SX Ex Summer 2022 Autumn

Issue 3 2022
Discover Historic Petworth
The picturesque town with a rich
history and dozens of gorgeous
antique shops and boutiques
The Sussex Foodie
Six of the best Sussex food experiences,
from pub grub and local producers to
where to find the freshest produce
Wonderful Walks &
Dog Friendly Pubs
Lose yourself in the beautiful
Sussex countryside with these
five stunning walks
Exploring East Sussex Vineyards
Explore East Sussex & discover
amazing wines with this wine trail
that takes you from Rye to Alfriston
Meet Four Sussex Authors
Four talented Sussex authors
and their very different books
Sussex Cocktail Hour
Jazz up your drinks with these unique
Sussex cocktails
86 pages of
beautiful Sussex
Unusual Sussex Experiences
From the Winter Solstice to carols
in a tiny 13th century chapel

A word
from the editor
Editor
Lucy Pitts
lucyp@sussexexclusive.com
Deputy Editor
Janine Marsh
Editorial Assistant and DDIP
Aifric Peachey
Design
Philippa French
Sales
sales@sussexexclusive.com
Discover Historic Petworth
The picturesque town with a rich
history and dozens of gorgeous
antique shops and boutiques
The Sussex Foodie
Six of the best Sussex food experiences,
from pub grub and local producers to
where to find the freshest produce
Wonderful Walks &
Issue 3 2022
Dog Friendly Pubs
Lose yourself in the beautiful
Sussex countryside with these
five stunning walks
Exploring East Sussex Vineyards
Explore East Sussex & discover
amazing wines with this wine trail
that takes you from Rye to Alfriston
Meet Four Sussex Authors
Four talented Sussex authors
and their very different books
Welcome to the latest edition of the Sussex Exclusive
Magazine which is bigger and better than ever and is
here to help ease you into the winter months ahead.
It’s full of delightful Sussex stuff from stunning walks
to great restaurants, Sussex cocktails, Christmas
experiences and beautiful photos of Sussex landmarks!
Sussex is fast building a reputation for being the wine capital of England and
a great foodie destination. With so many award-winning vineyards, why not
head over to East Sussex and discover some of its rich history and interesting
landscapes, along with some fabulous local wines with our East Sussex Wine
Tour. Or dip your toe into our Great Sussex Foodie feature and discover local
producers, restaurants and food experiences. And if you love your food, we’ve
also got four easy recipes and some brand-new Sussex cocktails.
Autumn is such a gorgeous time in Sussex and so why not grab your walking
boots and try one of five stunning autumn walks (with dog friendly pub
recommendations) or head down to the historic town of Petworth, our
spotlight town, and spend a day browsing the antique shops and art galleries.
On a more cerebral level, we have four Sussex authors and their books, and
some writing tips for the would-be novelists out there, as well as a Sussex
quiz and a chance to meet four Steyning artists.
For the budding gardeners, Geoff Stonebanks from the NGS and his own
Driftwood by Sea garden in Seaford shares some winter gardening tips, and
our health corner is a great place to head if you want to improve your health
and wellbeing.
As always, we’ve also chosen some interesting things to do to put in your
diary and as Christmas is on the horizon, some unusual but compelling
Sussex Christmas experiences. And if all else fails, why not try a traditional
Sussex remedy … such as eating a spider!
I hope you enjoy reading this edition as much as we’ve enjoyed putting it
together. Don’t forget it’s free to subscribe and share, so please do if you
haven’t already, and if you’d like more Sussex soundbites, please follow us on
Facebook and Instagram.
Have a good one!
Lucy
Lucy Pitts
Sussex Exclusive Magazine
www.sussexexclusive.com
86 pages of
beautiful Sussex
Sussex Cocktail Hour
Jazz up your drinks with these unique
Sussex cocktails
Unusual Sussex Experiences
From the Winter Solstice to carols
in a tiny 13th century chapel
Front Cover
Lombard Street, Petworth, By Sophie Ward Photography
3

Contents
8 Your East Sussex Wine Tour
Discover historic East Sussex and superb Sussex
sparkling wine with this three-centre vineyard tour
15 The Great Sussex Foodie
Savour new restaurants, local produce and fabulous
foodie experiences with our pick of the best
8
20 Autumn Recipes
From Sussex cheese toasties to vanilla panna cotta
with gin-baked berries, our Sussex chefs inspire you
in the kitchen
24 Cocktail Hour
Our Sussex Exclusive cocktail maker stirs up
something refreshing with the Sussex Smokie and
the Sussex 7&5
15
26 Meet the Sussex Artists
Four talented local creatives from the Steyning Arts
community explain what inspires them
26
33
30
30 Preparing your Garden
for Winter
Geoff Stonebanks shares his tips and advice as he
prepares his garden for winter and plans for spring
33 Sussex in Pictures
Showcasing the weird, the wonderful and the best
of some of the many unusual and historic landmarks
of Sussex
36 Winter Walks & Dog
Friendly Pubs
Five stunning walks which take in some of the best
countryside in the county, with five dog friendly
pubs to recuperate in
4 | sussexexclusive.com

40
40 Sussex Quiz
Test your Sussex general knowledge with our new
quiz – and no cheating!
41 Winter Fashion
West Sussex fashionista, Donna Camera, shares
the latest trends for a stylish winter wardrobe
44
44 Christmas Experiences
Try something a little different but very
evocative with these five unique Christmas
experiences
54
60
52 Take a Mouse and Bake it
Local historian Peter Benner shares some
Sussex remedies and cures of bygone days
54 Historic Petworth
Explore cobbled Lombard Street and
boutiques, art galleries and antique shops
whilst soaking up the history of this delightful
Sussex town
81
60 What’s On
Fill your diary with interesting things to do with
our pick of the best of what’s on, from a Lee
Miller exhibition to wassailing!
64 The Bookworm
Meet four Sussex authors and make a start on
that novel you’ve always wanted to write with tips
from our writer mentor
81 Barcelona Calling
Pack your bags and head to Barcelona and the
stunning Cava region to discover phenomenal
views, art and winemaking traditions
5

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Contributors
Geoff Stonebanks
Geoff’s garden, Driftwood, has
appeared on BBC2’s Gardeners’
World, and has won multiple
awards. He writes monthly for
several websites and gardening
media and has a weekly gardening
column in the Brighton Argus and
is regularly heard on the radio.
www.driftwoodbysea.co.uk.
Janine Lowe
Janine Lowe is an author and
classically trained Feng Shui
consultant, trained in Chinese
astrology and in the arts of Bazi,
Flying Stars, Auspicious Dates, Qi
Men Dun Jia and I Ching. For the
last 19 years she has worked with
private and business clients to
enhance their wealth, relationships,
careers and everything in between.
www.janinelowe.co.uk
Stuart Ritchie
Expert Tax Advisor helping clients
manage their wealth, minimise
tax bills, and solve tax disputes
& financial problems. Stuart
specialises in private client taxation
and has considerable experience
and expertise with an emphasis
on agreeing complex taxation
issues, both onshore and offshore,
and helping clients achieve their
financial objectives.
www.ritchiephillips.co.uk
Vanessa Jamieson
Vanessa is an enthusiastic,
amateur cook who likes to make
sure no one ever leaves her table
hungry! Working full time, Vanessa
needs to squeeze in quick to
prepare food, without losing any
of the flavour. She also likes to
experiment with different cuisines,
which can take her to Morocco,
Thailand, Japan and back to
France, all in the space
of one week!
Peter Benner
Retired solicitor and local historian,
Peter Benner has lived in Sussex
for over 75 years. A member of
the Sussex Archaeological Society
since 1956, he has a lifelong interest
in Sussex Wealden Iron as well as
building a 400 strong collection of
books about Sussex. His specialisms
include transport, and Sussex
culture.
Alison Wilkins
Alison started out as a Sports
Massage Therapist 20 years ago.
She is certified Zero Balancer and
Reiki Master and regularly practices
MBSR mindfulness. She has
delivered wellbeing@work for
6 years and continues to support
staff and management alike.
www.brightonwellbeingcompany.com
6 | sussexexclusive.com

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7

Your
East Sussex
Wine Tour

If you’ve been following our wine tour series, you’ll know we’re very much in
love with the Sussex wine scene. And why wouldn’t we be? Sussex vineyards
are producing some outstanding wines, which now include not just sparkling
wine but stills, rosés and even reds.
Wine is not new to Sussex and
was produced here by the
Romans but as our new wine
heritage takes root, a vibrant
wine culture is developing
too which includes tastings, tours, and all sorts of
other wine associated activities. And what better
way to discover and explore the many delights of
Sussex, than by including local vineyards in any
tour or visit.
So, with this in mind, this is our three-stop guide
to exploring the best of East Sussex and its wine
makers and wineries.
Rye
A cinque port that dates back to Saxon times,
Rye is famous for its picturesque, cobbled streets,
its smuggling history, the beautiful if a little
haunted Mermaid Inn, its castle and its hundreds
of years of history. It’s a well-trodden stop
on the tourist trail but is always a pleasure
to visit, whether you’re interested in
the literary history of Lamb House,
climbing the tower of St Mary’s
church, or just exploring the old
parts of the town.
Things to do around
Rye
There’s plenty to do in the
surrounding area too. The fabulous
grounds and house at Great Dixter and
the Kent and East Sussex Railway (steam
trains) are just a short drive away at Northiam.
Camber Sands offers days on the beach or walks
on nearby Romney Marshes and Rye Nature
Reserve and Camber Castle are within walking
distance of the town.
9

