A surprise win for Hastings-caught fish at the Billingsgate Sustainable Seafood Awards could not have come at a better time for the town that is making every effort to demonstrate the value of it's once favourite fish, the herring. And it was a herring, a bloater smoked by Sonny Elliot, that beat fish from all over the world including the Norwegian Cod and the Alaskan Salmon to win the 2012 championship at ...

An ancient tradition of ‘catterning and clemmening’ is to be celebrated as the people of Hastings, Sussex, gather for a weekend of celebrations based on old customs to do with St Catherine's Day and St Clement's Day. And it all coincides with the town's first annual Herring Festival whose opening ceremony is on the Saturday 24th November. Back in the Middle Ages ‘catterning’ meant that children and young me ...

Behind the facade of an ordinary village street, catch a glimpse into the world of the Sussex Bonfire season. The Fletching Bonfire Society like many others in the area, was started in 1854,  one of a number of Sussex towns who hold the famous bonfire carnivals. The celebrations mark both Guy Fawkes Night and the burning of 17 Protestant martyrs in Lewes High Street from 1555 to 1557, during the reign of ca ...

Halloween is taking off in the UK, as these readers photos show. It seems as there is no particular need to celebrate, all the more reason to do so! The last one is really scary though. ...

There is nothing quite as comforting as the sound of rain on the roof of your tent. As long as you can stay inside it. But Festival campers are born to party. Yay! Time for coffee ... my friend Caroline brought a mini-cafetiere and a Trangia stove, what a genius.  Yes indeed, those are last nights champagne glasses you see in the picture and if you want to know what to drink after late night funk sessions, ...

A guide to staying dry and looking Cool at the same time!  And when the sun comes out.... ...

The Nurture Nature zone went straight to the top of our 'A' list of cool places to hang out during the Green Man Festival. The discovery was all down to Caroline who spotted the Buddha Field cafe, with floor rugs and shoes taken off at the door and a row of pretty wellies wait outside. Inside low tables are surrounded by happy families sitting on floor eating croissants and drinking delicious coffee. Now th ...

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2012 celebrated a flurry of patriotic colours between 9th-12th August along with a mass ascent of balloons every evening at sunset, below. All photos by Stefania Priori ...

Seen here at the Ardingly Vintage Car Fair, this 1930's Grocer's Van is a wonderful example of an Austin 7 which was a popular delivery vehicle for small grocers in the 1930s. It was found in a Blacksmith's yard in Sussex in 1962, in an unloved state and in danger of disappearing under the brambles and stinging nettles. It's current owner, Mr Millchamp of Pulborough, East Sussex, was a teenager when he foun ...

Quintessentially English, Port Eliot Literary Festival is a treat in every way. Think dappled sunlight, ancient lawns and a river that snakes through the estate disappearing under a nine-arch Romanesque viaduct.  And that is just the setting.  It’s a festival of sensory pleasure debuting new and established artists, musicians and writers with a massive dose of obscurity and beauty. I loved this year’s progr ...