Finalists for the Sussex Food & Drink Awards 2010/11 have been announced and 24 of Sussex’s fantastic food and drink heroes have made it through on public voting and expert judging to make an enticing final line up.
Said Clive Beddall OBE, Chairman of the Judges: “The awards are celebrating their fifth anniversary this year and they continue to grow in popularity with thousands of members of the public voting for hundreds of their favourite Sussex farmers, food and drink producers, young chefs, food/farm shops, butchers, eateries and farmers markets.
“We have seen a record number of different businesses and individuals receiving votes this year –familiar, quality names have appeared again and we are excited to see many new names emerge, proving that these awards are reaching every corner of the county and that Sussex continues to produce some of the UK’s best food and drink heroes.”
All 24 finalists will have to wait a few more weeks to discover who the winners are which will be announced at the Sussex Food & Drink Awards banquet, to be held at the East Sussex Golf Resort & Spa on 27th January 2011.
This black tie event promises to be the best yet, celebrating the awards’ fifth birthday! A Sussex bubbly and ale reception (sponsored by Harveys) will get the party started and then, using the very best local produce, AA rosette chef Andy Wiles has created a fantastic banquet with seven courses including game, fish, fruits, cheeses and other Sussex goodies.
Said, Paula Seager, MD of Natural PR which organise the awards: “The awards ceremony is always such a fantastic evening and this year’s banquet is going to be a true celebration of the amazing food and drink that Sussex has to offer. A sense of anticipation builds throughout the evening until winners are announced and trophies presented BAFTA-style with host Danny Pike from BBC Sussex. There is nothing contrived or stuffy about these awards, just a lively and fun celebration of our Sussex food heroes.”
To buy tickets for this fabulous event, email: sandra@naturalpr.biz or call Natural PR on 01273 857242.
The finalists are:
Best Sussex Farmer's Market
Lewes
Shoreham
Uckfield
Sussex Farmer of the Year sponsored by Knill James
Tim Hassell, Home Farm, Goodwood
Jenny & Trevor Passmore, Church Farm, Coombes
Shon and Simon Sprackling, Rother Valley Organics, Petersfield
Best Sussex Food/Farm Shop sponsored by Mayo Wynne Baxter
Cheese Please, Lewes
Plaw Hatch Farm Shop, Sharpthorne
Sussex Produce Company, Steyning
Sussex Food Producer of the Year sponsored by Musgrave Retail Partnership
Caroline's Dairy, Sidlesham
Nut Knowle Farm, Horam, nr Heathfield
Plaw Hatch Farm, Sharpthorne
Sussex Drink Producer of the Year sponsored by Natural PR
Dark Star Brewery, Horsham
Hepworths Brewery, Horsham
World Coffee, Lindfield
Best Sussex Eating Experience sponsored by a Taste of Sussex
The Curlew, Bodiam
Restaurant Tristan, Horsham
Simply Delicious, Bognor Regis
Sussex Young Chef of the Year sponsored by Blue Spark Organisation
Simon Duncan, Sam's of Brighton
Steven Edwards, South Lodge, Horsham
Hanna Payne, the Pass at South Lodge, Horsham
Sussex Butcher of the Year sponsored by Leonards
S K Hutchings, Partridge Green
New Street Butchers, Horsham
Tablehurst Farm Shop, Forest Row
Thursday 25 November 2010
Friday 19 November 2010
Sussex Young Chef of the Year finalists announced
Six talented young chefs from across the county fought it out in the hotly contended Sussex Young Chef of the Year ‘cook off’, sponsored by Blue Spark Organisation, as part of the Sussex Food & Drink Awards 2010/11.
The six shortlisted chefs were selected by public vote and faced enormous pressure this year having to produce a full three-course menu, based on local and seasonal ingredients, as opposed to the one course in previous years.
The cook off was hosted by City College Brighton & Hove and the young chefs faced a nail biting wait before having to perform against the clock, producing each dish under the watchful eyes of the expert judging panel chaired by Clive Beddall OBE, Chairman of the Sussex Food & Drink Awards.
After much deliberation from the judging panel, organisers are delighted to announce the top three going through to the final are two young chefs from South Lodge Hotel in Horsham, 24-year-old Steven Edwards, Sous Chef for the main hotel and 23-year-old Hanna Payne from The Pass Restaurant; and joining them is the youngest candidate this year, 20-year-old Simon Duncan from Sam’s of Brighton.
Dhrutee Davé, Director of Haywards Heath based food recruitment agency, Blue Spark Organisation, said: “It has been a fantastic experience to be sponsors of this very popular category this year. The six candidates truly proved themselves in a very intense cook off and all were worthy of a place in the final – it was an extremely difficult decision for the judges to choose the top three as all the dishes were outstanding, but Simon, Hanna and Steven were exceptional and their dishes were truly delicious.”
Said Clive Beddall OBE, Chairman of the Judges: “This year the quality was the best we have ever had – the young chefs were calm and extremely professional and the food was unbelievably good. I’m very excited about the future of food in Sussex with these young chefs making their mark here. We want the three who didn’t make it through this year to please come back again next year as they were excellent and picking the three finalists was a very hard decision.”
Runners up, Will Stanyer from Hotel Du Vin, Brighton; Daniel Whittle from Temptation café, Brighton and Bradley Jordan from Restaurant Tristan, Horsham fought a close battle against the other three finalists. Steven, Simon and Hanna now face another two months of waiting to see who the overall winner is which will be announced at the Sussex Food & Drink Awards dinner, to be held at the East Sussex Golf Resort & Spa on 27th January 2011 and hosted by Danny Pike from BBC Sussex.
Organisers have already opened sales for tickets to attend the awards dinner, now dubbed the ‘Sussex foodie event of the year’. This black tie event promises to be the best yet, celebrating the awards’ 5th birthday and includes a Sussex bubbly and ale reception, sponsored by Harveys; a stunning seven-course banquet dinner using the very best Sussex produce, created by the talented Andy Wiles, East Sussex National’s head chef; lots of entertainment; and a lively Oscars-style awards presentation.
Visit the website www.sussexfoodawards.biz to find out how to buy tickets for this fabulous event or call Natural PR on 01273 857242 for more information.
The six shortlisted chefs were selected by public vote and faced enormous pressure this year having to produce a full three-course menu, based on local and seasonal ingredients, as opposed to the one course in previous years.
The cook off was hosted by City College Brighton & Hove and the young chefs faced a nail biting wait before having to perform against the clock, producing each dish under the watchful eyes of the expert judging panel chaired by Clive Beddall OBE, Chairman of the Sussex Food & Drink Awards.
After much deliberation from the judging panel, organisers are delighted to announce the top three going through to the final are two young chefs from South Lodge Hotel in Horsham, 24-year-old Steven Edwards, Sous Chef for the main hotel and 23-year-old Hanna Payne from The Pass Restaurant; and joining them is the youngest candidate this year, 20-year-old Simon Duncan from Sam’s of Brighton.
Dhrutee Davé, Director of Haywards Heath based food recruitment agency, Blue Spark Organisation, said: “It has been a fantastic experience to be sponsors of this very popular category this year. The six candidates truly proved themselves in a very intense cook off and all were worthy of a place in the final – it was an extremely difficult decision for the judges to choose the top three as all the dishes were outstanding, but Simon, Hanna and Steven were exceptional and their dishes were truly delicious.”
Said Clive Beddall OBE, Chairman of the Judges: “This year the quality was the best we have ever had – the young chefs were calm and extremely professional and the food was unbelievably good. I’m very excited about the future of food in Sussex with these young chefs making their mark here. We want the three who didn’t make it through this year to please come back again next year as they were excellent and picking the three finalists was a very hard decision.”
Runners up, Will Stanyer from Hotel Du Vin, Brighton; Daniel Whittle from Temptation café, Brighton and Bradley Jordan from Restaurant Tristan, Horsham fought a close battle against the other three finalists. Steven, Simon and Hanna now face another two months of waiting to see who the overall winner is which will be announced at the Sussex Food & Drink Awards dinner, to be held at the East Sussex Golf Resort & Spa on 27th January 2011 and hosted by Danny Pike from BBC Sussex.
Organisers have already opened sales for tickets to attend the awards dinner, now dubbed the ‘Sussex foodie event of the year’. This black tie event promises to be the best yet, celebrating the awards’ 5th birthday and includes a Sussex bubbly and ale reception, sponsored by Harveys; a stunning seven-course banquet dinner using the very best Sussex produce, created by the talented Andy Wiles, East Sussex National’s head chef; lots of entertainment; and a lively Oscars-style awards presentation.
Visit the website www.sussexfoodawards.biz to find out how to buy tickets for this fabulous event or call Natural PR on 01273 857242 for more information.
