Hastings Contemporary
Hastings Contemporary
4
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Hastings Contemporary has developed a reputation for its focus on painting and Modern British art. An ambitious programme of temporary exhibitions includes work by important Modern British artists, internationally celebrated artists, and emerging practitioners. The gallery sits among Hastings’s famous net huts, overlooking the working fishing beach.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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  • futtock21
    London, United Kingdom11,621 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Soutine and Kossoff
    Since metamorphosing from an outpost of the Jerwood Foundation Hastings Contemporary had felt something of a damp squibb. The Jerwood Foundation having withdrawn its impressive collection of twentieth century British art back to London some of the first exhibitions put on by the Hastings Contemporary felt a tad below par. But now a joint exhibition of works by the Belarusian Jewish artist Chaim Soutine (1893-1943) who settled in France and from the next generation the English artist of Ukrainian descent Leon Kossoff (1926-2019). Apart from their Eastern European ancestry both artists have in common their use of heavily brushstrokes and impasto. Whereas Soutine’s masterpieces are portraits of Parisian waitresses and bellboys not to mention Provençal landscapes Kossoff described in an abstract expressionist style places such as Willesden Junction and Camden Road not a million miles from his Islington birthplace. This is one of the most impressive exhibitions I’ve seen anywhere in England this year to date. And as an added bonus there are some huge photographs and sculptures by young African artists as an added bonus in the largest gallery on the ground floor. Only the Soutine Kossoff exhibition catalogue disappointed by its thinness.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 20 April 2023
  • Kay P
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Visit to Hastings Contemporary Art Gallery
    Attractive building in the Old Town. Welcoming staff and a definite buzz. We went to see the Kossoff/Soutine exhibition. Plenty of interesting information about the artists and thought provoking works on display. Cafe on the second floor. Wheelchairs available. We filled in an Arts Council questionnaire which was more to do with sex orientation than art. Couldn’t see the relevance but hope it helps this lovely Gallery get a grant.
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 3 July 2023
  • FluffyFlower
    London, United Kingdom22 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Always best to see Art on a full stomach
    Never mind the art which is interesting- go for the cafe: fabulous views, great service and really good value for money food which is delicious!! Having been a member of several large. Well known galleries which basically rip you off when it comes to having anything to eat or drink this is the opposite. Shock horror it’s very good value for money. Try the salad nicoise or a cheese scone. The chef sources local, in season produce and makes fresh quiches daily but be warned once it’s gone it’s gone!
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 13 July 2023
  • Maureen C
    8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great Art and Great Food
    Soutine/Kostoff exhibition was wonderful. Everything about the gallery was a pleasure to visit topped off by the most wonderful café. The cafe staff were so lovely and went to great lengths to ensure that the gluten free member of our party had as wonderful an experience as I did. The food was great I just wish we lived closer so we could go all the time!
    Visited August 2023
    Written 13 August 2023
  • Richard B
    Exeter, United Kingdom47 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Art and food I can eat - a top class experience
    The Soutine/Kossof exhibition is just outstanding. Great works in a space that displays them to the highest standard. And. Your café! The staff are just lovely. I know that interacting with a celiac customer in a café can be ‘challenging’ for staff (I’d had a ‘challenging’ experience elsewhere in Hastings earlier) but I wasn’t a challenge for the people here. They were happy, eager even, to help. They understand how to keep gluten-free cakes separate from the others. So, it was a pleasure to eat somewhere I wasn’t a problem. And they were all funny and friendly. What more could I wish for? Not very much.
    Visited August 2023
    Written 13 August 2023
  • David L
    Wymondham, United Kingdom165 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Surprisingly good!
    This was a much more interesting experience than we had been expecting. The gallery was showing works by Leon Kossoff and Chaim Soutine which made a fascinating comparison. The gallery layout was first class and the staff friendly and helpful. Highly recommended.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 2 September 2023
  • CHRISTINE B
    Waltham Abbey, United Kingdom6 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Hastings in October
    I went with a coach trip in the October half term week. It was extremely windy and wet, although while we were there we only had showers, but we drove through flooded villages. Most of the amusements were open, but we had GREAT DIFFICULTY in finding the Smugglers Caves as the sign posts had been moved to point in the wrong direction. The castle is well worth paying the money for with lots of history boards and little cubby holes to sit in, marvellous views all along the coastline. The Net Drying Sheds are really impressive. Do try the Fishermans Museum and the Ship Wreck Museum both well worth a visit and gives so much more history of Hastings. We found "The Fish Shed" they do kids portions for older people, which was quite enough for both of us. There is a wonderful Fresh Fish Shop there too, Susan Cadman visited it on her programme, we got smoked haddock from there for our tea, it was delicious. For those of us who are older, there are lots of benches and seats scattered around the old town and also a tiny train which goes along the promenade, if you are of the larger stock, you will have to fold yourself into it! Overall we had a brilliant time and would recommend Old Hasting to anyone, especially on a windy day with crashing waves and sunshine!
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 9 November 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles375 reviews
Excellent
131
Very good
132
Average
60
Poor
28
Terrible
24

