Sussex High Sheriffs' verdict on local food and drink

Refreshing, heart warming, tangy, lively, robust and – in one case – squidgy was the verdict of Sussex High Sheriffs about Sussex food and drink at an event bringing together the finalists in the Sussex Food & Drink Awards 2012/13, held at the newly re-furbished Norfolk Pavilion at Ardingly Showground.

High Sheriff of East Sussex David Allam and High Sheriff of West Sussex, Andrewjohn Stephenson Clarke from the Borde Hill Estate, joined awards director Paula Seager on stage in front of 120 leading lights in the local food industry to sample the superb produce available in the county, including sparkling wine, sausages, cheese, apple juice, pies and brownies.

They were given the opportunity to provide just one word to describe each product’s taste and thereby characterise the produce of the county of Sussex as a whole.

“Public voting for our 75 finalists in this year’s awards is already under way and well up on last year, not just because we have improved our online voting system and introduced text voting for the first time, but because the growing trend is to buy local,” said Paula Seager, MD of Natural PR.

“The awards is all about boosting the market for Sussex produce and letting people in the county know about the fantastic food and drink grown and made in the county, as well as the great restaurants, pubs, cafes and food shops where it can be bought and enjoyed.

“Everyone has a strong opinion when it comes to food and drink and we urge people to try out the produce on our finalists list and vote for their favourites at www. sussexfoodawards.biz now – there are some real hidden treasures to be found!”

The award categories include:

Sussex Food Producer of the Year, sponsored by The Southern Co-operative

Best Sussex Eating Experience, sponsored by Mayo Wynne Baxter

Sussex Farmer of the Year, sponsored by Knill James

Sussex Farmers Market of the Year, sponsored by Harveys

Sussex Young Chef of the Year, sponsored by Cheese Please and Gram UK Ltd

Sussex Butcher of the Year, sponsored by Natural Farms

Sussex Drink Producer of the Year, sponsored by Natural PR

Best Sussex Food/Farm Shop, sponsored by Sussex Food & Drink Network

Voting is now open for the public to choose their favourites, with all details at  www.sussexfoodawards.biz. Voting closes at midnight on October 14 and winners will be revealed at a stunning seven-course Sussex banquet, to be held at the Amex Stadium in January 2013.

Sally Gunnell launches Sussex Food & Drink Awards

Former Olympian Sally Gunnell OBE launched the Sussex Food & Drink Awards at the South of England Show VIP opening breakfast on 7th June 2012, revealing the 75 finalists in this year’s awards and declaring public voting open.

She posed with Sussex children representing local sporting achievement and highlighted how important it is to eat fresh, locally-grown food to achieve the best health and physical performance.

 

Said Clive Beddall OBE, chairman of the judges for the Sussex Food & Drink Awards: “We can justifiably boast that we have some of the country’s best food and drink producers here in Sussex and our farmers, producers and sellers work hard to provide and promote high quality local produce to their local communities.”

Over a hundred leading lights in the agricultural, food and farming community enjoyed ‘Eggs Jubilee’, specially created by Paul Peach of the Horse Guards Inn at Tillington, who is the reigning Sussex Young Chef of the Year, followed by interesting debate around the topic of food sustainability and sport.

Speakers on the panel included Sally Gunnell OBE; Clive Beddall OBE; Nick Hempleman, the current winner of Best Sussex Food/Farm Shop; and Gwyn Jones, former VP of the NFU, chaired by David Allam, High Sherriff of East Sussex and Member of the South of England Agricultural Society.  

Voting is now open for the public to choose their favourites from the Sussex Food & Drink Awards 2012/13 finalists list, either online or through SMS text voting, with all details at www.sussexfoodawards.biz. Voting closes at midnight on October 14 and winners will be revealed at the awards dinner in January 2013.

The finalists are:

Sussex Farmer of the Year Award sponsored by Knill James:

Sir Sebastian Anstruther, the Barlavington Estate, Petworth

Michael Browing and Sarah Wareham, Tottingworth Farm, Heathfield

John & Alison Ford, Priors Byne Farm, Partridge Green

Harry Goring, the Wiston Estate, Steyning

Tim and Charles Harrison, R Harrisons & Sons, Rudgwick

Chris, Caroline and Robert Hodgkins, Locks Farm, Washington

Martin and Gundrada Hole, Montague Farm, Pevensey

Phil and Steve Hook, Longleys Farm, Hailsham (last year’s winners)

John Robinson, J & H Robinson (Iford Farms), Iford

Tom Tupper, Bignor Farm, Bignor

Best Sussex Food Producer sponsored by The Southern Co-operative

Bangers Galore, Horsham

Besmoke, Arundel

Caroline’s Dairy, Sidlesham

Chocoholly, Brighton

Ginger’s Kitchen, Partridge Green

Goodwood Home Farm, Goodwood

High Weald Dairy, Horsted Keynes

Just Brownies, Partridge Green

Piglets Pantry, Worthing

Prosperity Brownies, Lancing

Best Sussex Eating Experience sponsored by Mayo Wynne Baxter

The Cat, West Hoathly

The Coach and Horses, Danehill

The Foragers, Hove

Ockenden Manor, Cuckfield

The Ram Inn, Firle

Simply Delicious, Bognor Regis

Stanmer House, Brighton

Tottington Manor, Edburton

Wabi, Horsham

Wessons Café, Horam

Best Sussex Farmers Market sponsored by Harveys

Arundel Farmers Market

Chichester Farmers Market

Lewes Farmers Market

Rye Farmers Market

Shoreham Farmers Market

Steyning Farmers Market

Sussex Butcher of the Year sponsored by Natural Farms

Archers, Westfield

Bramptons Butchers, Brighton

Canham and Sons, Hove

Clive Miller, Hurstpierpoint

John Murray, Loxwood

Meads Village Butchers, Eastbourne

New Street Butchers, Horsham

Frank Richards & Sons, Lewes

S K Hutchings, Partridge Green

Westdene Butchers, Brighton

Sussex Young Chef of the Year sponsored by Gram (UK) Ltd and Cheese Please

Blake Chrysanthou, Sam’s of Brighton

Charlie Miles, The Gingerman, Brighton

Charlie Tayler, South Lodge Hotel, Horsham

Jimmy Gray, Jeremy’s Restaurant, Borde Hill

Jonathon Wheatland, Ardington Hotel, Worthing

Paul Peach, The Horse Guards Inn, Tillington 

Ryan Hunter, Wingrove House, Alfriston

Steven Pelling, Felbridge Hotel, East Grinstead

Tom Goodchild, The Crabtree Inn, Lower Beeding  

Sussex Drink Producer of the Year sponsored by Natural PR

Bolney Wine Estate, Bolney

Court Garden Vineyard, Ditchling

Dark Star Brewery, Partridge Green

Gran Stead’s, Brighton 

Hepworths Brewery, Horsham

Ridgeview Wine Estate, Ditchling

Ringden Farm Apple Juice, Etchingham

Stopham Vineyard, Pulborough

W J King Brewery, Horsham

Wobblegate, Bolney

Best Sussex Food/Farm Shop sponsored by the Sussex Food & Drink Network

Cowdray Farm Shop, Midhurst

Holmansbridge Farm Shop, Barcombe

The Hungry Guest, Petworth Lodsworth Larder, Lodsworth

Plaw Hatch Farm Shop, Sharpthorne

Rushfields Farm Shop, Poynings Sharnfold Farm Shop, Pevensey

The Sussex Produce Company, Steyning Veasey & Sons Fishmongers, Forest Row

The Village Larder, Washington