Monday 8 November 2010
Royal Pavilion Ice Rink opens this week!
The Royal Pavilion’s first ever outdoor real Ice Rink opens its gates to the public this week - on November 13th until January 16th. The first skaters at 10am on Saturday will be given scrummy free hot drinks by Due South, who are running the ice rink restaurant.
School choirs which book to perform Christmas songs at the rink on weekdays at 4.15 during the next two months, will be offered free skating and will also help attract well-wishers to support the Argus Appeal team, who will be collecting for local charities then.
School choirs should email organiser Shella Parkin at shella.parkin@virgin.net with their details, suggested dates and how many children will be singing. School groups can also book tickets at the discounted price of £4 per head off-peak, which can be booked from Ticketmaster on 0844 844 2121.
The rink, which also has a stunning heated restaurant created by Due South, promises to dazzle Brighton this Christmas, providing a superb experience for people in the city, as well as attracting thousands of visitors from elsewhere. It is the only rink in the country with its own pre-school crèche, beginners’ area and ‘penguin’ skate aids especially for youngsters, and aims to be the Christmas rink for families to visit outside of London.
Shella Parkin of Laine Ltd, behind the attraction, said: “We’re really excited about bringing a real ice outdoor rink to Brighton for Christmas 2010. We hope to create a genuinely festive experience with a traditional feel, raising the bar for rinkside dining and going out of our way to make children and families feel welcome and hope to raise plenty of money for charity too.”
With the former Royal pleasure palace as backdrop, the 700 square metre rink has space for 200 skaters per session and the team behind the scheme, who are working with the Royal Pavilion and Brighton & Hove City Council, anticipate thousands of visitors.
Royal Pavilion Ice Rink tickets cost from £9.50-£11 for adults and from £6.50-£7.50 for children under 12 and the one-hour skate times run from 10am to 10.15pm daily, on sale online at www.ticketmaster.co.uk or by calling 0844 847 2352.
Known for its commitment to locally sourced ingredients, Due South’s fully licensed rinkside restaurant, open 9am to midnight, will serve passing customers with warming, seasonal dishes including Castle Farm steak & real ale pie, Honey roasted ham hock with buttered mash and a rich organic cider sauce, South Downs venison curry with rice and poppadom, seasonal fruit crumbles, cakes baked daily and luxurious ice creams. It also offers scrumptious party menus and Christmas dinners – pre-book by calling 01273 821 218.
For tickets for the Royal Pavilion Ice Rink, please visit: www.ticketmaster.co.uk, call: 0844 847 2352 or book in person at Ticketmaster ticket centres.
School choirs which book to perform Christmas songs at the rink on weekdays at 4.15 during the next two months, will be offered free skating and will also help attract well-wishers to support the Argus Appeal team, who will be collecting for local charities then.
School choirs should email organiser Shella Parkin at shella.parkin@virgin.net with their details, suggested dates and how many children will be singing. School groups can also book tickets at the discounted price of £4 per head off-peak, which can be booked from Ticketmaster on 0844 844 2121.
The rink, which also has a stunning heated restaurant created by Due South, promises to dazzle Brighton this Christmas, providing a superb experience for people in the city, as well as attracting thousands of visitors from elsewhere. It is the only rink in the country with its own pre-school crèche, beginners’ area and ‘penguin’ skate aids especially for youngsters, and aims to be the Christmas rink for families to visit outside of London.
Shella Parkin of Laine Ltd, behind the attraction, said: “We’re really excited about bringing a real ice outdoor rink to Brighton for Christmas 2010. We hope to create a genuinely festive experience with a traditional feel, raising the bar for rinkside dining and going out of our way to make children and families feel welcome and hope to raise plenty of money for charity too.”
With the former Royal pleasure palace as backdrop, the 700 square metre rink has space for 200 skaters per session and the team behind the scheme, who are working with the Royal Pavilion and Brighton & Hove City Council, anticipate thousands of visitors.
Royal Pavilion Ice Rink tickets cost from £9.50-£11 for adults and from £6.50-£7.50 for children under 12 and the one-hour skate times run from 10am to 10.15pm daily, on sale online at www.ticketmaster.co.uk or by calling 0844 847 2352.
Known for its commitment to locally sourced ingredients, Due South’s fully licensed rinkside restaurant, open 9am to midnight, will serve passing customers with warming, seasonal dishes including Castle Farm steak & real ale pie, Honey roasted ham hock with buttered mash and a rich organic cider sauce, South Downs venison curry with rice and poppadom, seasonal fruit crumbles, cakes baked daily and luxurious ice creams. It also offers scrumptious party menus and Christmas dinners – pre-book by calling 01273 821 218.
For tickets for the Royal Pavilion Ice Rink, please visit: www.ticketmaster.co.uk, call: 0844 847 2352 or book in person at Ticketmaster ticket centres.
Thursday 4 November 2010
Bluebell railway kittens to star at Black Cat Day on Sunday
Three four-week-old black kittens rescued from a parked Bluebell Railway steam engine will be the stars of the show at Cats Protection’s family fun Black Cat Day this Sunday 7th November. The event, which takes place in Chelwood Gate, Sussex, aims to match cats with new owners and raise funds, with fun games, stalls, face painting, a bouncy castle and much more.
There were originally five kittens, found by a Bluebell Railway train driver freezing to death and without their mother, on October 1st. Karen Thompson, Deputy Director of the National Cat Centre came to the rescue and put the kittens inside her clothes, against her skin, and rushed them back to the centre to warm them up. Sadly two had already succumbed to hypothermia and didn’t make it – but the other three, who have been named Percy, Emily and Thomas by Cat Centre staff, have been hand reared and staff and volunteers at the centre take it in turns to take them home and feed them through the night.
Said Karen Thompson: “They are doing unbelievably well and we’re so glad to have been able to save them. We hope that they will be ready for adoption in five weeks’ time.”
“We are finding it more and more challenging to find homes for the cats at our centre and need all the support we can get - we have a huge number of delightful cats which will make great pets. They have all been vaccinated, health-checked and neutered and we need to find loving owners for them,” said Tania Marsh, Deputy Manager of the cat centre.
“Black cats are even harder to find homes for than others and we currently have 48 at the centre, so our annual Black Cat Day is about opening our doors to local cat lovers as well as providing a fun day for families to enjoy. Whether you are looking to adopt a cat, or just want to have a really great day out, you will be supporting us by coming along.”
The fun starts at 10am and runs until 4pm and includes a tombola, raffle and ghost walk. Children can also enter the Halloween costume fancy dress and scariest carved pumpkin competitions if they bring their pumpkins along. The Fire Brigade will also be there to provide budding young officers the chance to experience their fire engine between 12-2pm. Most activities are indoors but, if the weather is good, the grounds include delightful woodland and a lake to enjoy, with dogs welcome outside.
Black Cat Day runs from 10am-4pm on 7th November at the National Cat Centre, Chelwood Gate, Haywards Heath, RH17 7TT. Entry is free, although a donation of a tin of cat food on arrival would be hugely appreciated!
There were originally five kittens, found by a Bluebell Railway train driver freezing to death and without their mother, on October 1st. Karen Thompson, Deputy Director of the National Cat Centre came to the rescue and put the kittens inside her clothes, against her skin, and rushed them back to the centre to warm them up. Sadly two had already succumbed to hypothermia and didn’t make it – but the other three, who have been named Percy, Emily and Thomas by Cat Centre staff, have been hand reared and staff and volunteers at the centre take it in turns to take them home and feed them through the night.
Said Karen Thompson: “They are doing unbelievably well and we’re so glad to have been able to save them. We hope that they will be ready for adoption in five weeks’ time.”
“We are finding it more and more challenging to find homes for the cats at our centre and need all the support we can get - we have a huge number of delightful cats which will make great pets. They have all been vaccinated, health-checked and neutered and we need to find loving owners for them,” said Tania Marsh, Deputy Manager of the cat centre.
“Black cats are even harder to find homes for than others and we currently have 48 at the centre, so our annual Black Cat Day is about opening our doors to local cat lovers as well as providing a fun day for families to enjoy. Whether you are looking to adopt a cat, or just want to have a really great day out, you will be supporting us by coming along.”
The fun starts at 10am and runs until 4pm and includes a tombola, raffle and ghost walk. Children can also enter the Halloween costume fancy dress and scariest carved pumpkin competitions if they bring their pumpkins along. The Fire Brigade will also be there to provide budding young officers the chance to experience their fire engine between 12-2pm. Most activities are indoors but, if the weather is good, the grounds include delightful woodland and a lake to enjoy, with dogs welcome outside.
Black Cat Day runs from 10am-4pm on 7th November at the National Cat Centre, Chelwood Gate, Haywards Heath, RH17 7TT. Entry is free, although a donation of a tin of cat food on arrival would be hugely appreciated!
