The finalists of Sussex Food and Drink Awards 2007/08 were announced this week [26 November], including eighteen top local food and drink producers, restaurants, butchers, food shops, farmers and farmer's markets from across the whole of Sussex.
Hundreds of local businesses were nominated by the public since the awards scheme was launched in June, with over 4,400 votes submitted. The finalists, which will have been chosen by the public, come from Battle, Chichester, East Grinstead, Brighton & Hove, Worthing, Plumpton, Shoreham and Lewes. A specialist team of judges, led by Chairman of the Judges, Clive Beddall OBE, verified the quality of the finalists and winners at a meeting this week.
Winners will be announced and receive their trophies at an awards dinner to be held at the East Sussex Golf Resort & Spa on 24 January 2008. Branded 'the Sussex foody event of the year', the evening promises to be a prestigious celebration of the diverse range of food and drink products grown and produced locally, as well as a showcase of industry-related services.
Sussex food and drink lovers can celebrate with the winners by joining them at the awards dinner in January at the East Sussex Golf Club. To request a booking form, call Priory PR & Events on 01273 155 or download a form online from www.sussexfoodawards.com
"We are thrilled with the quality of our finalists – they show just what a wonderful range of exciting Sussex produce there is and the number of votes we have received in its second year of the scheme shows what a huge public demand there is for eating and drinking locally," said Paula Seager, Awards Director and managing director of Priory PR & Events, one of the organisers the scheme.
The finalists of the Sussex Food and Drink Awards 2007/08 are:
Best Sussex Eating Experience: sponsored by Business Link, helping link the producers with local restaurants, pubs and other outlets
Pestle and Mortar, Worthing
The Forager, Hove
The Fox Inn, Felpham
Best Sussex Food Shop: sponsored by Strutt & Parker, leading Sussex property agents for land owners and farmers
Bills, Lewes
Crumbs Farm Shop, Washington
Sussex and the City, Brighton
Best Sussex Farmer's Market: sponsored by the awards creators: Priory PR & Events, A Taste of Sussex, the food and drink division of Sussex Enterprise and JUSTBIZ web solutions.
Brighton & Hove Farmer's Market
Shoreham-by-Sea Farmer's Market
Uckfield Farmers Market'
Sussex Butcher of the Year: sponsored by SEEDA, encouraging butchers to support their local farmers
Bramptons, Brighton
Ben's Butchers, Lewes
Hutchings Butchers, Partridge Green
J Heath & Son, Eastbourne
Best Sussex Food Producer: sponsored by Budgens, which stocks a wide range of Sussex produce
Bookham Cheese and Pasta, Twineham
Cocoa Loco, Partridge Green
Prosperity Brownies, Shoreham-by-sea
The Relish In Spice Company, Arundel
Best Sussex Drink Producer: sponsored by Mayo Wynne Baxter, leading law firm in Sussex.
Harveys, Lewes
Hepworths Brewery, Horsham
Ridgeview Estate Winery, Ditchling Common
Sussex Farmer of the Year: sponsored by Lloyds TSB Agriculture, rewarding the biggest contribution to promoting local produce in the county.
Farmers Trevor and Jenny Passmore – Church Farm, Lancing
Farmer Tim Hoare – Adsdean Farm, Funtington, Chichester
Farmer Martin Hole – Montague Organic Farm, Hankham, nr Pevensey
Farmer Cathy Swingland – Clayton Farm, Mayfield, East Sussex
Farmers Shon and Simon Sprackling – Sandylands Farm, near Rogate
Lord March – Goodwood Estate,
