What's the real low down re: living in Hastings?

[Fluffy14]

Hey Guys,

My partner and I want to buy a house together. Ideally we'd love to move to Brighton but I'm online scrolling through properties in Hastings and there appears to be an abundance of fantastic period housing, with character features at seriously affordable prices. Coming from London, you really get bang for your buck. However I hear Hastings has a bad reputation for crime and drugs is seriously rife. Is this true? How bad is it? We'd like to have a baby and want to be sure we're in a decent area, that's safe with good schools. Please, can anyone give me the real low down on living in Hastings and whether these house prices are too good to be true and we should keep our sights on Brighton? Will Hastings ever be up and coming? Thanks x

I’m from Hastings, always liked it here. There’s been a massive influx of people from London and has caused a problem by pricing locals out of the housing market, as local salaries low compared to London.
There is some resentment from locals towards Londoners, you will be called a dfl, especially on some of the local Facebook groups. Other things are, yes lots of gentrification has happened, but still drug and crime issues. Wages are below national average, high levels of social deprivation. Pluses, very artistic and creative town, growing multicultural community, not too far from countryside, or too far from London, commute is easy for work if needed.

I'm from Hastings, I can't really compare it to anywhere else as never moved away but I feel safe. There are drug takers and antisocial behaviour but I see that very rarely myself, also I feel Brighton would have the same issues. I know lots of people have moved to the area recently but I didn't know it caused resentment like the PP said. We don't have school age children but I have never heard anything too negative about local schools.
When restrictions lift why don't you come and stay for a holiday and see if you like it?

@Mads123 maybe the whole dfl thing is more St Leonards way? I’ve friends who moved away, and moved back once they started their family and the estate agent even asked if they were from London, seller had preference for locals! I think we’re a special town, agree with you, a visit when restrictions lifted is wise.
We’ve lovely stuff going on through the year normally, starting with Fat Tuesday and jack in the green.

I’ve always liked Brighton and Hastings but it was always for a short holiday break.
Covid has affected everywhere so my advice would be that you should Wait till the summer when hopefully all covid restrictions will be lifted and life hopefully will be returning to normal .

I always liked Hastings but dh thought it wasn’t nice. I have friends who have bought there, and she refers to dfl a lot (which she was!)
Brighton is more diverse but drugs/homelessness is a problem. I live nearer there than Hastings.
Not much work locally but both commutable to London.
I prefer old town in Hastings. There are some really beautiful properties.
I work in Brighton and it can be a very vibrant city but you’ll get a lot more tourists there. Lots of students too with the uni.
I haven’t been to Hastings recently, but definitely worth a visit to see if you like it

Sorry, not much knowledge of Hastings but enjoy visits to Worthing - fabulous seafront and art deco style pier...always tempts me to start browsing the estate agents. This is from five years ago but lists a range of outstanding schools at that point.....
www.theguardian.com/money/2016/oct/28/worthing-west-sussex-property-guide-lets-move-to

I think the question I would be considering would be how often I would wish or need to travel to London. World of difference in the train service, indeed better from Worthing to London than from Hastings.

@Seasidevibes my parents are from London so maybe people don't mention it to me, but definitely sounds like something that would happen.
I don't think it's for everyone but I think if it's a choice between Hastings and Brighton with the price difference then I'd go Hastings. In pre covid times there was loads to do with a baby/toddler, and in covid times at least I've had nice options for walks.

I don't live in Hastings but not too far, it wouldnt be my first choice if moving. Some areas of Hastings are better than others. Loads of nice towns along the coast including just outside Brighton, I'd do a bit of research in the area.

Some areas of Hastings have become quite nice in recent years, and there are lovely areas. The reason we have never considered going back is schools. Local secondaries weren’t good when I was that age, twenty-five years again, and they’re still not good now. The area is pretty deprived and you are quite a long way from any other biggish towns.

If you live B&H have you considered Shoreham/ Worthing. Worthing is definitely on the up, and has quite a Brighton-like vibe.

Aww you guys are wonderful. Thanks so much for your interesting and varied perspectives. It's also a real insight into how us Londoners are unfortunately raising your house prices and pricing the locals out. I guess you don't think about the impact it may have on hard working locals on a particular salary. I know what it's like though, living in Brixton and being priced out of the area I grew up in my whole life and simply being priced out of London full stop. But yes, to get back on track, it's a great idea to come and spend some time up there, checking out the different areas when the restrictions lift. Would be great to get a real feel of the area during the day (and the night time).

Worthing has come up a couple of times in this thread, so I may have a look there too.

Reviving your recent thread @Fluffy14 - we're considering a move to Hastings too. I really like the town - though as we're not moving from anywhere fancy (pretty downtrodden and grotty area of London) like you I'm wondering how Hastings compares in reality!

Have seen quite a few people comment on the drug problem and deprivation but it's rife where we live now. And we can't afford to stay here either! Haven't stayed for any length of time but love the houses and the feel of the place. There were plenty of POC when we visited, which is a plus as a mixed race family.

Anywhere further west doesn't suit us at the trains go to Victoria and we need Kings X / Stratford via Ashford, so I guess Bexhill would be the limit.