Explorerelb
12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
A beautiful stylish gallery, with great views from the well-placed picture windows throughout. We saw three interesting exhibitions, all thoughtfully curated to make maximum impact in the space. The staff were very welcoming and knowledgeable, and the cafe is excellent - particularly the Rock-a-Nore beetroot smoked salmon!
Written 12 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marian L
London, UK60 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Family
The galleries were light and airy. The exhibitions were well displayed and the invigilators very informative.
The new cafe was brilliant. The food was tasty and beautifully presented. Staff were friendly and the views amazing.
Written 10 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CHRISTINE B
Waltham Abbey, UK6 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Friends
I went with a coach trip in the October half term week. It was extremely windy and wet, although while we were there we only had showers, but we drove through flooded villages.
Most of the amusements were open, but we had GREAT DIFFICULTY in finding the Smugglers Caves as the sign posts had been moved to point in the wrong direction.
The castle is well worth paying the money for with lots of history boards and little cubby holes to sit in, marvellous views all along the coastline.
The Net Drying Sheds are really impressive.
Do try the Fishermans Museum and the Ship Wreck Museum both well worth a visit and gives so much more history of Hastings.
We found "The Fish Shed" they do kids portions for older people, which was quite enough for both of us.
There is a wonderful Fresh Fish Shop there too, Susan Cadman visited it on her programme, we got smoked haddock from there for our tea, it was delicious.
For those of us who are older, there are lots of benches and seats scattered around the old town and also a tiny train which goes along the promenade, if you are of the larger stock, you will have to fold yourself into it!
Overall we had a brilliant time and would recommend Old Hasting to anyone, especially on a windy day with crashing waves and sunshine!
Written 10 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

pg2342016
Hastings, UK12 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Solo
Cafe - was appalled to see uncovered food for sale on the counter where people were queuing to be served. Customers were talking to staff over the food to place orders. When people talk, occasionally and accidentally they spit as well as expel droplets when laughing, coughing, sneezing ... COVER THE FOOD ! This didn't used to occur under the previous management.
Written 24 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jo S
London, UK65 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Friends
Great experience, really lovely building, saw two nic exhibitions, very thoughtfully displayed and enjoyed a great lunch in the cafe with wonderful views of the sea and old hastings
Written 14 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

David L
Wymondham, UK165 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Friends
This was a much more interesting experience than we had been expecting. The gallery was showing works by Leon Kossoff and Chaim Soutine which made a fascinating comparison. The gallery layout was first class and the staff friendly and helpful. Highly recommended.
Written 2 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Richard B
Exeter, UK47 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023
The Soutine/Kossof exhibition is just outstanding. Great works in a space that displays them to the highest standard.
And.
Your café!
The staff are just lovely. I know that interacting with a celiac customer in a café can be ‘challenging’ for staff (I’d had a ‘challenging’ experience elsewhere in Hastings earlier) but I wasn’t a challenge for the people here. They were happy, eager even, to help. They understand how to keep gluten-free cakes separate from the others. So, it was a pleasure to eat somewhere I wasn’t a problem. And they were all funny and friendly. What more could I wish for? Not very much.
Written 13 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Maureen C
8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023
Soutine/Kostoff exhibition was wonderful. Everything about the gallery was a pleasure to visit topped off by the most wonderful café.
The cafe staff were so lovely and went to great lengths to ensure that the gluten free member of our party had as wonderful an experience as I did. The food was great I just wish we lived closer so we could go all the time!
Written 13 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Edd M
1 contribution
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Friends
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Gallery staff at Hastings Contemporary for what was - predominantly - an enjoyable visit to the exhibitions, accompanied by my friend for her birthday; a mostly enjoyable and stimulating experience, nevertheless impacted somewhat by the harassment and hostile attitude from one of the Soutine/Kostoff exhibition staff members. I would encourage the Gallery to remember the local community in which they are supposed to serve and employ a little more consideration, with humility, toward the visitors who provide a steady income stream, thus keeping it operational.
Written 24 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

FluffyFlower
London, UK22 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Friends
Never mind the art which is interesting- go for the cafe: fabulous views, great service and really good value for money food which is delicious!!
Having been a member of several large. Well known galleries which basically rip you off when it comes to having anything to eat or drink this is the opposite.
Shock horror it’s very good value for money.
Try the salad nicoise or a cheese scone. The chef sources local, in season produce and makes fresh quiches daily but be warned once it’s gone it’s gone!
Written 13 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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HASTINGS CONTEMPORARY: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Hastings Contemporary

Hastings Contemporary is open:
  • Tue - Sun 11:00 - 17:00