It was a beautiful sunny day when I met a friend in Hastings on December 22 to experience a new venue on the sea front, The Palace, 37 White Rock.
At the moment the building is covered with scaffolding but it is very old and the front is listed though not the back. The restaurant/bar inside has this fantastic picture, an extraordinary capture along a wide wall, of a cyclist in mid air.
The staff are very friendly and the bar offers nice wine, range of craft beer and honest food together with an eclectic programme of events including music, theatre and films
At the back is a small but spacious area, all renovated to it’s original style. It can take about 40 people and this lunch time we saw a Panto written and performed by Kate Tym and John Knowles, Their company is called ‘It’s Not Us’.
It was an abridged family version of ‘A Christmas Carol‘. The duo play all the parts and called it ‘A Penny Pincher’s Christmas Carol‘. It was a fast paced romp through this well known story with plenty of jokes.
The audience was more or less equally divided between children and adults and there were laughs for everyone. John played Scrooge and Kate did all the other characters (spirit, servant, farmer and more) brilliantly. Of course the audience was asked to get involved and a dad and young boy obliged. All very funny and silly but very enjoyable.
You can still catch them on Saturday December 24 at 1:30pm. Telephone for more information 07813 035514 or go to www.itsnotus.co.uk
Photos: Heidi Foster and Mark Richards