Food & Drink Awards

A record-breaking 11,000 people voted for over 350 Sussex food and drink businesses and individuals in the sixth Sussex Food & Drink Awards 2011/12 and Chairman of the Judges, Clive Beddall OBE, noted that Sussex is now seen as one of Britain’s true centres of excellence for food and drink by national food buyers.

He continued: “Research shows that, despite economic downturn, demand for locally sourced food has actually accelerated during the past 12 months and more than half the country’s shoppers now say they are prepared to pay extra for local food.

“The Sussex Food & Drink Awards celebrate the exceptional standards of quality and innovation that have taken the county’s producers into the top half of the UK’s Premier League for locally produced food and drink. “

Over 350 leaders in the food, drink and farming industries gathered for what is now dubbed ‘the Sussex foodie event of the year’, with all tickets sold out.  Guests were treated to a wonderful ‘Sussex bubbly and ale reception’, sponsored by Harvey & Son and Carr Taylor, followed by a stunning seven-course banquet.  The menu featured an array of Sussex goodies including:  Sussex duck; locally caught lemon sole; roast cutlet and braised breast of Sussex lamb; treacle tart with Willetts farm ice cream; a selection of local cheeses and Sussex ground coffee with Sussex bubbly truffles.

Winners were announced in a BAFTA-style presentation, hosted by Danny Pike of BBC Sussex.  The consistency of standards in Sussex was highlighted with second time wins for Shoreham for Best Sussex Farmers Market, sponsored by Harveys Brewery, and The Sussex Produce Company in Steyning for Best Sussex Food/Farm Shop, sponsored by the South Downs National Park Authority and Collabor8.  Phil and Steve Hook of Longleys Farm in Hailsham were also second time winners in the Sussex Farmer of the Year category sponsored by Knill James Accountants.

The Foragers in Hove won the Best Sussex Eating Experience, sponsored by Mayo Wynne Baxter; and Bramptons Butchers in Brighton’s Kemp Town was awarded Sussex Butcher of the Year, sponsored by Natural Farms.

Sussex Food Producer of the Year, sponsored by the Southern Co-operative, was awarded to High Weald Dairy in Horsted Keynes; Wobblegate pure apple juice in Bolney came out on top in the Drink Producer of the Year, sponsored by the Sussex Food & Drink Network; and the much coveted title of Sussex Young Chef of the Year, sponsored by Natural PR, went to 24-year-old Paul Peach who works at the Horse Guards Inn in Tillington.

Paula Seager, MD of Natural PR which runs the awards, said:  “Tonight has been a wonderful celebration and we are so proud that these awards have played a part in building the reputation of Sussex as one of the best food destinations in the country and home to some of the most creative and exciting producers of exquisite food and drink.

“As ever, the awards would not be possible without the support from all our wonderful sponsors and the many great organisations and individuals involved and we hope that we can continue to make these awards a success for many years to come.”

For more information on all the winners and the awards please visit www.sussexfoodawards.biz

Sussex Food & Drink Awards 2011/12 Winners:

Best Sussex Farmer’s Market – sponsored by Harveys Brewery
Winner – Shoreham

Runners up – Lewes & Steyning

Sussex Farmer of the Year sponsored by Knill James
Winner – Phil and Steve Hook, Longleys Farm, Hailsham

Runners up -  Jenny & Trevor Passmore, Church Farm, Coombes, Lancing, Robin and Kevin Ashby, Willetts Farm, Blackham

Best Sussex Food/Farm Shop sponsored by the South Downs National Park and Collabor8
Winner – The Sussex Produce Company, Steyning
Runners up – Cheese Please, Lewes & Sharnfold Farm Shop, Stone Cross, Nr Pevensey

Sussex Food Producer of the Year sponsored by the Southern Co-operative
Winner – High Weald Dairy, Horsted Keynes
Runners up – Caroline’s Dairy, Sidlesham, Nr Chichester, Daylands Farm, Ashurst

Sussex Drink Producer of the Year sponsored by the Sussex Food & Drink Network
Winner – Wobblegate pure apple juice, Bolney

Runners up – W J King Brewers, Horsham & Highdown Vineyard, Ferring

Best Sussex Eating Experience sponsored by Mayo Wynne Baxter
Winner – The Foragers, Hove

Runners up -  Simply Delicious, Bognor Regis and Tottington Manor, Edburton, Nr Henfield