Saturday 23 October 2010
Rushfields Farm Shop free hog roast and pumpkins!
The brand new Rushfields Farm Shop, which sells everything that is delicious in Sussex, is inviting families and customers to join them for a free hog roast and kids pumpkin give-away on Saturday 23rd October. Never mind the weather - the outdoor area has a roof!
A formal opening ceremony will be held at 11am, toasted with Sussex bubbly, and several Sussex producers, including High Weald Dairy, Ringden Farm, Bolney Vineyard and Home Cakery, will be on hand giving out tastings of local food – but the fun will continue all day, running from 10am to 5pm.
Rushfields Farm Shop is on the Henfield Road, at Rushfields Plant Centre, which has been in business for 26 years, has been purpose built as a large, barn-style shop, traditionally constructed with Sussex oak timbers by conservation craftsmen.
Owners Pam and Colin Langridge have made Sussex a huge focus for the shop and have tried to stock everything that is great about Sussex, with a top quality butchers, selling meat so local that you can see it grazing on nearby fields, ably managed by butcher Paul Channon. It also sells classic Sussex cheeses from local dairies, including the High Weald Dairy, local sauces and chutneys from Sussex Valley and even local chocolate, from Cocoa Loco.
Shop manager Rachel Fletcher said: “The shop offers more than most farm shops because you can buy everything you need to eat or drink there, including staples such as bread, milk, butter and vegetables – and all at reasonable prices - so local food lovers have welcomed it with open arms.”
A formal opening ceremony will be held at 11am, toasted with Sussex bubbly, and several Sussex producers, including High Weald Dairy, Ringden Farm, Bolney Vineyard and Home Cakery, will be on hand giving out tastings of local food – but the fun will continue all day, running from 10am to 5pm.
Rushfields Farm Shop is on the Henfield Road, at Rushfields Plant Centre, which has been in business for 26 years, has been purpose built as a large, barn-style shop, traditionally constructed with Sussex oak timbers by conservation craftsmen.
Owners Pam and Colin Langridge have made Sussex a huge focus for the shop and have tried to stock everything that is great about Sussex, with a top quality butchers, selling meat so local that you can see it grazing on nearby fields, ably managed by butcher Paul Channon. It also sells classic Sussex cheeses from local dairies, including the High Weald Dairy, local sauces and chutneys from Sussex Valley and even local chocolate, from Cocoa Loco.
Shop manager Rachel Fletcher said: “The shop offers more than most farm shops because you can buy everything you need to eat or drink there, including staples such as bread, milk, butter and vegetables – and all at reasonable prices - so local food lovers have welcomed it with open arms.”
Friday 15 October 2010
Sussex chocolate maker under EU attack
This Chocolate Week, not all chocolate makers were celebrating. Former Sussex Food & Drink Awards winner, Cocoa Loco, has been threatened with European legal action if it doesn’t stop using the term ‘champagne truffle decadence’ for one of her products, even though they include genuine French champagne as a key ingredient.
The French champagne authority, The Comite Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne, wrote to her out of the blue demanding that she take the term champagne out of the product name.
“It is particularly galling because I have specially bought a lot of good champagne to use in this product for Christmas,” said Sarah Payne, owner of Cocoa Loco.
“Far bigger chocolate businesses than mine are using the term Champagne Truffle – Thorntons, Teuscher of Switzerland, Hotel Chocolat and many other well-known chocolate firms – so why am I being singled out? Are they trying to do a test case with a small company like mine, or are the big firms under attack too?”
The Comite Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne is a French semi-governmental organisation which was legally founded in 1941 and positions itself as in charge of the protection of the appellation of origin Champagne. In their first letter, they said:
“...the association of the name Champagne with chocolate may take unfair commercial advantage of the reputation of this well known appellation and may damage the reputation of its name. Even if your truffles did in truth contain Champagne, that would not in our contention justify use of the appellation Champagne as part of the main product name...
You are consequently requested to cease using the name Champagne to designate Champagne Truffle Decadence for any food products.”
In response to Sarah’s letter explaining that they do use genuine Champagne in the product, a legal adviser to the Comite replied:
“…I would like to highlight that, as a protected geographical indication, the name Champagne may be used by any operator marketing a wine which has been produced in conformity with the product specification. European Council Regulation No. 491/2009 does moreover provide that geographical indication shall be protected against ‘any direct or indirect commercial use of a protected name in so far as such use exploits the reputation of a designation of origin or a geographical indication’.
“We thus believe that the association of the name Champagne with chocolate truffles takes unfair commercial advantage of that name’s reputation and the few Champagne the truffles are made of can’t justify the use of the name Champagne as part of the main product name.
We hope we have convinced you that the protection of the name Champagne is of serious concern to the CIVC and for all of this we shall reiterate our demand.”
Said Sarah Payne: “I am at a loss as to what to do – I can’t afford to start defending a legal challenge in the European Courts, but I also can’t waste good ingredients which I have already stocked up on, so what do I do? It’s Chocolate Week this week and I expect high sales of our delicious champagne truffles!”
The French champagne authority, The Comite Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne, wrote to her out of the blue demanding that she take the term champagne out of the product name.
“It is particularly galling because I have specially bought a lot of good champagne to use in this product for Christmas,” said Sarah Payne, owner of Cocoa Loco.
“Far bigger chocolate businesses than mine are using the term Champagne Truffle – Thorntons, Teuscher of Switzerland, Hotel Chocolat and many other well-known chocolate firms – so why am I being singled out? Are they trying to do a test case with a small company like mine, or are the big firms under attack too?”
The Comite Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne is a French semi-governmental organisation which was legally founded in 1941 and positions itself as in charge of the protection of the appellation of origin Champagne. In their first letter, they said:
“...the association of the name Champagne with chocolate may take unfair commercial advantage of the reputation of this well known appellation and may damage the reputation of its name. Even if your truffles did in truth contain Champagne, that would not in our contention justify use of the appellation Champagne as part of the main product name...
You are consequently requested to cease using the name Champagne to designate Champagne Truffle Decadence for any food products.”
In response to Sarah’s letter explaining that they do use genuine Champagne in the product, a legal adviser to the Comite replied:
“…I would like to highlight that, as a protected geographical indication, the name Champagne may be used by any operator marketing a wine which has been produced in conformity with the product specification. European Council Regulation No. 491/2009 does moreover provide that geographical indication shall be protected against ‘any direct or indirect commercial use of a protected name in so far as such use exploits the reputation of a designation of origin or a geographical indication’.
“We thus believe that the association of the name Champagne with chocolate truffles takes unfair commercial advantage of that name’s reputation and the few Champagne the truffles are made of can’t justify the use of the name Champagne as part of the main product name.
We hope we have convinced you that the protection of the name Champagne is of serious concern to the CIVC and for all of this we shall reiterate our demand.”
Said Sarah Payne: “I am at a loss as to what to do – I can’t afford to start defending a legal challenge in the European Courts, but I also can’t waste good ingredients which I have already stocked up on, so what do I do? It’s Chocolate Week this week and I expect high sales of our delicious champagne truffles!”
Friday 8 October 2010
Sussexonline.tv celebrates Brighton Foodies
See the highlights of the Brighton & Hove Foodie Awards 2010 at www.sussexonline.tv - after the introduction, skip to nearly half way to see the main feature.
Tuesday 5 October 2010
Winners of Brighton & Hove Foodies 2010
The winners of the Brighton & Hove Foodie Awards 2010, chosen by almost 5,000 public votes, received their trophies at the grand finale event of the Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival at the 106 Bar of Brighton Hilton Metropole.
Terre a Terre scooped Best Restaurant 2010, closely followed by runners up Hotel du Vin and The Gingerman.
The Ginger Pig won Best Food Pub 2010, followed by Pub du Vin and the Sussex Yeoman.
The winner of Best Café 2010 is Ground, followed by runners up Bill’s and Temptation.
Best Food Shop 2010 is Infinity Foods, followed by Taj and Angel Food Bakery.
The awards were presented by DJ Andrea Fox from Juice 107.2 and Latest7 food writer Andrew Kay at a celebration attended by 150 people in the food industry, sponsored by new environmentally-friendly, socially responsible coffee brand ‘ecoffee’ and Martin Searle Solicitors.
“We can’t quite believe what a success this first year of the awards has been, since we launched it at Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival’s Spring Harvest event,” said Paula Seager, MD of Natural PR who manages the awards.
“The food outlets in the city have got totally behind it and have been wonderfully competitive with each other, whilst the public has just embraced the opportunity to tell us which their favourite outlets are.”
Find out more at www.brightonfoodawards.com
Terre a Terre scooped Best Restaurant 2010, closely followed by runners up Hotel du Vin and The Gingerman.
