Eight Sussex Food Heroes, a MasterChef and a Proposal!

Winners of the Sussex Food & Drink Awards 2013/14 were announced at a spectacular awards ceremony last night [Thursday 30th January) at the Amex Stadium in Brighton, but awards patron Sally Gunnell OBE DL and Danny Pike of BBC Sussex, who were hosting the evening, were stopped in their tracks when a proposal of marriage raised the roof!

This year’s winner of Sussex Farmer of the Year, Charlie Hughes, ended his emotional winning speech with a surprise proposal of marriage to his girlfriend Sarah Butler and as he got down on one knee, the cheers filled the entire stadium with her acceptance making it a night they would never forget.

The evening was a sell out, with over 350 leaders in the food, drink and farming industry gathering for what is now dubbed ‘the Sussex foodie event of the year’.  Guests were treated to a wonderful ‘Sussex bubbly reception’, followed by a stunning seven-course banquet created by new stadium caterers, Sodexo Prestige, using the best local ingredients.

Former Sussex Young Chef of the Year and recently crowned MasterChef Professional Champion, Steven Edwards, attended the awards ceremony and was hugely supportive of the awards when he was interviewed on stage saying, “The Sussex Young Chef of the Year is one of the best categories in these awards and the physical challenge that all the chefs have to face in the cook off is very similar to my experiences on MasterChef.”

Steven also helped to pick the winning ticket for the prize draw with the Wallace & Gromit Children's Charity, raising £2,400 for Sussex’s only children’s hospice, Chestnut Tree House during the evening.

The Sussex Food & Drink Awards, now in their eighth year, are all about supporting and boosting local farmers, food and drink producers and the outlets which use and sell superb local fare.  Starting from small beginnings, the awards have grown to become prestigious and respected, with huge support from business in the county, bringing together the whole local food and farming community.

Said Sally Gunnell OBE DL, “This is my second year as patron for the Sussex Food & Drink Awards and just one look at the Grand Finalists list reassures me that these awards are just getting better and better!  I am thrilled to see a wonderful range of
small, young companies and larger, established
businesses coming forward to win these
awards. They are innovative, imaginative, sustainable and – very importantly – make us delicious food and drink to enjoy.”

Sussex Food & Drink Awards 2013/14 Winners:

Best Sussex Eating Experience, sponsored by Mayo Wynne Baxter Solicitors

Winner - Jeremy’s Restaurant, Balcombe, West Sussex

Runners up - The Crabtree, Lower Beeding, West Sussex and The Horse Guards Inn, Tillington, West Sussex

Sussex Farmer of the Year, sponsored by Spofforths Chartered Accountants

Winner - Charlie Hughes, Southview Farm Dairy, Pulborough, West Sussex

Runners up - David and Marian Harding, Court Lodge Farm, Hailsham, East Sussex and Tim and Charles Harrison, Harrisons Farm, Rudgwick, West Sussex

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

Winner - Goodwood Home Farm, Chichester, West Sussex

Runners up - Kate’s Cookhouse, Steyning, West Sussex and Montezuma’s, Birdham, West Sussex

Sussex Farmers Market of the Year, sponsored by Harveys

Winner – Horsham Local Produce Market, West Sussex

Runners up - Lewes, East Sussex and Steyning, West Sussex

Sussex Drink Producer of the Year, sponsored by Sussex Food & Drink Network

Winner - Hepworth and Co Brewers, Horsham, West Sussex

Runners up - Plumpton College, Plumpton, East Sussex and Wobblegate, Bolney, West Sussex

Best Sussex Food/Farm Shop, sponsored by Natural PR and Cheese Please

Winner - Veasey and Sons Fishmonger, Forest Row, East Sussex

Runners up - Sharnfold Farm Shop, Hailsham, East Sussex and Rushfields Farm Shop, Poynings, West Sussex

Sussex Butcher of the Year, sponsored by Natural Farms

Winner - Archers of Westfield, Hastings, East Sussex

Runners up - J Heath and Son, Eastbourne, East Sussex and John Murray Butchers, Loxwood, West Sussex

Sussex Young Chef of the Year, sponsored by Sodexo Prestige

Winner - Nick Bennet, The Curlew Restaurant, Bodium, East Sussex

Runners up - Joseph Otway, The Ginger Pig, Hove, East Sussex and Ricki Weston, South Lodge Hotel, Lower Beeding, West Sussex

The awards scheme is run by Natural Partnerships Community Interest Company (CIC), co-directed by Hilary Knight of the Sussex Food & Drink Network and Paula Seager, Managing Director of Natural PR Ltd, with support from a loyal and high ranking group of sponsor judges.