Almost embarrassed to admit to the move though- I'm part of the DFL cliche 🙄 but nice to see positive comments on here.

Lots of nice areas around Hastings too, Battle has lots of old world character and good schools, Hailsham has a good shopping.. Eastbourne is a nice city and there’s good hill walking that direction..

I moved to Hastings last year from London post seperation from XP. Hastings seems to get a lot of hate on Mumsnet from people who don't live here!

So yes - like most seaside town there is drug problems but having come from London I'm used to that. Yes there are social problems- loads of London boroughs moved lots of their problem families down to Hastings in the noughties. Like every town it has areas that are better than others. The Old Town is so vibrant and very beautiful, normal times it has loads going on. St Leonard's is super arty. It has one of the best parks i've lived near to in Alexandra park, really large, very beautiful, loads of super nature.

Normal times a very active music scene. Relatively multi-cultural- nothing like London of course, but decent. For example we have a huge Asian supermarket on Queens road, large Eastern European population, Turkish community.

Just find out which streets/areas to avoid if you make the move.

The new town between the two is very worn out, and where the drunks hang out, but there is due to be a huge town centre regeneration in the next few years so hopefully....!

Really great housing stock - I live 2 minutes from the park and love my house. I'm a single parent and feel safe in my house. Lots of choice in houses.

My DD goes to the biggest secondary school but in all honesty with COVID she has hardly been there so I can't accurately report back on it at the moment!!

Very friendly town and people. Relatively quick into London both driving and on train - I visited my brother this weekend in London and it took us under 2 hours on the road to west London, then the train journey back only 1.5 hours from Waterloo. Plus you can change at Ashfield for the fast link to Stratford intl if you need east London.

Major employers are local government (DWP) , the hospital, language college and tourism of course so yes local employment opportunities aren't its strength but obviously lots of WFH post Covid etc.

The biggest plus...the long long promenade and lovely big skies, a walk by the sea blows all worries away!

• Asford not Ashfield!

seaiscallingme if you go far enough west, there are trains direct to St Pancras. The Brighton mainline has the Luton/Bedford trains, that all stop there.

That's great to hear @Vintagevixen thank you so much for all the info!

And @Equimum does it?! Oh no, I thought I'd decided! Ha!

Search up the "Mark Steel's in town" comedy standup episode about Hastings. Should be available on bbc sounds.

It's a lovely town with character and very diverse. Just avoid warrior square

b Anywhere further west doesn't suit us at the trains go to Victoria and we need Kings X / Stratford via Ashford, so I guess Bexhill would be the limit.

Yes as @Equimum says, Thameslink goes direct to St Pancras from Brighton. If you're travelling from Eastbourne, you can change on to the Thameslink to STP at Haywards Heath.

Yes that's really good to know... having just looked at train times I think it's just too long a journey from either Brighton (which we can't afford anyway!) or Eastbourne. I work in Stratford most of the time so would need to connect to HS1 from kings X which would add even more time.

Won't rule it our but Hastings still in the lead 😊

@seaiscallingme, funnily enough my partner and I finally made it down to Hastings this bank holiday weekend. It was pretty quiet, not too many people around but enough to give us a welcome introduction to the area. There were a good few POC, which made me comfortable as I am British of Nigerian decent and my partner is English. We have a blended multicultural family so this is an important factor for me feeling settled. I really liked the rough edge which adds character but also the stunning period properties which balances it out with charm. We weren't there for long but did spend some time checking out the variety shops (albeit all shut) and the array of properties. Alexandra Park looked particularly pretty as with the roads around there. Didn't get the chance to check out the Old Town, but will hopefully go there this weekend to feel it out again. House prices seem to be rising quickly and unfortunately I guess we are responsible for that along with the local hungry estate agent out to get top dollar. My interest is certainly still sparked and we are in the process of booking appointments to view.

@Fluffy14 I live in one of the roads around the park, love it here, the houses are beautiful and the park is just wow. My community is good, know all the neighbours.

The views from my house are stunning - can see the castle, the pier and the English Channel from my bedroom window. Another thing about Hastings is you can't get away from a hill - it is very hilly! So great views but you need good leg muscles.

Do check the old town out, George street is really lovely and in normal times a great collection of independent shops, pubs and restaurants. It really is the antidote to the somewhat grotty new town. Fact of the day - Hastings had the largest collection of medieval buildings in Europe until the dodgy planners knocked a load down in the 1960's onwards. It still has some left though and they are stunning.

It still has a fishing fleet - super easy to get fresh seafood here!

@Fluffy14 that's so funny, we went on Sunday! Agree with everything you say. We're not looking for quaint or 'naice', quite happy with the rough and the smooth - and we thought around the park is gorgeous, where you are sounds beautiful @Vintagevixen

Also really like some of the roads in West Hill, seem good value though very steep roads and smaller gardens. Good leg muscles def needed - or an e-bike

Oh and meant to ask @Fluffy14 - are you selling atm or renting? I spoke to a Hasting estate agent and he said they only book viewings for people whose own property is under offer! So we've a way to go yet before we can even look...