Posted: 25th May 2016
New Look And New Menu for Historic Seaside Pub
Historic seaside pub the Royal Standard in Hastings is offering food for the first time following a £75,000 makeover.
The Shepherd Neame pub, which dates back more than 300 years, is located opposite the seafront and the old fishermen’s huts in the picturesque coastal town.
It has just undergone a five-month refurbishment, which included painting inside and out, sanding and varnishing the wooden floor, introducing new furniture and décor, and revamping the toilets. The project also included refurbishing the kitchen, so it can now serve food for the first time.The pub has a cosy secluded garden, which has also enjoyed a revamp, with a new covered pergola, garden furniture and colourful plants.
Licensee Chris Pearce, who has been at the pub for two and a half years, said:
I previously worked as a college lecturer in English and maths, but I have always loved cooking and used to sell my dishes at music festivals in my spare time. It is one of the reasons that I took on the pub, as I wanted to have an outlet for my food.
The pub is currently serving food from 12noon to 3pm and 6pm to 9pm, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and is hoping to eventually make it available every day.
The food offer is called Rosie’s Kitchen, after Chris’ 21-year-old daughter, and typical dishes available include venison burgers, wild boar sausages, fresh calamari and vegetarian stews and curries.
Chris, 45, said:
I was born in Hastings, so the town means a lot to me, and I am really proud to be running one of its most historic pubs. The refurbishment work made a huge difference to the place, and it is really exciting to finally launch our official food offer. We have already had some great feedback from customers, and I am hoping to continue to expand the range of dishes in the next few weeks.
The Royal Standard is open from 11am to 11pm, Monday to Thursday; 11am to 1am on Friday and Saturday, and 12noon to midnight on Sunday.
For more information visit the pub's website or call 07525 478259.