Said Paula Seager, “We are proud of the Sussex Food & Drink Awards and want to wish our winners, grand finalists and finalists this year our warmest congratulations. We would also like to thank our patron Sally Gunnell OBE DL and our sponsors, judges and media partners, who all share a vital role in making these awards a success.”

For more information visit www.sussexfoodawards.biz

 For media enquiries call Isabel Gander on 01273 857242, mobile 07879 424400 or email isabel@naturalpr.biz

Top Score for Event Organisers at The Amex

Great deals for conferencing and events are on offer at the Amex Stadium with £5 off per delegate for silver, gold and platinum day packages for bookings taking place within January, February and March 2014

“For a limited period, we can offer this price in our outstanding facilities, which are suitable for any size event, with great service and plenty of complimentary parking,” said Polly Harrison, Sales and Marketing Manager of Sodexo Prestige, who manages events at the stadium.

“Conference and event organisers can also treat their delegates to mouthwatering new menus and a range of local produce, thanks to our terrific award-winning chefs.”

David Flower, Heineken’s Regional Manager, who sponsors one of the Amex lounges and holds many events there, said: “The hospitality team at the Amex are brilliant to work with and the flexible space and easy road and rail links make it a great venue for all kinds of events, from conferences to Christmas parties, product launches to private dining in the executive boxes.”

The Stadium has a range of rooms with pitch and downland views available for use as event or exhibition space. Brighton's vibrant arts scene blends seamlessly into the sporting setting with each of the main spaces decorated differently, featuring signature wave ceiling designs which reflect the seaside location. The Bupa Lounge seats 500 people for a banquet and features a stunning double height wave ceiling as well as a full length glass facade and the Overline Lounge seats 350 for a dinner. 

Sodexo Prestige has won a host of accolades for catering at their two Premier league football clubs, Everton and Newcastle United as well as Ascot Racecourse including Stadium Experience Awards for Hospitality and Directors choice awards and the acclaimed Catering Excellence Award at the 2012 National Racecourse Catering Awards.

Jeremy Dicks, Managing Director for Sodexo Prestige, said: “The Amex may only be two years old but there are still plenty of new features to come. The Stadium has been selected to host two Rugby World Cup 2015 Group B Games, a new museum featuring the story of the Seagulls and the Stadium will open soon and Sodexo Prestige will be offering event organisers the opportunity to hold drinks receptions within this brand new attraction.”

Big names including Bupa and American Express and local companies such as Overline and legal firm Mayo Wynne Baxter regularly hold conferences and events at the Amex.

Fast Facts

- The American Express Community Stadium opened in 2011 and cost £93 million. Its curved roof reflects the beauty of the adjacent South Downs National Park.

-  Sodexo Prestige is encouraging the next generation of caterers by sponsoring the Young Chef of the Year category in the Sussex Food and Drink Awards and will create the seven-course Sussex banquet at the Amex in January 2014.

- Originally seating 22,500, the Amex has become so popular that seating has been increased to 30,000, with a new South Stand of seating with corporate lounge.

- The Amex has entertained over 10,000 party goers in the past two years and bookings for private and shared Christmas parties are now available. 

Contact the Amex Stadium events team on 01273 878 272 or email events@bhafc.co.uk

www.amexstadium.co.uk

Oliver Peyton serves tea in Brighton

Tea is the new coffee, according to TV foodie Oliver Peyton, who treated VIP guests, including Brighton and Hove Mayor Cllr Denise Cobb, to a ‘tutored tea tasting and cake matching’ event to launch the Pavilion Tea Company by Brighton’s Royal Pavilion Gift Shop.

“Tea is better for your health than coffee, it has a slower and longer-lasting pick me up quality and there is huge variety of flavour to suit every time of day or occasion or to match any meal or snack,” said Oliver Peyton, owner of Peyton & Byrne which caters the Royal Pavilion Estate and The Dome.

The newly-opened Pavilion Tea Company sells over 40 varieties of loose leaf tea, daintily packaged to take away, or you can sit and enjoy your choice of cuppa with a tantalising selection of cakes and light meals, with expert advice from the team’s knowledgeable and welcoming team.

“We have brought our own in house tea experts to Brighton to train our team of staff and they were able to help our guests through the range of tea tastes available. Their expertise and service is second to none, so we encourage people to call in and meet them.”

The tiny tea room, which has walls adorned with attractive wooden tea caddies and drawers will be open 9am to 6pm daily.

