Hastings People: Stephen Potter Stephen Potter is Food Enterprise Development Officer for Hastings Borough Council. He runs a project called FoodLocal Hastings, which offers food-related business support. Part of FoodLocal Hastings is the annual Seafood and Wine Festival, a showcase for the wide array of restaurants and food businesses in the town, and the local producers within 25 miles of Hastings.
Are you originally from round here? My particular branch of the Potters first came here from near Lewes in the 1840’s, moving into Shepherd Street in St. Leonards. My children are the seventh generation of us to be born and raised in the town. Best thing about Hastings? There’s nowhere quite like it anywhere else in the south-east – a great music and arts’ scene, fantastic restaurants and bars, a great night-life. It is steeped in a thousand years of history, and has a living, breathing fishing industry which is how it should be for a town on the coast. I can’t imagine being anywhere else. Worst thing about Hastings? Hastings has its problems, much the same as any other town of a comparable size. I try not to dwell on the negatives – I work as part of a team trying to help the regeneration of the town. Any bad aspects the town has are far outweighed by the positives. Favourite pub? I’m very fortunate to have a job where I go to meet food and drink outlets in the town, and the town has great pubs in abundance. I’m glad to have a decent “local” round the corner in Bohemia: The North Star. Favourite restaurant? There are so many to choose from. I honestly can’t name a favourite – it depends what the occasion is. I really would like Hastings to have a designated fish restaurant before my work is through. Fish and chips? I’m not a great eater of fish’n’chips – not too good for the waistline! The last time it was from Bruno’s in South Terrace – and very good it was too.	Do you read a local paper/rag? Working for the Council means that the Observer letters page is a must-read every Friday, and I pick up most of the local pamphlets such as the Ultimate Alternative, my local rag The Bohemia Voice, and – of course – the Hastings Handbook. Favourite local place for a walk? It’s always a pleasure to walk through Alexandra Park, what I think must be one of the finest parks in the country, especially around the upper end, and up Old Roar Ghyll – or Tingles Dingles as we locals call it. Favourite local landmark? The net-huts on The Stade. Sitting up on either the East or West Hill, looking down over the Old Town is a beautiful sight. If you could do one thing for Hastings? I’d like the FoodLocal Hastings project to be successful, and to see people – both local and visitors – going out to enjoy the rich diversity in food there is to be found here. And I’d like to think that the Seafood and Wine Festival will continue to grow and become a success when it’s time for me to move on.
The second annual Seafood and Wine Festival takes place on the Stade, just off Rock-a-Nore Road, on 22nd and 23rd September. Local restaurants will be offering a feast of seafood treats for you to buy and try. Our local wine growers will be showing off their produce in the English Wines Tent, and there will be talks and tastings in the Wine Events Tent. There will be a farmers’ market-type area, and an Entertainments’ Marquee and Bar with some of the best local music and dance. All this and strolling jazz, street theatre, kids’ entertainment – miss it and miss out! After such a soggy summer, it’ll truly lift your spirits.

Hastings People:

Stephen Potter

Stephen Potter is Food Enterprise Development Officer for Hastings Borough Council. He runs a project called FoodLocal Hastings, which offers food-related business support. Part of FoodLocal Hastings is the annual Seafood and Wine Festival, a showcase for the wide array of restaurants and food businesses in the town, and the local producers within 25 miles of Hastings.

Are you originally from round here?
My particular branch of the Potters first came here from near Lewes in the 1840’s, moving into Shepherd Street in St. Leonards. My children are the seventh generation of us to be born and raised in the town.

Best thing about Hastings?
There’s nowhere quite like it anywhere else in the south-east – a great music and arts’ scene, fantastic restaurants and bars, a great night-life. It is steeped in a thousand years of history, and has a living, breathing fishing industry which is how it should be for a town on the coast. I can’t imagine being anywhere else.

Worst thing about Hastings?
Hastings has its problems, much the same as any other town of a comparable size. I try not to dwell on the negatives – I work as part of a team trying to help the regeneration of the town. Any bad aspects the town has are far outweighed by the positives.

Favourite pub?
I’m very fortunate to have a job where I go to meet food and drink outlets in the town, and the town has great pubs in abundance. I’m glad to have a decent “local” round the corner in Bohemia: The North Star.

Favourite restaurant?
There are so many to choose from. I honestly can’t name a favourite – it depends what the occasion is. I really would like Hastings to have a designated fish restaurant before my work is through.

Fish and chips?
I’m not a great eater of fish’n’chips – not too good for the waistline! The last time it was from Bruno’s in South Terrace – and very good it was too.

Do you read a local paper/rag?
Working for the Council means that the Observer letters page is a must-read every Friday, and I pick up most of the local pamphlets such as the Ultimate Alternative, my local rag The Bohemia Voice, and – of course – the Hastings Handbook.

Favourite local place for a walk?
It’s always a pleasure to walk through Alexandra Park, what I think must be one of the finest parks in the country, especially around the upper end, and up Old Roar Ghyll – or Tingles Dingles as we locals call it.

Favourite local landmark?
The net-huts on The Stade. Sitting up on either the East or West Hill, looking down over the Old Town is a beautiful sight.

If you could do one thing for Hastings?
I’d like the FoodLocal Hastings project to be successful, and to see people – both local and visitors – going out to enjoy the rich diversity in food there is to be found here. And I’d like to think that the Seafood and Wine Festival will continue to grow and become a success when it’s time for me to move on.

The second annual Seafood and Wine Festival takes place on the Stade, just off Rock-a-Nore Road, on 22nd and 23rd September. Local restaurants will be offering a feast of seafood treats for you to buy and try. Our local wine growers will be showing off their produce in the English Wines Tent, and there will be talks and tastings in the Wine Events Tent. There will be a farmers’ market-type area, and an Entertainments’ Marquee and Bar with some of the best local music and dance. All this and strolling jazz, street theatre, kids’ entertainment – miss it and miss out! After such a soggy summer, it’ll truly lift your spirits.