A G Hendy Home Store in Hastings

Although I haven't eaten here yet, the items for sale cast you back and back and back to a time when people lived with good sense, they collected things to keep for life, and the sight of all those classic dishes, linens, brushes, lights, glassware and cutlery, etc etc makes me want to move back into the past and forget this modern time which feels so flimsy by comparison.

I decided to visit Hastings as a pre Christmas trip, and had heard about Mr Hendys shop before I arrived. However was absolutely blown away when I finally visited - the shop is absolutely beautiful, especially the windows! The care and hard work both he and the staff put into presentation is outstanding and really makes the experience incredible. Such amazing objects and a wonderful collection of brushes! I found everyone extremely friendly and patient, especially when I was dithering on what to buy for Christmas presents. A G Hendy Home store is a real gem and an asset to Hastings!

Our friends from France were staying with us in St Leonards. They had seen Hendy's on a television programme as a restaurant and wanted to visit. Yesterday morning (18 Sept) I took them to the shop and showed them the café section at the back where we looked at the menu hanging on the wall; I have been in this part of the store several times before. There was a string in front of the entrance which I removed allowing us to take a peep. It obviously wasn't open so after putting the string back we returned to the front of the store to ask after the café. The lady working behind the counter was extremely unhelpful, rude and aggressive and said that we should apologise for going 'in her private area'. Here in Hastings/St Leonards we are used to receiving a warm and friendly reception and in nine years of living here I have never encountered such rudeness. I was extremely embarrassed that this should happen in front of my visitors, who had travelled well over a thousand miles to visit the shop.

We really like A G Hendy’s Home Store. We’ve been twice this summer. The seafood is fresh from Rock-a-Nore fishing boats and the menu is simple, classic and cooked in an fully realised early twentieth century style kitchen that is entirely the proprietor’s creation. It must be one of the most stylish restaurants in Britain with its beautifully laundered heavy napkins and champagne served in heavy zinc buckets, yet it has the atmosphere of a supper club with tables shared with the other guests. It is one of the best reasons for visiting Hastings.

Right at the back of this lovely store is a lovely little kitchen restaurant. About 20 covers and only open throughout the summer. You can sit outside, in the kitchen or at the bar. As a lone diner I was at the bar (which is just outside the kitchen overlooking the courtyard. Perfect. The food was delicious and beautifully prepared and washed down with a fabulous Pinot Blush. All the old cutlery and food served on a metal tray made the experience even more authentic. They have a small set menu, but still plenty to choose from. Alcohol and sides are extra, but even with three courses for £30 plus these additions, it's still not that expensive. If you want something a little different come here, you won't regret it.

Each time we come to visit the area, our good friend takes us to try unique spots for lunch or dinner. This time we chose Hendy’s Home Store, a very special spot only open during the summer, only on weekends with a reservation. We opted for a late lunch on a sunny Sunday. We chose the 2-Course offering, beginning with Celeriac with Brown Shrimp, Roasted Beetroot salad with goat cheese, and Air-Dried Ham with Broadbeans. For our mains, we shared the Mackeral dish, Cuttlefish with Mustard Greens and Spider Crab and Fish Pot, an amazing seafood hot pot with a lovely multi-layered broth. We chose a wonderful chilled Pinot Noir to accompany the meal. What a sweet spot!!!! Super special setting in an authentic, stripped back building with period features as well as shop. A definite must...

Real quirky gem to look through on the High Street. You never quite know what you're going to find in here. Love browsing round when I have the time.

In Hastings for a weeks holiday , and had read reviews for this shop, and was delighted when I stumbled across it. It is all as described in previous reviews, a true step back in time, like shopping in a museum. All the stock is displayed in authentic shelves, and presented perfectly. The goods on display especially the vast range of brushes and something what every household should have, a brush for every conceivable purpose. A total delight to shop in!

Stumbled across this in Hastings and was attracted by the frontage which just looked so 'period'. Inside did not disappoint as I explored the meticulously restored rooms and browsed the old fashioned hardware store merchandise for sale. This is a fantastic retail experience, like stepping back in time.

