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Beer of the Week (w/e 15th June 2025) with Tris39
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Detail Pages
White Rock Hotel, Hastings
Hastings
TN34 1JU
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Pub SignMan left this review about White Rock Hotel
Looking for all the world like a typical, large seafront hotel, this place also operates a smart cafe and bar which is open to non-residents and has even found its way into the Good Beer Guide of late. You enter via a front decked seating area with views across the busy road towards the beach and pier, progressing through a revolving door before turning right for the bar. A bare boarded runway strip leads to the servery, with carpeted seating areas on either side, filled with glass topped tables and padded chairs, lots of potted plants and a large display of chilled desserts. The servery has a glittery mosaic tile counter front, hard wood top and a plain, mirrored bar back with a coffee station to one side. The room has a suitably seaside cream and blue colour scheme and extends into a notional second room beyond the bar, with tub chair seating and large glass doors leading through to a lounge at the far end. An archway to the rear of the main bar area houses a small snug-like spot with orange walls decorated with arty mirrors, where a couple more tables can be found. It all feels very much like a café rather than a pub, but it was doing a great trade early doors, even if I was the only person on the beer at that time of day.
Four hand pumps offered Harvey's Old Ale and Christmas Ale plus Rother Valley Boudicca Ale, with Long Man Long Blonde having recently been taken off. I though t this was an encouraging range that implies reasonable turnover and my half of the Christmas Ale was certainly in Good Beer Guide worthy shape. The staff seemed friendly and efficient and there was music playing very quietly in background.
There’s no denying that this place feels more like a bustling cafe than a pub, but that’s still preferable to it coming across like a bland hotel bar and the beer was in great nick, which is reason enough to stop by. I can’t pretend that this is somewhere I’d want to take friends to or spend a longer session in, but it’s smartly presented, clean and welcoming, which makes it worth a look in passing.
Date of visit - 21st December 2024
On 28th March 2025
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3361 recommendations about 3361 pubs]
David Walton left this review about White Rock Hotel
Visited 27/07/2024
Had passed this place by many times when regularly in Hastings and St Leonard's but wanted to try a new venue whilst stopping for a short walk on the pier opposite so popped into the bar here. Well described below in terms of layout and sat inside as the terrace out the front was (a) noisy and full and (b) whilst it has a nice view of the sea it is also v close to a busy main road that is only a pavement's width away! The bar is to the right of the reception and the actual bar towards the right end of the bar. There is another small area at the very right end and a sort of snug behind the bar but it didn't look very cosy!
Only two of the four hand pumps were in use offering Long Man Old Man and Wantsum Brewery Fortitute, which i v much enjoyed. Keg choices were Moretti, Amstel, Guinness and the two staples from Brixton, Reliance Pale Ale and Coldharbour lager. There were also two ciders on tap Appleshed and Bushells Kentish cider from Biddenden at a potent 6% abv for unsuspecting hotel guests!
This was only a short visit at a busy time. Have an overnight stay in the hotel in mid-autumn so definitely a venue i will check out the cask offering again either before heading out that evening or on returning for a nightcap!
On 28th July 2024
- rating: 5
[User has posted 631 recommendations about 631 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about White Rock Hotel
Very average looking/feeling hotel bar with no character, but on the sea front with a small terrace on the main road.
4 good quality real ales.
On 29th October 2014
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1556 recommendations about 1533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about White Rock Hotel
The White Rock Hotel is a large hotel on the seafront at Hastings and as such there is plenty of café style seating with views of the sea on the terrace out the front. The bar area is to the right of the entrance and it had a modern feel with the tables uniformly set out at exact distances and the three other people in the bar when I visited on Monday evening last week were all using their laptops. I walked up to the bar and noted my observations and then had a wander around to see if I could find anything interesting, which didn’t take long, and then I found myself back at the bar. I think that over five minutes had passed before I saw any kind of staff member and then I was asked “are you waiting sir” – No, I like to walk into random hotels so that I can stand at the bar and scratch my balls! To be fair the service was friendly when it finally arrived and I had a pint of Harvey’s Kiss which slipped down nicely. The other three ales on were Sussex Extra Stout, Pale Ale and Original all from the Dark Star Brewery and apart from the Guinness all of the draught products were of the premium type.
I’d be very happy if I was staying at a hotel and found this to be the bar, but I wouldn’t actively seek this place out when there are proper pubs in the area.
On 22nd February 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 6133 recommendations about 6099 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nigel Sheppard left this review about White Rock Hotel
Large sea front hotel with a large open bar area that extends outside. There are 3 real ale pumps and when we went they had our favourite beer, Dark Star American Pale Ale, unfortunately it was not as nice as it should be and the other pump was selling something undrinkable. Great effort for a hotel,must try harder though,.
On 3rd November 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 192 recommendations about 192 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Hooker left this review about White Rock Hotel
New ownership since 2007. Big upgrade and refurb by new owner has made this worth seeking out. Always 4 real ales available - usually local micros. Good value high quality food. On a sunny day you can sit on the terrace and enjoy views out to sea.
On 9th October 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about White Rock Hotel
Situated opposite the town's pier, the White Rock looks like any other seasfront hotel and for the most part, that is exactly what you get. The entrance leads straight to the reception with the bar leading off to the right. The first impressions are of a typically genteel hotel bar, largely laid out for hotel guests ready to sit down for dinner or afternoon teas. The style is modern with dull shades and the zero ambiences that normally go with drinking in a hotel bar. Despite feeling a bit uncomfortable wandering in wearing a football shirt I was warmly greeted by the uniformed French brman and studied the 4 pumps which enticed me here in the first place. They admirably support local breweries and on my visit Harveys Olympia, King & Co Mallard and 2 Dark Star Ales (Hophead and Sunburst) were available and easily justified the visit. The lagars were of the premium top of the range variety and prices did not seem to be as steep as I would have expected in such surroundings. Along the front of the hotel is a decked terrace that overlooks the seafront and the pier which, fortunately for us, had a few seats available so I could enjoy the beers (and they were most enjoyable) without having to suffer the blandness of the bar itself. Sadly the traffic noise all but drowns out the seagulls and the waves crashing onto the beach. The bottom line is that this is a wonderful spot for a sunny Saturday in August but not really a place for a wet Tuesday in November and without the quality beers it wouldn't pass for much at all.
On 25th August 2009
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Manky Badger left this review about White Rock Hotel
When you're at the seaside and fancy a pint, how many of us would go into a hotel? Not many. Which is a shame. Hastings sea front is littered with so many grim pubs and this place gets overlooked. Four decent ales on the hand pumps, and over twenty local bottled ales behind the bar. With bar staff who know what they are doing, the place is welcoming and I for one will be going back.
On 18th February 2008
- rating: 8
[User has posted 155 recommendations about 154 pubs]