Sussex Food & Drink Grand Finalists Celebrate Success

The Grand Finalists in the Sussex Food & Drink Awards 2017 have been revealed following an intensive eight-month judging process

These inspirational Sussex food and drink heroes can now look forward to an exciting night of celebrations at ‘the Sussex Foodie event of the year’, the spectacular Sussex Food and Drink Awards Banquet on 1 February 2017, set to take place at Brighton’s Amex Stadium, hosted by awards patron Sally Gunnell OBE and BBC’s Danny Pike, where the winners will be revealed and receive their trophies.

The awards are all about supporting and boosting local farmers, food and drink producers and the outlets that use and sell this superb local produce. Starting from small beginnings, the awards have grown to become prestigious and respected, with huge support from business in the county, bringing together the whole local food and farming community.

Sussex farmer and Chairman of the judges, William Goodwin said: “Over the last decade, Sussex has really earned its place as one of the leading counties in the UK for producing superb food and drink and this year’s Grand Finalists line up offers an impressive range of first class, diverse businesses from across the county.

“The competition was really tough this year and the 30 Grand Finalists, 15 from West Sussex, 13 from East Sussex and two from Brighton, should feel immensely proud at making it through to this final stage in the competition.”

Tickets for the BAFTA-style awards ceremony on 1 February 2017 are now on sale and include a spectacular seven-course Sussex produce banquet produced by Sodexo Prestige at the Amex Stadium in Brighton.

The 2017 Grand Finalists are:

 Sussex Food Producer of the Year, sponsored by The Southern Co-operative

Noble and Stace Chocolatiers, Midhurst, West Sussex

Ouse Valley Foods, Piltdown, East Sussex

The Real Pie Company, Crawley, West Sussex

 Sussex Drink Producer of the Year, sponsored by Rix & Kay

Nyetimber Vineyard, West Chiltington, West Sussex

Ridgeview Wine Estate, Ditchling Common, East Sussex

Wobblegate, Bolney, West Sussex

Sussex Food Shop of the Year, sponsored by Wealden District Council

Cowdray Farm Shop, Midhurst, West Sussex

Eggs to Apples, Hurst Green, East Sussex

Tablehurst Farm Limited, Forest Row, East Sussex

Sussex Butcher of the Year, co-sponsored by Plumpton College & RP Meats Wholesaler Ltd

A C Coughtrey Butchers, Pulborough, West Sussex

Glyn Thomas & Son Ltd, Lindfield, West Sussex

Nick the Butcher, Hartfield, East Sussex

Sussex Farmers Market of the Year, sponsored by Harveys of Lewes

Forest Row Village Market, East Sussex

Lewes Food Market, Market Tower (weekly), East Sussex

Shoreham Farmers Market, West Sussex

Sussex Eating Experience of the Year, sponsored by SuperFast Thermapen®

The Crown, Hastings, East Sussex

The Earl of March, Lavant, West Sussex

The Sussex Ox, Polegate, East Sussex

Sussex Newcomer of the Year, co-sponsored by Spofforths and Sussex Food and Drink Network

The Artisan Bakehouse, Ashurst, West Sussex

The Bluebird Tea Co Shop, Brighton

The Set Restaurant, Brighton

Sussex Farmer of the Year, sponsored by Natural PR in association with Farmers Weekly

Jeremy Davis and Lynne Curtis, Lynne’s Organic Farm, Eridge, East Sussex

Andrew and Joanne Knowles, Trenchmore Farm, Cowfold, West Sussex

Camilla and Roly Puzey, Saddlescombe Farm, Poynings, West Sussex

Sussex Street Food Vendor of the Year, co-sponsored by Food Rocks and Horsham District Food and Wine Festival

Garlic Wood Farm, Steyning, West Sussex

Jah Jyot, Southwater, West Sussex

Pig and Jacket, Lewes, East Sussex

Previously announced, Sussex Young Chef of the Year, sponsored by Sodexo Prestige

Rachel Burroughs, Camelia Restaurant, South Lodge Hotel, Lower Beeding, West Sussex

Anna Shopland, The Fountain Inn, Plumpton Green, East Sussex

Michael Sutherland, The Sussex Ox, Polegate, East Sussex

 

For more information about the awards and ticket sales go to www.sussexfoodawards.biz