The top reasons you should visit Hastings

IT is now 950 years since William the Conqueror put the Sussex seaside town Hastings on the map.

Since the historic battle of 1066 the town has had its ups and downs — but now it is definitely on the up, following major improvements.

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Here we round up just some of the reasons to visit.

THE PEOPLE’S PIER & THE SOURCE PARK

I fell head over heels for Hastings on an assignment a couple of years ago . . . to take part in the British Open for crazy golf.

With its wide shingle beach, rackety rail cars that climb up the cliff from the prom and the twee old town dotted with twittens — quaint narrow alleyways — what was not to love?

Well, quite a bit of the tatty seafront, actually. But that is now changing, in dramatic fashion.

In May, historic Hastings Pier reopens after a £14million rebuild, which followed a devastating fire in 2010 — and it will be an amazing attraction, known as the People’s Pier after a public appeal to save it. And a few yards along the Prom the world’s largest underground skate and BMX park has just opened.

The Source Park boasts two fabulous indoor skate parks, a café and a shop where you can rent or buy BMX bikes and skateboards.

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This £1million attraction has been built inside a disused Victorian swimming pool that lay empty for decades.

The council was about to pour millions into filling in the entire site with concrete when two enterprising local brothers came up with the idea of turning the place into a world-class skate park.

Last week, The Source owners Rich and Marc Moore officially opened their pride and joy — and tickets for the launch day sold out in just two hours.

Now open seven days a week, in September it will play host to the world’s best skateboard and BMX stars as they compete in a competition aptly named the Battle of Hastings.

Entry to The Source is £6 for two hours.

1066 TARGET SPORTS

Another enterprising Hastings local, Jason Byrne, has turned a hulk of a building once used to house a government computer — now iPhones have more computing ability — into a tourist attraction just as exciting as The Source.

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According to Trip Advisor, 1066 Target Sports is one the best family days out in the South East. Mums, dads and their children come here to try their hand at firing arrows, crossbow bolts and bullets.

Many women — like my wife — discover they are really good at, er, axe- throwing.

Jason explains: “Throwing axes isn’t just about brute strength, it’s about technique and for some reason women turn out to be very good at it.”

It sounds dangerous but is all done in a very safety- conscious way.

Try any three of archery, crossbow, air-rifle, rim-fire rifle (ID required) and axe-throwing, priced £27.50 for a couple of hours.

TRUE CRIME MUSEUM

Along the seafront, built into smugglers’ caves in the cliff, is the True Crime Museum.

There is something fascinating for all but the most squeamish, from autopsies of alleged axe murderer Lizzie Borden’s victims, to a credit card that turns into a knife.

Then take a walk along to The America Ground, just behind the Prom, where local rebels once declared this part of town a US state. It is now home to rows of quirky shops and great cafés.

Entry is £7.50 adults, £5.50 children. Family of four £24.

BOUTIQUE B&Bs

The Good Hotel Guide lists more of these in Hastings than in Brighton and Eastbourne combined.

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One of the best is Swan House B&B. This former smuggler’s home built in 1470 on a quaint cobbled street in the historic old town is not only beautiful, you also get the sort of welcome and service normally associated with a 5H hotel. Joint owner Brendan McDonough, the host with the most, carries his guests’ bags up to Swan House’s four cosy, oak-beamed bedrooms.

He even sorts out parking for your car.

But the huge breakfasts he personally prepares are to die for. Try his homemade baked beans — heaven.

Rooms are priced from £120 to £150 (double occupancy) and £90 to £95 (single occupancy).

GASTRO GRUB

The recently refurbished Crown pub nestles in the old town at the bottom of a steep hill, which locals try to ride up on an old butcher’s bike.

To make sure competitors in this bizarre challenge don’t stand up on their pedals to go faster, each rider has a £10 note tucked in the saddle which they lose if they decide to stand up.

But you don’t have to do anything so energetic to enjoy a pint and a hearty lunch at the friendly Crown.

A new seafood restaurant has opened on the seafront at East Parade.

The Old Custom House is a tiny room with only a dozen tables. It serves a fantastic selection of oysters, from France, Ireland and, my favourite, large Mersea rock oysters from Essex.

The place also offers a huge choice of freshly caught seafood, ranging from cockles and whelks to hearty fish pies and stews.

After lunch or dinner, wander across the road to the shingle beach and watch the fishermen.

Hastings has the biggest beach-launched fishing fleet in Europe and it is still hard at work.

As Brendan McDonagh says: “People love Hastings because it is edgy — a real town with real people.”