This store is quite something, you wouldn’t expected this sort of shop outside London and this store easily eclipse any cool shop in the UK. The store was like a film set, the used of the original building facade mix with their beautiful source and curate was just amazing ... witty and clever.

We have bought brushes because we need them and just top support this amazing enterprise. We've enjoyed the summertime pop up restaurant too. Sometime we just go to enjoy the experience.

Just visit, and bring loads of money, you will leave with less money and some beautifully goods. The place looks like a photo set, everything is laid out with such perfection. Well done!

I know it's new but the re-creation of a nineteenth century shop is wonderful. We regularly buy brushes and the pop up summer restaurant was a triumph

Relaxed casual dining, professional young staff, interesting menu. Cod was excellent as was the starter. Pudding s good

I had no idea there was a restaurant out if the back of the shop. What a great experience, the ingredients were lovely and fresh and prepared perfectly. Radish salad, brown shrimp salad, fish and crab pot and blackberry tart, and elderflower spritz. Apparently we'd not noticed it as it runs as a pop up, so we feel lucky to have experienced it. We had our little baby with us and the staff were so friendly, helpful and thoughtful that it made it an easy and stress free experience. Highly recommended. A really nice way to spend a few hours over lunch.

3 reasons to go here if nearby; some would consider making a special trip. One: it looks brilliant. Two: they sell some cool stuff you won't see anywhere else. Three: the menu for the weekend lunch only eatery at the back looks equally interesting. Brilliant concept, well executed. [Note: we didn't eat.]

Me pareció un G Hendy's en línea después de una búsqueda en google de "mejores lugares para comer en Hastings. "Chico, no estaban equivocados! Este lugar es increíble y mucho más que un lugar para ir a almorzar. Desde el momento en que te topas con la tienda en la calle alta, te transporta a una época diferente. Tuvimos la suerte de conseguir una mesa en la cocina; no tenía mucho conversación entre mi amigo y yo, ya que ambos estaban muy ocupados tomando todo! Los chefs son super amable y servicial y nos encantó ver cada plato prepara 'desde cero. 'tuve la olla mar que era enorme y asombroso -

Esta fue la razón por la que fuimos a Hastings para una visita, había visto un artículo y queríamos ir por edades, satisfecha de decir que pasamos un precioso tiempo deambulando en la tienda. Ha sido muy bien hecho, te lleva a tiempos georgianos. Felizmente comprado unas escobillas encantador.

Este lugar es un verdadero hallazgo. Es en la parte trasera de una tienda, sólo están abiertos durante todo el verano y sólo tienen espacio para 22, suponiendo que no llueve. Por lo tanto, la primera cosa que hay que saber es si hay pocos o no tratar con esperando, reservar una mesa.

No he oído de este antiguo (lo siento, vintage estos días! Tienda casa) hasta mi amigo que me dijo que quería visitar a visitar aquí.

If I could have shipped the contents of the shop home to the US, I would have. Incredibly lovely shop with a very distinct, curated, stylish point of view. A mind-boggling selection of brushes of all shapes and sizes - plus carefully chosen antiques and home goods shown in a most desirable setting. Incredibly chic and beautifully displayed.

We must have missed it but didn't notice the restaurant. However, came out laden with brushes of all sorts; real feather dusters too but particularly, bath brush, and the cobweb brush with proper length handles that those under 6' don't have to stand on stools to reach the ceiling. Well made and worth it.

Vintage shop and restaurant expertly restored by the owner.It's like a trip back in time. If you love your history, this is for you.Experience the sights and smells of the past and pick up a treasure at the same time.

This is a shop in the High Street in Hastings Old Town and it is wonderful. It is in a very narrow street so approach on foot is recommended, but once there, one is swept back in time to the 1820's, and can really enjoy the antiques on sale and the original features of the building, which is listed and which needs support to survive. They welcome casual browsers and people interested in the building, but we always try to spend about 35 entirely frivolously to help them, and I am collecting their enamel cookware each time I visit. Well worth a look

You wouldn't believe the different things you might need a brush for, but if if you can think of a use, they have it. Sweeping bush made with goat hair - picks up everything and makes sweeping a pleasure (well almost!) Brushes for cobwebs of different sorts, stick or not, for cabinets and picture rails, bottle brushes of every shape and size, clothes brushes, scrubbing brushes for different uses (including a corner brush!) all made of beautiful wood and a pleasure to hold. yes there's more than brushes, knives and things, but it's the brushes that do it. I need to be banned from it next time i visit!

I had a seafood stew, it was absolutely delicious.Gorgeous setting, cannot resist buying a little memento from the Hendy Homestore every time we visit.

Very nice shop selling traditional homewares. Lovely atmosphere and attractive produce. There is a small restaurant but we have never managed to get there on the right day. The restored medieval house is also worth a visit at Christmas.

What a total and totally unexpected gem to stumble upon! We spent a fascinating hour there absorbing the atmosphere of Hendy's vision - a head spinning mix of desirable things to buy that you had to have or to give to lucky friends along with his created atmosphere of an ancient shop with old world charm and character (the loo is to die for!). A delightful woman indulged us in our enthusiastic wanderings, providing snippets of information as required and even letting me take a few pics. The bill for our purchases was over £100 - a shock but the Xmas present list has lots of ticks now. She showed us where they provide excellent food over weekends to the lucky few (no bookings) - apparently Hendy is also a fist class chef as reviews will testify. We can't describe it all but if you do Hastings don't miss this experience - such a treat..

A truly surreal experience, like stepping back into a Dickensian shop. A fine chef is hidden to the rear, I had the best salad of my life!

A cornucopia of delightful finds of a traditional nature. Treasures and gems of a bygone age. Add to that some scrumptious food and you have something very unique.

Last minute decision to eat here. The service was excellent and the food delicious. would recommend the chowder, wonderful flavours. Crab claws took some work at getting the most from them. Delicious pear and walnut salad. The shrimp starter was disappointing. not many shrimps and the mayonnaise base was too overwhelming for such a delicate flavour. Fortunately the sun was shining so we could sit outside. I think the prices are rather high for the standard of food topped with the fact that it is Hastings after all

Had a very good lunch with good service in this amazing venue.Food really very good and varied - the wine was excellent and environment so unusual but fun! - eating in a hardware store!

I just loved this store. Didn't want to leave. Can't think of anything you would want for the house they didn't stock. It was like stepping bank in time. Lovely staff. Just lovely.

The food was superb perfectly spiced and seasoned and the service was exemplary. Would definitely recommend to friends and family

A G Hendy Home Store is beautifully presented, which is the main draw of the place. It transports you and it's a joy to browse the homeware on offer. However, the prices are extraordinary - for while there are a handful of really interesting antique pieces, most of it is new enamelware. Which you could buy for a fraction of the price elsewhere. So yes, it's a little cynical on the pricing but if you accept that you're paying for the experience, that's ok. What isn't ok is the owner's attitude. On our visit, he was rude, dismissive, humourless and a downright misery. If you are going to open a shop, you should be pleased when members of the public come in to spend their money, not behave as if their presence was an imposition. It really took the shine off the whole experience and we left feeling sadly disappointed.

This restaurant re-opened the weekend we visited, 20 June. It was recommended by someone whose flat we were renting for the weekend and I'm really pleased we booked it. From the High Street you'd have no clue they were serving food, it's a home store as advertised but at the back, there are a few tables indoors and a cosy courtyard with trestle tables. We shared one on these and chose from an eclectic and imaginative menu, picking a crab toast starter for me, brown shrimp on celeriac salad for my wife, followed by a lemon sole and a while grilled lobster for our mains. We had the rhubarb meringue for pudding and a bottle and a half of Rose. The food was utterly delicious and the experience was really special. We could have stayed all afternoon if they weren't so popular that we had to make way for new diners.

We dropped in on a Friday evening after a busy working week (in London) and after the opening of the Chapman Brothers show at The Jerwood. I was mightily pleased to be sitting in a quiet and noise free inspiring environment with perfect low lighting and tables spaced far away from one another. I had Pear and Walnut Salad followed by Sea Bass and Chard and then Cardamon, Coffee & and Chocolate Ice Cream. All rounded off with the Burwash Rose (cheese) and spiced pear. All delicious fresh and special. I think a wider price range of wines could be afforded here to accompany such expertly cooked food. It is instantly one of my favorites places to go and I am already plotting another evening visit

This is a shop you must not miss. The stock and ambiance of the place is just incredible. My eyes are on stalks every time I go in as there is so much to see, honestly do not miss this place in the heart of the old town. Tiny restaurant inside which has a great menu and which I keep meaning to try

The food we had here was stunning - local fish, cooked simply and very well. Both I and my fellow diner loved each of our courses and this was the best meal we've had in the area. The brown shrimp starter burst into the mouth with fresh flavours and I will go back in the hope they have it in the memu .Similarly the roast cod was accompanied by intensely flavoured roast tomatoes. We sat in the sunny courtyard and enjoyed a wonderful relaxing lunch.The waitress who showed us in seemed very young & inexperienced and the first 'table' she showed us to was essentially a shelf looking out of a window, which was quite cramped. That would be fine if the place was full, but it was a quiet lunchtime and all of the outside and most of the inside tables were available, so it was an odd plce to try to get us to sit. I wasn;t expecting to enjoy the meal as much as I did, and I will certainly be back for more. The prices are fairly steep, but on the basis of this meal, they are worth it.

Loved the shop and the restaurant at the back. Food cooked by well known food writer.Full of things you'd like to buy.

SO HASTINGS which for so long has been nearly there but not quite is now showing a bit more promise when a lovely place like this opens up. The shop is a dream of reclaim and interesting items like proper feather dusters for 22 quid; enamel ware and vintage cornish ware. I adored the old blazers hanging in the hall way and the wooden loo seats. (in the loo) Having lunch outside we ordered crab claws & a courgette & pea tart a bottle of pino g & the waitress bought the wine in and old tine bucket. A baby slept in a car seat in and old tin bath; i loved all these eccentricities which the owner food photographer and chef has put a lot of thought into. We got chatty with our co diners which isnt suprising as you are seated in what would of been a yard outside the back of the shop, and its quite small. Do go, but do book, they dont open all the time.

This is a real 'one off'. A shop selling all sorts of vintage homewares - at a price! Rather more of a museum than a retail space, but you may find something you can't live without. There is a restaurant open at weekends, but we visited on a weekday so can't comment on the food.

Just go. If you're looking for good quality original housewares you will love it. The radiator brush is one of the best things I've ever bought & love my enamel dishes. The inspiration you'll get from 4 floors of everything you could possibly imagine & more is an added bonus.

A shop replicating a 1960 east end oil can shop.If you want to buy a brown betty tea pot and a stripped tea towel this is for you. The food is incredibly average. Small portions delivered by uninterested staff.

Amazing retro shop in a house with exceptional courtyard setting. Food by Alastair Hendy published chef and professional food stylist photographer and writer! Fish to die for! Am sure Alastair will be opening in shore ditch soon! It's that good!

We have been wanting to go to the AG Hendy fish restaurant for ages in Hastings but never for round to it or it was fully booked!!! We finally went yesterday with two friends and have to say its amazing!!! We had a table in the kitchen so we could see the chefs at work. I started with a really lovely tomato and anchovy salad which I followed with dressed crab with new potatoes and greens. All was delicious and the veg is not to be ignored. We were persuaded to have a bottle of Pinot Grigot which was ice cold and bone dry and perfect with the fish!! Really cant recommend this place enough and will be back if we can get a table. They were queuing for our table as we left!

While wandering through Hastings High Street, the mind set to shopping, one can easily find himself going into a store like AG Hendy & Co Home Store. It sells all sort of "old fashioned" cookery equipment and some bric-a-brac as well. When you do this on a Saturday or a Sunday, one might sniff and think: that is a selling tool - the smell of fresh food.Getting at the back of the store the surprise is waiting. Inside a small extension, built as if it was there for centuries is a small restaurant. Its menu covers a lot of locally source ingredients, you can sit, watch and eat in the kitchen if you want and the food served is very nice. No interest in a large lunch: just take a starter as a light lunch - the cook is welcoming you anyhow. Everything is decorated as if it were a century ago: enamel cookware, "old" cutlery, glass jugs. The food is, as said, nice but not cheap. The limited opening times probably steer the price up, exclusivity has to be paid and the risk of having leftovers is probably also influencing the price. However: if you eat here you join a select group of people - those that went to the back of the store and took the chance!

We went for lunch on Sunday 4 May - one of the days that Alastair Hendy was also opening his house to the public for tours, and a few days after it had apparently been featured in The Telegraph. Hastings itself was teeming, as was Hendy's - we were glad we had booked although apparently booking is always essential. There are only a few covers and I don't know what they do when it rains as the majority of the seating appeared to be in an uncovered courtyard! Our table was booked for 1.30, although traffic was terrible so we arrived at 2pm (we did phone to alert them). When we arrived we were asked to come back in 15 minutes as our table wasn't ready…we were pleased we had arrived late otherwise we would have been waiting for almost an hour (we went back after 25 minutes to make sure the previous occupants had gone). They were packed, and although the waiting staff were absolutely delightful, service was exceptionally slow. Mention was constantly made of how busy they were but since tables were by booking only, I couldn't understand how this was unexpected, or indeed any different from usual. Aside from this small gripe, the food itself was sublime. My husband had the fish pot (served in the saucepan) and it was delicious, as was my Lemon Sole. Even the greens and potatoes tasted out of this world. Unfortunately we didn't have time for a pud but they too looked gorgeous. We would definitely go back but would book a later table - it seemed to clear a little after 3pm. A tremendous, very "trendy" experience!

There are only a few tables, one of which is in Hendy's kitchen. The last time we went, we sat in there. The food is all delicious and simple with seasonal ingredients. It's definitely a place you want to show to guests. It's all styled impeccably, set at the back of his shop which is also like a museum/art installation. If the food was incredibly complicated and ponsy it just wouldn't work but that's not that case at all. You really have to book in advance.

Only open for lunch at weekends. The food is prepared with simple exquisite expertise, majoring on fish fresh from the beach. Hastings has some of the best fresh fish anywhere because the boats are all small, one to three man, so are never out for more than a few hours. The fish that comes off them can't be compared with that from the usual long distance trawlers that keep fish on ice for days or even weeks. The food is all prepared by Alastair Hendy, who is also a successful food writer and photographer. Everything is as fresh as it is possible to imagine. There are very few tables; so you can eat in the small room at the back of the shop, in the tiny yard outside, or in the kitchen itself on a table that is an extension of the preparation area... though this is actually a little like being in a painting, at a table brimming with perfect produce so that you can see the brief menu spread out before you. Every utensil, pot, pan and container is anachronistic - like being in another time before plastic existed, echoing the theme of the shop itself. Even the enormous range looks like it began service in the 18th century. It's a perfect setting and atmosphere, and an intensely pleasurable place to dine - especially for two.Be prepared for a hint of the eccentrics of Fergus Henderson, but without the density of meat and offal.Don't be in a hurry, and don't expect it to cost less than you would pay in London for great food.Expect a very short menu, different every day, and better quality - one person is cooking, and hand picking the ingredients - and the ingredients don't sit in a truck for hours queuing their way into the city. Take your time and soak up every flavour.

This store is a revelation... truly artisitc re-enactment of a Victorian store with such artistry, you can only but admire the genius behind it. Yes, it is different and all the better for that. A true gem of its kind and it has to be enjoyed from the perspective intended. A nod to another era and a truly superb restoration back to how the building would have been more than a hundred years ago.Based on the "use it or lose it" perspective, I implore visitors to buy something, even if it is something very small. This is a national treasure - or should be!On every floor, as you go up the turning staircases, there is more to discover. Pure joy!Thank you to the creator of this wonderful shop which is so utterly pleasing, in every respect. I doff my hat to you, dear Sir.

