About Hastings Beer & Music Festival

Hastings Beer and Music Festival is a two-day event, staged every year in Hastings' beautiful Alexandra Park, and managed by a committee of local Round Table members. With over 90 Real Ales at low prices, as well as lager, local ciders and wines, high quality local food, and the best local musicians, we've raised thousands of pounds for local good causes - and grown a reputation as the best beer and music festival in the South East!

In 2009 alone, over 7,500 people attended, raising more than £35,000 for charities in the Hastings, St Leonards and Battle areas. Organised by Hastings and Battle Round Tables, all staff are volunteers, and all proceeds go to local good causes.

Our pledge is simple. Great fun for great causes!

A Brief History of HBMF

Conceived in 1981 by former Hastings Round Table member John Butters with former Queen's Head, Icklesham, landlord Martin Harris, Hastings Beer Festival was a small charity fund-raising event.

Renamed the Hastings Beer and Music Festival in 1998, it is now a major event for Hastings and the surrounding areas. HBMF's focus on voluntary work and commitment to donate 100% of money raised to local causes has, we're proud to say, remained.

Keane to do more

In 2005 HBMF upped the ante, inviting local band-turned-international chart-toppers Keane to perform. As well as securing HBMF's place on the worldwide festival map, the event raised thousands for the primary beneficiary, St. Michaels Hospice.

Following this success, HBMF 2006 opted for yet another big-name headline act. Rock legends Status Quo graced the stage as part of their The Party Ain't Over Yet... tour, helping us raise more money for local good causes - and raising the roof in the process!

Back to basics in 2008

Shockingly, 2007's freak summer rains nearly bankrupted HBMF. So 2008's HBMF went back to basics, focusing once more on the best of local bands, great beer available from the longest bar in the South East, and with a huge Big Top marquee - with a capacity of over 4,500 people - brought in to keep the threat of rain at bay.

2009: A great success

With headliners Midge Ure and Slam, carnival beats from Sambalanco, our huge Singathon event, comedy from Steve Furst's Lenny Beige, as well as the best of local bands, HBMF 2009 shaped up to be our best yet.

And with over 100 real ales, premium lager, local cider, delicious wines and the best local, high quality food served once more from the longest bar under the largest marquee in the South East, HBMF 2009 was a feast - or should that be fest - for the senses!

And best of all, we raised in excess of £35,000 for good causes in Hastings, St Leonards, and Battle.

HBMF - great fun for great causes.