage only £5.95. Also known as 'Yoshi House' Japanese restaurant. Open some weekend evenings specialising in sushi and traditional Japanese dishes. Come and try at the festival site.
Harris Restaurant and Tapas Bar
58 High Street, Old Town, Hastings, TN34 3EN
Telephone: 01424 437221
Saturday: 12.30 - 3.30pm and 6.30 - 11pm
Sunday: 12.30 - 4.30pm
Harris offer a choice of 30 fish, meat or vegetarian tapas cooked to order. The tapas feast for two (10 tapas for £22.50) and fish platter (£13.50) are available at all times, or sample one of the local fish inspired Festival lunches. The home made desserts are a must.
"A damn fine tapas": The Independent
Johnny Swann's at the Fishmarket
Rock-a-Nore Road, Old Town, Hastings, TN34 3DW
Telephone: 01424 445239
There will be a large seafood stall outside the shop over the festival weekend.
Penbuckles - English Cheesemonger and Vintner
50 High Street (opposite Old Town Museum), Old Town, Hastings, TN34 3EN
Telephone: 01424 465050
A specialist independent shop stocking a wide variety of the finest English cheeses and wines, alongside a complementary range of award winning local foods, e.g. goats', sheep's and unpasteurised cheeses, local wines, ciders and beers, and much more.
Pissarro's Wine Bar and Brasserie
9 - 10 South Terrace, Hastings, TN34 1SA
Telephone: 01424 421363
In the festival week (19 - 26 September) Pissarro's Wine Bar and Brasserie will also have a special fish menu, featuring local caught MSC fish. Pissarro's is the only restaurant in Hastings to be certified by the Marine Stewardship Council chain of custody to serve fish from well managed and sustainable fisheries.
www.pissarros.co.uk
Paella Party
On the main festival site - Paella Party will cook this typical Valencian dish, using the three key ingredients: rice, saffron and olive oil, garnished with red peppers, broad beans, free range chicken and seafood. Only quality local produce will be used to make this delicious dish.
Pomegranate
50 George Street, Hastings, TN34 3EA
Telephone: 01424 429221
Enjoy expertly cooked seafood at this George Street restaurant.
QOL@Spike's Fine Food Stores and Café
39 Norman Road, St Leonards on Sea, TN38 0EG
Telephone: 01424 424364
New café selling quality home made meals and snacks - in or out - 6 days a week. Finest coffees and teas. Licensed. Specialising in proper cheeses, charcuterie and other deli-cacies (sic). Ready meals. Weekly evening parties.
www.QOLfinefoods.com
Richard Larkin, Painting Solutions
Maythorne Cottage, 65 Hollington Old Lane, St Leonards on Sea, TN38 9DU
Demonstrating and selling Atelier Interactive artists acrylic paint also featuring local seascapes on canvas and in watercolour, by the Artist. The Artist will also be promoting his painting workshops and painting breaks in 1066 country.
St Clement's
3 Mercatoria, St Leonards on Sea, TN38 0EB
Telephone: 01424 200355
One of the few restaurants in Sussex to receive a Bib Gourmand in The Michelin Guide 2008, the restaurant is situated minutes from the sea and offers up to 12 fish dishes depending on the catch that day. The constantly evolving menu features Gurnard with Samphire and Gooseberry Fool with Shortbread.
www.stclementsrestaurant.co.uk
The 1066 Bakery
5 Bank Buildings, Hastings, TN34 1NG
Telephone: 01424 437007
The town's leading buffet supplier, supplying parties, funerals, meetings, weddings and corporate events with fresh exciting food daily. All sandwiches are made with freshly baked bread, handmade fillings and love!
The Wild Mushroom Restaurant
Westfield Lane, Westfield, Hastings, TN35 4SB
Telephone: 01424 751137
Fine dining, eclectic style of Modern European Cuisine, AA Rosette, fresh local fish and meats.
Lunch - Tuesday to Friday and Sunday
Dinner - Tuesday to Saturday
www.wildmushroom.co.uk
Webbe's at the Fish Café
17 Tower Street, Rye, TN31 7AT
Telephone: 01797 222 226
A vibrant lively café, a la carte restaurant and Webbe's function suite, seating 70. AA Rosette. Serving fresh fish and seafood from the local ports of Hastings and Rye.
www.thefishcafe.com
Further Information: