Ostend may be one of the biggest fishing ports in Belgium, but Hastings fish was first on the menu there in May
Members of Hastings Borough Council’s Marketing team took a stand at the ‘Oostende voor Anker’ exhibition, a massive maritime festival which attracted over 250,000 visitors. As well as including a replica net hut, and real Hastings beach, in their display, they were accompanied by Old Town fishmonger John ‘Tush’ Hamilton and his wife Pat, who served over 1,000 of their ‘fishermen’s rolls’, containing Hastings fish. Tush and Pat normally work in Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings, but also work with Hastings Council to promote Hastings and its fish.
Council leader Jeremy Birch explained
"Tourism is big business for Hastings, generating well over £160m for the town’s economy. Overseas visitors are particularly important, as they stay for longer, and spend more money. And we attract more visitors from Belgium than any other country."
"Our Marketing Department therefore promotes Hastings heavily to the Belgian market."
"Because we sponsor Tush and Pat, who are themselves a real attraction to visitors to the exhibition, we don’t have to pay for our stand space. Even Hastings’ Safeway joined in, extending their ‘buy one, get one free’ offer on rolls to ‘buy 500, get 500 free!!’ And because we also work closely with Eurotunnel, they provided our channel crossing - so this is a particularly cost-effective way of promoting Hastings."
"The Belgians really seem to love Hastings, and, I’m told, were certainly very interested in our stand at the exhibition. We look forward to welcoming them here over the coming months."
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This page last updated: 22/06/2005