Porters, Hastings

Attractive wine bar with plenty of seating in a slightly split-level layout, a few more tables on the pavement and a patio beer garden at the back. Although the solitary handpump was not in use, there is one hooped fount with eight taps, including five from Curious Brewery (one, on closer inspection, being a cider) and Curious Blonde from Long Man Brewery (£4.90).

I rocked up to Porters Wine Bar at 16:00 on Friday afternoon last week to discover that it closed between 15:00 and 19:00 during the week. After sampling a few other drinking establishments of the area I returned just after 19:00 to find open doors and a friendly welcome. There was a strong smell of fish that had wafted from the kitchen at the rear through the two rear seating areas to the front bar. To be honest the opening times, smell and people filing in asking for tables made me think that this is more of a restaurant than wine bar. I had a look at the random things on the menu to discover that the cheapest main was a vegetable stir fry for £10 and the most expensive an 8oz fillet steak for £22. Whilst waiting for my pint I overheard the barmaid tell someone that there is also dining space upstairs. When this place is fully booked I think the staff in the small kitchen must more than earn their money with the amount of possible covers. Out the back is an enclosed beer garden with six picnic tables. There were some Old Skool tunes playing, but I think that this was from the kitchen that backs onto the garden. Available from the bar was Freedom Four lager (£3.90 a pint), Guinness and Curious Brew alongside Long Man Brewery’s Session IPA on Cask. I prefer a traditional boozer, but I quite liked the relaxed atmosphere in here. This is the sort of place I would visit during the afternoon, which is possible at the weekend when it is open all day.