Places to stay in and around Rye
There are some really fabulous places to pick for
an overnight stay here. The Mermaid Inn in the
centre of Rye is perhaps the most famous, whilst
on the fringes of the town, you can stay in Rye
Windmill. Alternatively, stay in a railway carriage
at the Northiam Railway Retreat or stay at one
of the vineyards. Tillingham Vineyard is down
a sleepy lane, 5 miles from Rye and has recently
refurbished rooms and a restaurant.
Rye Vineyards
Charles Palmer Vineyards,
Winchelsea
Just outside Winchelsea is Wickham Manor,
a National Trust-owned, 16th century Manor
House with an estate that probably dates back
to the 12th century. In the 17th century, it was
owned by Pennsylvania founder, William Penn
but you might recognise it as having been the
setting of the film Mr Holmes featuring Sir Ian
McKellen.
Home to the Palmer family, their Charles Palmer
Vineyards offer cellar door tours and tastings.
They have been producing a range of
sparkling wines here since 2016 and now
also produce still wine. They have won a
number of prestigious awards with 2017 and
2018 being notable vintages.
You can also stay at the Manor and walk their
Vineyard Trail. This is a stunningly beautiful
spot and a great way to start any Sussex vineyard
tour.
Tillingham Vineyard
Not far from Peasmarsh, on a mixed farm which
dates from the 13th century, Tillingham Vineyard
is home to fruit trees, ancient woodland and
livestock, as well as their vines. The recently
renovated farmstead provides a place for visitors
to stay and enjoy the produce of the farm and the
local area.
They describe themselves as progressive with
a highly sustainable approach, “championing
ancient traditions and best practice learnt from
millennia of farming and winemaking” to create
unique wines.
They have a tasting room and offer tours and
tastings run daily by appointment. They first
10 | sussexexclusive.com

planted their
vines in 2018
and make
a number
of different
wines including
sparkling, a white
blend, an orange
wine, and a rosé. It’s
very peaceful here and a
super place to just relax
and unwind.
Oxney Organic Estate
With vineyards in Beckley, Oxney is the largest
producer of English organic wine. They have
35 acres of vines, and their winery is housed in a
converted Grade II listed square oast house where
they produce award winning still and sparkling
wines.
You can stay here too including at
Vineyard House, a picturesque
cottage or in a shepherd’s hut,
and they offer tours and
tastings including a picnic
option. This is another
idyllic corner of East
Sussex, and a great
chance to learn about
organic winemaking.
Robertsbridge
12 miles north of
Hastings, Robertsbridge
is small but pretty and
dates back to the arrival
of Cistercian monks in the
12th century. By the 13th
century it was a prosperous
town. It may still be small, but
there is lots to see and do in the
surrounding area.
Things to do near Robertsbridge
To the east is Bodiam Castle, a 14th century
moated castle now owned by the National Trust.
It’s great for history lovers or those after an
Instagram shot and just down the road is Bodiam
Boating Station where you can hire a kayak or
canoe.
South of Robertsbridge and you come to 1066
county and historic Battle Abbey and the battle
ground of the Battle of Hastings. There’s also
a 1066 trail you can walk with sculptures to
discover
along the
way.
South west of
Robertsbridge and
you arrive at Brightling,
and a series of extraordinary
follies made by an infamous local
resident known as Mad Jack Fuller. The
follies include a pyramid style tomb and a sugar
cone!
Places to stay in Robertsbridge
It’s worth starting your search for somewhere
to stay here on Airbnb. Check out the Hobbit
House built by local craftsman from local
materials and buried into a bank at Oastbrook
Vineyard. Or Tiny Home, an Americana style
cabin made with reclaimed materials, hidden
away in a small, secluded wood.
Alternatively, The George Inn in the village is
a traditional 18th century coaching inn or if
you want to go top notch, head to Hastings
and the elegant Bannatyne Spa Hotel.
Robertsbridge Vineyards
Oastbrook Estate Vineyards
Vines here were first planted in 2018 in the
grounds of a beautiful old oast house where
they practise sustainable winegrowing and
winemaking. They offer tours of the vineyards
with tasting at the end and also have a children’s
vineyard tour. On top of this, they host various
other events, including Fine Wine and Dining
11

Alfriston
Another hopelessly pretty
Sussex village, Alfriston also
appeared in the Domesday
Book and has a rich history
of smugglers, monks and
pilgrims. The Star Inn, now
owned by TV personality Alex
Polizzi and her mother, was
originally a religious hostel built
in 1345 and used to accommodate
monks and pilgrims on their way
from Battle Abbey to Chichester
Cathedral.
events, and a wine club. They make a range of
still and sparkling wines and in addition to their
Hobbit House, you can stay at their Waterside
Lodge. It’s a beautiful spot to spend some time.
Sedlescombe Organic Vineyard
Sedlescombe Organic Vineyard is the oldest
organic wine estate in England comprising 22
acres of organically certified vineyards, having
been established in 1979. They produce an
extensive and award-winning range of white,
rosé, red and sparkling wines - all certified either
organic or biodynamic and suitable for both
vegetarians and vegans. They also produce fruit
wines, fruit juices and farmhouse ciders.
They have a Vineyard & Woodland Nature trail
for ramblers and dog walkers, a café and shop,
and offer tours and tastings.
Another
hopelessly
pretty Sussex
village, Alfriston
also appeared in
the Domesday
Book and has
a rich history
of smugglers,
monks and
pilgrims.
Things to do in Alfriston
Start in the beautiful village bookshop and lose
yourself for a while and then step back in time at
the village store. Next, head over to the National
Trust owned Clergy House and then when you’re
ready, head up on to the South Downs for some
amazing walks. There are two giant figures carved
into the chalk face of the South Downs in this
Mountfield Winery
With the winery in an old dairy unit and tasting
rooms in the converted stables, this relatively
new vineyard has 14,000 vines of Chardonnay,
Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Planted in 2012,
in the grounds of a beautiful house and an
estate that dates back to the Domesday Book,
their first 2015 Class Cuvée was released last
year. They hold various events including pop up
events.
12 | sussexexclusive.com

part of the world, The Long Man at Wilmington
to the north of Alfriston and the White Horse at
Lullington, to the south.
You’re also only a short distance from the
picturesque Cuckmere Haven where you can
enjoy gentle water sports and stunning views.
A little further afield and you have
Herstmonceux, a magnificent moated castle, set
in 550 acres of glorious parkland and superb
Elizabethan gardens, and Michelham Priory
founded in 1229 as an Augustinian Priory. And
if you’ve had enough of wine (really, is that even
possible?), you could visit the Long Man Brewery
or the Harley House Distillery for a taste of local
craft beer and spirits.
Places to stay in Alfriston
The Star Inn has been beautifully refurbished,
has a superb restaurant and is in the heart of the
village. Alex Polizzi occasionally runs guided
walks for guests.
Just on the edge of the village is Dean's Place
Hotel, a beautiful 17th century property of
historical significance with a great restaurant.
Alternatively, book into Ye Olde
Smugglers Inn, which dates back
to 1358, is Grade II listed,
and comes complete
with tales of ghosts
and hidden
passageways.
Vineyards near
Alfriston
Rathfinny
In this part of the world
you probably have to
start your wine tasting
with one of the big guns.
Rathfinny sits just south of
Alfriston, high on the South
Downs and is approached by a
long and impressive drive through
the vineyards. Established in 2010, they
have a new tasting room and restaurant.
They describe their methods as low-intervention
and traditional and offer tours and tastings
including special harvest “Dosage Tastings” and
winter tours. Their new Hut is a walk-in bar with
views of the South Downs, and you can also do
self-guided tour.
Off the Line
Head north east from Alfriston to Hellingly and
the Off The Line Vineyard. This is a vineyard
with a difference as they only grow red grapes,
and the focus is on the production of rosé. The
first vines were planted in 2014 and they grow
Pinot Noir, Regent, Dornfelder and Rondo.
The vineyard is next to the Old Cuckoo
Line, a branch railway line that
once ran between Polegate and
Edridge. These days it’s a
well-maintained cycle route.
They have a purpose-built
cedar clad winery and
offer pre-booked guided
tours and tastings and
a self-guided walk at
weekends from May
until September.
Henners
Nestled next to the
Pevensey Levels Nature
Reserve and not far from
the sea, Henners Vineyard
was established in the picturesque
village of Herstmonceux in 2007. Planted
with the three classic sparkling grape varieties,
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier,
they also take a non-interventionist approach
and alongside tours and tastings, host a series of
seasonal events throughout the year. They recently
featured on the BBC series Countryfile and make
sparkling wines, rosé and their own gin.
13

A celebration of
Sussex Sparkling Wine & Gin
Saturday November 19th
11.00 - 6.00pm
South Lodge, Brighton Road, Horsham RH13 6PS
Book your ticket today
www.bubblesandbotanicals.net
Stalls &
Tastings
An event by
14 | sussexexclusive.com

FOOD
The Sussex Foodie
A
utumn is such a fabulous hunting ground for the Sussex gourmand. After all, there’s
something profoundly satisfying about knowing the harvest is safely gathered in, whatever
that means for you. Perhaps it’s picking your own home-grown fruit and veg, foraging in
the undergrowth for the last of the sloes and blackberries or enjoying a hearty autumn
meal at your local restaurant.
As summer gives way to autumn, longs walks and frosty mornings, there is still so much to enjoy on the
Sussex food and drink scene so here is our Sussex Foodie Autumn Menu.
Restaurants
The Horse Guards Inn, Tillington,
West Sussex
The Horse Guards Inn just outside Petworth
is worth a visit for its kerb appeal alone. It is
hopelessly pretty perched as it is on the side of
the hill, with views of the South Downs and
Tillington church with its very distinctive bell
tower. The 300-year-old inn also has a charming
and secluded beer garden which has cushions,
fairy lights and an eclectic collection of relaxed
seating.
They describe their menu as “small and seasonal
… the menu changes everyday to fit in what we can
source from local suppliers, dig out of our vegetable
patch or forage from the wild hedgerows or seashores
nearby.” It’s also intriguing, and in early autumn
included chickpea Panisse, pickled pear and
walnuts, Boughton Farm goat spreading chorizo,
sourdough toast and pickles for starters, with pan
fried Turbot, slow roast pork belly and Upperton
Farm hogget chump for mains.
The Horse Guards Inn, Tillington
Farm Yard Wine, St Leonards,
East Sussex
In amongst an assortment of different shops and
restaurants in St Leonard’s Kings Road, is Farm
Yard Wine. Tables fall out on to the pavement
and inside you’ll find a vintage feel with an
original brick wall, a wall of wines, candles
dripping wax down their old wine bottle holders
and an open style kitchen. Even the toilets are
cool with multi coloured Who Gives a Crap
toilet rolls and beautiful wall illustrations. You
have stumbled into one of St Leonard’s’ foodie
havens.
Farm Yard Wine pride themselves on their
wines, and in particular, organic wines made
sustainably, and they also have a monthly
recommended wine. Sussex wines on the
menu include Davenport Horsmonden and
Tillingham.
The Farm Yard, St. Leonard's
15

