Fairlight Restaurant Guide

“Located in the historic fishing area of Hastings’ Old Town”, from which it sources its eco-friendly catch (the focus of the menu, which is split between à la carte options and the short, sampler-style ‘taster menu’), this venture (est. 2009) is part of an empire begun by wild food guru Paul Webbe with The Wild Mushroom in 1998. Added to the victuals, friendly staff and a good atmosphere make it a consistent scorer across the board and if you want to earn your supper, their fish cookery school also lets you visit the market opposite the restaurant and learn how to prepare it.

“Some of the best fish’n’chips I’ve tasted” are served in “plentiful portions” at this wooden shack “near the Hastings fishing fleet – that’s why the fish tastes so fresh”. A well-known destination in its third decade, it’s “good value”, too, and “very popular with visitors and locals” – so “avoid the busiest times”.

This “lovely little gem” in a converted fisherman’s hut “serves the freshest fish straight out of the boats opposite” on Hastings beach, which is said to have the biggest fleet of beach-launched day boats in Europe.

“Paul Webbe’s original restaurant never fails to delight or impress”, and after 27 years is recording truly impressive ratings and accounting for a significant number of best meals of the year from those who visit it. Yes, “the menu these days could perhaps be called ‘old school’,” but its focus on ultra-fresh local produce – including ingredients foraged in the surrounding countryside – has always been ahead of trends, while the cooking is “consistently of a very high standard”, with “plenty of choice at each course” and it’s all delivered with “fantastic service – they remember you every time”. It’s now the flagship of a group with fish specialist venues and a cookery school in Hastings.

This “fantastic” renovated Victorian hotel opposite the station was re-launched six years ago and is now “excellent in every way”, with “exceptional” cooking – “as seasonal as food gets, simple but so much flavour” – while “the service is attentive without being intrusive”.

2022 Review: Owners Alan McNally and Steve Morrish (who have collectively worked in some of London's trendier spots: Crispin, Leroy, Lyle’s and The Clove Club) run this tapas, eatery and deli with the aim of creating a “Balearic vibe”. No feedback as yet, but on paper it looks well worth a try.

This fish-specialist in a townhouse, from former Le Caprice chef Nick Hales, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, and although it is rated on limited feedback, such as we have remains very good. The changing menu is governed by the catch from day boats launched from the beach at Hastings.

This black-painted wooden pub, reminiscent of one of the net huts in nearby Hastings, had lived many lives (cowshed, hotel, potential care home) before couple Olivia & Henry took it over in 2022. The kitchen turns out “lovely food that’s more than just pub grub”, taking the seasonal route and giving it a Sussex spin.

2023 Review: No feedback as yet on this August 2020 arrival in this ever-more fashionable seaside town, but it’s a July 2022 tip from Giles Coren writing in The Times and awarding it 23/30. “I probably shouldn’t have been as surprised as I was by the low, low prices on the menu” achieved with “unfashionable fish – mussels, sea trout, plaice, mackerel – and plenty of pasta.”