The Ginger Pig won Best Food Pub 2010, followed by Pub du Vin and the Sussex Yeoman.
The winner of Best Café 2010 is Ground, followed by runners up Bill’s and Temptation.
Best Food Shop 2010 is Infinity Foods, followed by Taj and Angel Food Bakery.
The awards were presented by DJ Andrea Fox from Juice 107.2 and Latest7 food writer Andrew Kay at a celebration attended by 150 people in the food industry, sponsored by new environmentally-friendly, socially responsible coffee brand ‘ecoffee’ and Martin Searle Solicitors.
“We can’t quite believe what a success this first year of the awards has been, since we launched it at Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival’s Spring Harvest event,” said Paula Seager, MD of Natural PR who manages the awards.
“The food outlets in the city have got totally behind it and have been wonderfully competitive with each other, whilst the public has just embraced the opportunity to tell us which their favourite outlets are.”
Find out more at www.brightonfoodawards.com
Saturday 2 October 2010
Brighton Food Festival Success
Organisers declared this year’s Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival a success – both for the city and for the food industry – after record numbers of people attended the events.
Over 100 events were held during September, including major public events organised by the festival committee and others held by eateries and venues across the city and at least 100,000 people were counted enjoying the foodie fun.
The Big Sussex Market, held mid-month in the North Laine, attracted 45,000 visitors each day, the Fiery Food UK Chilli Festival was attended by 8,000 and the Chocolate Market in Churchill Square, as well as the weekly farmers markets held there every Wednesday, were attended by 2,000 apiece, with the World Food Market on Hove Lawns also a success.
“We are delighted with the outcome – both the huge number of local businesses who joined in and held great events, as well as seeing some big names joining the festival this year, including Discovery Food and Utterly Butterly – we have moved the festival up to a new level,” said Roger Marlow, Chair of the Festival.
“I particularly want to thank Nick Mosley, in his first year as Festival Director, for his brilliant efforts and to the team who keep coming back and giving so much of their voluntary time to get things off the ground – especially Andrew Kay, who hosted the Live Food Show in the Pavilion Gardens for two solid days and kept the crowds happy, Paula Seager at Natural PR who is our longest standing supporter and Adam Style at Style Accountants, our treasurer. Also thanks to Frank Jay for his tireless organisation of markets and outdoor events.”
The grand finale event on Monday 4th October, the Brighton & Hove Foodie Awards, will announce the public’s choice of city’s Best Restaurant, Food Pub, Cafe and Food Shop. Find out more at www.brightonfoodawards.com
Over 100 events were held during September, including major public events organised by the festival committee and others held by eateries and venues across the city and at least 100,000 people were counted enjoying the foodie fun.
The Big Sussex Market, held mid-month in the North Laine, attracted 45,000 visitors each day, the Fiery Food UK Chilli Festival was attended by 8,000 and the Chocolate Market in Churchill Square, as well as the weekly farmers markets held there every Wednesday, were attended by 2,000 apiece, with the World Food Market on Hove Lawns also a success.
“We are delighted with the outcome – both the huge number of local businesses who joined in and held great events, as well as seeing some big names joining the festival this year, including Discovery Food and Utterly Butterly – we have moved the festival up to a new level,” said Roger Marlow, Chair of the Festival.
“I particularly want to thank Nick Mosley, in his first year as Festival Director, for his brilliant efforts and to the team who keep coming back and giving so much of their voluntary time to get things off the ground – especially Andrew Kay, who hosted the Live Food Show in the Pavilion Gardens for two solid days and kept the crowds happy, Paula Seager at Natural PR who is our longest standing supporter and Adam Style at Style Accountants, our treasurer. Also thanks to Frank Jay for his tireless organisation of markets and outdoor events.”
The grand finale event on Monday 4th October, the Brighton & Hove Foodie Awards, will announce the public’s choice of city’s Best Restaurant, Food Pub, Cafe and Food Shop. Find out more at www.brightonfoodawards.com
Thursday 2 September 2010
First Waiters Race Kicks Off Brighton Food Fest
Top Brighton & Hove restaurants kicked off the Brighton Food Festival with the first ever waiters race at Brighton Racecourse on 1st September at the Fun & Foodie Race Day, commentated by Simon Holt.
Aziz Ziriat, aka HaHa Hooray, from HaHa Bar & Grill, took first place, closely followed by George Fernando, aka Hardings Hero, from Hardings Catering, with Mirco Mai, aka Italian Stalion, from Hotel du Vin, coming in third place. Runners up were New Pongpipattana Chai from Sabai Thai Gastrobar, Milo Keep from Terre a Terre and Helen Colekolek from Table.
Rosettes were presented to the winners by Deputy Mayor Anne Norman in the paddock, whilst festival-goers enjoyed delicious Sussex fare served at market stalls across the racecourse.
Tonight Anthony Bourdain discusses his new book ‘Medium Raw’ at the Hilton Brighton Metropole and wine tasting sessions will be held at Hotel du Vin. Over 100 foodie events will be held across the city throughout September to celebrate local food and international flavours, with markets, picnics, street parties, tastings, banquets and an urban vegetable growing competition. Details of events are on www.brightonfoodfestival.com
Brighton & Hove city dwellers have been voting hard since March for the city’s best restaurant, cafe, food pub and food shop in the Brighton & Hove Foodie Awards, sponsored by new environmentally-friendly coffee brand ‘ecoffee’, and the winners will be announced on 4th October to round off the festival. Voting closes at midnight on 10th September at www.brightonfoodawards.com
Aziz Ziriat, aka HaHa Hooray, from HaHa Bar & Grill, took first place, closely followed by George Fernando, aka Hardings Hero, from Hardings Catering, with Mirco Mai, aka Italian Stalion, from Hotel du Vin, coming in third place. Runners up were New Pongpipattana Chai from Sabai Thai Gastrobar, Milo Keep from Terre a Terre and Helen Colekolek from Table.
Rosettes were presented to the winners by Deputy Mayor Anne Norman in the paddock, whilst festival-goers enjoyed delicious Sussex fare served at market stalls across the racecourse.
Tonight Anthony Bourdain discusses his new book ‘Medium Raw’ at the Hilton Brighton Metropole and wine tasting sessions will be held at Hotel du Vin. Over 100 foodie events will be held across the city throughout September to celebrate local food and international flavours, with markets, picnics, street parties, tastings, banquets and an urban vegetable growing competition. Details of events are on www.brightonfoodfestival.com
Brighton & Hove city dwellers have been voting hard since March for the city’s best restaurant, cafe, food pub and food shop in the Brighton & Hove Foodie Awards, sponsored by new environmentally-friendly coffee brand ‘ecoffee’, and the winners will be announced on 4th October to round off the festival. Voting closes at midnight on 10th September at www.brightonfoodawards.com
Tuesday 17 August 2010
FOOD STARS AT BRIGHTON FOOD FESTIVAL
Antonio Carluccio is confirmed to attend Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival and food writers Madhur Jaffrey and Anthony Bourdain will hold events as part of the city’s celebration of ‘local produce...international flavours’ in the city throughout September.
Dozens of fun foodie public events, including markets, picnics, street parties, foraging expeditions, food trails and urban vegetable growing competitions will bring visitors to the city and the local community together around food. Details of events are on www.brightonfoodfestival.com
The festival sets off at a canter on 1st September, at Brighton Racecourse, with the Fun & Foodie Race Day, mixing delicious local food with exciting horse racing and lots of family fun, including the hilarious spectacle of the famous Waiter’s Race on the horse-track. Pick up a food festival programme in town for a two-for-one admission voucher, kids go free.
The glorious Big Sussex Market Weekend on 11-12th September will again be the centrepiece in the unique North Laine, with a huge range of Sussex food stalls, whilst nearby in the Pavilion Gardens, celebrity chef demos and tastings at the Live Food Show will entertain market-goers.
Join Discovery – the home of great-tasting Mexican food - in the celebrations for the 200th anniversary of Mexican Independence Day in Jubilee Square, at a fiesta filled with food, fun and entertainment. A Mariachi band, a troupe of Mexican dancers, craft stalls, piñatas, face painting and chefs on stilts will keep visitors of all ages entertained throughout the day, while they enjoy samples of Discovery fajitas or buy freshly prepared Discovery fajitas and tacos. Visit Mexico, the Mexican Tourist Board, will also be on hand with information and inspiration for those thinking of travelling to this vibrant country. Entry is free to all these events on both Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 September.
The Prince Regent himself can be found in the glittering Ambassador Ballroom, Hilton Brighton Metropole for a lavish banquet of Regency period food based on the menus of the famous chef, Careme, on 11th September. Regency costume is positively encouraged! Tickets available from www.brightonfoodfestival.com .
