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