http://www.hastingschoice.co.uk/HASTINGS-PHOTOS/days-gone-by/html/white-rock.htm
I checked out this photo and it fits. Also the arial photo gallery shows it.
Not sure if this man is standing on the pier.
Ritchie
Interesting that old image doesn't show overhead cables for the trams. So I just had to try and find out more about that, and here is the info;
"Hastings had a network of trams from 1905 to 1929. The trams ran as far as Bexhill, and were worked by overhead electric wires, except for the stretch along the seafront from Bo-Peep to the Memorial, which was initially worked by the Dolter stud contact system. The Dolter system was replaced by petrol electric trams in 1914, but overhead electrification was extended to this section in 1921. Trolleybuses rather than trams were used in the section that included the very narrow High Street, and the entire tram system was replaced by trolleybuses in 1928–1929".
From Bo-peep to the Memorial was operated by the Dolter system which was an underground system of picking up the electricity supply for the tram, so no ugly overhead cables, however it didn't work very well and the Dolter system was replaced by overhead cables in 1921.
So the original image in this thread is post 1921 as the cables are up, but given that trolley buses replaced the trams as early as 1928 - 29 I'd hate to have to put a definite date on it, though the trolley buses were replaced by diesel buses in 1959, so the cables no doubt would have been done away with at that time.
I wonder if the chap in the image is standing against railings that are part of a ramp or steps that lead down to the lower level of the promenade as it appears at that point there is no pier, but like others I originally thought it must be the pier. On the modern images it looks like that area is now edged by concrete fencing as the railing are gone, unless they have been wiped out by redevelopment of the roads on the front.
Philip
