Sussex food and drink awards launched
Harveys is the oldest independent brewery in Sussex and celebrates its 225th anniversary this year.
The impressive Victorian building in Lewes, which has become something of a Sussex icon, provided the perfect venue to host the many restaurateurs, butchers, farmers’ market organisers, food producers, shop keepers, brewers and vintners from the far reaches of East Sussex, West Sussex, and Brighton and Hove at the Big Reveal event.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAs previous winners of Sussex Drink Producer of the Year and proud sponsors of the Sussex Farmers Market of the Year category, Harveys is a great advocate of the ethos of the Sussex Food and Drink Awards. It has kept many family Sussex traditions over the years, including using their own supply of South Downs spring water drawn via an artesian well 60 feet below the brewery which is mixed with locally grown hops from Sussex, Kent and Surrey.To be surrounded by such nostalgia seemed very appropriate as organisers and guests at the Big Reveal event reflected on the last ten years of the Sussex Food & Drink Awards. Host, BBC Sussex radio presenter, Danny Pike entertained the audience and congratulated the top ten finalists announced in the Best Sussex Food Producer, Drink Producer, Food/Farm Shop, Farmers’ Market, Eating Experience and Butcher categories.
Tempting treats from various street food vendors (a new category to the awards this year) as well as delicious platters of local food were all enjoyed and washed down with Harveys ale, Wobblegate apple juice and Sussex wine.
Finalists, both familiar and new, celebrated getting to the next stage in the competition and were able to chat with the sponsor judges, winners from previous years and gain top tips about what could make them a winner of a coveted trophy this year.
Paula Seager and Hilary Knight, co-directors of Natural Partnerships CIC, who run the awards as a not-for-profit scheme, are urging the public to now get voting for their favourites by September 21.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“This has been a wonderful evening and we are so grateful to Harveys for allowing us to host it at their stunning premises, to share anniversary celebrations together and officially open the public voting in this year’s awards,” says Paula. Nominations for the remaining four categories will remain open throughout the summer with Sussex Street Food closing on September 6 and Sussex Young Chef, Farmer and Newcomer on September 13. More than 10,000 people voted in the Sussex Food and Drink Awards last year and the judging panel, chaired by local dairy farmer, William Goodwin, is hoping that even more people will vote for their favourite food and drink heroes.As well as earning the huge respect and recognition that these awards now carry, winners and runners up in all ten categories will go on to receive their trophies at a glittering tenth birthday ceremony on January 28, 2016, hosted by patron to the awards, Sally Gunnell OBE and Danny Pike.
The ceremony includes a spectacular seven-course Sussex produce banquet produced by Sodexo Prestige at the Amex Stadium.For more information about all the categories and how to vote or nominate for your favourite, visit www.sussexfoodawards.biz To see a full list of nominees visit our website at www.wscountytimes.co.uk
Vote for your favourite Sussex Food and Drink Awards 2015/16 finalists:
Sussex Food Producer of the Year, sponsored by The Southern Co-operative
Beal’s Farm Charcuterie, North Chailey, East Sussex
Ginger’s Kitchen, Partridge Green, West Sussex
Higgidy, Shoreham-by-sea, West Sussex
Nell Ball Farm Foods Ltd, Plaistow, West Sussex
Seriously Real, Pulborough, West Sussex
Springs Smoked Salmon, Edburton, West Sussex
Stratta, Eastbourne, East Sussex
Sussex Gold, Partridge Green, West Sussex
The Linseed Farm, Barns Green, West Sussex
The Traditional Cheese Dairy, Stonegate, East Sussex
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdSussex Drink Producer of the Year, sponsored by Rix & Kay
Albourne Estate, Albourne, West Sussex
Ballards Brewery, Nyewood, West Sussex
Bolney Wine Estate, Bolney, West Sussex
Court Garden Vineyard, Ditchling, East Sussex
Dark Star Brewing Co Ltd, Partridge Green, West Sussex
Hammerpot Brewery, Poling, West Sussex
Kingscote Vineyards, East Grinstead, West Sussex
Langham Brewery, Lodsworth, West Sussex
Nutbourne Vineyards, Pulborough, West Sussex
Ridgeview Wine Estate, Ditchling Common, East Sussex
Sussex Food Shop of the Year, sponsored by Wealden District Council
Charlie’s Farm Shop, Bury, West Sussex
Crates Local Produce, Horsham, West Sussex
Middle Farm, Firle, East Sussex
Offham Farm Shop, Offham, East Sussex
Perryhill Orchards Farm Shop, Hartfield, East Sussex
Rushfields Farm Shop, Poynings, West Sussex
Sharnfold Farm Shop, Stone Cross, East Sussex
Tablehurst Farm Shop, Forest Row, East Sussex
Tottingworth Farm Shop, Heathfield, East Sussex
Veasey & Sons Fishmongers, Forest Row, East Sussex
Sussex Butcher of the Year, sponsored by Absolute Butchery
A C Coughtrey Butchers, Pulborough, West Sussex
Adsdean Farm Shop, Funtingdon, West Sussex
Archers of Westfield, Westfield, East Sussex
Archers, Brighton
Barfields Butchers, Brighton
Bramptons Butchers, Kemptown, Brighton
John Murray Butchers, Loxwood, West Sussex
Michael Courtney Family Butchers, Midhurst, West Sussex
New Street Butchers, Horsham, West Sussex
S K Hutchings, Partridge Green, West Sussex
Sussex Farmers Market of the Year, sponsored by Harveys of Lewes
Arundel Farmers Market, West Sussex
Chichester Farmer Market, West Sussex
Hailsham Street Market, East Sussex
Horsham Local Produce Market, West Sussex
Lewes Farmers Market, East Sussex
Shoreham Farmers Market, West Sussex
Slindon Village Market, West Sussex
Steyning Farmers Market, West Sussex
The Great Little Farmers’ Market, Worthing, West Sussex
Wisborough Green Farmers and Village Market, West Sussex
Sussex Eating Experience of the Year, co-sponsored by Natural PR and Sussex Food & Drink Network
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAnderida Restaurant, Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club, Wych Cross, East Sussex
Coggings & Co, Brighton
East Beach Café, Littlehampton, West Sussex
Ockenden Manor Hotel, Cuckfield, West Sussex
Queens Room, Amberley Castle, West Sussex
The Cat Inn, West Hoathly, West Sussex
The Crown, Hastings, East Sussex
The Curlew Restaurant, Bodiam, East Sussex
The Royal Oak, East Lavant, West Susssex
The Sussex Ox, Polegate, East Sussex
Nominations remain open throughout the summer for the following categories:
Sussex Young Chef of the Year, sponsored by Sodexo Prestige
Sussex Street Food of the Year, co-sponsored by Food Rocks and Hepworth Brewery
Sussex Newcomer of the Year, sponsored by Spofforths
Sussex Farmer of the Year
Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHere are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.
1) Make our website your homepage
2) Like our Facebook page
3) Follow us on Twitter
4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.
And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!
Always the first with your local news.
Be part of it.