It’s 2026 and the town feels like it’s stuck between worlds. Our Council cancels elections ‘because they cost too much’ (didn’t realise democracy came with that kind of price tag). Reform seems to be surging onward, to the immense satisfaction of some and the deep disturbance of others. We still have that pesky housing crisis and all the ‘social’ developers are still building homes the poorest can’t live in, while demolishing homes that would get people out of temporary accommodation or off the streets. Conquest has lost its cardiology ward – a hospital that many of us both loathe and depend on continues to shrink. Care workers are being treated like slaves as once charitable or socially-minded organisations are sold on to rapacious private companies.
It’s like we’re having a party on the cliff edge, and somewhere between the beats from the speakers you can make out the creak and crack of rocks falling away down into the sea. What do we do this year Hastings? How quickly do you want to fall?
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The latest from Hex
- Hastings police arrest protesters disrupting unethical sale of social housing
On Saturday 21 February campaigners from Housing Rebellion interrupted an attempt by Southern Housing to auction a property intended for use as social housing. 4 Wellington Gardens is a three bedroom house, built by the government in 1922 as part of their “homes fit for heroes” initiative to provide affordable homes for working class families… - Four Courts Tenants Misinformed About HASHTA
Words: Andrea Cowhig, Treasurer of Hastings Area Southern Housing Tenants Association (HASHTA). Image: “The Battle of Hollington” by P.A. Uri, the Marquis of Markwick. All Four Courts residents recently received a newsletter from Southern Housing (SH), please see our response, as there was some misleading information in there regarding HASHTA, which is rather upsetting. All… - “I’ve killed so many men, but I saved one”
Words: Oli Spleen. Gig photos: Jeff Pitcher. “I’ve killed so many men, but I saved one” – Lydia Lunch says as she puts an arm around me to pose for a photograph at The Piper, Norman Road. She’s just torn through an incredible set with her band Big Sexy Noise. Any attempts to define the… - Mutual Aid in Practice: Interview with Dawn Dublin
In December 2025, the podcast team at Hex interviewed local powerhouse Dawn Dublin at Hatton’s Yard, a community space in St Leonards currently trying to remain open despite financial and arguably political pressures. Dawn Dublin set up Black Butterfly as an afro-centric mutual aid organisation in the 2020 lockdown. It was among many other mutual… - Accidentally Enjoying Art
Words: Lizzie Beck. Pictures: Tatenda Mikey and Hatton’s Yard. Where I live in St Leonards it is well established that there are as many art galleries as there are coffee shops. Which is actually pretty impressive for a small town. But why is this worth mentioning? Because in six years I’ve been in every one… - Is it 1984? ‘We must cancel elections to defend the stability of our democratic institutions’
Words: Grace Lally. Pic: protests outside East Sussex County Council last year. Elections are being cancelled and opposition groups have been forced to resort to the courts to defend the democratic right to vote. In Putin’s Russia? In Trump’s America? No, this particular anti-democratic stunt is being pulled by our own local councillors here in Hastings and… - Headdress Heist Gone Wrong
Just before Christmas it hit the headlines: we’ve stolen a Native American chief’s headdress. We, as in England generally, but also Hastings and its Museum specifically. Now, I know a Hastings boy did once stain his skin with tea and head out for Canada to pretend to be ‘one of them Red Injuns’. That happened,… - The Council is Listening – But Will They Learn?
In August HEX supporters went with Thomas (not his real name) to protest at Hastings Council because he and his young family were being threatened with eviction. They were also stuck in a temporary housing limbo because the council had deemed them to be ‘intentionally homeless’. The protest was successful in stopping the immediate threat… - HOLD YOUR HEART
Conquest Hospital Cardiology faces closure WE ARE WALKERS ‘We’re all walkers in our family.’ My brother makes this observation after spending the day with our dad for his birthday. It often doesn’t make sense to people how much we like to walk. Sometimes it even riles people up: ‘but it’s faster to go by x… - Free ShopsEvery year for the last 4 years Umbrella Sussex have quietly hosted Free Shops a couple of times a year, and especially on Black Friday (AKA Buy Nothing Day). What’s a Free Shop? People bring stuff they no longer need, and take stuff they can use. What sets it apart from say, a clothes swop,…
- Three Short Films About GazaHastings Jews for Justice To host film and discussion evening: Saturday 8 November, Stade Hall, Hastings, 19.00-20.30. Everyone in the community is warmly invited. Tickets are free, but advance booking is recommended. The aim is, over tea and biscuits, to watch films that give information and insight in a safe and friendly space, where people…
- On the Eve of Hope We Linger
Oli Spleen The second to last time I saw Nick Hudson was at the start of March 2023. I had booked a two week trip to visit him in Tbilisi Georgia in the hope of performing a gig together and maybe bashing out a couple of Charles Aznavour covers while soaking up the sights and…