Last night at the AMEX Community Stadium, producers, farmers, chefs and farmshops gathered to hear the winners of the 2011/12 Sussex Food & Drink Awards, arranged by Natural PR.
While the quality of all the finalists was unquestionable, I personally feel that the judges made the right decisions in picking the winners for most of categories.
Here are the results:
Sussex Food Producer of the Year
WINNER:
High Weald Dairy, Horsted Keynes, West Sussex
RUNNERS UP:
Caroline's Dairy, Sidlesham, West Sussex
Daylands Farm, Ashurst, West Sussex
Sussex Drink Producer of the Year
WINNER:
Wobblegate Apple Juice, Bolney, West Sussex
RUNNERS UP:
Highdown Vineyard, Ferring, West Sussex
W J King Brewers, Horsham, West Sussex
Best Sussex Food/Farm Shop
WINNER:
Sussex Produce Co, Steyning, West Sussex
RUNNERS UP:
Cheese Please, Lewes, East Sussex
Sharnfold Farm, Stone Cross, East Sussex
Sussex Butcher of the Year
WINNER:
Bramptons Butchers, Brighton, East Sussex
RUNNERS UP:
S K Hutchings, Partridge Green, West Sussex
Westdene Butchers, Brighton, East Sussex
Best Sussex Eating Experience
WINNER:
The Foragers, Hove, East Sussex
RUNNERS UP:
Simply Delicious, Bognor Regis, West Sussex
Tottington Manor, Edburton, West Sussex
Sussex Young Chef of the Year
WINNER:
Paul Peach, The Horse Guards Inn, Tillington, West Sussex
RUNNERS UP:
Craig Holden, The Mill House, Ashington, West Sussex
Rob Lightbody, Jeremy's Restaurant, Borde Hill, West Sussex
Sussex Farmer of the Year
WINNER:
Steve & Phil Hook, Longleys Farms, Hailsham, East Sussex
RUNNERS UP:
Robin & Kevin Ashby, Willetts Farm, Blackham, East Sussex
Jenny & Trevor Passmore, Church Farm, Coombes,West Sussex
Best Sussex Farmers Market
WINNER:
Shoreham Farmers Market, Wests Sussex
RUNNERS UP:
Lewes Farmers Market, East Sussex
Steyning Farmers Market, West Sussex