HIGH STREET Hastings ,

Since the regeneration of Hastings in recent years with the opening of the

Jerwood Gallery ( jerwoodgallery.org) and a restored pier, the town has seen the arrival of more high- quality independent shops. The atmospheric

High Street, the original thoroughfare despite its narrow disposition (a ‘twi!en’ as locals call it), has bene"ted greatly. Visitors make a beeline for Alastair Hendy’s beautiful emporium

AG Hendy & Co (aghendy.com) whose window displays have become quite the festive a!raction. ‘ The architecture in High Street is unique,’ he says. ‘Behind the Georgian fronts the buildings are Tudor inside. There is a nice winding feel about it and a good cross-section of shops.’ Also on the street is Robert’s Rummage, piled high with antique and vintage odds and ends, and Goods Depot (goodsdepot.co. uk) with its great mix of decorative antiques. A must-see is the Flower

Makers’ Museum, a family business that has been making fabric %owers for "lms for decades. Round o$ a visit with brownies at Judges Bakery ( judgesbakery.com).

Alastair Hendy bought this former soda bottling shop in 2008 and turned it into an old-fashioned hardware store with restaurant.