FOOD
As you’re by the sea (and they do have a sister
seafood restaurant called Boatyard in the
Heist Market down the road), why not have
oysters with a choice of garnish, or if that’s not
for you, a choice from their charcuterie menu.
Once you’re ready, they have a selection of
smaller dishes or starters, followed by larger
dishes and mains. Their buffalo mozzarella
burrata with almond pesto and baked garlic
is some of the best mozzarella around and
the Greek salad with watermelon, olives,
cucumber, mint and sesame crusted feta is
suitably light and refreshing. There’s lots of
Sussex produce on this menu with Hastings’
fish, steak from Pevensey, ice cream from
Northiam and cheese from across the county.
The Farm Yard
Hastings
Food experiences
Hastings’ fisheries and fishing fleet,
Old Town Hastings, East Sussex
This is perhaps one of the most affordable,
simple and accessible food experiences you can
have in Sussex. You don’t have to book and it’s
free to visit.
There are about 25 small fishing boats at The
Stade in Old Town Hastings and fish has been
landed here for hundreds of years. There are
few places left where you can watch the catch
of the day being hauled up the beach and off
the boats, to be on sale in the various fisheries
within hours if not less.
The catch of the day could be anything from
Sole to Cuttlefish but as we head into autumn
and winter, you’re most likely to find Herring,
Plaice, Cod, Sprat, Brill, Turbot, Dab, Skate,
Whiting and shellfish.
There are lots of different fisheries, from the
little black huts that sit in front of the fishing
boats, to the stalls that line Rock a Nore. Look
out for the “Hastings Fish” logo to indicate
quality. Some of the stalls also sell smoked fish,
smoked only yards away.
In the summer and early autumn, the
town holds a Midsummer Fish Festival
(June) and the Hastings Seafood and Wine
Festival (September). Or you might want
to immerse yourself in the fishing culture
of Hastings with a visit to the Fishermen’s
Museum, or the Shipwreck Museum.
Alternatively, plan your visit to coincide
with one of the few times when the 17th
century wreck of the Amsterdam (a Dutch
ship) is visible on Bulverhythe Beach. And
don’t forget to look out for the big winkle
sculpture on Winkle Island.
16 | sussexexclusive.com

FOOD
Artisan Chocolate Making
Masterclasses, Ashurst, West Sussex
Nothing says Christmas as well as chocolate!
And Sussex happens to be blessed with a number
of outstanding chocolatiers producing award
winning chocolate. Never more so than Mike
Noble, of Noble and Stace.
Based in Midhurst, Noble and Stace were awarded
2 gold stars by the Guild of Fine Foods in the
2020 Great Taste Awards for their Ditchling Gin
and Orange Truffles. They’ve also been Grand
Finalists in the Sussex Food and Drink Awards
2017 and Finalists in the 2019 and 2020 awards
for Food Producer of the Year.
Several times a year, you can join Mike at The
Artisan Bakehouse in Ashurst near Steyning for
a chocolate making masterclass, making fresh
cream truffles, caramel truffles and solid chocolate
tablettes. It’s a day of getting stuck in and learning
how to make ganache fillings, to temper chocolate,
and to pipe, roll and perfect your truffles. You
get to taste different chocolates and leave with
your own chocolates packaged up in gift boxes,
including around 15-20 fresh cream truffles, 20
caramel truffles and 3 chocolate tablettes, together
with the recipe handouts so that you can recreate
them at home. The masterclass also includes a
homemade two course lunch with a glass of wine/
soft drink, tea/coffee. And at this time of year,
there’s a special Christmas Masterclass, which is
perfect for the festive foodie.
https://theartisanbakehouse.com/
The Artisan Bakehouse, Ashurst
Sussex producers
The Horsham Gingerbread Bakehouse
If you know Horsham, you may know that it has
a gingerbread history, and the poet Percy Bysshe
Shelley wrote requesting his aunt to buy ginger
in the town. Certainly, three hundred years ago,
you’d have found dozens of gingerbread stalls in
Horsham and whilst they may not be there today,
you can do a lot worse when it comes to dunking
a biscuit in your tea or finding an accompaniment
for your Sussex cheese than choosing a Horsham
Gingerbread Bakehouse biscuit.
In 2009, the curator of the Horsham Museum
discovered a 200-year-old recipe book from the
Shelley family with a recipe for gingerbread. Lesley
Ward (the founder of the Horsham Gingerbread
Bakehouse) then spent a year perfecting the recipe,
and the seeds for the bakehouse (founded in
2013) were sewn.
“I'm passionate about creating products that are
made with ingredients that people can easily recognise
- there are far too many 'healthy' energy bars, etc.
The Horsham Gingerbread Bakehouse
17

FOOD
The Horsham Gingerbread Bakehouse
that are crammed with highly processed ingredients.
For example, our Sussex Martlets biscuits are made
with only eight simple ingredients like butter, gluten
free oat flour and raw cane sugars. Many people
comment that they look and taste homemade.”
Explains Lesley, “It’s about simple ingredients and
complex flavours”.
Their biscuits are baked in small batches at a
family bakery near Chichester in West Sussex,
with many of the ingredients locally sourced.
Their range has expanded beyond gingerbread and
includes such delights as Lemon Puddle, Spicy
Sussex Alberts, Sweet Sussex Thins, Sussex Honey
Alberts and Sussex Martlets, with many of the
biscuits in their range now gluten free.
Their Original Recipe Gingerbread is made
with flour from the Weald & Downland Living
Museum and the gluten free biscuits are made
using linseed meal grown and processed by
Durwin Banks and his family at Barns Green.
Ouse Valley Foods
Ouse Valley Food near Ringmer in East Sussex
was founded in 2004 and brings together a
team of passionate foodies. Very much inspired
by the Sussex countryside, they’re all about the
seasonality and provenance of what they make
sourcing as many ingredients as possible from
local growers.
Everything is small batch cooked but also packed
with personality and creativity, and their seasonal
specialities are great for the festive season.
Autumn is such a fabulous hunting
ground for the Sussex gourmand.
After all, there’s something
profoundly satisfying about
knowing the harvest is safely
gathered in ...
Ouse Valley Food, near Ringmer
18 | sussexexclusive.com

Stopham Vineyard
Stopham Vineyard is a 17-acre estate
located in the beautiful South Downs
National Park near Pulborough in West
Sussex.
We are specialists in crafting aromatic
still white wines from Pinot Gris, Pinot
Blanc, Bacchus and classic method
sparkling wine from the champagne
varietals, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Our vineyard was planted in 2007
by our head winemaker, Simon
Woodhead, who found the perfect site
at Stopham for the varietals that we
grow. Our 21,000 vines sit on south
facing slopes in free draining sandy soil
at a low altitude.
We pride ourselves on our sustainable
approach to winemaking and grape
growing. Sustainability has always
been a key component for our
brand identity and values; passion,
precision, craft and sustainability. Our
vineyard lies within the South Downs
National Park on an old dairy farm
and our winery is housed in a grade II
listed Victorian barn which was part
of a group of outbuildings on the
farm. Because of where we are, we
have to minimise our impact on the
environment around us and protect
and promote a natural ecosystem.
Quite simply, our goal is to produce
the best white wines England can offer.
We continue to win many industry
awards for our wines which reflect
their high quality.
www.stophamvineyard.co.uk
19

FOOD
Blue Cloud Toasties
Perfect for refuelling after a hearty walk, or warming up on a frosty evening,
this easy to make Sussex recipe from Chris Heyes at Blue Clouds in Balcombe
uses their 100% Sussex made, award winning blue cheese.
Serves 4 as a starter or light lunch
This delicious take on a classic toastie is made with Blue Clouds cheese made
in Balcombe, West Sussex. All the Blue Clouds cheeses are made by hand in
a small dairy which is just feet away from the cows which provide the milk.
The herd at Balcombe are a mix of Norwegian Red, Holstein and Jersey
which produces great quality milk.
Founder of Blue Clouds, Chris Heyes, and his cheese have already appeared
in Good Cheese magazine. Blue Clouds has a mild and creamy flavour and is
available in local farm shops and delicatessens.
Ingredients:
For this Sussex recipe you will need:
100 g – Blue Clouds
150 ml – whole milk
20 g – plain flour
20 g – butter
1 tsp – Dijon mustard
Small bunch of flatleaf parsley – finely chopped
Small bunch of British watercress
4 slices sourdough
4 thick slices of ham or British charcuterie of your choice
Salt and pepper to season
Method:
Place the saucepan over a medium heat and add butter. When melted add
flour and stir in. Cook the roux for a couple of minutes before gradually
adding the milk. Stir whilst the sauce begins to thicken. Continue to stir for
another 4-5 minutes to cook the flour out. Add the Blue Clouds, mustard
and parsley. Stir until the cheese has melted and the sauce is of a smooth
consistency. Season to taste and set aside.
Lightly grill your sourdough on both sides and butter. Place your ham on
each of the toasts and top with the rich, creamy sauce. Place back under the
grill until bubbling. Serve immediately with a side of British watercress which
cuts through the richness of the toasties.
20 | sussexexclusive.com

FOOD
Garlish ® & Lemon
Prawn Pots
With Crusty Bread
Pollyanna’s Kitchen shares this easy starter or quick lunch.
A rich and
decadent starter
that always goes
down a storm.
You can easily
serve this as a
‘one pot’ casual
dipping dish for
a quick lunch.
Serves 4 people
Ingredients:
300 g raw king prawns
1 small onion (finely diced)
A good slosh of Garlish ® oil
3 (heaped) tbsp Garlish ® Just the Crush
1 tsp paprika
150 g single cream
50 g butter
Juice from 1 lemon
1 tsp plain flour
A good slosh of dry white wine
A handful of fresh parsley (save a few leaves for
the garnish)
1 ripe tomato (finely chopped)
1 tsp salt
A few good crunches of black pepper
A handful of Parmesan (grated)
Fresh crusty bread
Method:
Preheat the grill to 200˚C.
On a medium heat, fry the onion in the oil and
butter for 10 minutes until soft and caramelised.
Add the tomato and continue to fry for 5
minutes.
Add the flour and the paprika, stir well then
add wine. Increase the heat and when the wine
has reduced a little, lower the heat and add the
prawns and lemon juice. Cook for a further 3-4
minutes until the prawns are cooked.
Stir in the Garlish ® Just the Crush, cream and
parsley. Add the salt and pepper.
Stir well, then evenly decant into individual
ramekins, or one sharing dish. Sprinkle with
Parmesan and place under the grill for 2 minutes.
Garnish with the remaining parsley.
Serve with crusty bread.
For more great recipes, visit:
www.pollyannaskitchen.co.uk
21

