The Cove, Hastings

Unusual building with a double-ridged roof and black weatherboarding reminiscent of the fishermen's huts in Hastings. Compact bar front right, with three rustic booths and a few stools by the counter, together with a larger restaurant stretching back on the left-hand side. Two cask ales on handpump - the mandatory Harvey's (£5.40) and Cosmic pale ale from Pig & Porter - together with some other interesting things including craft keg beers from Brewing Brothers and Only With Live along with a tall ceramic German fount with Oechsner Vier and Rothaus Pils.

I first tried to visit the Cove back in 2019, but it was mid-way through a six year closure, reopening in 2022 after some building work. In the parquet floored entrance is a dog bowl beside a hat and coat stand on which a JBL speaker was sitting while supplying some background music. In the front right is a small bare boarded bar area with three benched booths along the front windows that are faced by a short length of counter where some craft keg from Battle, Floc and Abyss Brewery’s is supported. Straight ahead from the entrance is a square open plan restaurant where the counter continues up the right-hand wall, the two hand pumps were drawing Harvey’s Best and Three Legs Brewing’s Pale. On the left hand wall is a fireplace with a very old burner and an oversize tiled hearth. The clean and tidy toilets are found through some saloon doors in the left rear and there’s a smaller dining area upstairs that I didn’t visit on this occasion. The service was very polite so I’d use this pub if I was holidaying in the area, which isn’t very likely because I live less than 20 miles away.

Facebook page of The Cove - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Cove - www.facebook.com

Official site of The Cove - www.thecovefairlight.co.uk

Official site of The Cove - www.thecovefairlight.co.uk