Fiery Foods UK Chilli Festival, on the weekend of 18th and 19th September, offers a tastebud-tingling two day celebration of all things hot and spicy, with stalls, chilli eating contest ‘heats’, music and family activities. Meanwhile on Sunday 19th September, to celebrate Streets for People – Brighton’s car free day – local restaurants in the city centre will be turning their restaurants inside out to tempt passersby with their tasty offerings.
For the first time, an International Food Weekend will feature mini events and markets running over the weekend of Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th September across the city centre, including a French wine festival, Indian street festival, Spanish fiesta market, Japanese festival, with more foodie countries to follow. On Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th September the Sussex and the World Market will be held on Hove Lawns, celebrating some of the best Sussex products alongside great international food and drink and the festival will end on an international note with a fabulous Spanish Festival Gala Dinner at Hotel du Vin on Thursday 30th September.
Brighton Pier will be hosting a weekly pop-up restaurant event, including the wonderful Terre a Terre who will be serving a fabulous seaside themed menu; the Churchill Square Farmer’s Market will be holding live demos and cook-offs every Wednesday; the Community Chef is hosting hands-on cookery workshops at venues across the city (including a foraging special at Stanmer Farm); the Food Partnership is holding the Local Food Week Picnic on Saturday 25 September in Preston Park; Open House Dining returns; and there will be a host of tastings and dinners across the city all month.
Brighton & Hove city dwellers have been voting hard since March for the city’s best restaurant, cafe, food pub and food shop in the Brighton & Hove Foodie Awards, sponsored by new environmentally-friendly coffee brand ‘ecoffee’ and the winners will be announced on 4th October to round off the festival, hosted by Hilton Brighton Metropole.
All event details as www.brightonfoodfestival.com
Dozens of fun foodie public events, including markets, picnics, street parties, foraging expeditions, food trails and urban vegetable growing competitions will bring visitors to the city and the local community together around food. Details of events are on www.brightonfoodfestival.com
The festival sets off at a canter on 1st September, at Brighton Racecourse, with the Fun & Foodie Race Day, mixing delicious local food with exciting horse racing and lots of family fun, including the hilarious spectacle of the famous Waiter’s Race on the horse-track. Pick up a food festival programme in town for a two-for-one admission voucher, kids go free.
The glorious Big Sussex Market Weekend on 11-12th September will again be the centrepiece in the unique North Laine, with a huge range of Sussex food stalls, whilst nearby in the Pavilion Gardens, celebrity chef demos and tastings at the Live Food Show will entertain market-goers.
Join Discovery – the home of great-tasting Mexican food - in the celebrations for the 200th anniversary of Mexican Independence Day in Jubilee Square, at a fiesta filled with food, fun and entertainment. A Mariachi band, a troupe of Mexican dancers, craft stalls, piñatas, face painting and chefs on stilts will keep visitors of all ages entertained throughout the day, while they enjoy samples of Discovery fajitas or buy freshly prepared Discovery fajitas and tacos. Visit Mexico, the Mexican Tourist Board, will also be on hand with information and inspiration for those thinking of travelling to this vibrant country. Entry is free to all these events on both Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 September.
The Prince Regent himself can be found in the glittering Ambassador Ballroom, Hilton Brighton Metropole for a lavish banquet of Regency period food based on the menus of the famous chef, Careme, on 11th September. Regency costume is positively encouraged! Tickets available from www.brightonfoodfestival.com .
Fiery Foods UK Chilli Festival, on the weekend of 18th and 19th September, offers a tastebud-tingling two day celebration of all things hot and spicy, with stalls, chilli eating contest ‘heats’, music and family activities. Meanwhile on Sunday 19th September, to celebrate Streets for People – Brighton’s car free day – local restaurants in the city centre will be turning their restaurants inside out to tempt passersby with their tasty offerings.
For the first time, an International Food Weekend will feature mini events and markets running over the weekend of Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th September across the city centre, including a French wine festival, Indian street festival, Spanish fiesta market, Japanese festival, with more foodie countries to follow. On Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th September the Sussex and the World Market will be held on Hove Lawns, celebrating some of the best Sussex products alongside great international food and drink and the festival will end on an international note with a fabulous Spanish Festival Gala Dinner at Hotel du Vin on Thursday 30th September.
Brighton Pier will be hosting a weekly pop-up restaurant event, including the wonderful Terre a Terre who will be serving a fabulous seaside themed menu; the Churchill Square Farmer’s Market will be holding live demos and cook-offs every Wednesday; the Community Chef is hosting hands-on cookery workshops at venues across the city (including a foraging special at Stanmer Farm); the Food Partnership is holding the Local Food Week Picnic on Saturday 25 September in Preston Park; Open House Dining returns; and there will be a host of tastings and dinners across the city all month.
Brighton & Hove city dwellers have been voting hard since March for the city’s best restaurant, cafe, food pub and food shop in the Brighton & Hove Foodie Awards, sponsored by new environmentally-friendly coffee brand ‘ecoffee’ and the winners will be announced on 4th October to round off the festival, hosted by Hilton Brighton Metropole.
All event details as www.brightonfoodfestival.com
Friday 30 July 2010
NEW STEINE HOTEL & BISTRO 10TH BIRTHDAY
The New Steine Hotel & Bistro threw an extravagant party, with lashings of champagne and entertainment from the Pink Sinatra, to celebrate ten years on Brighton’s Kemptown seafront square.
This stylish boutique hotel and bistro has been fully refurbished to mark the occasion and is a wonderful place for dinner, for friends to come and stay, as well as for special events and business meetings, as it has some lovely function rooms.
Owner Herve Guyat said that he wanted to thank everyone who has helped him to make his business a success and particularly his customers, who keep on coming back to enjoy their hospitality and the delights of Brighton. He also paid tribute to his life partner Georges Amaru and his cousin and General Manager, Stephane Gaucher for their support.
Known for its warm welcome and quirky entertainment, which includes stunning art exhibitions, cabaret nights & popular Supper Club Dinners, the New Steine Hotel & Bistro is quite unique amongst the city’s boutique hotels, with an excellent restaurant for evening dining.
This cosy and stylish bistro offers homemade French food using top-quality Sussex produce, including well executed classics, such as foie gras de canard, French onion soup and escargots for starters and Sussex duck magret, rack of lamb or grill sea bass for mains. Their renowned creme brulée is a sinfully delicious dessert and they offer excellent value set price dining, evening only, seven nights per week. It also serves award-winning Sussex Breakfasts.
Herve, who comes from the South of France, moved to Brighton ten years ago to open the New Steine Hotel, after working for 14 years in London for some of the most prestigious hotels in sales and revenue manager roles, as well as Valentino and other famous fashion houses, where he started his career. This explains the stylish but very personal décor, with a French hint, which Hervé has used on the interior of all three of his properties.
The New Steine Hotel & Bistro is at 10 & 11 New Steine, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 1PB, 01273 681546, www.newsteinehotel.com
Do give it a try!
This stylish boutique hotel and bistro has been fully refurbished to mark the occasion and is a wonderful place for dinner, for friends to come and stay, as well as for special events and business meetings, as it has some lovely function rooms.
Owner Herve Guyat said that he wanted to thank everyone who has helped him to make his business a success and particularly his customers, who keep on coming back to enjoy their hospitality and the delights of Brighton. He also paid tribute to his life partner Georges Amaru and his cousin and General Manager, Stephane Gaucher for their support.
Known for its warm welcome and quirky entertainment, which includes stunning art exhibitions, cabaret nights & popular Supper Club Dinners, the New Steine Hotel & Bistro is quite unique amongst the city’s boutique hotels, with an excellent restaurant for evening dining.
This cosy and stylish bistro offers homemade French food using top-quality Sussex produce, including well executed classics, such as foie gras de canard, French onion soup and escargots for starters and Sussex duck magret, rack of lamb or grill sea bass for mains. Their renowned creme brulée is a sinfully delicious dessert and they offer excellent value set price dining, evening only, seven nights per week. It also serves award-winning Sussex Breakfasts.
Herve, who comes from the South of France, moved to Brighton ten years ago to open the New Steine Hotel, after working for 14 years in London for some of the most prestigious hotels in sales and revenue manager roles, as well as Valentino and other famous fashion houses, where he started his career. This explains the stylish but very personal décor, with a French hint, which Hervé has used on the interior of all three of his properties.
The New Steine Hotel & Bistro is at 10 & 11 New Steine, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 1PB, 01273 681546, www.newsteinehotel.com
Do give it a try!
Monday 12 July 2010
ASK FOR LOCAL 'CATCH OF THE DAY'
Celebrity chef Tom Aikens helped kick off a campaign to promote local fishermen and fishmongers, calling on shoppers to ask for the local catch of the day.
