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

Well Done Chestnut Tree House Midnight Walkers

Well done to all the 700 women who walked 10 miles from midnight last night [May 19] in Eastbourne, raising over £71,000 for Chestnut Tree House - the only children's hospice in Sussex. It was an amazing event with such positive excitement and energy and so well organised. Click here to see the Midnight walkers set off

I met several incredible mums who have benefited from Chestnut Tree House's help, including a very brave young woman called Gemma Croucher whose baby lived for just 24 days and died exactly three months ago from a heart condition. She and 30 friends and family were walking in baby Finlay's memory and his dad, Kevin, was also volunteering as a marshal on the night.

Gemma said: "Chestnut Tree House helped us so much - they organised Finlay's funeral and they had so much love and support for us, it was amazing. Doing the walk tonight is our way of giving back to them."

Other Chestnut Tree House mums included Jackie Hoadley, whose son Matthew is in hospital in London right now and support workers from the hospice are even helping there. Marie Baker's six-year-old daughter Amy has Dravet syndrome and regularly uses the hospice, allowing her mum to get some sleep and relax in the knowledge that she is safe and enjoying herself.

Marie said: "We're so grateful for all the help and support we get from Chestnut Tree House, we do this walk every year to say thank you and do our bit."

Tandy Hearne's five-year-old Sasha has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and feeding difficulties and she says the hospice gives her a chance to be something other than be a nurse sometimes and to just be a mum to her other three children, Jake, Jodie and Kiaran, aged six to 16.

Zoe Gilbert was there with a group of friends dressed up in wild purple gear as 'Connor's Angels' in memory of her son Connor, who died aged seven six years ago. She said: "I don't know what I'd have done without Chestnut Tree House."

Stacey Leigh was there doing the walk for the second time and said that her 11-year-old Aimee loves it at the hospice and that it is 'absolutely brilliant'.

And of course, there were hundreds of other fantastic women there, including the Natural PR team led by Kat Ratcliffe, who just wanted to raise funds for this important cause, which any one of us might need one day. Find out more at www.nighttoremember.org.uk

All Aboard for the London Pet Show

Learn to train your chickens, watch the spectacle of rabbit showjumping, meet dozens of different breeds of dogs, cats, small furry animals, exotics and aquatics and discover what pet best suits your family's lifestyle at the London Pet Show 2012, Earls Court Two on 12 and 13 May.

The country's top doggy dancers from Britain's Got Talent will perform throughout the weekend, including at the opening ceremony, hosted by BBC London’s ‘Barking Blondes’, Jo Good and Anna Webb, with their own entertaining dogs Matilda and Molly.

Celebrity dog dancers Donelda Guy and her two collies, Biba and Mega, Jackie Prescott with Tippy-Toes, both recently on the hit ITV talent show, along with Mary Ray, the country’s leading dog trainer, with Levi who featured on Will Young’s latest music video, will demonstrate their dancing skills for the opening ceremony, sponsored by Direct Line Pet Insurance.

The London Pet Show 2012 is the UK’s largest event showcasing a range of pets, sponsored by Vanish, offering pet lovers a superb day out, with four zones, Discover Cats, Discover Small Furries, Discover Dogs and Discover Animals, featuring aquatics and exotics.

Each area will have a wide range of breeds to meet, as well as its own live, interactive feature areas with demonstrations, talks and activities focused on caring for pets, which breed is right for different lifestyles and animal behaviour, plus plenty of shopping opportunities.

The show’s programme of exciting animal displays includes duck herding, pet micro-pigs, miniature ponies, agility, Flyball, Crocodile Joe’s Wild World and much more. People who love animals should look no further for a fun filled and informative spring day out and head to the London Pet Show.

Tickets are on sale at www.londonpetshow.co.uk or by phone on 0844 873 7332, quote PETSHOW, cost £13 for adults, £9 for children and under fives go free. Family tickets and concession for seniors are also available.

Sussex Foodie News May 2012

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Sussex Foodie News April 2012

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Brighton 'Spring Harvest'

Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival's ‘Spring Harvest’ kicked off at Hotel du Vin and Brighton Foodie Awards 2012 also opened for public voting at www.brightonfoodawards.com
Caroline Lucas MP said that Brighton Food Festival is WIN WIN WIN WIN – four wins for the city, including the environment – promoting local food and bringing down food miles; for tourism, bringing thousands to visit the city; for the local economy – adding £4million to the city’s economy and supporting local businesses; and for the local community – providing fun events for local people, as well as promoting good food for healthy living.
Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Peter Field, applauded the festival for ‘going international’ with its new international chef exchange and said that had helped with judges’ decision to select Brighton Food Festival to win the Leisure & Tourism Award at the Sussex Business Awards this year.
Festival organisers selected Sussex bubbly from Court Garden Vineyard in Ditchling to toast the launch of the ten-day festival which includes dozens of tasty events – see all details at www.brightonfoodfestival.com
Chair of the Festival, Roger Marlowe said: “This is our tenth festival and through that time we have promoted local food hard and it is now what the public wants – we’ve won that battle now and we want to focus on attracting people nationally and internationally to the city as a food destination now. Despite the recession, people can still enjoy and treat themselves to good food.”

Sussex Foodie News March 2012

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