Things To Do in Hastings

Snaking along the coastline from Hastings to Rockley is the South Coast Boardwalk. This wooden walkway connects the two resorts’ beaches and is spot on for an afternoon wander. Along the way, you’ll spy a cute, white-painted bandstand, a kids’ play area and a picnic spot with benches. If you can, make the return journey at sunset – the views are fantastic.

Ackee Tree does some of the best rotis on the whole of the island. These flatbread wraps can be filled with lamb, chicken or vegetables, and there’s a tasty tamarind sauce to go on top. But don’t expect to find rotis on the evening menu. Dinner at Ackee Tree is a more sit-down affair.

Rockley Beach, five minutes’ walk from Hastings, is a spectacular curl of white sand, fringed by swaying coconut and casuarina trees. The gradually deepening water means it’s safe for children to paddle in, and further out the breaking waves attract boogie-boarders and windsurfers. For a spot of lunch, the Quayside Centre is just across the road, serving everything from Chinese to Italian eats. But you’ve also got no-frills huts sticking to the tried-and-tested formula of grilled fish and ice-cold Banks beer.

If you want to get the lowdown on Bajan cuisine, you’ve got plenty of options in Hastings. Some places serve up rotis, a curry-filled flatbread originally brought to the Caribbean by workers from India. At other restaurants you’ll find fresh takes on the local cookbook, whether it’s Bajan tapas or Caribbean-Asian fusion.

This festival to celebrate the end of the sugar season has been going on since 1780. At the Kensington Oval cricket ground in Bridgetown, calypso bands battle it out for the crown of best in class. And on the final weekend, the Grand Kadooment parade sweeps through the capital. Notting Hill Carnival, eat your heart out.

Overlooking the sea, De Rum Shoppe is a friendly spot to enjoy a few Banks beers or the homemade Bajan rum punch, but be warned, it’s rocket-fuel in a glass. There’s a lilting reggae soundtrack playing in the background, and the occasional beach party to liven things up.

St Lawrence Gap, a five-minute taxi ride away, is jumping most nights of the week. Walk from one end of the strip to the other and you’ll find everything from swanky nightclubs to all-you-can-drink bars. A good idea is to start off with a couple of cool Banks beers at a rum shack. Afterwards, you can up the tempo at the Reggae Lounge where the latest hits from Jamaica get aired. Or watch the dancefloor erupt at Sugar Ultra Lounge every time a song by local girl Rihanna comes on.

Barbados is the most British of the Caribbean islands and the colonial legacy is most evident at the Garrison, a section of UNESCO-protected buildings, a five-minute walk from Hastings. There’s the 18th-century St Ann’s Fort and the Garrison Savannah, a 30-acre horserace track. The Barbados Museum houses everything from Amerindian artefacts to historical maps of the island.

Come evening, Hastings keeps things on the low-key side – but a 10-minute taxi ride will bring you to St Lawrence Gap, Barbados’ premier party hotspot. Start off with a few Banks beers at one of the live music bars, before upping the ante at a club. Don’t peak too early, though – things don’t really start to get going here ‘til 11pm.

Bridgetown’s old British military area – known as the Garrison – is Hastings’ next-door neighbour. Get to grips with Barbados’ colonial history by having a wander round the UNESCO-listed sights here. Must-dos include the 18th-century St Ann’s Fort and the Garrison Savannah – a 30-acre horse racing track. The Barbados Museum is also worth having a poke around. It’s housed in an old military prison, and features everything from centuries-old maps of the island to Amerindian artefacts.

If you fancy getting your mouth round some of the local cuisine, you’ve got plenty of places to choose from in Hastings. As well as the traditional stuff, like flying fish and macaroni pie, you can find international dishes with a tropical twist – think Bajan tapas and Caribbean-Asian fusion cuisine. Rotis are another favourite you’ll find popping up on the menu. The curry-filled flatbread wraps were brought over to the island by Indian workers back in the day.