“No more pubs, Norm.”
May’s read: 111 places in Hastings & Rye that you shouldn’t miss.
Hello!
How do you find 111 places in Hastings & Rye for a book in a global travel series? Secret spots with enough of a story to fill a page — that will inspire locals as well as tourists?
I went to Norman Miller’s book launch at Waterstones this week. Good turnout. He said he was nervous, bless him. Think this was his first book launch.
How did you choose the places? What stood out?
“I wanted places with an interesting backstory.” A good mix of things. Lots of research and chats with historians and groups, plus local knowledge. He’s been living in Sussex for two decades after deciding it’s better than London.
The Dove Café – a refugee-led café and “shining example of grassroots activism and community.” Enjoy food from the Lebanon, Sudan and Afghanistan, world music and work by locals like Syrian photographer Nour El-Din.
The Havelock – “outside it looks like a not very good boozer. Inside, it has one of Britain’s finest examples of decorative historic pub tiling.”
Hastings Adventure Golf – hosts the World Crazy Golf Championships.
St Helen’s Church – hidden ruins in woods on the edge of town (older than Hastings Castle!)
Shirley’s Flower Makers’ Museum – 100+ years of artificial flower making and the largest working collection in Europe. Closing soon!
What didn’t make the cut?
Unit 2 - a brilliant pop-up gallery in St Leonards as it might not be here by the time the book came out (it’s not - Tough Love indie record bar is moving in).
“I like pubs. I was told half-way through, no more pubs, Norm.” So, The Stag Inn didn’t make it. “There’s a bird mark on the back floor, which is tied to a witch story and can’t be cleaned off.” (also has a sloping garden with fairy lights).
What was the strangest thing you saw?
The Gibbet Cage in Rye, which contains the remains of John Breads, a local butcher who was executed and hanged for the murder of Allen Grebell in 1742. Worth doing a ghost walk to see the attic and skull.
I asked him how long it took to write. “An easy nine months. Six months of writing.” The photos were harder as he had to come back on a sunny day. He doesn’t drive so thanked his wife for ferrying him around.
Would you live in Hastings?
“I could live in St Leonards.” Everyone went quiet. St Leonards has been quietly reinventing itself over last few years and is getting a lot of press. Seaside soul - Burton architecture, indie businesses, the hipster vibe...
It has a spirit of entrepreneurial optimism. The other day I heard someone say: “I’m moving down from London to reignite my creative spark.” Great strapline!
Good to hear he’s writing a piece on the town for The Times.
I genuinely hope that local people enjoy it as well as DFLs and daytrippers.
Thanks Norm! I appreciate you. I’m curious to see where I’ve not been — some inspo for The Reset - my 2026 year of tiny trips.
It’s timely too with Hastings’ bid to be the first Town of Culture (shortlist out soon). The Bayeux Tapestry is coming to the British Museum in September. And on Netflix this autumn: Pride & Prejudice, partly filmed in Rye.
I can tell he’s in love with this genre. He’s pitched two more - Portsmouth & the Isle of Wight. His first book on Chichester & West Sussex was shortlisted for Travel Book of the Year at the Inspire Global Media Awards 2025.
111 Places to Visit in Hastings & Rye. www.111places.com
If there’s not much on wellness I might pitch a companion guide. St Leonards was a purpose-built health & pleasure resort for rich Londoners who wanted to be beside the sea.
Saunas are the new startup spaces and hot hangouts…
Nika xo
