Get Hastings – A Magazine Celebrating Local Creativity & Community

Our Approach

For the first six issues, Larking played a key role in shaping Get Hastings, ensuring it became an essential part of the town’s cultural identity.

  • Editorial & Content Direction: Beth led the co-editing and production of the magazine, writing and commissioning features that highlighted creative industries, community initiatives, and independent businesses across Hastings, St Leonards, and Bexhill.

  • Graphic Design & Layout: Steve created a distinctive, visually striking identity, ensuring the magazine reflected the vibrant, independent spirit of the area. Beth also designed select spreads, bringing a fresh approach to editorial storytelling.

  • Print & Production Management: We supported the production process, ensuring Get Hastings maintained a high standard of print quality while remaining a free, accessible publication.

  • Web Design & Digital Presence: Beth designed and developed gethastings.com on WordPress, creating an online hub to complement the print magazine, featuring digital editions, news updates, and event listings.

  • Social Media & Engagement: Larking established and managed Get Hastings’ social media presence, using organic content and community-driven storytelling to increase reach and engagement.

  • Video Editing & Content Creation: Produced video content and digital assets to enhance storytelling across online platforms, expanding the magazine’s reach beyond print.

The Results

  • Get Hastings quickly established itself as a must-read cultural guide, distributed across 69+ stockists in Hastings, St Leonards, Bexhill, and the Southeast, including The Towner, Charleston, DLWP, Brighton Visitor Centre, and Mag Culture in London.

  • The magazine became an essential platform for independent businesses, artists, and grassroots organisations, ensuring underrepresented voices are heard.

  • A growing online audience and digital reach, supporting the print magazine with strong web and social media engagement.

Client: Get Hastings
Scope: Editorial Design, Co-Editing, Production, Web Development, Content Creation, Social Media, Video Editing

Website: www.gethastings.com

The Challenge

Hastings, St Leonards, and the surrounding areas, including Bexhill, are home to a thriving creative and cultural scene. Get Hastings was founded by Mel Elliott as a free, high-quality independent print magazine to celebrate the area’s creativity, diversity and community spirit.

As a 64-page, high-quality print magazine, Get Hastings needed a strong visual identity, editorial direction, digital presence, and social media strategy to engage local audiences and visitors while championing the area’s rich cultural landscape.

A New Chapter

Founded by Mel Elliott, Get Hastings was always about championing the creative and cultural heart of the area. Larking was proud to be part of the original team that helped establish and shape the print magazine in its early stages alongside Caitlin Lock and Steven Painter. As the publication moves forward, we wish Mel and the new team every success in continuing to grow and evolve Get Hastings, ensuring it is an inclusive voice for the community.

“I enjoyed reading it from cover to cover…it’s engaging, beautifully presented and definitely something to keep.”

— Rod Webb, Hastings Independent Press