FOOD
Sticky Thai Chicken
This month’s recipe is inspired by my love of all things Thai! It’s also very quick
and simple to make and will feed 6. The sticky chicken is rather morish, and
the fresh zing of ginger really hits the taste buds. Prep time is minimal, and
you can have this on the table in around 30 minutes. By Vanessa Jamieson
Ingredients:
12 boneless chicken thighs
500 g basmati rice
1 litre chicken stock
2 bags of tender stem broccoli
2 bunches of spring onions
1 finely chopped onion
2 tbs olive oil
sesame seeds (toasted) to garnish
Sauce
2 tbs soy sauce
1 small bottle sweet chilli sauce
2 tbs hoisin sauce
2 chopped cloves of garlic
2 inch piece of ginger, chopped
Method:
Pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees.
In a big roasting dish, fry off the onion over a medium heat, using
a tablespoon of olive oil. Once browned, add the basmati rice and
chicken stock and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and allow the
rice to cook through until it is soft, and the chicken stock has been
absorbed, approx. 15 mins.
Add the chicken pieces to a large frying pan or wok and fry until
golden on both sides and cooked through. Combine the sauce
ingredients and add to the pan. Bring to the boil and then reduce the
temperature and let the sauce reduce until a sticky coating remains.
Whilst the chicken is cooking, chop the spring onions in half and put
in a roasting dish with the broccoli. Toss with olive oil and a good
sprinkle of salt and put in the oven for around 10 mins, until the
broccoli starts to char. Remove from the oven and place the vegetables
on top of the cooked rice. Cover with foil to keep warm whilst the
chicken cooks.
Layer the cooked chicken on top of the rice and vegetables and
sprinkle with the toasted sesame seeds to serve.
22 | sussexexclusive.com

FOOD
Vanilla panna cotta
with gin-baked berries
Jacqueline Wise, founder and director of Positively Delicious shares this mouth-watering autumn
dessert recipe. Jacqueline is a Cordon Bleu Chef trained at Tante Marie Culinary Academy, and has
worked at Buckingham Palace, The Ritz and Michelin Star restaurants. She also runs Kelmsley which
caters for bespoke weddings, and Jacqueline Wise Chefs, a private dining offering. She loves to
forage, garden, cook on fire, educate about regenerative food and build a like-minded community
of nature-loving foodies who care about their own wellbeing and that of the planet.
Makes 6-8
Ingredients:
For the panna cotta
600 ml of cream
400 ml of milk
120 g of sugar
1 vanilla pod
4 gelatine leaves, softened in cold water
For the gin-baked berries
200 g mixed berries
1 tbsp sugar
4 tbsp gin
Method:
Pour the milk and cream into a saucepan with the sugar and vanilla seeds
(to scrape the seeds out of the pod, use the back of a knife).
Stir to combine and bring to a simmer, then remove from the heat. Take
the gelatine out of the cold water and squeeze out the excess, then add to
the milk mixture.
Stir until completely dissolved.
Pass through a medium sieve.
Tip into ramekins or glasses and place in the fridge to set for at least a
couple of hours.
Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
Wash and cut fruit in half if required, then place on a baking tray, scatter
over the sugar and 3 tbsp gin and bake for 15 minutes.
Allow to cool, pop into a bowl and add remainder gin for extra kick, chill.
To serve, turn each ramekin upside-down onto a serving plate. If the
panna cotta won’t drop out, carefully dip the ramekin in a bowl of warm
water to loosen it.
Serve with a generous spoonful of gin baked berries.
www.positivelydelicious.co.uk
23

Photo by Toni Cuenca
Cocktail Hour
In the heart of the county, we discovered a secret Sussex
cocktail creator putting his own unique stamp on the Sussex
drinks scene
24 | sussexexclusive.com
Sussex Smokie (over ice)
This cocktail is inspired by the classic Sussex dish. It uses a fresh and refreshing gin and lemon base,
sweetened with honey and given a hint of spice from a hint of ginger. The final addition of a splash of
smokie Islay whisky makes this an ideal autumn sipper.
Ingredients:
2oz / 60 ml Sussex gin
¾ oz / 20 ml lemon juice
½ oz honey syrup
½ oz ginger syrup
Splash of Islay whisky
Add all ingredients (except Islay whisky) to shaker, fill completely with ice and shake vigorously. Strain
into an “Old Fashioned” glass filled with ice. Float Islay whisky on top. Garnish with a lemon twist. You
can replace honey syrup with a teaspoon of honey and don’t have to include ginger syrup.

Sussex Smokie (shaken up)
This cocktail uses a fresh and refreshing gin and lemon base, sweetened with honey and given a hint of
spice from a hint of ginger. The egg white gives the cocktail a velvety finish and the final addition of a
splash of smokie Islay whisky makes this an ideal autumn sipper.
Ingredients:
2oz / 60 ml Sussex gin
¾ oz / 20 ml lemon juice
½ oz honey syrup
½ oz ginger syrup
Egg white
Splash of Islay whisky
Add all ingredients (except Islay whisky) to shaker. Shake without ice to emulsify the egg then fill
completely with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into coupe glass. Float Islay whisky on top. Garnish
with a lemon twist.
Omit the egg white for a vegan friendly option.
Sussex 7&5
There are 7 districts in West Sussex and 5 in
East Sussex. A fact that inspired this local
variation on the classic French 75. As well as
using Sussex gin and sparkling wine, this version
adds ginger syrup instead of sugar syrup for a
warming hint of spice.
Ingredients:
2oz / 60 ml Sussex gin
½ oz / 15 ml lemon juice
¾ oz ginger syrup
Sussex sparkling wine
Add all ingredients (except sparkling wine)
to shaker, fill completely with ice and shake
vigorously. Strain into champagne flute and top
with sparkling wine. Garnish with a lemon twist.
25

Steyning Arts
Meet The Artists
As a county rich in artistic talent and creativity, there has never been a better
opportunity to engage in and enjoy great Sussex art, sculpture and jewellery.
The Steyning Arts community has some 80 members working in a number of different disciplines and they host a variety of
events throughout the year. In this third in our series of Meet the Artist, we meet four of their artists and creators to find out
more about them, and what inspires their endeavours and creative processes.
26 | sussexexclusive.com
Katherine Lawrie
Based at my Cat and Kiwi Studio in
Walberton, near Arundel, I am a designer
jeweller and owner of Katherine Lawrie
Jewellery. I have been making and designing
jewellery for over 25 years and I learnt the core
jewellery making techniques from a young
age with my dad, a jeweller. I chose to follow
that path and decided to go to Art College/
University to enhance my knowledge. Leaving
University in 1997, I set up my business
in Steyning in my dad’s old studio. He had
emigrated to America, so I also used many of
his tools.
My work is artisan handmade jewellery,
incorporating mainly sterling silver and
gold with beautiful gemstones. I like
working with both metals but tend to
make most of my stock in silver and take
commissions in gold. Many pieces of my
work are one offs, but I do have a small
range of cast from life items which are
limited edition. All of my work is textured
with either a hammer or the serendipitous
technique of roller texturing. I love textured
metal; I feel it gives jewellery a richness,
almost like adding history to the piece.
My work is inspired by British flora, fauna
and wildlife, and local landmarks like
Chanctonbury ring and Bramber Castle. I use
hidden messages and symbolism which can
often be instilled by the wearer. With a passion
for romance and sentiment, I design jewellery
to be part of life’s rituals like marriages,
birthdays, in memorial or just because.
All the details can be found on my website
www.klawriejewellery.co.uk

Jean Griffiths
My studio workspace is in Coxham Lane,
Steyning. I moved to Steyning from London
35 years ago looking for a change in lifestyle. I
enrolled in a part-time Art Foundation course
and realised my lifelong love of stitching and
textiles could be developed into a creative art.
As a Creative Textile Artist I enjoy experimenting
with many different techniques – painting,
printing, dyeing, felting, stitching by hand and
machine to mention just a few. I am particularly
drawn to silk painting with subsequent surface
stitch. My personal work is mainly small scale,
framed 2D pieces but I also make silk bowls
and lanterns, handmade greetings cards and
bookmarks.
My inspiration often comes from places I
have visited and is informed by my interest in
geography. I am still processing a recent trip to
Alaska and am currently exploring how I can
interpret this in the medium of textiles. But a
more local and available landscape inspiration
is the beautiful area of Sussex and the South
Downs. The coast, and the sea with its constantly
changing light, are also a continuing source of
starting points for my work.
Contact Email griffiths@cheriton.eclipse.co.uk
for more information.
27

Alison Crowe
Alison Crowe Jewellery is based in Henfield, West Sussex. I have been
working with precious metals for nearly ten years and have a lifelong passion
for art and design, with an academic background focusing specifically on
fashion history and early 20th century art movements. When I started
working with silver, I immediately realised that I had found my ideal creative
medium.
I love the properties of silver and its endless creative possibilities. I work
mainly in Sterling or Argentium Silver, the latter being a relatively new type
of silver which was patented in the early 1990s. It is whiter in colour and
much more tarnish resistant than other silver. With the environment in
mind, I also like to use recycled metal where possible.
Colour is an important element and I add this to my jewellery by seeking
out beautiful and unusual gemstones including semi-precious Jaspers and
Quartz. All my pieces have a contemporary feel, and my aim is to make
them easy to wear and suitable for all occasions.
I draw on a broad range of influences, however my primary inspiration is
drawn from natural forms. I often see a particularly pleasing shape in nature
and adapt it and distil it to a more simplified form, sometimes adding
pattern and texture. I am also constantly influenced by my study of design
history. For example, I have created a range of jewellery based around Henri
Matisse’s “Cut-outs”– simplified organic forms which he created using
scissors and coloured paper.
My work is hallmarked by the London Assay Office at Goldsmiths Hall. It is
available to purchase at Gallery BN5 in Henfield High Street and online at:
www.alisoncrowejewellery.co.uk
28 | sussexexclusive.com

Jane Pinder
I work from my home studio in Worthing. I
don’t have an artistic background and stumbled
into making jewellery accidentally by taking an
evening course learning traditional techniques. I
also took a sculpture course and like to make my
jewellery quite sculptural with a 3D form to it. I
think of it as wearable art.
My work involves a synergy of creative ideas and
techniques and incorporates both precious and
non-precious materials using traditional and nontraditional
silversmithing techniques. I mainly
work in silver although I enjoy experimenting
with other techniques and materials in my
jewellery and have developed a range of etched
and more sculptural formed pieces. My latest
project has involved having some designs laser cut
in wood.
I am inspired from the varied fauna and flora,
organic texture and natural landscapes of the
Sussex coast. As a child I had a fascination for
collecting shells, stones and fossils along with
exploration of rock pools along the seashore. The
delight of being by the sea remains my calming
happy place and great for thinking out ideas.
I am also inspired by sculpture, from Barbara
Hepworth to Gaudi and anything in between.
I am drawn to mid-century design and Scandi
style and these simple styles can also influence
my designs.
Find out more at: www.janepinder.co.uk
I am inspired
from the
varied fauna
and flora,
organic
texture
and natural
landscapes
of the Sussex
coast.
You can meet many of the artists and makers from Steyning
Arts at their Christmas Gift Fair and Art Exhibition on the
3rd of December 10 am – 4 pm at the Steyning Centre.
Or visit their website at www.steyningarts.co.uk
29

