Our Town Has Plenty

Patsy and Mike talk about what's going on in our curious town of Hastings & St Leonards. Filming and editing by Rakesh Solanki Nestled in our beloved Tonka on the seafront we were treated to a delicious breakfast by our very generous host, Kim Duke. Mary Valentine brought delicious smells, Rosa Amor enthused us all with Hastings International Piano Competition and Sophie Malpas’ playful paint...

Patsy and Caf talk about what's going on in our curious town of Hastings & St Leonards. Filming and editing by Rakesh Solanki As a new creative dawn breaks over 2026, James Young, from Hastings Writers Workshop, invites us into the sacred space on Trinity street. Hannah Deeble & Sam Willett brings us the first festival in the Hastings calendar, Hastings Fat Tuesday. Juliet Russell brings h...

Patsy and Caf talk about what's going on in our curious town of Hastings & St Leonards. Filming and editing by Rakesh Solanki In the setting of the wonderful Mudworks ceramics studio we had songs, tears and lots of laughter with Chantelle Duncan & Isabella Campi, Sarah Jane Morris, Henry Normal, Dean Stalham & Mike Willis. A huge thank you to Chantelle Duncan & Isabella Campi of Mu...

Patsy and Caf talk about what's going on in our curious town of Hastings & St Leonards. Filming and editing by Rakesh Solanki What a community can really look like. This week we explore pre-loved furniture with Kate at HFS, feeding families with dignity with Barry Ashley of The Grumpy Cook and supporting young film makers with Polly Risbridger of The Bright Foundation… and Mike Willis on guita...

Patsy and Caf talk about what's going on in our curious town of Hastings & St Leonards. Filming and editing by Rakesh Solanki Easing our way gently into a new year, a new season but with a strong awareness that we need to all go gently. Both of our guests, Liv Long (Improv on Sea) and Marky Sparky (The Bavard Bar) provide such a wonderful service to our town, that we are very lucky to have. A...

Local people know it as Barnaby’s Lounge, but today we go inside to talk to this incredibly talented family and find out how it all began. From a remote Shetland croft to the heart of Hastings town, enjoy this lovely peek into one of our town’s most captivating families. https://barnabyslounge.co.uk https://www.instagram.com/barnabyslounge/ https://www.josephinedavies.co.uk https://www.instagram.c...

Patsy and Caf talk about what's going on in our curious town of Hastings & St Leonards. Filming and editing by Rakesh Solanki So this week, to celebrate Christmas and the end of the season, we had an audience as well as amazing guests at Rikki’s Pump House Cafe in Alexandra Park. Cheers Rikki! It was also Blair MacKichan’s birthday, and he brought tales from the studio. Mike Hatchard’s gift wa...

Patsy and Caf talk about what's going on in our curious town of Hastings & St Leonards. Filming and editing by Rakesh Solanki Fond tales of Hastings were shared today with our wonderful guests Sally Underwood and Helen Sharpe. And Megan Skinner made us think of what still needs to be done for Hastings’ most vulnerable. Brava! A huge thank you to Sally Underwood, our host. What a treat! Aired 1...

Patsy and Caf talk about what's going on in our curious town of Hastings & St Leonards. Filming and editing by Rakesh Solanki Bringing opera back into the community with our host Jenny Miller; bringing yoga back to the masses with Karen Simnett and bringing gales of laughter with our chuckling, spangly Santa, Adam Wide. And Mike always brings the music and corny gags. We bring it all today! A...

An aluminium light-up tree, complete with tinkling bell sounds, has taken the place of the traditional Christmas tree in the square (not really a square) with no name, the pedestrianised area of Robertson Street where the tree goes every year. Patsy and Caf interview John Bownas, manager of Love Hastings, the Hastings Business Improvement District AKA our local Town Centre Manager. The tree has sp...

Patsy and Caf talk about what's going on in our curious town of Hastings & St Leonards. Filming and editing by Rakesh Solanki Wise women get together and share their creative bounty at Soundcastle in Rock House. A huge thank you goes out to Rachael Perrin, Katy Baird and Tara Reddy. Mike Willis sends us ‘postcards from abroad’ (actually, St Leonards). Our Town Has Plenty is entirely self funde...

Patsy and Caf talk about what's going on in our curious town of Hastings & St Leonards. Filming and editing by Rakesh Solanki A lovely warm and comforting experience was had at Leigh Dyer’s this week. A huge thank you goes out to Leigh, Dawn Dublin, Dean Stalham & Mike Willis for making it a most memorable episode. Our Town Has Plenty is entirely self funded by us. If you like this podcast...