I took a small group of friends for lunch and was amazed by how fresh everything tasted. I Then realised that this was mainly due to the chef's commitment to buying fish straight off the boats on the beach at the bottom of the road. I hadn't realised that Hastings is home to Europe's largest beach based fishing fleet. That the fish is all line caught, in season. Far short of catching the fish myself, I can't imagine it getting any better. And the staff were unfazed and very relaxed by having children as part of our party. We will be back.

Visited Hastings to see the Christmas house where the lady was lovely and then we popped into the shop for a look. The lady said as we walked in she could fit us in for delicious soup. We decided to eat as she had recommended it and the place looked nice. We say in the room outside the kitchen where there was one table and some stools at a bar. My chair appeared to be in the way of the staff as every time they passed they kicked my chair or had to lean over me to get their cutlery and plates. I ordered brown shrimps and bread - the shrimps were tiny and I must have managed to eat a tea spoonful of meat from them. Very dissapointing and the bread was dry too. When they cleared the plates she asked if we had enjoyed it and we said not really but she didn't come back with any apology. Then when we paid another person asked us if we enjoyed it and when we said no she made no comment. It was a shame as the house and shop were lovely but the food was very overpriced and didn't live up to expectations. We should have waited until we got to the old town and eaten somewhere there.

I went here for lunch with a group of friends and were lucky enough to be seated in the kitchen where we could see all the food being prepared and cooked.For me, the experience was fabulous - the care and attention being paid to each dish as it was cooked and served was clearly on display. Also knowing that the fish served is picked up daily so the menu changes according to what has been caught by the local fishermen made me realise that not only was this a restaurant that was serving delicious tasting food, at a price I felt was very reasonable, but was also keen to be a part of Hastings heritage.I could not fault the food or service in any way. I didn't sit at the kitchen table expecting to be entertained by the people working in there - I sat there so I could watch and enjoy professionals at work delivering exquisite fish and seafood dishes - and I, and my companions, weren't disappointed! I'm certainly looking forward to eating there again.

This is so lovely that words fail me it's beautiful food served in a lovely shabby chic enviroment. The starters were divine, fresh and flavoured. My main course of Herring cosmic. It's small friendly and very very cool. Go!!!

We ate a 3 restaurants during our short stay and this was by far the best. Although it is at the back of a quirky shop, the small restaurant didn't disappoint. We sat in the courtyard on benches, enjoying the last of the summer sun. The broad bean soup was amazing and the crab and shellfish stew was fantastic. Unfortunately the spider crab had been replaced by regular crab without informing us, but it was still the best meal I have had this year! I am pleased to say they now have a licence with a small selection of drinks. Only down side is they are only open weekends. We will come back whenever we are in Hastings, the best restaurant by far!

Alastair Hendy was one of my favourite food writers and his recipe for fish pie is still my gold standard when I want to indulge in foody nostalgia. Home Store is his labour of love in Hastings Old Town and everything has been stripped back to resemble what a Victorian department store might have been like if they had such things then. The store itself is open from Wednesdays to Sundays and the kitchen is open only at weekends. We knew in advance that the food was expensive, with an emphasis on seafood, but the menu on offer (three starters at £7 and two mains at £16) didn't tickle our taste buds sufficiently to entice us to join the queue waiting for lunch to start. So we decided to explore what else Home Store has to offer. The ground floor is fairly similar to other home-style kitchen shops, with umpteen variations on dusters and brushes, enamelware, glass jelly molds et al. A girl dressed in Victorian garb was busy ironing serviettes on an ancient ironing board, but the impression of being transported back in time disappeared as soon as one saw the electric iron. A corridor down the side has various uniforms for sale in case you want to dress up as a Victorian skivvy back home. Up the stripped stairs, there's a front room full of old tables, ranging from wooden ones from something like the Victorian era to metal ones from the 30s. Everything has a Home Store tag attached with a hefty price. There was even a used, kitchen diary dated 1938 on sale for £12. Another flight of stairs, past a bizarre display of old anatomical drawings (including one of what must be the longest flaccid penis ever seen in public), brought one to a floor where various bathroom accoutrements and furniture were on display. It was so reminiscent of some macabre film set that one almost expected Dr Crippen to appear brandishing a bloody knife (with attached Home Store tag and hefty price). As we walked back downstairs to the 21st century, it struck us that a lot of the items on offer were the sort you'd find in various junk shops in Hastings. It's not surprising that Home Store has divided opinion amongst locals, although I'm sure tourists are lapping it up.