GARDENING
Getting Your Garden
Winter Ready
30 | sussexexclusive.com
Geoff Stonebanks shares advice on how to get your garden,
plants and greenhouse ready for the cold months ahead

and may also provide protection for the roots.
Traditionalists will claim the stems harbour
pests and diseases. Horticulturally, it makes little
difference when they're cut back as long as it's
done before new growth starts next spring.
GARDENING
Traditionally,
October is the
month to lift
tender summer
bulbs such as
gladioli and
dahlias and
store in a cool,
dry place.
After a scorching summer, that
many gardeners have found very
difficult to cope with, we’re now
into autumn, which has been
claimed is the best season for
gardening. The new area of my own garden has
been the perfect spot to sit under a parasol and
enjoy the view or sit and read. It’s also going to
be the perfect retreat until the cold weather kicks
in. Over the next few weeks, we can certainly
expect some cooler weather and that will certainly
benefit many plants outdoors, especially after
being roasted alive this summer. It can be easy to
neglect our gardens when the temperatures drop,
but autumn is probably the best season to spend
time out there working as the soil is moist and
has a warm texture.
Garden Tasks
Autumn is also a great time for clearing up –
greenhouses, ponds, gutters and water butts may
all need cleaning out. Wooden garden furniture
will need covering or storing for the winter and
terracotta pots may need bringing inside, so that
they don’t freeze and crack. If you don’t already
have a compost heap or bin, now is a great time
to start one, with all the leaves and cuttings to be
disposed of!
The clocks go back on the 30th October, meaning
time available to spend in your plot is cut short,
so make the most of the longer days until then.
Traditionally, October is the month to lift tender
summer bulbs such as gladioli and dahlias and
store in a cool, dry place. I’ve carefully lifted
mine and will store in the covered side alley. It
is also the month to cut back perennials, but
I’ve recently read that a new school of thought
says leaving the dead stems is good for wildlife
Chrysanthemums
A very common plant to have in the garden
at this time of year is the ever-popular
chrysanthemum or “pot mum”. They are perfect
to be placed in containers and bloom well into
autumn and beyond. You can find them for sale
everywhere in a large variety of colours. Care
of container grown mums is relatively easy. You
may want to repot it as soon as you get it home
to give it room to grow. If you are careful and
keep it well watered, you should be able to enjoy
their blooms throughout the autumn months
and possibly even the next spring. I have mine
in containers, which means they are great plants
to move around the garden, filling gaps as the
summer colours start to fade on other plants.
Houseplant holiday is over
A good idea this month is to bring any
houseplants that you moved outside over
the summer months, back indoors, before
the temperatures start to drop. I have a
large collection of aeoniums, a few cacti and
succulents that don’t really like the cold,
especially the frost. It’s a pretty big job in my
garden to lift them all and carry the containers
back to their winter homes. I’ve probably got
over 70 containers with aeoniums and I try and
place as many as I can in the front and back
porches of the house. They are such beautiful
plants to look at, it always seems a shame to
shut them away in the greenhouse! However,
any that I can’t find room for, have to spend the
winter in the heated greenhouse.
As far as your indoor plants go, now is the time
to start watering them less as they prepare for
the colder months too.
Forward planning
Now is a great time to look forward to 2023.
Maybe sit down and think about spring bulbs
you’d like to have in your plot next year. Spend
time looking through catalogues or searching
online. It’s not too early to even start planting
some you may already have. Some easy examples
are the good old favourites, like crocus, hyacinth
and daffodils. Make the most of the remaining
warmth while you can!
31

GARDENING
Preparing the greenhouse for
autumn and winter
Before you begin moving plants to safety for the
colder months it pays to give your greenhouse
a thorough clean. You really need a good day
for the task, ideally in dry, calm weather. If you
have any delicate plants inside then make sure
you remove them to a sheltered area while the
job is in hand. I tend to brush, or sometimes
vacuum, to remove all the debris. Next up you
need to have a go at cleaning the structural parts
with disinfectant or detergent (hot solutions are
often best but consult manufacturers’ directions
for use). You could use garden disinfectants or a
specialist greenhouse cleaner. Make sure you wash
the glazing material inside and out as well, but for
plastic materials, test on a small inconspicuous
area first to be sure the cleaning material does
not damage the surface. If you have used shade
paint through the summer, then that needs to be
scrubbed off too. It can be difficult to ease out
dirt trapped between the panes but try using a
flexible scraper such as a plastic plant label to get
in the grooves. Check the space for broken parts
such as vent controllers and draught excluders as
well.
If you propagate your own plants, then pay special
attention to those areas and the equipment you
use as young plants are especially vulnerable to
diseases. Once complete you can restock the
greenhouse for the oncoming colder months. I
mostly use mine for storage of plants that don’t
like the cold, as mine is heated too.
Read more of Geoff’s garden at
www.driftwoodbysea.co.uk
32 | sussexexclusive.com

Chailey Windmill
Bognor Regis Pier
Marine Court, Hastings
Chichester Cathedral
Sussex in Pictures
Sussex is a county of many dimensions and personalities.
Here are just some of the highlights of the last year at Sussex Exclusive.
We love to feature the best of your photos too,
so please feel free to send them to us.
33

Brighton North Laine
Cowdray Ruins, Midhurst
The Towner Eastbourne
Knepp Estate
De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill
Arundel Castle
Martello Tower, Eastbourne
34 | sussexexclusive.com

Horsham Speakers Club
Does public speaking bring you out in a
cold sweat? Perhaps working from home
has knocked your confidence?
Do you know you need to improve, but
you’re not sure where to start?
Horsham Speakers Club is a Chartered Member
of the Association of Speakers Clubs and offers
a relaxed, friendly and supportive place for you
to come and improve your public speaking skills.
• Our diverse membership includes speakers
of all abilities.
• We have a structured education programme,
and you learn at entirely your own pace.
• The Club meets twice a month. Your first
meeting is free, and you don’t have to say
a word if you don’t want to.
• Guests are always welcome.
Why not join us for a meeting and see what
we do. Contact us for more details and to
arrange a visit!
www.horshamspeakers.org.uk
horshamspeakers@gmail.com
35

Stunning Sussex Walks
Top
Ashdown Forest
Bottom
Angmering Estate
36 | sussexexclusive.com

The weather may be turning cold and even a
little soggy, but nothing beats a hearty walk,
followed by a quick pint or pit stop. So check
out these five stunning walks from across the
county and enjoy our wonderful
Sussex countryside.
Angmering Park and Estate,
West Sussex
The Angmering Park Estate is a 6,750-acre
private estate set in the heart of the South Downs
National Park, near Arundel. It forms the eastern
half of the original Norfolk Estate and its origins
go back to the Norman Conquest.
Parking and routes
There are lots of different woodland trails here
making it perfect for an autumn walk. Park at
Dover Lane, just off the A27 in between Arundel
and Clapham and take your pick between short
and long routes. You need Ordnance Survey
Explorer 121 or join a group such as Nordic
walking group, WALX Coast and Country.
...you can walk
north up the
old Roman
Road and
Wealdway
into Winne
the Pooh’s
Five Hundred
Acre Wood
Where to eat
The Worlds End
Built in the 18 th century as a coaching inn on the
old Arundel Road at (Patching), The Worlds End
pub is dog friendly and has a large garden and
children’s play area, as well as roaring log fires,
flagstone floors and oak beams.
Ashdown Forest and Winnie the
Pooh, East Sussex
Ashdown Forest is an ancient area of open
heathland and the highest point of the High
Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,
meaning it has great views of the North and South
Downs. It covers 6,100 acres and is the largest area
with open public access in south east England.
You need Ordnance Survey Explorer 135.
Parking and routes
Ashdown Forest has lots of car parks but beware
as paid parking is now being introduced in some
of these. There’s lots to see on Ashdown Forest,
including the Nutley windmill and the Airman’s
37

Tops
Rye Nature Reserve
Bottom
Camber Castle
Grave but for a good central location, head north
from Maresfield on the B2026. Where the road
forks, take the left turn and park in any of these
car parks.
From here, you can walk north up the old Roman
Road and Wealdway into Winne the Pooh’s Five
Hundred Acre Wood. And from here, you could
keep going north to Withyham where there is an
excellent pub, the Dorset Arms. It’s roughly a 7
km walk there.
Alternatively, from the car park, take the Vanguard
Way (north west) to Pooh Sticks Bridge. This is
only a 2 km walk and you can walk back to the
car via a different route.
Where to eat
The Hatch Inn
The Hatch Inn at Coleman’s Hatch has won a
number of accolades and is described as one of
“the” places to eat on Ashdown Forest. The building
dates back to the 15 th century and has tales of
smugglers. It is dog friendly too although parking
can be a squeeze so you might want to walk there.
Rye Nature Reserve and
Camber Castle
Rye Nature Reserve always has a slightly desolate
charm. Apart from the abundance of wildlife, this
walk takes you past the visitor centre, the iconic
fisherman’s hut, a Martello tower and Camber
Castle. The total distance is just over 9 km and
you need Ordnance Survey Explorer 125.
Upwaltham and Waltham Down
Drive south from Petworth on the A285 and when
you reach Upwaltham (you’ll see the pretty and
remote church on your right) bear right to East
Dean. You need Ordnance Survey Explorer 121.
Rye Nature
Reserve
always has
a slightly
desolate
charm.
Parking and route
There is a large car park as you arrive in Rye
Harbour, right next to the Martello Tower
(number 28). The Rye Harbour Nature Reserve
has a network of footpaths but start by walking
towards the visitor centre and on towards the sea.
Turn right when you reach the coastline (west)
and head towards Winchelsea. After about 4 km
you turn right again towards Nook Beach and
then wind your way to the Castle Water Nature
Reserve and Camber Castle built by Henry VIII.
From there, you can walk back to Harbour Road
and the car park.
Where to eat
William the Conqueror
William the Conqueror (the pub, not the
invader) is in Rye Harbour and is dog and
child friendly.
Parking and routes
There is a car park at Droke about 2 km after you
turned right. Take the bridlepath north from here
and skirt Waltham Down and Heath Hanger.
After about 2 km fork right and keep going until
you join the South Downs Way when you turn
left. For an 8.5 km walk take the next turn left
which will lead you back to the start but if you
want to ramble further just keep going. There
are some beautiful longer routes including a nice
16.5 km walk via Forest Hanger.
Where to eat
The Three Moles
In nearby Selham, you’ll find the Three Moles
which isn’t just dog friendly, if they have time,
they even do a free doggy roast! Or head back to
The Cricketers at Duncton which is also
dog friendly.
38 | sussexexclusive.com