The room is also available for booking as a venue in the evenings, with Peyton Events. See www.peytonandbyrne.co.uk

Celebrating horticulture at South of England Agricultural Society

New President of the South of England Agricultural Society, Lord Egremont of the Petworth Estate in West Sussex, announced today that the South of England Agricultural Society’s theme for 2014 will be horticulture.

“We will be celebrating everything that grows - in our gardens, in our fields and in our unique woodland as well as looking at timber and trees - and this will be reflected in our shows, kicking off with the Spring Garden & Leisure Show in May 2014 and carrying on through the South of England Show and our Autumn and Christmas shows,” said Lord Egremont.

“This offers us a real opportunity to help educate children about countryside and farming and bring them closer to where their food comes from, which is core to the South of England Agricultural Society’s charitable aims.”

Lord Egremont steps into the Presidential shoes of Penelope Keith CBE DL, who presided over the past year’s theme of Poultry, which helped raise awareness about the region’s unique poultry history and promote the poultry industry.

His family has historical links with the Society going back to the 18^th Century. His ancestors, the Lords Leconfield, were Presidents of the Sussex County, Tunbridge Wells and South Eastern Counties Agricultural Societies, which merged to form the South of England Agricultural Society in 1967.

He and Lady Egremont are hands on at the Petworth Estate, making it a huge success as a farming estate and managing some of the most beautiful grounds in the region. They are committed to education and annually host children from London schools on the Estate to experience a closer look at farming and where their food comes from.

“It’s very important for children who live in an urban environment to understand what form agricultural farming takes. People in the city can lose touch with the countryside and farming, going to supermarkets and not knowing what is involved in where their food comes from. I’m very keen to promote the seasons and encourage people to embrace the cycle of nature, eating British fare when it is ripe and ready.

“Crops are largely imported now, but I’m keen to see that farming has an opportunity to diversify and produce as many kinds of crops as possible. This is one of the messages we will be promoting throughout our Presidential year, but we will also be encouraging people to embrace gardening and growing on all scales, however small.”

Lord Egremont has also selected his President’s Charity for the year, to benefit from fundraising activities held at the Society’s events, which is the Children’s Society, specifically projects to help children in Sussex.

The educational work of the South of England Society and its theme of horticulture will be reflected at all next year’s exciting South of England Showground events, which include:

Public events:

Spring Garden & Leisure Show - 4 & 5 May

South of England Show – 5, 6 & 7 June

Autumn Show & Game Fair 4 & 5 October

Festive Food & Drink Fayre 6 & 7 December

Other educational events include:

Connect with the Countryside – July

Countryside Careers – 16 October

Jim Green Memorial Competition – 12 March

Young Craftsman of the Year – June

The Project Assignment Competition - October

The Farming Conference – 12 November

Find out more at www.seas.org.uk 

City College celebrates Brighton planning approval at Pelham Street

City College is celebrating the approval by BHCC Planning Committee for its plans for the redevelopment of City College Brighton & Hove Pelham Street Campus [December 11].

Said Lynn Thackway, Principal of City College Brighton & Hove: “We are all absolutely delighted. Our project will transform and secure the future of Further Education in Brighton for many decades to come. It will enable the delivery of exceptional learning opportunities for the 10,000 students a year who come to us to develop new skills on one of our 700 courses.

“Our new buildings will have a huge impact on what our students can achieve and aspire to.  This project will play a key part in the wider regeneration of the City and create a scheme which we and the City can be proud of.

“We also recognise some of the legitimate concerns of local residents and we’re committed to working with them through the construction process and the ongoing management of the public spaces to make sure all their concerns are addressed.”

This construction project will contribute to regenerating the London Road area in particular and the City in general by providing £79m of inward investment and up to 141 local construction jobs as well as local spend of over £1m. Unlike proposals submitted in 2008, the College is receiving no Central or Local Government funding for this project and has to maximise the potential of its land and assets to secure the additional borrowing necessary to deliver the scheme.

Proposals for the redevelopment of City College Brighton & Hove Pelham Street Campus include a ‘state of the art’ further education college, replacing the current building with modern teaching space and associated uses, situated where the college car park is now and a mix of student accommodation and residential development on the remainder, which will help to fund the new College facilities whilst contributing to the city’s need for homes. The scheme includes 12,056 sqm of improved learning facilities, 442 rooms of student residential accommodation and 125 new homes, including a mixture of tenure, which are much needed in the city.

A new public square and events space for local people to enjoy is also included in proposals which are predominantly car free, reducing traffic and pollution, supported by extensive cycle storage and a shuttle service between campuses. Traffic calming measures in Pelham Street, using shared surfacing to give pedestrians priority, public realm improvements and active frontage to encourage a more secure and enjoyable environment.