The Jenny Lind Inn, Pub and Hotel, Hastings, Sussex

The Jenny Lind Inn is a Free House and Hotel on the High Street in Hastings Old Town. A beautiful pub in the heart of the quaint Old Town which is a stone’s throw from the pebble beach. Recommended by a couple of friends who had recently moved to Hastings, this pub had a warm welcome on a brisk January afternoon. When I arrived at The Jenny Lind as a meeting place, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of quality cask ales they had on draught.

Although the name says The Jenny Lind Hotel, make no mistake about it, that the fact that they have rooms to stay in did not detract from the fact that is a pub. A real pub, with real ales… 10 draughts in fact! 10 hand-pulls with 10 different beers on at any given time, 7 days a week. Sold!

Proudly displaying a generous variety of ales, including a Blonde (Long Blonde, 3.8% abv) and an American Pale Ale from the Longman Brewery (APA, 4.8% abv), a local Best Bitter from the Franklins Brewery in Sussex (Mama Knows Best, 4.1% abv), a Bronze Bitter from the Hopdaemon Brewery (Incubus, 4.1% abv), a national favourite and well travelled Old Ale from the Theakston Brewery (Old Perculier, 5.6% abv) alongside a Premium / ESB from Charles Wells’ Courage Brewery (Directors, 4.8% abv) an Oatmeal Stout from the Cellarhead Brewery (Flapjack Stout, 4.7%), a Winter Warmer from the Old Dairy Brewery in Tenterden, Kent (Dark Snow, 6.5%) and a dark Pale from the The Three Legs Brewery (Black Pale, 4.3% abv). As well as this, there was a Pale Series from the Pig and Porter Brewery (Temporary Truth, 4.2% abv) a Craft Beer, Bavarian Pills and Pilsner from the Maltsmiths Brewery and a couple of craft ciders including an Orchard Thieves Craft Cider weighing in at 4.5% abv. So, that’s the draughts out the way! As well as this, The Jenny Lind offers two Real Ciders at any given time with a number of Craft Beers on offer seven days a week too.

The Jenny Lind Inn has 4 regular ales including local brews from the Longman Brewery, namely the Long Blonde, 1 from Franklins (which was absolutely delicious I may add) called Mama Knows Best, and national legends Theakston’s Old Perculier and Charles Wells Courage Directors. In The Jenny Linds own words “the other 6 pumps are devoted to an ever-changing range of guest ales, often from Sussex and Kent”.

I went for a pint of Mama Knows Best from the Franklins Brewery as it was the most local to Hastings out of the 10 draught ales they had on at the time. Their brewery is based in Ringmer which is situated 3 miles east of Lewes in East Sussex. After sampling it at the bar, I ordered a pint and savoured every drop. Mama Knows Best is a chestnut coloured ‘Malty Modern Best Bitter’. Presented as an interesting take on this Great British Classic, this Bitter is complex, refreshing and everso moreish. The combination of UK and US hops provide mixed berry flavours with a touch of papaya and an earthy pine finish.

This was the first time I have tried a bitter from the Franklins Brewery and I must say was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the pint I was served at The Jenny Lind. Very palatable indeed. An impeccably well kept drop, prepared in beautifully chilled surroundings I took my pint to the back area of the pub to sit by the roaring, gorgeous fireplace where they had a log burner which warmed the whole pub. After catching up with friends and playing games (which included a variety of timeless classics like dominos, backgammon and billiards), the Blues Band (find out name from Neville) began to play soothing chilled out Sunday vibes.

I can definitely vouch for the Jenny Lind Inn and recommend a visit and indeed encourage to do so. A real gem tucked away in the heart of Hastings Old Town, jam packed full of character, great music, good people… and great ales!