Wisdens Sports shop Trinity Street Hastings to close. 1908 – 2025

photo © Wisdens https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063602232459

Wisdens… We are very sorry to have to announce that Wisdens Sports is closing down. We have been selling sports equipment in Hastings since 1908 but it has become increasingly difficult to make the shop viable. We would like to thank all of our amazing customers for the years of coming in and telling us all about their sporting achievements as well as taking advantage of our knowledge and experience of all the various sporting goods we sell. Starting today we will be offering 30% discount on all products plus many other offers in store. We still have reasonable stock levels so please take advantage of these offers and tell us of your memories of us you have. Please also make sure you use any outstanding vouchers and credit notes you may have

Best wishes Mark Wisden and Ian Gill

WISDENS SPORTS

30% discount does not apply to any other offers and also does not include re-stringing or trophies and engraving

Eric Harmer… That is sad

Jenifer Hitchman… Another part of history going. Remember going in to buy school stuff. When we needed tennis rackets and other sports stuff all through my school years.

Mark Freeman… Another nail in the coffin for the high street. how sad such a iconic shop is closing

James Turner… So sad you have been there all my life through school times which was 50 years ago, I hate modern society so difficult to keep all our local businesses. I often wonder where it will all end, thank you for looking after me through all my younger years.

Paul Crimin… So sad

Claire Kelly-Triance… Town is looking grim sadly

Graham Sherrington… NOOOOOOO

Alan Wood… Oh dear !!

JS Bythesea… How sad! Another old established business shutting down. Thank you for the years you kitted out the sporty people in Hastings.

Keith Veness… That is so sad They fitted out so many sport people

Angie Warren… Sorry to see you go. Used to get all my sports stuff from you back in the day. X

Jeff McCall… Such an important shop for so many years. Bad news.

Graham Burfield… I remember when I got my first shotgun there many years ago they used to have a rack of air rifles and shotguns

Shona Goobie… it will be sad to see you go we won’t have any shops left soon in Hastings. Three have gone in Priory Meadow this last two weeks there are no clothes shops.

Gary Benton… This is a massive loss to the town, but I suppose all the best things eventually come to an end. Best wishes to the owners and staff for your future.

John Busbridge… That is very sad news

Ian Quinnell… So sad to learn of the closure. Wisdens was always the go to shop for sports things. A silly but abiding memory was buying pellets for my air guns as a younger person. Guess it will become another coffee shop or takeaway or charity shop

Lyn Humphrey… What a shame for such an iconic family sports shop to close. A sad sign of the times. I bought my karate gi from there exactly 50 years ago!

Tracy Birrell… A sorry state of affairs. My Mum first took me in there in the 70’s. A very sad sign of the times.

 

 

Fiesta Coffee Bar

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Andre Palfrey-martin collection.

1965

Tony Qunta….I used to love the Fiesta!

John Alexander Wilde….June 5th 1971 John and Pam wedding reception in the coffee bar. Anyone still alive that remembers this?

Pete Fisher….spent so many hours here hanging out as a teenager…sitting outside on the pavement in the summer…

Stephen Fletcher….Good memories .spent most of my teenage years there.

Andy Qunta…. remember the tea came in a glass that sat in a kind of silver/metal glass holder with a handle.Tea bag still in it, & a long spoon. Good hamburgers too! Chicago – 25 or 6 to 4 – on the juke box, as well as many more great classics!

Gary Kinch……….And tomato ketchup that came in plastic tomatoes. Unscrew the green top, quickly turn the tomato upside down, place green top on the upturned bottom, then leave……….we were really rock and roll

Geoff Peckham….Yes, I would have been with you, Andy. Bridge Over Troubled Water was the soundtrack on the jukebox. Perhaps we discussed forming a band in the Fiesta?

Bernard Jeffery…Big part of my youth, great coffee, used to get a baguette and fill it with chips and loads of ketchup, so healthy. always good music on the jukebox.

Paul Sleet….who remembers Min riding into the fiesta on his bike?

Terry Huggins….I got barred from this place on a regular basis.

Andre Martin…..Does anybody remember the guy – I think his name was Joe, who used to be on the door, downstairs on the corridor up to the club on the top floor, he used to be on ” duty” Friday and Saturday nights till the early hours of the morning, I knew him also from the college where he was a student doing A levels – often wondered what happened to him – nice guy.

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The Fiesta Club Trinity Street Hastings 1969

Supplied by John Busbridge

John Busbridge… A very early haunt of mine, Barry Herbert used to be behind the bar, up two flights of stairs. I nearly got barred for flicking a stack of 6 pyrex type plates like beermats and missing them on one occasion!

Dizz Corinne Ryder… My parents used to take us there for food. A lovely family business! Too young for the club!

Nick Webb… What year was this , used to live down stairs in the coffee bar as a teenager with Sue ? behind the counter .

Alan Esdaile… it was 1969. The club was a door at the side of the building and then lots of stairs to the top

Dizz Corinne Ryder… I don’t remember but I think the family were Spanish, the elder daughter was called Cynthia, her mama used to take the orders.

Mike Mitchell…  She was always “Mrs Fiesta” to us

Andy Qunta… Spent many happy hours sitting in that coffee shop when I was a student at Hastings College – often while I was supposed be attending a lecture or class. Great jukebox! Good times!

Richard Brimm… I used to go their withJohnny Upton before I had a car and near the end of the Witch Doctor it was quite small

Rachel Rayburn… I spent many hours in the Fiesta – upstairs more than down. Hey Jude always reminds me of those times. Barry has a sister called Irene who I knew well.

John Busbridge… I knew both Barry and Irene well they used to live just round the corner to me in Charles Road West

Pat Weston… Loved that coffee place, up the back stairs could always find someone  you knew hanging out. Barry Herbert used to serve coffee

Alan Esdaile… I was talking to Terry Corder on the radio today and we both think, that the upstairs club also had another name? Anyone remember? I can recall they have pinball tables and the windows were multi coloured .