The Long Man at Wilmington
and the White Horse at
Litlington
This fabulous 18 km takes in two giant chalk
figures of the South Downs, the Cuckmere
River and the South Downs Way. You will need
Ordnance Survey Explorer 25.
Parking and routes
Turn off the A27 in between Berwick and
Polegate at Wilmington and park in the car park
at Wilmington Priory. You’ll see the Long Man
of Wilmington (a 72-metre-tall chalk figure cut
into the hill) ahead of you, and the footbath leads
to his feet and then round the side of him, with a
steep climb up Windover Hill.
You join the South Downs Way for a very short
time before you peel off to your right along the
edge of the steep slopes of Deep Dean. When
you come to a right turn, take it to Litlington
village where after a short distance (left) you pick
up the South Downs Way which will take you
past Charleston Manor and all the way to Exceat
Bridge and Cuckmere Haven.
Pick up the riverside path at the bridge and
follow it north. You’ll pass another chalk figure,
this time a horse, high up above you as you
meander your way back to Alfriston (a good place
for a stop). Alternatively, rather than cross into
Alfriston, turn right at Plonk Barn, and follow
the path until you reach a little lane which will
take you back to the start.
You don’t have to walk this far and there are
plenty of short walks as alternatives.
Where to eat
The Eight Bells
A short drive away, you’ll find The Eight Bells
in Jevington. Jevington is another Sussex village
with a rich smuggling past. The Eight Bells has
a stellar reputation, great views and a locally
sourced menu.
We’d love to know how you get on with our
walks, so please feel free to share your photos and
experiences on our Facebook page.
Clockwises
Upwaltham church
Rye-Harbour
Deep Dean
Wilmington Walk
Upwaltham pub
39

Our Sussex Quiz
How Sussex are you? Adam Jacot de Boinod tests your Sussex general
knowledge with these questions
1 On which date is Sussex Day?
2 Which recent Prime Minister was born in
Eastbourne?
3 What is the county flower of Sussex?
4 01243 is the area dialling code for which
Sussex town?
5 Which former glamour model grew up in
Brighton before becoming a TV personality?
6 With which Sussex town do you associate the
year 1066?
7 Which house has many works by JMW
Turner?
And finally, how good is your Sussex
Dialect?
Can you guess the correct definition of the
following word from our Sussex dialect from
the following three options for:
yoyster
A
B
C
a youth between boyhood and manhood
a crooked horse breeder
to play about roughly and noisily
8 In which stadium do Brighton and Hove
Albion play?
9 For what food is Chiddingly known?
10 Which independent school has a uniform that
involves yellow socks?
Adam Jacot de Boinod was a researcher for
the first BBC series QI, compered by Stephen
Fry, and is an author of three books including
‘The Meaning of Tingo’.
40 | sussexexclusive.com

Super Stylish
Winter Trends
Nail your winter wardrobe with tips from our
favourite fashionista, Donna Camera
Winter trends can be
summed up in one word this
year, 'nostalgia'. Think print,
think sequins, think 70s
and 80s shapes and styles.
If you are unsure on your
style, please do contact
me for a personal styling
appointment.
Sequins
It's strictly season. Make time to sparkle
this Christmas in sequins. Sequin trousers
will elevate your Christmas look.
Claudia Sequin trousers £49.90
Bcfaye Sparkle tops £40
Suiting
Arguably the biggest trend of the
season. Wear your suit in velvet and
you will be streets ahead. Available in
several colours.
Evie Velvet jacket £89.90
Evie Velvet Trousers £49.90
41

Print
Feel nostalgic in
bold 70s print.
Our beautiful
Yana dress will
make heads
turn at your
Christmas party.
Onjenu Yana
Dress £120.00
42 | sussexexclusive.com

Neon Pink
Valentino's entire catwalk show was in
Neon Pink. It's so hot right now. If you
are not brave enough to wear head to
toe, just add a cosy pink knit.
Bccasey Wool Cardis £80.00
Accessories
If you want to bring a little bit of
colour and warmth to your Christmas
wardrobe, add a scarf. Silky fabrics in
jewel colours will add a festive feel.
Silky Square Scarves £20
And finally
A must have gift for
any fashionista, a
beautiful natural wax
scented candle in a reusable
fine bone china
container, gilded with
22 Carat gold and gift
wrapped in silk.
Laura Dickinson Mini
Muse candles £32
La Vida Boutique Celebrating 23 years in business.
Listed in Drapers top 100 Inspiring Independents 2020.
Boutique open Wednesday to Saturday 10:30am-5pm
Online shopping 24/7 www.lavidaboutique.co.uk
Follow us on insta: LaVidaBoutiqueUK
Facebook: LaVidaBoutique
Donna
Or for a bit more sparkle with a
sparkle hat…
43

The Best Sussex
Christmas
Experiences
Ease into the spirit of Christmas with our selection of slightly different but
sublimely festive experiences
44 | sussexexclusive.com

Award Winning Mediaeval
Baebes’ Folklore Christmas
Weaving their story-telling magic and exalting the
traditional spirit of Christmas with hauntingly
joyous music, the Mediaeval Baebes will be
performing at St Mary’s Church in Horsham
on the 20th of December as part of their
MydWynter Tour.
Evoking thoughts of the winter festival and its
pre-Christian origins, the Mediaeval Baebes will
be performing Christmas carol classics, traditional
folksongs and showcasing arrangements from
their new MydWynter album. Accompanied by a
dazzling array of exotic and period instruments,
this unique take on early music, traditional
culture and the magic of folklore brings a unique
opportunity to be uplifted and enchanted in the
stunning and graceful medieval church.
Tickets are now available from
www.mediaevalbaebes.com
Christmas Wreath Making
Workshop & Festive Cream Tea
with Prosecco
Escape the yuletide mayhem, relax and get
creative at The Artisan Bakehouse, Ashurst, West
Sussex. Local florist, Sam Green from The Crazy
Daisy Company will be back at The Bakehouse
offering her fabulous wreath making sessions.
Wreath making finishes with Festive Cream Tea (a
choice of apple & cinnamon, cranberry or plain
scones with homemade jam & clotted cream)
with a glass of prosecco/sparkling elderflower/tea
& coffee. The Artisan Bakehouse also offer special
Saturday Brunch events to create a larger Luxury
Wreath. A great start to the festive season making
your own wreath and enjoying scrumptious food
and festive cheer in their idyllic country setting!
Full details can be found here:
www.theartisanbakehouse.com
Celebrate the Winter Solstice
To herald the change of seasons, The Wellderness
are hosting a unique Winter Solstice celebration.
On 21st of December, at Furzefield Campsite
in Angmering there will be two ceremonies to
mark the sun’s rebirth. Led by Alex Childs and
Mel Maelo, there will be a family event in the
early evening, followed later by an adult-only
celebration.
Gather around Grandfather Fire, and welcome
Mother Earth, Father Sun and Grandmother
Moon to the occasion. This swift ritual to mark
the start of the longest night will be followed by
a Poi Passion fire show, before the young ones go
home at 6 pm.
For more information or to book visit: Eventbrite
www.solstice-celebration
Glo Wild
An enchanting winter lantern trail, at Wakehurst,
Ardingly, West Sussex. This year, Wakehurst
celebrates the incredible colour spectrum of the
natural world with 11 bespoke installations and
over 1,000 paper lanterns handmade by local
volunteers. Enjoy mulled wine or hot chocolate
with a mince pie on arrival and toast a delicious
marshmallow over crackling fire pits next to the
UK’s tallest living Christmas tree to round off
your festive experience. Early booking is essential.
www.kew.org/wakehurst
Carols by Candlelight in a
13th Century Chapel
Mark the start of the festive season with a
glorious “Carols by Candlelight” performance in
13th century chapel at Bailiffscourt, Climping,
West Sussex. The acoustics of this beautiful
building, filled with candles and sparkle, bring a
whole new dimension to the talent and beautiful
voices of The Agnes Collective who have sung
in some of Britain’s top venues including the
Royal Albert Hall, The Royal Opera House and
Glyndebourne.
Create your own family festive tradition
and choose from three performance dates in
December to get in the mood for Christmas with
a fine festive lunch, indulgent afternoon tea, or
make an evening of it with a delicious dinner.
www.hshotels.co.uk
45

Why rural land diversifi
and what are the tax imp
Rural land diversification has always been important to land owners and farmers, who are partic
Generating additional sources of
income can be essential to secure
the financial future of a farm or
landed estate. There is a worry
however that such diversification
can risk the inheritance tax (“IHT”) relief on offer,
particularly Agricultural Property Relief (“APR”),
and Business Property Relief (“BPR”).
Inheritance Tax
IHT is broadly payable at 40% on the value of
a person’s net assets at death. Up to the first £1
million of net assets is taxed at nil% representing
the nil rate bands (“NRBs”) which may be
available to partners, whether married or in a
civil partnership. In addition to the NRBs, APR
and BPR can extend the £1 million of wealth
taxed at nil% to a much greater amount.
Agricultural Property Relief
APR is available only on the agricultural value of
property, namely the price it would fetch if it were
sold subject to a perpetual covenant confining its
use to agriculture. APR may be at 50% or 100%,
depending on whether the property is farmed in
hand or the nature of any tenancies in place.
In short, however, a farm comprising a land
holding used for agriculture with a farmhouse of
character appropriate to the land holding, together
with farm buildings including appropriate cottages
for farm workers, will qualify for APR. It is larger
more complex land holdings where APR may be
in question.
Business Property Relief
BPR applies to the open market value of relevant
business property, in contrast to APR. BPR
can therefore cover the difference between the
agricultural value and the open market value
where a farm is run in-hand. BPR is available at
either 50% or 100% depending on the nature and
ownership of the business property.
Diversification options
1. Vineyards and wineries
HM Revenue and Customs (“HMRC”) have
confirmed APR has been extended to include
vineyards and wineries. Given the success of
the English wine industry, it is pleasing that the
tax code has caught up with the real world.
The guidance from HMRC confirms
horticulture includes “cultivation to produce
food for human and animal consumption”
with the clarification “food” in this context
would include, for example, grapes grown to
produce wine and apples grown to produce
cider”.
This is important as firstly the land on which
vines have been planted will be classified as
being in agricultural production and secondly
as the buildings and houses associated with the
vineyard may similarly qualify for APR.
2. Holiday accommodation including
glamping
Holiday accommodation will ordinarily be
treated as a rental business and any relief from
IHT will be lost. The position can be different
if, as the owner of the accommodation, you
provide sufficient services to your customers
to be classified as a trading business which
qualifies for BPR.
Increasingly popular as a form of holiday
accommodation is glamping. Likewise,
if sufficient services are provided to your
customers, there will be a trading business
which qualifies for BPR. It should be
appreciated that the bar is set high in
determining if the level of services provided is
sufficient to convert property from being an
investment property to a trading property.
Holiday accommodation businesses can
qualify as a Furnished Holiday Let (“FHL”)
if certain conditions are met, predominantly
day counts for availability, actual lettings and
commerciality conditions. Where met, a FHL
can qualify for BPR in its own right and other
tax reliefs.
46 | sussexexclusive.com