Sussex Young Chef of the Year sponsored by Natural PR
Winner – Paul Peach, the Horse Guards Inn, Tillington
Runners up – Craig Holden, the Mill House, Ashington and Rob Lightbody, Jeremy’s Restaurant, Borde Hill Gardens, Nr Haywards Heath

Sussex Butcher of the Year sponsored by Natural Farms
Winner – Bramptons Butchers, Brighton

Runners up – S K Hutchings, Partridge Green & Westdene Butchers, Brighton

National Symphony Orchestra at Borde Hill

The National Symphony Orchestra will present “Summer Proms”, a two hour concert of favourites from many including Handel, Bizet, Strauss and Barber, ending with the much-loved style of ‘Last Night of the Proms’.

So grab your tickets, your friends and create a group, bring a picnic to Borde Hill Garden and get ready to enjoy two outstanding musical nights under the stars.
Gates open at 5pm with the support artists on stage from 6.30pm.

To book call Borde Hill on 01444 450326 or on-line at www.bordehill.co.uk

Summer Proms: Adult £27 / Children under 16 free

Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra at Borde Hill

The legendary pianist Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra along with the National Symphony Orchestra return to perform at the Borde Hill Garden picnic concerts this Summer.
Jools will be on stage on Saturday 30 June with his 18-piece Orchestra and special guests for a night of pure boogie-woogie that will get the crowd on their feet and dancing. The host of ‘Later With…’ which has completed 38 seasons on TV, will be appearing at the Haywards Heath venue for the third time.

Chris Bailey of EMS Concerts added, “We have introduced special priced tickets for children under 16. For Jools they will be £15 with entry for the under 5’s absolutely free.

So grab your tickets, your friends and create a group, bring a picnic to Borde Hill Garden and get ready to enjoy two outstanding musical nights under the stars.

Gates open at 5pm with the support artists on stage from 6.30pm.

To book call Borde Hill on 01444 450326 or on-line at www.bordehill.co.uk

Adult £32 / Child £15 (ages 5-15)

National Passenger Survey improvement for Southern

The autumn 2011 National Passenger Survey has just been released, with results showing that Southern has increased its overall passenger satisfaction score and achieved improved scores in many of the categories.

Of the 33 individual train and station categories, Southern achieved improved scores in 18, with four remaining the same as autumn 2010.

Published every six months by rail watchdog Passenger Focus, Southern’s overall satisfaction rating is 83% – better than last year’s score of 82% and equal to the London & South East regional average score.

Southern Managing Director, Chris Burchell said: “Where we’ve done well, the results show that the hard work undertaken by Southern over the past year, and the recent investment we have made across our business are really benefitting our passengers who have recognised that many things have improved in that time.”

Southern’s efforts to continue to improve facilities and services, levels of cleanliness and the overall upkeep of its stations were reflected by an overall station environment score which was 6% higher than last year, and In the ‘Your personal security whilst using (the station)’ category, Southern’s passengers said it was 5% better than last year, a testament to the work done by Southern in reducing crime on its network and more intelligent deployment of its Safer Travel Teams.

Also at stations, Southern achieved increased scores in the overall satisfaction, ticket buying facilities, upkeep, cleanliness, facilities and services, facilities for car parking and availability of staff categories.

On board, the frequency of trains, the length of journey, connections with other train services, overall cleanliness and personal security all received higher scores that last year. Southern’s work to improve toilet facilities in its trains has been recognised by passengers with a 3% increase in satisfaction.

Mr Burchell added: “Although these results are encouraging, we do recognise that there are some areas where we must improve further, and we will continue to do our utmost to tackle these issues. Our customers will expect us to have plans to improve in every area where we didn’t score as well as we would have liked, and this is exactly what we are doing.”
Ends

Vivace! Gala Eve for Help for Heroes

Vivace! is hosting a gala evening in aid of Help for Heroes in the Library at the beautiful Elizabethan manor house, Danny, Hurstpierpoint on Saturday 21st April 2012 at 7.30 pm. This promises to be a fabulous evening with rousing music on the eve of St George’s Day making it a very British affair. Andrew Rees, tenor, is performing and we have additional contributions from a piano ensemble along with other guests. A glass of bubbly is on hand during the interval when you can take the opportunity of admiring the spectacular views of the garden at the foot of the Sussex Downs. Tickets are £20 and going fast so book early to avoid disappointment from h4h@vivace.org.uk or ring Hilary 07745 301190