People in Sussex are being urged to have a very Sussex Christmas this year, by supporting their local food and drink producers and the fantastic shops, restaurants, pubs and cafes which have made the Sussex Six pledge to sell and serve more Sussex produce.
“By choosing the beautiful food and drink produced in Sussex, you’re helping the small businesses and producers we love to thrive, keeping local businesses buzzing all year round, as well as reducing food miles,” said Paula Seager, co-director of Natural Partnerships, which manages the Sussex Six Campaign.
“Sussex produces everything you need to make this season’s festive menu truly and deliciously local, and you can find out where to buy it on our Sussex Food & Drink Directory at Sussexfoodanddrink.org.”
From bries to blues, and from cheddars to soft goat cheeses, create your dream Christmas cheeseboard with the help of local artisans such as Balcombe Dairy, High Weald Dairy, Alsop & Walker, Bookham Harrison, The Traditional Cheese Dairy and Nutknowle Farm. Match them with delicious local chutneys such as Great Great Grandma’s Apple Chutney by Garden to Jar, and add in biscuits made by Horsham Gingerbread.
The Sussex Six Campaign is also proud to spotlight a wealth of great new Sussex products this season from local farmers, bakers, brewers and makers to help create a proper Christmas spread.
Say cheers with festive ales, such as Hepworth Brewery’s ‘Jingle Beer Rock’ Jolly Jingle Lager, or a stronger, darker brew, such as Harvey’s Brewery’s Christmas Ale, or pick from the plethora of craft beers and ales from our many microbreweries across Sussex.
Enjoy new spirits and liqueurs created in Sussex which have hit the shelves for Christmas, including English Vermouth from In the Loop Drinks, Sicilian Sunshine from The Custom Spirit Co, Sussex Shot and Moreish Morello from Spirit of the Downs and Cayman Blue from Brilliant Gin. New soft drinks and cordials have been created by Bush Barn Farm, Bignose and Beardy and Old Tree Brewery.
Toast the season with stunning still and sparkling wines, including new releases from vineyards across Sussex. In East Sussex, look out for Wildwood Vineyard, Mousehall Estate, Busi Jacobsohn Wine Estate, Winklestone Vineyard, Oastbrook Vineyard, Ridgeview and Rathfinny. In West Sussex, Kingscote Vineyard, Bolney Wine Estate, Nyetimber, Tinwood Estate, Wiston, Leonardslee, Stopham Vineyard and more.
Whether you’re shopping for gifts, planning the perfect Christmas dinner, or just having a festive day out in Sussex, it’s easy to shop local and support the Sussex Six Campaign.
Look out for the ‘Sussex Six’ logo in shop windows, online shops and at markets, for businesses which proudly support Sussex producers. As for gifting, consider building a Sussex hamper this season, filled with local cheeses, preserves, stunning Sussex pairing wines, handmade biscuits, coffee, and more.
When dining out with work colleagues, family or friends, choose a pub, café, or restaurant that displays the Sussex Six window sticker and serves Sussex ingredients and raise your glass of Sussex wine or beer to toast in Christmas and the New Year.
Find over 600 local Sussex food and drink producers and over 130 Sussex Six shops, restaurants, pubs and cafes by visiting: https://sussexfoodanddrink.org
The Sussex Six Campaign is owned and managed by Natural Partnerships CIC with support from District Councils including Horsham, Mid Sussex, Chichester, Wealden and Rother, and is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.