cation is important
lications
ularly adept at changing with the times.
3. Renewable energy projects
Renewable energy projects can include solar
and wind power generation and associated with
these are battery arrays to store the electricity
generated. The financial return can vary from
becoming self-sufficient for your own energy
needs to securing a significant income source
to support the farm or estate.
There is a distinction to be made. On the
one hand, where you own the renewable
installation on your own land, or you could
own energy generating equipment as a part of
your farming business, these should also qualify
for BPR. On the other, renting your land for
someone else’s power generating equipment to
be installed, would not qualify for BPR.
4. Environmental schemes
Environmental schemes are on the increase
but the question to be considered is whether
the land is still in agricultural production.
If not, then APR will be lost. There is also
a risk of BPR being lost too, depending
on the detail of each scheme. Given the
early stage of these schemes, there is little
official guidance from HMRC. These
inherent uncertainties will make it difficult
to determine the IHT treatment of your
farm or estate and each case will need to be
considered on its individual merits.
5. Shoots
The presence of a shoot on your farm or estate
is likely to have a long historical association.
It can vary from a thoroughly commercial
operation to one of the perquisites of
a significant landowner engaging in
conservation with conviviality. Commercially
run shoots should qualify for BPR but
care will need to be given to ensuring
“private days” do not take away from their
commerciality, and to making sure the land
remains in agricultural production.
6. Woodlands
Running your woodlands on a commercial
basis with a view to a profit will result in them
qualifying for BPR. If your woodlands are
incidental to the farmland, and they perform
a shelter belt function, those woodlands will
qualify for APR. Should the associated land
be withdrawn from agricultural use, then the
APR will be lost.
Bring it all together – can you
“Brander” your estate?
In an interesting legal judgement named after
the executor, in a case involving the late Earl of
Balfour, it is possible BPR may apply to an estate
as a whole, rather than just to individual assets.
Consideration was given to whether more than
50% of the estate’s activity overall was trading by
reference to turnover, profit, capital value of assets,
and time spent working. The conclusion reached
was that more than 50% of the estate’s activity
was trading and consequently 100% BPR was
available on the whole estate.
This of course is a remarkably good outcome and
is one of the reasons why many estates carry out
“Balfour” type assessments each year to confirm
the estate would qualify for BPR.
Conclusion
Diversification will always be an important
consideration for rural land owners and with
the right planning and circumstances need
not result in you losing either APR or BPR for
IHT purposes. With that tax relief secured, the
additional income from a diversification project
can greatly help with income generation and
securing the future of your farm or estate.
If you would like to discuss rural land
diversification for your farm or estate, please get
in touch.
Stuart Ritchie is a
chartered accountant
and chartered tax
adviser with over
30 years experience. He
is a tax partner with
Ritchie Phillips LLP
based in Horsham and
can be contacted on
020 3195 1300 or
at stuart.ritchie@
ritchiephillips.co.uk.
He has direct experience
of securing APR and
BPR relief for IHT
purposes for agricultural
businesses as they pass
between generations.
47

A School Like No O
Christ’s Hospital wins two significant awards for its
contribution to social mobility
Christ’s Hospital has been proving
it’s a school like no other since
1552. Now it has two new
prestigious awards that recognise the
outstanding contribution the school
makes to social mobility.
Christ’s Hospitals core goal
Christ’s Hospital was founded in the 16th
century as one of the famous Royal Hospitals
of London. From those early beginnings the
school has always welcomed children of all social
backgrounds and ages.
Today, Christ’s Hospital is the UK’s leading
charitable school and largest bursary charity.
Christ’s Hospitals commitment to its core goal
of social responsibility and mobility remains
steadfast. It provides free or substantially reduced
cost places to over 630 of its 900 pupils each year,
delivering first-class education and exceptional
pastoral support, ensuring each pupil has the
opportunity to thrive and fulfil their potential.
98% of pupils go on to university.
Making a difference to the
community
The school also has an ongoing and extensive
outreach programme and proactively aims to
make a difference in the local community as
48 | sussexexclusive.com

well as further afield. The Community Action
programme was started in 1987 and involves
over 200 pupils each week reaching out to the
local community.
ther
Today, Christ’s
Hospital is the
UK’s leading
charitable
school and
largest bursary
charity. Christ’s
Hospitals
commitment
to its core
goal of social
responsibility
and mobility
remains
steadfast.
National recognition for the
school’s achievements
Now the school’s commitment to social
responsibility and mobility has been recognised
by two important national awards.
The Independent Schools of the
Year Awards 2022
The Independent Schools of the Year Awards
2022 celebrate all that students, staff and wider
school communities have achieved during the
2021-22 academic year.
Judges’ Special Award (for
Contribution to Social Mobility)
At the awards ceremony in October, Christ’s
Hospital was presented with the Judges’ Special
Award (for Contribution to Social Mobility).
Presenting the award, Dr Helen Wright
(judge, former President of the Girls’ Schools
Association and Vice-Chair of ISC) referenced
Christ’s Hospital’s, “seriously impressive bursary
programme” and described the school has having
“social mobility in its very DNA.”.
The Judges’ Special Award (for Contribution
to Social Mobility) is awarded to the school
which most impressed the judges by the way
in which it has made an inspirational and
decisive contribution to upward social mobility
within its community in the past year as well as
demonstrating a philosophical recognition of the
importance of social mobility to young people.
The UK Social Mobility
Awards 2022
The national UK Social Mobility Awards are a
unique set of awards that have been specifically
established to recognise and encourage action
that will promote and increase social mobility
within Britain’s companies and institutions.
More specifically, these awards recognise
and celebrate innovation, excellence and
achievements that help elevate social mobility as
a cause equal to the level of other diversity issues.
This year the awards had received the highest
number of entries since they were launched in
2017 from across a vast variety of industries.
Highly Commended Gold Award
for School / College of the Year
The UK Social Mobility Awards were presented
at an Awards Fundraising Gala held at The Royal
Lancaster London Hotel on Thursday 13th
October, with Christ’s Hospital being given the
Gold Award as the Highly Commended School /
College of the Year.
On announcing this recognition, Tunde Banjoko
OBE, Founder of The UK Social Mobility
Awards, added:
“The number and quality of entries we received
for this year’s awards is an indication of the
increasing significance of social mobility to UK
business. I would like to congratulate Christ’s
Hospital for achieving a Gold Award in the
‘School/College of the Year’ category and for the
inspiring work they are doing to further this
important movement.”
Christ’s Hospital is delighted to receive these
two significant awards, recognising the ongoing
work of everyone at the school and the school’s
many achievements. Simon Reid, Head Teacher
explained the school’s ongoing determination
and commitment to social mobility.
“Christ›s Hospital school is honoured to be a
winner amongst so many organisations that are
making such a difference to social mobility in
the UK. As the UK›s leading charitable school,
we have a deep commitment to driving social
mobility through first class education and care
for students from less advantaged backgrounds.
We are determined to enhance our impact and
are keen to work with employers and other
organisations to support more young people and
their families.”
If you’d like to know more about Christ’s
Hospital and the unique opportunities it can
provide, visit: www.christs-hospital.org.uk
49

The Chequers Inn at Row
Outstanding Cuisine and
a Warm Welcome at
50 | sussexexclusive.com

Warm up in front of the fire in a cosy bar
after a woodland walk and enjoy superb
local cuisine and Sussex hospitality.
A unique Sussex pub
Set on the edge of the historic Roman Woods,
in the tiny village of Rowhook, you’ll find The
Chequers in a beautiful 15th century building,
with front and rear terraces, a bar and two dining
areas, making it perfect for a lingering lunch after
a long walk, or a special evening meal.
An exceptional chef
Chef and founder Tim Neal has worked at the
likes of South Lodge Hotel in Lower Beeding
where he was head chef and earned the Camellia
restaurant three AA Rosettes. The Chequers is
recommended by the AA, Michelin and Master
Chefs of Great Britain guides.
Tim is passionate about creating exceptional
food in a relaxed setting, using local, seasonal
and foraged ingredients wherever possible. His
menu includes memories of France, sophisticated
flavours, elegance and a dash of comfort. Nothing
says autumn more than Tim’s sausages of the
day served on mashed potatoes with caramelised
onion gravy.
They also offer a selection of fantastic wines
including a number of Sussex wines and a diverse
range of local ales.
A must visit foodie destination
With dishes like Kerala curry king prawns, risotto
of wild mushrooms with parmesan and white
truffle oil, crispy confit duck on mashed potatoes,
and chargrilled bavette steak with chimichurri
sauce, The Chequers is a must try destination for
the foodie.
Dog friendly
Dogs are welcome and there are dog treats on the
bar, and water on request.
hook
Call now to book or to find out more:
The Chequers Inn
Rowhook Road, Horsham RH12 3PY
thechequersrowhook.com
01403 790480
51

“ T ake a Mouse
and Bake It”
Local historian Peter Benner shares Sussex remedies and cures of by gone days
52 | sussexexclusive.com

