Today’s feature takes a little break from our tile-centric norm as we shine a light on a little local art. Running towards St Leonards from the pier to Warrior Square in the close-by coastal town of Hastings sits Bottle Alley – a charming accent that trails along the seafront under a covered promenade.

Part of an area revamp in the 1930s, Bottle Alley has been around for a good long while, seeing the many faces of Hastings from the stylish boom and wartime fortification, to the grungy, artsy look is rocks today.

So called for its decorated walls, broken glass and flecks of ceramic form a sparse trencadis across half a mile of panels. These panels were cast in concrete and inlaid with pieces matching selected tones and featuring the names of now extinct breweries.

Although some fragments have since shattered or fallen, Bottle Alley remains relatively intact. Despite decades of battering from the sea and weather (the old protective covering has long since gone) the walkway’s colourful design is still a delight to enjoy.

Initiatives continue to refresh the space and encourage visitors, with vibrant colours now decorating the concrete pillars, colourful lights illuminating the space at night, and various establishments offering seaside food and drinks. Earlier this year an art market was held along the covered promenade, with Bottle Alley forming a distinctive backdrop to the stalls.

Images from Seaside Moderne and BBC.

A new post by Hanna Simpson, Diary of a Tile Addict, December 2024.