The weekend’s Seafood and Wine Festival, held on the Stade open space, has been hailed as one of the biggest and best ever.

“It was a brilliant weekend in every respect.” Peter Chowney, leader of Hastings Borough Council said yesterday.

The weather was kind and the sun shone throughout the weekend as thousands of local residents and visitors flocked to town to enjoy the 14th Hastings Seafood and Wine Festival.

“The Stade was packed throughout the weekend, with a mixture of new stalls and firm favourites selling their wares. It was even busier than last year with some stalls selling their entire weekend produce on the first day, and having to restock for Sunday. Many visitors and stallholders commented on the fantastic atmosphere, and the entertainment marquee was extremely popular too, says Mr Chowney

The festival is intended to showcase the very best in local produce. The whole of the Old Town and seafront was buzzing all weekend, which brought extra trade to many other local businesses as extra visitors spent their cash in the town..

“The council is pleased and proud to organise this event, which contributes significantly to the local economy, at a time of the year when many resorts have already closed down for the season,” said Councillor Kim Forward, the council’s deputy leader.

One other cause for celebration according to Mr Chowney was the lack of plastic being used, he said: “I was particularly pleased that the festival was single use plastic free, following on from our commitment to eliminate single use plastic from events on council land. We proved we could do it with the Midsummer Fish Festival, and it is great that we were able to achieve it too with the larger Seafood and Wine Festival. We have set the standard for others to follow.”