He joined Henriette Reinders from South East Seafood and fishermen for an event held at the Billingsgate Fish Market in London, which also launches a South East competition seeking the best Sea Bass recipe from the public - best recipes should be sent to fish@naturalpr.biz
“We have wonderful, fresh fish caught from local waters, but so much of it is shipped elsewhere and people are beginning to really appreciate buying local. We have created a list of accredited fishmongers who sell local and are promoting it on our website and we want to support fishermen in the region, so that the local market grows,” said Henriette Reinders.
“We have also started a fish tagging scheme, focused on three very important and sustainable fish from our local coastal waters, Sea Bass, Dover Sole and Lobster, so that people know exactly which fishing boat caught each fish and that it was caught with as little impact as possible – and we want to encourage local fishmongers to sell sustainable, locally-caught fish as much as possible.”
Tom Aikens, who recently appeared on TV programmes Iron Chef and Junior Apprentice, has come out in support of the campaign and will this week be making an appearance at the Billingsgate Fish School, which is offering the competition prize of a fantastic fish preparation and cooking course for two.
For many years, the number of fishing vessels and employment in the UK fishing industry has been in decline. Reduced quotas and rising fuel prices continue to challenge the future of the industry and there is a growing demand from customers for seafood from sustainable sources.
The South East boasts 26 landing points and the majority of these ports land their catch from day boats or ‘under 10 metre’ boats. Day boats fish mainly within a 12 mile limit along our coast. This means that if the weather is bad, it is very difficult for them to go out and supply fresh seafood to the market and shops.
Continued Henriette Reinders: “We all eat fish and know that freshness comes first, but it is important to catch and consume sustainable seafood. Fishermen across the region are becoming more and more aware of sustainability: the introduction by Selsey fishermen of escape hatches on lobster pots enabling undersized lobsters to escape and areas on the seabed that are being avoided during the breeding/spawning season are examples of the latest projects to protect stocks.”
In 2007 Seafish introduced the Responsible Fishing Scheme (RFS), offering a way for consumers to enjoy their favourite seafood dish comfortable in the knowledge that it is both the produce of the highest quality and that the fishing vessel which landed the catch operates according to strict guidelines, minimising its impact on the environment. The aim is that over time this scheme will become a condition of supply.
Said Henriette Reinders: “In the South East we are working with the fishing sector to get as many boats signed up to RFS as possible and this campaign is all about informing the public about the challenges our fishermen face daily to bring in a sustainable catch – and sure, you can’t expect the same thing to be available every day, but the fresh taste is absolutely worth it and we need to be flexible about the recipes we are willing to try daily.”
Postcards encouraging people to ask for their local catch of the day and including competition details to win the Billingsgate Fish School prize are available in fishmongers across the region or call Natural PR on Tel: 01273 857242 or email: fish@naturalpr.biz
He joined Henriette Reinders from South East Seafood and fishermen for an event held at the Billingsgate Fish Market in London, which also launches a South East competition seeking the best Sea Bass recipe from the public - best recipes should be sent to fish@naturalpr.biz
“We have wonderful, fresh fish caught from local waters, but so much of it is shipped elsewhere and people are beginning to really appreciate buying local. We have created a list of accredited fishmongers who sell local and are promoting it on our website and we want to support fishermen in the region, so that the local market grows,” said Henriette Reinders.
“We have also started a fish tagging scheme, focused on three very important and sustainable fish from our local coastal waters, Sea Bass, Dover Sole and Lobster, so that people know exactly which fishing boat caught each fish and that it was caught with as little impact as possible – and we want to encourage local fishmongers to sell sustainable, locally-caught fish as much as possible.”
Tom Aikens, who recently appeared on TV programmes Iron Chef and Junior Apprentice, has come out in support of the campaign and will this week be making an appearance at the Billingsgate Fish School, which is offering the competition prize of a fantastic fish preparation and cooking course for two.
For many years, the number of fishing vessels and employment in the UK fishing industry has been in decline. Reduced quotas and rising fuel prices continue to challenge the future of the industry and there is a growing demand from customers for seafood from sustainable sources.
The South East boasts 26 landing points and the majority of these ports land their catch from day boats or ‘under 10 metre’ boats. Day boats fish mainly within a 12 mile limit along our coast. This means that if the weather is bad, it is very difficult for them to go out and supply fresh seafood to the market and shops.
Continued Henriette Reinders: “We all eat fish and know that freshness comes first, but it is important to catch and consume sustainable seafood. Fishermen across the region are becoming more and more aware of sustainability: the introduction by Selsey fishermen of escape hatches on lobster pots enabling undersized lobsters to escape and areas on the seabed that are being avoided during the breeding/spawning season are examples of the latest projects to protect stocks.”
In 2007 Seafish introduced the Responsible Fishing Scheme (RFS), offering a way for consumers to enjoy their favourite seafood dish comfortable in the knowledge that it is both the produce of the highest quality and that the fishing vessel which landed the catch operates according to strict guidelines, minimising its impact on the environment. The aim is that over time this scheme will become a condition of supply.
Said Henriette Reinders: “In the South East we are working with the fishing sector to get as many boats signed up to RFS as possible and this campaign is all about informing the public about the challenges our fishermen face daily to bring in a sustainable catch – and sure, you can’t expect the same thing to be available every day, but the fresh taste is absolutely worth it and we need to be flexible about the recipes we are willing to try daily.”
Postcards encouraging people to ask for their local catch of the day and including competition details to win the Billingsgate Fish School prize are available in fishmongers across the region or call Natural PR on Tel: 01273 857242 or email: fish@naturalpr.biz
Thursday 24 June 2010
AMERICAN EXPRESS NAMES COMMUNITY STADIUM
American Express has signed a multi-year naming rights agreement for the new, state-of-the-art Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club stadium at Village Way, Brighton.
The venue will be known as the ‘American Express Community Stadium’ when it opens in summer 2011 under the agreement with The Community Stadium Limited, a subsidiary of the Brighton and Hove Albion Group.
As well as being the long-awaited new home for the Albion, the 22,500 capacity American Express Community Stadium, has attracted huge interest from fans, the public and the Brighton & Hove business community who eagerly anticipate the project’s completion next year.
In addition to outstanding sporting facilities, the stadium will be used to promote community engagement in the local area, by enabling young people and adults to learn new skills and gain qualifications which will be of long-term benefit to the local community and economy. To this end, the stadium will run an on-going series of innovative learning initiatives and social inclusion programmes, many of which will be delivered via Brighton & Hove Albion’s much respected Albion in the Community programme.
Michael Edwards, Senior Vice President, at American Express, comments: “We are delighted to be part of this collaboration with the Club on what will undoubtedly be a major destination for Brighton & Hove. As the City’s largest private-sector employer, this partnership underscores our long term commitment to the area and builds upon our thirty-year heritage of supporting local community initiatives”.
Tony Bloom, Chairman of Brighton & Hove Albion added: “This is a landmark deal. We are very proud of our new stadium and to have such a prestigious global brand prepared to put its name to it shows just how good it is. American Express is committed to the local community and is the perfect partner for us. I would like to thank them for their support.”
This latest partnership forms part of American Express’ ongoing good citizenship programme in the Brighton & Hove community. The Company runs a wide and diverse range of philanthropic initiatives in Sussex, encouraging involvement from its large employee base in the region. In addition to its sponsorship of the Brighton Festival, the Brighton Marathon and the Stonewall Walk, the Company funds a number of local charities via the Sussex Community Foundation Grants Scheme.
The American Express Community Stadium will house the important charitable arm of BHAFC known as Albion in the Community and provide many opportunities to extend the work of the charity in areas of education, skills training, health and social inclusion.
Construction of the stadium commenced in December 2008 and is due for completion at the end of May 2011, ready for the start of the 2011/12 Football League Season. The project is costing £93 million and is being finished to an extremely high specification which, once complete, will rival many facilities in the Premier League.
The venue will be known as the ‘American Express Community Stadium’ when it opens in summer 2011 under the agreement with The Community Stadium Limited, a subsidiary of the Brighton and Hove Albion Group.
As well as being the long-awaited new home for the Albion, the 22,500 capacity American Express Community Stadium, has attracted huge interest from fans, the public and the Brighton & Hove business community who eagerly anticipate the project’s completion next year.
In addition to outstanding sporting facilities, the stadium will be used to promote community engagement in the local area, by enabling young people and adults to learn new skills and gain qualifications which will be of long-term benefit to the local community and economy. To this end, the stadium will run an on-going series of innovative learning initiatives and social inclusion programmes, many of which will be delivered via Brighton & Hove Albion’s much respected Albion in the Community programme.
Michael Edwards, Senior Vice President, at American Express, comments: “We are delighted to be part of this collaboration with the Club on what will undoubtedly be a major destination for Brighton & Hove. As the City’s largest private-sector employer, this partnership underscores our long term commitment to the area and builds upon our thirty-year heritage of supporting local community initiatives”.
