A warm, summer's day in Hastings - Pt. Two

In the previous post, you left me at the Royal Standard, where I’d just received an update to the itinerary, from the  CAMRA group I was travelling with. Consequently, I drank up and made my way towards the Jenny Lind. The pub was only a couple of streets away, which meant I actually arrived at this well-known Hastings establishment in advance of my companions.  The group’s arrival, coincided with that of the ambulance crew, who returned our casualty. The paramedics had managed to stem the bleeding, and apart from feeling slightly embarrassed the individual concerned seemed none the worse for wear.

I’d managed to order myself a beer before the CAMRA crew arrived, and whilst the brewery responsible had rather a strange name, there was nothing peculiar about the beer itself. Easy Street, a session IPA, from the Loud Shirt Brewing Co, was a pleasant enough beer, as well as an appropriate tipple for one member of the group, who is known as Mr Shirts on account of the garish Hawaiian attire he likes to wear. There was also time for a swift half of Cast Iron Stout from Gravesend’s Iron Pier Brewery.

This visit marked the first time that I'd set foot in the Jenny Lind, and I liked what I saw. Once known as the Bell, this two-room pub is now named after a famous mid-19th Century Swedish Opera Singer, so it’s quite appropriated that the music inspired theme continues on into modern times. The musical connection has led to the Jenny Lind becoming famous for its regular and well attended musical events. There are two substantial bars, one at the front and one at the rear, both of a similar size, and both comfortably furnished. A set of stairs at the rear, lead to an attractive first floor garden behind the pub and there is also an upstairs function ring.

The trained eye might spot something unusual about the building, because this Georgian-style pub is not all that old, having been partially rebuilt in 1951, after suffering bomb damage, at the height of World War II. Some original woodwork was reused during the restoration, and this can be seen in the rear of the building. The beer connoisseur will find eight hand pumps adorning the bar, seven of which are cask ales, with the eighth reserved for traditional cider. All these points add up to make the Jenny Lind a pub that is definitely worth returning to.

A short distance along the seafront, brought us to the Jolly Fisherman, an establishment with an interesting history. The building dates back to 1769 and was first licensed in 1834. It originally served fishermen and the local community, before closing its doors as a pub in 1959. Amongst other things it became a pie and mash shop, before re-opening as Hastings first micro-pub 57 years later. Closed, all day Monday, and not opening until 4pm weekdays, we’d been advised to get to the pub at 4pm, before it became too busy.

Acting on this advice, we not only managed to get served, but we all managed to get a seat. The pub has an attractively decorated frontage and once stood directly on the quayside. Black-and-white photographs throughout the interior celebrate its long-standing place at the heart of the community, and a quirky mix of furniture creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere, with a wood-burning stove providing a cosy focal point during the winter months. 

The pub interior is definitely on the basic side, but the layout is such, that the visitor can’t but help being drawn into conversation. The Jolly Fisherman serves seven craft keg beers, two cask ales, and around a dozen ciders and perries, offering a varied selection for real ale and cider enthusiasts, but as they’re all dispensed from what look like keg taps are supplemented by a large range of canned and bottled beers of both UK and foreign origin. My beer of choice was a glass of Bitter from St Alban's based, The 3 Brewers. 

Finally, we move on to the Albion, the penultimate pub on the crawl, although it was the last pub for me. A combination of walking, heat, and probably too much beer led to my decision of calling it quits at this classic, seaside pub, which was once part of Edinburgh brewer, William Younger’s tied estate. I didn’t appreciate this at the time, and it was only whist carrying out a spot of research, upon my return home, that I realised the significance of this. 

Formerly the Royal Albion, and first licensed for drinks in 1730, this spacious former hotel has been tastefully refurbished with many improvements including a stage for live music, beautifully designed bar tops, stylish furniture and some traditional hand-written signage. There is a smaller bar which can be shut off as a small function room and a separate larger bar. The pub has kept its traditional ambience because, as mentioned above, it was once a William Younger's house, and one of a number of traditional “Scotch Houses" acquired by the Scottish brewer, during the 1930’s. 

Most of these pubs were in the London area, although the majority have been altered out of all recognition, but the Albion, and its ornate, period wood panelling, is one of the handful of survivors, and today forms part of its CAMRA’s National Inventory of historically important pub interiors. The Albion boasts six hand pumps, plus a changing range of traditional ciders, dispensed from poly-pins, kept behind the bar. 

I opted the Albion East Sussex Pale, a 4.2% beer from Lakedown Brewing. I'm guessing this offering is a "house" beer, produced exclusively for the pub.  The Albion  has established a reputation for its award-winning pies and pasties, which are also available from the “Pasty Shack” on the seafront side of the pub. (Ever wish you’d done your research in advance??)

So, with a CAMRA NI listing, and award-winning pasties available next door, the Albion will definitely form part of any future visit to Hastings. As for me, I headed for the station, passing on the way the Seadog, the pub marked down as the final point of call on the day’s itinerary. Described on the pub’s website as “A proper independent pub, the Seadog is a family-run boozer with a touch of Irish charm”. Sounds good, although definitely somewhere for another day!

 

 

  Brewers.