Cook It! News of the Sussex Food & Drink Awards
Winners
Celebrations were in full on Thursday 29 January at this year’s Sussex Food & Drink Awards ceremony, where eight of Sussex’s top food and drink producers were hailed as local heroes as they received their trophies at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton.
Hosted by awards patron Sally Gunnell OBE DL and Danny Pike of BBC Sussex, the evening was a sell out, with over 350 leaders in the food, drink and farming industry gathering for the event. Now in their ninth year, the awards are all about supporting and boosting local farmers, food and drink producers and the outlets which use and sell superb local fare.
Said Sally Gunnell OBE DL, “This is my third year as patron for the Sussex Food & Drink Awards, and yet again we have been treated to another impressive line up of winners and runners up. As a farmer’s daughter, I am a huge advocate of eating fresh, local food as well as supporting your community, and these awards do exactly that. They raise awareness throughout the year and offer the opportunity to celebrate Sussex’s innovative, imaginative, sustainable and delicious food and drink producers.”
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 along with independent chairman of judges and prominent Sussex farmer, William Goodwin.
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 year-on-year success.”
The Winners:
Sussex Drink Producer of the Year, sponsored by Sussex Food & Drink Network
Winner – Wobblegate, Bolney, West Sussex
Runners up – Highdown Vineyard, Ferring, West Sussex and Langham Brewery, Lodsworth, Petworth, West Sussex
Sussex Food Shop of the Year, sponsored by Veasey & Sons and Cheese Please
Winner – Rushfields Farm Shop, Poynings, West Sussex
Runners up – Charlie’s Farm Shop, Bury, nr Pulborough, West Sussex and Tablehurst Farm Shop, Forest Row, East Sussex
Sussex Butcher of the Year, sponsored by Absolute Butchery
Winner – A C Coughtrey, Pulborough, West Sussex
Runners up – Bramptons Butchers, Kemptown, Brighton & Hove and Leppards Family Butchers, Mayfield, East Sussex
Sussex Farmers Market of the Year, sponsored by Harveys Brewery
Winner – Steyning Farmers Market, West Sussex
Runners up – Horsham Local Produce Market, West Sussex and Lewes Farmers Market, East Sussex
Sussex Eating Experience, sponsored by Natural PR
Winner – The Curlew, Bodiam, East Sussex
Runners up – Coach & Horses, Danehill, East Sussex and Zari’s Restaurant & Lounge, Crawley, West Sussex
Sussex Young Chef of the Year, sponsored by Sodexo Prestige
Winner – Tim Sheed, The Pass, South Lodge Hotel, Lower Beeding, West Sussex
Runners up – Dan Cotton, The Crabtree, Lower Beeding, West Sussex and Ryan Tomkinson, East Sussex National, Little Horsted, East Sussex
Sussex Farmer of the Year, sponsored by Spofforths Chartered Accountants
Winner – Tim Hassell, Goodwood Home Farm, Goodwood, West Sussex
Runners up – Charlie Hughes, Southview Farm Dairy and The Goring family, Wiston Estate, Washington, West Sussex
Sussex Food Producer of the Year, sponsored by The Southern Co-operative
Winner – Cocoa Loco, West Grinstead, West Sussex
Runners up – Caroline’s Dairy, Sidlesham, West Sussex and Nell Ball Farm Foods Ltd, Plaistow, West Sussex
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