Patsy and Caf talk about what's going on in our curious town of Hastings & St Leonards. Filming and editing by Rakesh Solanki A massive thank you to our big hearted hosts, Bob & Isobel & Yogi the dog. To Disco Daly, Chris Young of Hastings Comedy, John Knowles the 1st & Kate Tym of Penny Pinchers fame and the ubiquitous Mike Willis - you were brilliant! Our Town Has Plenty is entir...

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Patsy and Caf talk about what's going on in our curious town of Hastings & St Leonards. Filming and editing by Rakesh Solanki A big thank you to our prodigious guests this week; the melodic, the esoteric and the insatiable film buff at Tadhg Mae Projects in Hastings Old Town. Bjorn Dahlberg, Harriet Onslow-Delaney, Julia Andrews-Clifford Aired 30-10-2025 For further info and links to events an...

Patsy and Caf talk about what's going on in our curious town of Hastings & St Leonards. Filming and editing by Rakesh Solanki A big thank you to our superlative guests this week; a peaceful poet, a sumptuous painter, a dj who packs the house… oh, & Mike at Dave Valentines Courthouse Records. Thom Kofoed - https://thomkofoed.com/ Lucas The Peaceful Poet - https://www.instagram.com/lucasthep...

Patsy and Caf talk about what's going on in our curious town of Hastings & St Leonards. Filming and editing by Rakesh Solanki A big thank you to our stellar guests this week; singers, storytellers and Bonfire folk. Mike Willis Keith and Heather Leech From Hastings Borough Bonfire Society Nikki Gerrard and Steve Corke: Sweeney Todd BATS Stella Landau and Catrina Lafferty: Lifted Up Community Ch...

Patsy and Caf talk about what's going on in our curious town of Hastings & St Leonards. Filming and editing by Rakesh Solanki With thanks to our lovely guests: James Matthew Thomas Kate Hodges Despo Hawkins & Gail Small Mike Willis --- Aired 09-10-2025 --- To find any links to events and contacts mentioned please visit out YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@ourtownhasplenty --- A...

We were delighted and honoured to be invited chez Benoit Viellefon, in sunny St Leonards on Sea. A consummate host, he treated us to the best coffee, company, conversation and… musical collaboration. Sit down and enjoy the world of Benoit, meet prodigy guitarist Jarrod Elks and our first feline guest of the podcast, the wonderful Fifi. The conversation spanned music, musicality, time, space and ph...

Dawn Dublin was our esteemed guest on the podcast this week, and we are so lucky to have her here in our town!!! Tune in to listen to our conversation, spanning her early years in St Leonards and the birth of the St Leonards Film Society, bringing life energy and community to the Observer Building, local and hyperlocal change making and place making. All this and much more is explored here. Empowe...

The fiery haired, force of nature that is Sarah Jane Morris, generously shared her couch with us this week, as our very special guest. The theme throughout is... and then it all changed. Grab yourself a drink, tune in and hear about those changes in part 1 of Sarah's fascinating story. Web: https://www.sarahjanemorris.co.uk Loved this?! Show us your appreciation, fill our cup! www.ko-fi.com/ourtow...

Well well plenty people! We have a wonderful interview to share with you, with Hastings born & bred poet, artist, performer and chanteur Oli Spleen! Listen / tune in to hear two wonderful poems recited, don’t miss out on the Poet Town launch, at the Observer Building Thursday 18 September… and if you miss it, follow and purchase the book, link below! Oli was an absolute delight. Unafraid of go...

On Our Town Has Plenty this week, we welcomed a woman of many hats, Rae Edwards. Sunshine & Wellness Nutrition, where we discussed menopause & women's health. Thanks for the kefir Rae! For all the links & socials, visit: https://www.sunshineandwellness.co.uk Aired 11/09/2025 --- Get in touch: Email ourtownhasplenty@gmail.com I nstagram https://www.instagram.com/our.town.has.plenty/ Fac...

This week, we got to visit Rogue Gallery in Norman Road, where powerhouse painter Susan Diamond has her latest exhibition, 'State of the Art'. https://www.instagram.com/susandiamondartist/ https://www.rogue-gallery.co.uk Aired 04/09/2025 --- Get in touch: Email ourtownhasplenty@gmail.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/our.town.has.plenty/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ourtownhasplenty

The sheer delight for Our Town Has Plenty to host local poet and great man Time Barlow. https://hastingsbookfestivalfringe.substack.com/p/welcome-to-the-hastings-book-festival https://timbarlowwrites.substack.com Aired 28/08/2025 --- Get in touch: Email ourtownhasplenty@gmail.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/our.town.has.plenty/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ourtownhasplenty