Locally sourced
Andrew Kay on the farm shop experience at Thorne’s
In the heart of Brighton’s famous North Laine you will find a new food experience called Thorne’s. It’s not a new idea, far from it. It harks back to the days when every town would have a great grocery store, one where you could buy all of your food shopping needs and more, the days before supermarkets took away the joy of shopping and made it a chore.
Thorne’s occupies a beautifully renovated warehouse. On the ground level is the store and here you will find fresh fruit and vegetables with the emphasis on seasonal and local foods. In the butchery there are top quality meats and game with excellent sausages and a great range of charcuterie too. The cheese section has a wide range of classic continental cheeses but where it really shines is in the selection of great British and especially Sussex cheeses. And to go with it the bakery has daily deliveries of fresh artisan breads from the Flint Owl Bakery.
The range is complimented by quality groceries, teas and coffees, cakes and biscuits and locally grown and pressed fruit juices. For those of us who enjoy a tipple there is a great range of quality and also affordable wines, again featuring the very best from the county.
On the top floor is the restaurant. All week they serve great breakfasts using the very best produce from the shop and they open early too. As the day progresses there is a lunchtime menu and afternoon teas. Currently the restaurant is only open Friday and Saturday in the evening with a full a la carte dinner menu, again show-casing local and seasonal foods and wines. The restaurant is, however, available for private functions the rest of the week. With a capacity of 50 and a full catering service on site, it is an ideal venue for meetings and parties.
Currently the middle floor is used as offices but, as they say, watch this space – the owners have great plans to introduce a new thread to the Thorne’s concept very soon. But for now, seek it out and discover that farm shop experience in the heart of the city. There’s even on-street parking right outside which is free for 30 minutes.
Thorne’s, 39 Upper Gardner Street, Brighton BN1 4AN, 01273 573660, www.thornesfoods.co.uk
