2009/10 Winners

Our 2009/10 winners demonstrate all that is wonderful about our Sussex produce and the fantastic food and drink community in the county.

Prosperity Brownies is an inspiring, growing, family business, producing a premium product, loaded with many fabulous, kitchen cupboard ingredients and people constantly tell the team that they’re as good as an indulgence can get! They bridge the gap between the wonders of home-made cooking and supplying their customers with a taste sensation on the high streets and farm shops around the country. Whilst this business is about baking beautiful brownies, it is committed to the prosperity of under-privileged kids and seeks to communicate this message through innovative packaging design that is both functional and fun-loving.

Prosperity Brownies

Lancing, West Sussex

www.prosperitybrownies.com

 Hepworth started brewing in 2001, using local knowledge, local ingredients, a strong tradition and a commitment to quality. They are proud of their reliance on Sussex grown crops and have reduced food miles, helped boost local farmers’ trade and offer a superb and totally accountable product, brewed to the Sussex tradition. Even better, their Sussex ales and organic lager reach a wider public through prestigious companies like Waitrose and Marks and Spencer. But best of all for the team is local support and local satisfaction, which makes their hard work worthwhile.

Hepworth & Co Brewers

Horsham, West Sussex

www.hepworthbrewery.co.uk

Our winner, Simon Bishop, tragically died in a car accident in November 2009. Head of Plumpton College’s Netherfield Centre near Battle, Simon won this award with the highest number of votes from the public just weeks before the tragedy. He will be sorely missed by so many people, including his students, colleagues and the wider agricultural community of Sussex. For nearly 30 years, both as lecturer at Plumpton Agricultural College, near Lewes, and as an organic farmer and teacher in the High Weald, he was an inspiration to a generation of young men and women who absorbed his vision of contented farms, happy animals, a beautiful and healthy landscape and a sense that people’s lives could be enriched by these surroundings. Simon commercially farmed around 600 acres, including a mix of pigs, Sussex Beef cattle, sheep and arable, as well as providing training on the farm for around 150 young people and 50 disabled adults every week.

Simon Bishop, Netherfield Place Farm

Battle, East Sussex

www.thenetherfieldcentre.co.uk

21-year-old Oliver has been at Temptation since it opened last year. Peter Allinson, the owner said: “Oliver has a great awareness of food, flavours and combinations. I recruited him from his NVQ course and he has helped me produce our fabulous menu.” At the awards ‘cook off’, he prepared Sussex lamb in two ways – roasted loin and confit shoulder of lamb served with autumn squash, parsnip purée and balsamic red onion, with a thyme jus.

Oliver Darby, Temptation

Brighton

www.brightontemptation.com

Anise at the Felbridge Hotel and Spa is an exquisite restaurant which offers dishes created using locally sourced ingredients developed to perfection. The stylish Anise is ideal for those who are passionate about fine food and drink. Not only does the restaurant offer the elegance and charm of a top London restaurant, the real reason guests go there week after week is the modern focused style and distinctly flavoured cuisine.

www.felbridgehotel.co.uk

Anise, Felbridge Hotel & Spa

East Grinstead, West
Sussex

Cheese Please, based in Lewes, East Sussex, specialises in quality artisan cheeses and produce, of which are locally sourced where feasible. Alongside the cheese, is a huge selection of local and British chutneys, relishes and accompaniments, together with handmade Sussex breads. Cheese Please is an experience in itself with friendly and knowledgeable staff on hand to assist. It is a truly complete, unique and memorable experience for the turophile (cheese lover to you!).

Cheese Please

Lewes, East Sussex

www.cheesepleaseonline.co.uk

Meads Village Butchers is a traditional butcher’s shop, passionate about quality. Their pride and joy is their local and free-range meat and poultry which is cut and trimmed to individual needs. They stock a full range of cuts together with duck, geese, rabbit and game in season. Alongside are fresh pies made with their own local meat and a range of speciality sausages, made on the premises. They would recommend the venison and merlot sausages to give you a taste of what they can do and you will always get friendly, attentive service with advice on how to make the most of what you buy.

Meads Village Butchers

Eastbourne, East Sussex

www.villagebutcher.co.uk