Tony Bloom, Chairman of Brighton & Hove Albion added: “This is a landmark deal. We are very proud of our new stadium and to have such a prestigious global brand prepared to put its name to it shows just how good it is. American Express is committed to the local community and is the perfect partner for us. I would like to thank them for their support.”
This latest partnership forms part of American Express’ ongoing good citizenship programme in the Brighton & Hove community. The Company runs a wide and diverse range of philanthropic initiatives in Sussex, encouraging involvement from its large employee base in the region. In addition to its sponsorship of the Brighton Festival, the Brighton Marathon and the Stonewall Walk, the Company funds a number of local charities via the Sussex Community Foundation Grants Scheme.
The American Express Community Stadium will house the important charitable arm of BHAFC known as Albion in the Community and provide many opportunities to extend the work of the charity in areas of education, skills training, health and social inclusion.
Construction of the stadium commenced in December 2008 and is due for completion at the end of May 2011, ready for the start of the 2011/12 Football League Season. The project is costing £93 million and is being finished to an extremely high specification which, once complete, will rival many facilities in the Premier League.
Thursday 10 June 2010
SUSSEX FOOD AWARDS VOTING OPENS!!
New Minister of State for Agriculture and Food, Jim Paice MP, helped kick off public voting for the Sussex Food & Drink Awards 2010/11 at the South of England Show at sussexfoodawards.biz
The awards are all about supporting local farmers and producers and the businesses which sell and promote their produce in the local market place. Awards categories this year are: Sussex Farmer of the Year (sponsored by Knill James); Sussex Food Producer of the Year (sponsored by Musgrave Retail Partners); Sussex Drink Producer of the Year (sponsored by Natural PR); Best Sussex Food/Farm Shop (sponsored by Mayo Wynne Baxter); Sussex Butcher of the Year (sponsored by Leonards and Natural Farms); Best Sussex Eating Experience (sponsored by A Taste of Sussex); Sussex Young Chef of the Year (sponsored by Blue Spark Organisation with City College Brighton & Hove); and Best Sussex Farmers Market, sponsored by the Lewes brewers Harveys.
Chairman of the Judges, Clive Beddall OBE, said: “Our eight categories acknowledge every aspect of the agri-food chain: from farmers through to retailers and foodservice outlets. The Awards continue to grow in popularity, with over 9000 people voting for 300 local businesses last year. For 2010 we are introducing a new and easy-to-use online voting website at http://www.sussexfoodawards.biz/”
Voting is open until 1st October 2010 and the awards are presented at the 'Sussex foodie event of the year' - the awards dinner, held at the East Sussex National Golf Resort & Spa in January 2011.
At the launch, over 80 VIPS enjoyed a delicious Sussex breakfast, while the Minister debated topics affecting the food and farming industry with William Goodwin, a Sussex dairy farmer and the South of England Agricultural Society’s Vice Chairman; Clive Beddall OBE, media commentator and Chairman of the Sussex Food & Drink Awards; and William White, NFU South East Regional Director.
Local nursery school children, dressed as bees to raise awareness of the plight of the honey bee, helped kick off awards voting at the official launch of the South of England Show.
The awards are all about supporting local farmers and producers and the businesses which sell and promote their produce in the local market place. Awards categories this year are: Sussex Farmer of the Year (sponsored by Knill James); Sussex Food Producer of the Year (sponsored by Musgrave Retail Partners); Sussex Drink Producer of the Year (sponsored by Natural PR); Best Sussex Food/Farm Shop (sponsored by Mayo Wynne Baxter); Sussex Butcher of the Year (sponsored by Leonards and Natural Farms); Best Sussex Eating Experience (sponsored by A Taste of Sussex); Sussex Young Chef of the Year (sponsored by Blue Spark Organisation with City College Brighton & Hove); and Best Sussex Farmers Market, sponsored by the Lewes brewers Harveys.
Chairman of the Judges, Clive Beddall OBE, said: “Our eight categories acknowledge every aspect of the agri-food chain: from farmers through to retailers and foodservice outlets. The Awards continue to grow in popularity, with over 9000 people voting for 300 local businesses last year. For 2010 we are introducing a new and easy-to-use online voting website at http://www.sussexfoodawards.biz/”
Voting is open until 1st October 2010 and the awards are presented at the 'Sussex foodie event of the year' - the awards dinner, held at the East Sussex National Golf Resort & Spa in January 2011.
At the launch, over 80 VIPS enjoyed a delicious Sussex breakfast, while the Minister debated topics affecting the food and farming industry with William Goodwin, a Sussex dairy farmer and the South of England Agricultural Society’s Vice Chairman; Clive Beddall OBE, media commentator and Chairman of the Sussex Food & Drink Awards; and William White, NFU South East Regional Director.
Local nursery school children, dressed as bees to raise awareness of the plight of the honey bee, helped kick off awards voting at the official launch of the South of England Show.
Wednesday 19 May 2010
FOODIE NEWS IN BRIGHTON & HOVE
The first Brighton & Hove online restaurant search engine
proudrestaurants.com
has been launched featuring some of the best restaurants in the city.
Founder of Proud Restaurants, Csaba Toth, said: “The system we have created is entirely new and very easy to use, based on the Facebook model – allowing people to view restaurants’ personalities and search for the dishes they feel like eating in seconds - something that has never been possible before anywhere in the world.
“We already have over 30 top restaurants on the site and 1000 dishes to search through and diners can also book online direct with the restaurants if they like.”
Also, tickets are selling fast for the first ever Hove Champagne Festival on 4th and 5th June - book your tickets at www.hovechampagnefestival.com
Thousands of foodies, wine lovers and celebrities are expected to descend on the Regency splendour of Hove Lawns, and there will be over 50 champagnes to try with delicious food from local restaurants Sevendials, Sam's and Riddle & Finns, as well as music and luxury shopping.
Organised by Go Ahead Events, which manages the London Toast Festivals, it is certainly the first of its kind in the South East, possibly the UK.
A standard entry ticket is £12 and tickets for the VIP enclosure are £35. You can book tickets and find out more at www.hovechampagnefestival.com
proudrestaurants.com
has been launched featuring some of the best restaurants in the city.
Founder of Proud Restaurants, Csaba Toth, said: “The system we have created is entirely new and very easy to use, based on the Facebook model – allowing people to view restaurants’ personalities and search for the dishes they feel like eating in seconds - something that has never been possible before anywhere in the world.
“We already have over 30 top restaurants on the site and 1000 dishes to search through and diners can also book online direct with the restaurants if they like.”
Also, tickets are selling fast for the first ever Hove Champagne Festival on 4th and 5th June - book your tickets at www.hovechampagnefestival.com
Thousands of foodies, wine lovers and celebrities are expected to descend on the Regency splendour of Hove Lawns, and there will be over 50 champagnes to try with delicious food from local restaurants Sevendials, Sam's and Riddle & Finns, as well as music and luxury shopping.
Organised by Go Ahead Events, which manages the London Toast Festivals, it is certainly the first of its kind in the South East, possibly the UK.
A standard entry ticket is £12 and tickets for the VIP enclosure are £35. You can book tickets and find out more at www.hovechampagnefestival.com
Friday 30 April 2010
CHAMPAGNE FESTIVAL IN SUSSEX!
Ticket sales have opened this week for the first Champagne Festival in South East England - coming to Hove Lawns on June 4th and 5th - and everyone around here is getting very excited!
Thousands of foodies, wine lovers and celebrities are expected to descend on the Regency splendour of Hove Lawns, and there will be over 50 champagnes to try with delicious food and luxury shopping.
Organised by Go Ahead Events, which manages the London Toast Festivals, it is certainly the first of its kind in the South East, possibly the UK.
A standard entry ticket is £12 and tickets for the VIP enclosure are £35. You can book tickets and find out more at www.hovechampagnefestival.com
Thousands of foodies, wine lovers and celebrities are expected to descend on the Regency splendour of Hove Lawns, and there will be over 50 champagnes to try with delicious food and luxury shopping.
Organised by Go Ahead Events, which manages the London Toast Festivals, it is certainly the first of its kind in the South East, possibly the UK.
A standard entry ticket is £12 and tickets for the VIP enclosure are £35. You can book tickets and find out more at www.hovechampagnefestival.com
Thursday 25 March 2010
VOTE FOR YOUR FAVE BRIGHTON EATS
We recently launched the Brighton & Hove Foodie Awards, celebrating the best restaurants, food pubs, cafés and food shops and over 500 people in the city have already voted!
The Foodies will be open for voting until September, when the winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony during the September food festival.
