We wanted to create an evening where local business owners could step away from the desk, meet other like-minded people and enjoy helpful conversations in a welcoming setting.

Barnaby’s Lounge gave the evening the perfect backdrop, with a warm, characterful space that helped make the event feel informal, friendly and easy to enjoy.

Practical Talks from Local Business Speakers

As well as open networking, the evening included short talks from three brilliant speakers, each bringing a different area of expertise.

Guests heard from Rhiannon Gossedge-Jones, an independent financial adviser, who shared insight around financial planning and the importance of making informed decisions as a business owner.

Matt Townshend from Cotential spoke about sales training, confidence and how businesses can improve the way they approach conversations with potential clients.

Mike Sherwood shared valuable lessons from his experience in business coaching, marketing and agency leadership, offering practical points for business owners looking to grow with more clarity and direction.

Each talk was short, practical and easy to take away, giving guests helpful advice without making the evening feel overly formal.

Local Businesses Supporting Local Businesses

One of the best parts of the evening was seeing so many local businesses in one room, chatting, laughing and making new connections.

The event brought together people from different sectors, backgrounds and stages of business. Some came along to meet new contacts, some came to hear the speakers, and others came to reconnect with people they had met through previous local networking events.

That variety is what made the evening work so well.

FreshOnline After Hours was not about forcing conversations. It was about creating the right environment for them to happen naturally.

From business advice and local referrals to friendly introductions and follow-up coffee plans, the room had a real sense of local support.

Why Events Like This Matter for Businesses in 1066 Country

Running a business can feel isolating at times, especially for small business owners and growing teams. Events like FreshOnline After Hours help create space for people to talk, share ideas and build connections that can lead to real opportunities.

For businesses in Hastings, St Leonards and the wider 1066 area, strong local relationships matter.

They help build trust, create referral opportunities, give business owners a stronger support network and remind us that behind every brand, website, shop, service or company, there are real people working hard to grow something meaningful.

That is a huge part of why we host FreshOnline After Hours.

A Thank You from FreshOnline

A big thank you to everyone who joined us on the night. Whether you came along as a guest, speaker, client, friend of FreshOnline or local business owner, we are so grateful you were part of it.

Thank you as well to Barnaby’s Lounge for hosting us and helping create such a welcoming atmosphere.

The feedback from the evening has been so encouraging, and it has been lovely to hear how much people valued the mix of informal networking and practical talks.

FreshOnline After Hours was created to bring local businesses together, and the event on 30th April 2026 did exactly that.