if you want to step back in time and see what things were like back in the late 1880s then this is the shop for you it is atmospheric and very cleverly conceived. The staff are dressed in the costumes of the era and are a delight both in knowledge and serving you when you buy items there from wonderful radiator dusters to garden items to furniture to kitchen item all of which reflect the surroundings in which they are sold. there 4 floors to look at so go back in time and enjoy this wonderful experience

Opinion is subjective, so why should you believe me over others; the simple answer is you shouldn't. What you should do is collate the opinion of others and get a feel, discovering if they are like minded folk. You could also put this into Google: Restaurant: AG Hendy & Co Home Store Kitchen, Hastings. There you will find a great piece of writing that closely evokes the dining experience. However, I would fundamentally disagree with the writers opinion on pricing. Fish ain't cheap, and for what you get here, coupled with care and finesse on every plate, this is a very cheap restaurant indeed, Mayfair prices - my [--] (my [--] for Americans)!My opinion, for what its worth, would tell you to go there in a hurry and stay there until they kick you out. Go there with enough friends to divide your order, so you can try everything Mr Hendy has to offer. Go there with enthusiasm and fill your boots. And - if you don't like it, I don't care - I think it's just brilliant

The shop is without doubt amazing but the food in the new "restaurant", less so. On the plus side, fresh ingredients are used but the portions are small and expensive and served with just a boring bowl of lightly dressed lettuce leaves. We thought it would be fun to eat in the kichen area where you can watch the food being prepared and cooked. However, the owner, who does all the cooking is not particularly friendly or entertaining and we did not enjoy seeing him tell stall off in front of us. No effort was made to make us feel welcome.Wines are expensive. House white and Rose wines but no house red. Only two choices of red, the cheapest being £28 for a mediocre Rioja. When the wine came it was cold and we had to stand the bottle in the sun to warm it up. After we finished the bottle we asked if we could just have one glass but were told no and that we had to buy another bottle if we wanted a top up.On the whole, we were all very disappointed and will not be going back.

Antique furniture, brushes that can dust behind radiators, brown teapots, old linen in a museum setting, styled to death , somewhere between utility and de-luxe, with good simple fish restaurant attached.! Check opening times. Food weekends only (?)

We have known Henndys as a shop for some time now with a huge range of kitchenalia and associated products but were pleasantly surprised to find that they have recently opened as a small fish restaurant.We visited one one of the hottest and busiest days in Hastings calendar, Pirates day 2012, and in spite of the huge numbers we found Hendy's to be an oasis of calm and tranquility amidst all the yo ho hoing and swashbuckling going on.Shabby chic is definitely the order of the day here with a small courtyard and even smaller indoor dining area with a zinc bar and a table for 4, very much St Johns by the seaside which should give you an idea of what to expect.Menu very straightforward and reasonably priced, no licence yet but there are plenty of places selling booze within walking distance.Highlights for us included the wonderfully peppery radishes and the really very good fish stew, all the ingredients well balanced and cooked just so, a real testament to the chefs on such a busy day.The piece de la resistance however, had to be the puddings, we both enjoyed splendid concoctions of rhubarb, rose water, cream and meringue, really very good indeed.If you want good unpretentious food then this place must be on your list, the only shame is that at present it is only open at the weekends.