“Brighton & Hove’s food offer is something to enjoy and to be really proud of today -and we have created the Foodies to give the very best food businesses in our city the opportunity to be applauded by the public,” said Paula Seager, Managing Director of Natural PR, which also runs the Sussex Food & Drink Awards and specialises in food PR.
Latest7 magazine and Juice FM will be promoting the awards scheme over the next six months, through Andrew Kay’s food column and Andrea Fox’s Friday morning show, including a monthly update of who is in the lead in each category.
Everyone can vote once per category and voting is online at: www.brightonfoodawards.com
The Foodies will be open for voting until September, when the winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony during the September food festival.
“Brighton & Hove’s food offer is something to enjoy and to be really proud of today -and we have created the Foodies to give the very best food businesses in our city the opportunity to be applauded by the public,” said Paula Seager, Managing Director of Natural PR, which also runs the Sussex Food & Drink Awards and specialises in food PR.
Latest7 magazine and Juice FM will be promoting the awards scheme over the next six months, through Andrew Kay’s food column and Andrea Fox’s Friday morning show, including a monthly update of who is in the lead in each category.
Everyone can vote once per category and voting is online at: www.brightonfoodawards.com
Saturday 20 February 2010
BRIGHTON IN SPRING IS A TASTY OPTION
The Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival team is holding the first ever spring harvest food festival fortnight - from 11 to 21 March – with a fantastic line up of events offering something for everyone.
It kicks off with the Sussex Beer & Cider Festival from 11 – 13 March, run by CAMRA in Hove Town Hall, offering a taste of 200 ales and ciders made in the UK, including many of our local brews. The big Sussex Market will open on 13-14 March in New Road and will offer some of the best local produce – both raw and ready to eat.
There will also be some fantastic firsts for Brighton – the Whisky Festival, at the Hilton Brighton Metropole on 20 March; the Chocolate Festival in New Road on 20 and 21 March; and the Brighton Eco Veggie Fayre at Hove Town Hall on 20 March.
Other scrummy treats include the Open House Dining, with local homes opening their doors to serve up great food to complete strangers; a local Sunday service from Brighton & Hove Buses will take Brightonians to good food pubs between Brighton and Eastbourne; and there is a huge programme of events at great local restaurants.
The September festival is hugely popular and attracted over 100,000 people last year, so festival organisers decided to build on that and make the most of all the seasons throughout the year, as Brighton has so much to offer food lovers.
Said Paula Seager of Natural PR: "You could eat a great meal in a different outlet every single day of the year and frankly not enough people know about it!"
"In fact, for that reason, we will be launching the first Brighton & Hove Foodie Awards on 11 March, inviting local people and visitors to the city to vote for their favourite restaurants, food pubs, cafés and food shops – everyone has one vote per category, so after 11 March, go to www.brightonfoodawards.com"
A mouth watering programme of other events is still being put together, but already includes a Terre a Tandoori Night at Terre a Terre in East Street on 15 March and a Hotel du vin Wine Night on 18 March.
Stay tuned to www.brightonfoodfestival.co.uk to find out about all our events.
Calendar of Events: March 2010
Thursday 11 - Sunday 21 March : Open House Dining
Thursday 11 March : Sussex Beer Festival, Hove Town Hall
Thursday 11 March : Introduction to Permaculture, 2 day course @ Stanmer Park
Friday 12 March : Sussex Beer Festival, Hove Town Hall
Saturday 13 March : Sussex Beer Festival, Hove Town Hall
Saturday 13 March : Big Sussex Market, New Road, Brighton
Saturday 13 March : Nick & Franco’s Deli Pasta Eating Competition, Brighton Place
Saturday 13 March : A Taste of Bubbly, The Oriental, Oriental Place, Brighton
Sunday 14 March : Big Sussex Market, New Road, Brighton
Sunday 14 March : The Sussex Tour Bus Pub Trail, venues between Brighton & Eastbourne
Monday 15 March : Terre á Terre ‘Balti Towers’ Night, Terre á Terre, East St, Brighton
Tuesday 16 March : The Chilli Pickle Masterclass, Meeting House Lane, Brighton
Tuesday 16 March : New Steine Bistro Supper Club, New Steine Hotel, Brighton
Tuesday 16 March : The Foragers Feast, The Foragers pub, Stirling Place, Hove
Tuesday 16 March : Sabai Thai Night, Princes Place (off North St), Brighton
Wednesday 17 March : Churchill Square Farmer’s Market & Live Food Show, Brighton
Wednesday 17 March : ‘the restaurant at drakes’ Burgundy Wine Dinner, Brighton
Thursday 18 March : Hotel du Vin Wine Night, Ship Street, Brighton
Friday 19 March : Chocolate Dinner, TABLE, Jubilee Square, Brighton
Saturday 20 March : Brighton Eco Veggie Fair, Hove Town Hall
Saturday 20 March : The Whisky Festival, Hilton Brighton Metropole, Brighton
Saturday 20 March : Brighton Chocolate Festival, New Road, Brighton
Sunday 21 March : Brighton Chocolate Festival, New Road, Brighton
Sunday 21 March : The Sussex Tour Bus Pub Trail, venues between Brighton & Eastbourne
It kicks off with the Sussex Beer & Cider Festival from 11 – 13 March, run by CAMRA in Hove Town Hall, offering a taste of 200 ales and ciders made in the UK, including many of our local brews. The big Sussex Market will open on 13-14 March in New Road and will offer some of the best local produce – both raw and ready to eat.
There will also be some fantastic firsts for Brighton – the Whisky Festival, at the Hilton Brighton Metropole on 20 March; the Chocolate Festival in New Road on 20 and 21 March; and the Brighton Eco Veggie Fayre at Hove Town Hall on 20 March.
Other scrummy treats include the Open House Dining, with local homes opening their doors to serve up great food to complete strangers; a local Sunday service from Brighton & Hove Buses will take Brightonians to good food pubs between Brighton and Eastbourne; and there is a huge programme of events at great local restaurants.
The September festival is hugely popular and attracted over 100,000 people last year, so festival organisers decided to build on that and make the most of all the seasons throughout the year, as Brighton has so much to offer food lovers.
Said Paula Seager of Natural PR: "You could eat a great meal in a different outlet every single day of the year and frankly not enough people know about it!"
"In fact, for that reason, we will be launching the first Brighton & Hove Foodie Awards on 11 March, inviting local people and visitors to the city to vote for their favourite restaurants, food pubs, cafés and food shops – everyone has one vote per category, so after 11 March, go to www.brightonfoodawards.com"
A mouth watering programme of other events is still being put together, but already includes a Terre a Tandoori Night at Terre a Terre in East Street on 15 March and a Hotel du vin Wine Night on 18 March.
Stay tuned to www.brightonfoodfestival.co.uk to find out about all our events.
Calendar of Events: March 2010
Thursday 11 - Sunday 21 March : Open House Dining
Thursday 11 March : Sussex Beer Festival, Hove Town Hall
Thursday 11 March : Introduction to Permaculture, 2 day course @ Stanmer Park
Friday 12 March : Sussex Beer Festival, Hove Town Hall
Saturday 13 March : Sussex Beer Festival, Hove Town Hall
Saturday 13 March : Big Sussex Market, New Road, Brighton
Saturday 13 March : Nick & Franco’s Deli Pasta Eating Competition, Brighton Place
Saturday 13 March : A Taste of Bubbly, The Oriental, Oriental Place, Brighton
Sunday 14 March : Big Sussex Market, New Road, Brighton
Sunday 14 March : The Sussex Tour Bus Pub Trail, venues between Brighton & Eastbourne
Monday 15 March : Terre á Terre ‘Balti Towers’ Night, Terre á Terre, East St, Brighton
Tuesday 16 March : The Chilli Pickle Masterclass, Meeting House Lane, Brighton
Tuesday 16 March : New Steine Bistro Supper Club, New Steine Hotel, Brighton
Tuesday 16 March : The Foragers Feast, The Foragers pub, Stirling Place, Hove
Tuesday 16 March : Sabai Thai Night, Princes Place (off North St), Brighton
Wednesday 17 March : Churchill Square Farmer’s Market & Live Food Show, Brighton
Wednesday 17 March : ‘the restaurant at drakes’ Burgundy Wine Dinner, Brighton
Thursday 18 March : Hotel du Vin Wine Night, Ship Street, Brighton
Friday 19 March : Chocolate Dinner, TABLE, Jubilee Square, Brighton
Saturday 20 March : Brighton Eco Veggie Fair, Hove Town Hall
Saturday 20 March : The Whisky Festival, Hilton Brighton Metropole, Brighton
Saturday 20 March : Brighton Chocolate Festival, New Road, Brighton
Sunday 21 March : Brighton Chocolate Festival, New Road, Brighton
Sunday 21 March : The Sussex Tour Bus Pub Trail, venues between Brighton & Eastbourne
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