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Beer of the Week (w/e 14th September 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by paulof horsham
Submitted on Saturday, 27th July 2024
With picture contributions to 6258 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (14 more images)
Detail Pages
White Rock Hotel, Hastings
Hastings
TN34 1JU
Served areas
The White Rock Hotel
A really important read https://t.co/Jr8z0TkMDS
11:47 AM Mar 27th 2020 from Twitter for iPhone
Reviews of White Rock Hotel (Average Rating: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about White Rock Hotel
After promising my drinking partners that the quality of pub in Hastings would improve and that decent cask ales would be available from here on in, the White Rock Hotel proved me wrong. Having been the local CAMRA pub of the year a few times before Covid and having made regular appearances in the Good Beer Guide until 2023, we found 4 handpulls but 3 of them had reversed clips (2 from Harvey's, the third was a different brewery) and the other was unclipped. Having walked a bit out of the way in the pouring rain to pay this place a visit, I wouldn't recommend anybody else making the same mistake.
Keg options were Super 8 Cherry, Moretti, Brixton Reliance Pale Ale & Coldharbour Lager, Appleshed Cider & Biddenden's Bushels. They'd even run out of Guinness. As ciders go, I was reasonably happy with my Bushels but the others weren't impressed.
This is effectively a hotel cafe bar. Surroundings are quite nice and there are some lovely views of the sea. Tables nearest the window are most popular and dogs are welcome. Although one was occupying two tables! On a Monday afternoon, most were here for coffees and teas or possibly a late lunch. Sunday roasts are also served every other week.
In addition to the indoor tables overlooking the sea, there is a small outdoor patio. I seem to recall it being covered which would explain its popularity. An area near the toilets had a modern fire going and seemed quite cosy. However there was another windowless area which I'd imagine you would only sit in as a last resort.
Previous reviews on here looked promising but on the basis of my visit, I wouldn't recommend making a special visit here, unless perhaps you're visiting the pier.
On 3rd September 2025
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3232 recommendations about 3230 pubs]
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about White Rock Hotel
Hotel bar open to non-residents until 23:00, with a smart interior with views of the beach and pier through the picture windows, but the front terrace on each side of the central entrance is certainly the place to be (if the weather is good, and you can get a table). The beer offering is unusually good too, typically with three local cask ales available from the four handpumps, e.g. Harvey's Olympia and a pair from Three Acre: Session Pale (£4.80) and Elderflower White. Surprisingly good.
On 31st July 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8868 recommendations about 8868 pubs]
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 3387 recommendations about 3387 pubs]
View more reviews of White Rock Hotel (10)
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- Official site of the White Rock, contains menu - www.thewhiterockhotel.co.uk
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- CAMRA WhatPub :: White Rock Hotel - whatpub.com
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : Yes last updated 17 July 2024 by paulof horsham
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 28 March 2025 by Pub SignMan
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 28 March 2025 by Pub SignMan
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 28 March 2025 by Pub SignMan
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 03 September 2025 by Blue Scrumpy
- Car Park : Yes - Residents only - last updated 28 March 2025 by Pub SignMan
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 28 March 2025 by Pub SignMan
- Darts : No last updated 28 March 2025 by Pub SignMan
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 17 July 2024 by paulof horsham
- Function Room : Yes last updated 17 July 2024 by paulof horsham
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 29 July 2013 by Dave McNally
- Jukebox : No last updated 28 March 2025 by Pub SignMan
- Karaoke : No last updated 28 March 2025 by Pub SignMan
- Live Music : No last updated 03 September 2025 by Blue Scrumpy
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 28 March 2025 by Pub SignMan
- Micropub : No last updated 28 March 2025 by Pub SignMan
- Pinball : No last updated 28 March 2025 by Pub SignMan
- Pool Table : No last updated 28 March 2025 by Pub SignMan
- Quiz Night : No last updated 03 September 2025 by Blue Scrumpy
- Real Ale : No last updated 03 September 2025 by Blue Scrumpy
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 03 September 2025 by Blue Scrumpy
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 03 September 2025 by Blue Scrumpy
- WiFi : Yes last updated 28 March 2025 by Pub SignMan
