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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Jolly Fisherman, Hastings
Hastings
TN34 3AR
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Pub SignMan left this review about The Jolly Fisherman
This cosy seafront micropub occupies an unusual old building, offering a very intimate setting that came with a few space issues during a busy Saturday evening visit. Inside, the pub presents a bare-boarded room with rustic-looking wall panels and an exposed brick fireplace to the right-hand side, whilst the compact servery stands along the rear wall. Seating is limited to pews, benches, and stools arranged down either side, often broken up by partitioning screens that lend a surprisingly private feel not often associated with micropubs. The bar features a short, plain counter with beer boards mounted on the canopy above, and keg taps and cider lists spread across the bar back, along with a few old drawers whose former purpose is left to the imagination. The front windows are stacked with empty bottles, while the walls are decorated with old storefront photographs and fish-themed drawings. A small recess to the rear right houses a few board games. Radiohead provided the background music during my visit. The pub was so busy on arrival that there was initially nowhere to sit or stand, but two blokes who recognised me from a previous pub kindly offered me a seat, close to the pub's Toad in the Hole table.
The beer selection included Kirkstall Bitter and Arbor Mosaic on cask, alongside an impressive range of ten craft keg options sourced from Belgium, the UK, Germany, and Estonia. The barman was friendly and welcoming, and both dogs and children are allowed inside. After my two friends departed, another punter was quick to take advantage of a free seat and we also got chatting, such is the nature of this type of friendly boozer.
This is a top quality micropub which ticks just about every box you'd want from such a venue. I particularly enjoyed the convivial atmosphere on a Saturday night, but thought the beer was great too and the building seems to be a characterful spot that offers something a bit different to your typical shop-converted micro. A really great visit and for me, this was the pick of the pubs that Hastings has to offer.
Date of visit – 21st December 2024
On 28th April 2025
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]
paulof horsham left this review about The Jolly Fisherman
Diverging from the East Kent micropub template, The Jolly Fisherman features just 2 cask ales, but 8 keg taps (6 of them in action today) and they are all pretty much indistinguishable on the back wall. A blackboard makes it clear what's what, however. Plenty of wines and ciders too, if that's your preference.
Seating is basic, being the usual micropub fare of wooden pews and stools, with one or two cushioned seats for the lucky few.
While genre purists might be appalled, beer quality can't be faulted, so you'd be a fool to miss out.
On 7th August 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 554 recommendations about 516 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Jolly Fisherman
A very "pubby" micropub, three cask beers on including Marble Lagonda, I also had some very good keg beer, the Export Stout from The Kernel was magnificent among others.The place was understandably very popular so space was hard to come by under current covid restrictions but worth the effort to get in.A marvelous pub.
On 12th October 2020
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2151 recommendations about 2118 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Jolly Fisherman
The original pub was established in 1769 and closed in 1959 and became a café. The new owners reopened as a micro pub in 2016. This micro does have a certain charm about it and we found it to be very comfortable. The small bar had a line of taps along the back of the bar, offering a choice of 5 cask beers and 5 craft beers. There were four cask beers on our visit, with another due to go on. The cask choice was Old Dairy Fuggle Bitter, Wylam Cascasde, McCanns Janet Street and Thornbridge Verde. We went for the two green hopped ales, which were Old Dairy and Thornbridge, both of which were superb. The owner and his wife were very friendly and welcoming. We really liked it here and it was a good place to start on a crawl around old Hastings.
On 4th November 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3645 recommendations about 3645 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Jolly Fisherman
Beachfront micro-pub, with a few small tables and a couple of higher benches crammed into square room with a very compact counter. A few old photographs of the fishing boats and the beach hang on the walls, otherwise the appearance is fairly rustic. Friendly welcome. Ten taps on the bar-back, dispensing three cask ales (including the Red Willow Effortless, £3.70), a couple of craft keg beers and a brace of ciders.
On 1st July 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Jolly Fisherman
I was the only customer in the Jolly Fisherman when I vsisted on a recent Friday afternoon after work. The small interior is decked out with wooden tables of varying heights and there is a small serving area at the rear. There is no draught beer, but there are craft beer options in a fridge at the rear. I plumped for a bottle of Burning Sky Saison a la Provision which set me back £5. A variety of home made food is available and most dishes are priced under £10. I found the service to be very friendly and it was nice to have a livener before hitting the more traditional hostelries of Hastings. I enjoyed my visit, but one beer was enough.
On 11th October 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
peter ashworth left this review about The Jolly Fisherman
The Jolly Fisherman is a café bar and although I did not go in there was a board advertising beer and real cider
On 29th August 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2387 recommendations about 2341 pubs]