I
have written before about the “Good
Things of Sussex” and the less than good
diets which sustained our forebears. For
the poor, when they could get it, it was
root vegetables, coarse bread, fat pork and
cheese. For the rich, it was more meat and much
more drink - claret, sack (a fortified wine), port
and all in large quantities.
This had inevitable consequences. For the poor,
being rickets and scurvy, for the rich being gout
and digestive ills. So what did they do about it?
As with everywhere else, medicinal treatment
was a long time coming to Sussex. True, our
saints, particularly Richard, Leonard and
Cuthman had a handy turn at curing ills, when
they weren’t ridding us of snakes, dragons and
straying sheep. And then we boasted “Merry
Andrew Borde of Pevensey” who became
physician to Henry VIII, though not probably
doing much prescribing locally.
But every community had its own “wise
person”, usually female, whose treatment
probably had more in common with the
colonial witch doctor than your modern GP.
At all levels, the remedies for ills were basic,
if not drastic – such as purging and bleeding.
But not perhaps as potentially drastic as quite
a recent remedy from Lindfield for boils
which starts, “Take a ripe fig and stuff it with
gun powder…”!
Here in Sussex, our wise women and
housewives did develop their own version
of homeopathic medicine. There is a lovely
picture in Sport and Nature in Sussex Downs
by FE Wood (a historian of Ditchling) of the
wandering Apothecary – Ann, an “old cottage
wife” going about to get her “medsuns” –
Meadow Crowfoot for rheums, Agrimony for
the liver, Tansy for the fevers and Fumitory for
sore eyes which she collected with much more
in her apron to distil and brew at home.
Not all the remedies found in Old Sussex were
as wholesome or appealing. William Cobbett
in his 19th century Rural Rides recommended
a soaking in the rain of the South Downs as a
cure for whooping cough (though to be fair,
he had just been on the Hampshire Downs so
perhaps their rain is different).
Other remedies recorded at various times were
mice – eaten live or baked to dust to be taken
in a posset. Also spiders, wrapped in their webs
and swallowed whole (and the webs were a
sure-fire remedy for cuts and abrasions), and
the oil of snake. Perhaps we in Sussex invented
the pejorative term “snake-oil salesman” for
a mountebank of the sort often found at our
Sussex fairs.
Many of these remedies would be taken in
a solution of strong ale or spirits: there was
nothing more likely to gladden the hearts of
Sussex folk of whatever station in life than a stiff
dose of gin (Hollands or Geneva) or brandy,
that had managed to reach our shores courtesy
of the “gentlemen” without paying any customs
duty. In fact, John Wesley feared that he could
not cure the people of Rye of that “accursed
thing smuggling” – which goes to show that the
remedy is often as drastic as the complaint it
seeks to cure.
Thomas Turner, the 18th century diarist from
East Hoathly was always trying to find a remedy
for excess – he resolved never to have more than
four glasses of strong ale or eight at a session of
punch or wine. Although it is reported that such
abstinence still left him prone to the “falling
down” sickness.
And moderation was of course comparative. At
least with Richard Stapley, the diarist of 17th
century Albourne who started his recipe for
porridge with “of soup of legs of beef take twelve
quarts” which was not good for the as yet uninvented
vegan abstinence, or for the legs of beef.
It just goes to show, you can’t always believe what
it says on the tin.
53

Spotlight
Discover this historic town brimming with
personality, antiques, great grub and fine wine
on
Petworth
With narrow and cobbled
streets lined with beautiful
architecture, Petworth is
overlooked by the imposing
figure of Petworth House
and the magnificent and ever regal South Downs.
Not far from Chichester and Midhurst, it makes
a great stop-off point for the Sussex explorer
or the perfect destination for a mini break.
And whether you want to indulge in a Sussex
gourmand experience or soak up some fine art
and a few great walks, this little town is packed to
the rafters with great things to do.
A little bit of Petworth history
Petworth dates back to at least the Domesday
Book with mention of St. Mary’s church and a
mill at that time. There is evidence of a manor
house on the site of the current Petworth House
as long ago as the 14th century (the chapel at
Petworth House dates back to that period) but it
was the 17th and 18th centuries when the town
really began to take shape.
Petworth holds a relatively strategic position.
There was a turnpike road from the mid-18th
century from London to Petworth and then
on to Chichester (diverted in 1800 to cross the
River Rother at Coultershaw). For a short time,
Coultershaw was also on a section of the Rother
Navigation (constructed between 1791 and 1794
but closed in 1888) and of course, in 1859, the
railway arrived.
54 | sussexexclusive.com

Petworth House was first rebuilt in grand style
in 1688 and within 50 years, Capability Brown
had been commissioned to design Petworth
Park. During the late 18th century, Burton
Mill was built, a Beam Pump was built at
Coultershaw to provide water for Petworth
House and the town, a gaol was opened, and
Leconfield Hall was built in the town square.
Lombard Street
Petworth
holds the
oldest street
fair in the
south of
England. It
takes place
in front of
Leconfield
Hall and
is held on
or around
the 20th
November,
the Feast of
St Edmund
the King.
What to see and do
Petworth House and Park
Any visit to Petworth really has to include
Petworth House (now managed by the National
Trust). Inspired by the Baroque palaces of
Europe, the magnificent house is home to a
prestigious art collection including many works
by Turner, Gainsborough, Blake and Van Dyck.
A visit includes the state rooms as well as the
servants’ quarters, and historic kitchens.
When you have finished in the house, enjoy a
walk in the 700 acres of deer park, where you
are you almost certain to see a number of deer
and enjoy great views across the lake and back
at the house. You can also explore the Pleasure
Garden and discover the Rotunda, the Doris
Temple, ancient trees, the Boat House, and the
Dog of Alcibiades in the lake.
Petworth Museum
Petworth has its own small but perfectly formed
cottage museum open from April to October.
It's the home of a former Leconfield estate-
worker, Mrs Cummings, a seamstress at Petworth
House. It's furnished as it would have been in
1910 and is just up the road from The Hungry
Guest.
Art and antiques
Petworth is well known for its many antique
shops and art galleries and a good rummage
around Petworth Antique Market is a fine way to
spend a few hours. There are some 43 dealers at
Museum
55

the Antique Market and a fantastic collection of
everything from antique walking sticks, silver and
glass, to books, lace and linens.
Fêtes, festivals and fairs
Petworth holds the oldest street fair in the south
of England. It takes place in front of Leconfield
Hall and is held on or around the 20th
November, the Feast of St Edmund the King.
It allegedly dates back to 1189. For summer
frolics, Petworth Festival is a music and arts
extravaganza. Then there's the Petworth Literary
Week which normally takes place in October
and welcomes a host of writers, directors, and
presenters and the Petworth Sessions are now also
hosting a year-round Petworth Fringe!
Shopping
If you’re on the lookout for independent shops
and boutiques, then Petworth is a good place
to start. In the Old Bakery (just next to the car
park), you’ll find a fabulous bookshop where
you’ll find books by local authors (as well as lots
of other books and authors).
Lombard Street is home to more art galleries and
antique shops, but you’ll also find some absolute
gems here. The Upside Down Tree Studio (aka
Artisan in Lombard) stocks the owner’s own
jewellery as well as lots of beautiful items by a
number of other local makers and artisans. A
little further down the street is Tallulah Fox with
a fabulous selection of glassware, fabrics, ceramics
and other irresistible homewares.
There are also some rather fabulous women’s
clothes shops in Petworth including Sorella (in
between Lombard Street and East Street) and
Twenty in East Street (they always seem to have
the most fabulous floral displays outside).
Finally, pop into Artful Teasing in Market Square
where you’ll find the most delectable artisan skin
and body care products.
Great local walks
Being so close to the South Downs means
there is always going to be great walking
here. Once you’ve exhausted Petworth Park,
head slightly south west to Duncton and
Graffham Common where you can walk some
of the Serpent Trailor just head to the South
Downs. Alternatively, try the nearby villages of
Tillington or Lodwsorth and choose one of the
many footpaths there.
The Petworth Gourmand
The market
Try and coincide your visit with the farmers’
market on the 4th Saturday of the month. It’s not
huge but does include the catch of the day from
the coast, homemade breads, hand reared meats,
pastries, olives, chocolate, craft gins and beers and
all sorts of other delectables.
While you’re shopping for edibles, don’t neglect
the award-winning deli, The Hungry Guest. Dive
56 | sussexexclusive.com

Horse Guards Inn
in through their doors to the smell of freshly
baked bread and enjoy! This is an emporium of
local, edible delights.
Wine
Wine strikes me as a good reason to visit a
town and Petworth won't disappoint. There are
two vineyards almost immediately to the west
of the town, namely Upperton Vineyards and
the Roebuck Estates, and Stopham Vineyard a
short drive south east. They all produce excellent
sparkling wine. Upperton and Stopham offer
vineyard tours and tastings. Roebuck have their
own wine club. And if you don't have time to
go to the vineyards themselves, fear not, because
there is also an excellent wine merchant in
Golden Square, namely Hennings, which has a
good supply of local wines.
Coffee and cake
Another good reason to visit somewhere is the
potential for some people watching over a good
cup of coffee and locally made cake. And what
sounds better than the Coco Café and Sugar
Lounge, Tiffin Tea Rooms and Cherry's. You’ll be
half expecting Miss Marple to emerge from one
of them.
Places to eat
There are some stellar places for an evening
meal in Petworth which include The Angel Inn
(complete with ghosts, a dreamily romantic
terrace, and a history that includes the Pilgrim
Fathers and Winston Churchill). They also serve
breakfast, all day and bar menus. You’ll find a
reasonable choice of Sussex wines, spirits and
beers on their menu too.
Just down the road is the E. Street Bar and Grill.
Mentioned in the Michelin Guide and described
as “a light and airy, contemporary brasserie
deluxe…[with] a range of Mediterraneaninfluenced
dishes and meat or fish from the grill;
the grass-fed Hampshire steaks are a hit.”, this is
a super place to eat. You can even build your own
seafood platter.
Alternatively, head out of town to the little
village of Tillington and you’ll find the hopelessly
pretty Horse Guards Inn, a 350-year-old pub
which seems to cling to the hillside opposite the
church. It has a lovely informal feel, lots of dining
accolades and a fabulous garden.
Where to stay
You can stay at both The Angel Inn or at The
Horse Guards Inn. Or for something a little
different, head to The Old Railway Station,
just south of the town, an award-winning
venue, where you can sleep in their converted
Pullman railway carriages or in the main
Station House itself.
The Angel Inn
Lombard
Street is home
to more art
galleries and
antique shops,
but you’ll also
find some
absolute gems
here.
57

A Stroll Around
Petworth
Discover the town’s past with this one-hour historical tour of the town
The Old Bakery
Catholic Church
Starting from the main town car park (GU28 0ES), enter under
the arch which reads ‘Welcome to Petworth’ into The Old Bakery.
Walk through, turning right past Spriggs the florist into the quiet
High Street. This street was the main thoroughfare until New
Street – parallel to it – was constructed. The street became infamous
in the 1830s for the number of alehouses it had. The 1830 Beer Act
encouraged beer drinking rather than drinking gin. Some of the pubs are still
recognisable; either from appearance or house name, for example, The White
Hart and the Queen’s Head.
Crossing Middle Street and passing the Hungry Guest deli on the corner,
continue past The Old Forge on the other corner, lived in recently by the
actress Dame June Whitfield.
Further on is the Petworth Cottage Museum. It’s not really a museum
but a house that has been restored, redecorated, furnished and equipped
as if it were a 1910 Estate Cottage, when it was the home of Mrs. Mary
Cummings, who was the tenant of 346 High Street from 1901 to 1930. Her
home preserves the living memories of Mary’s time here, her Irish Catholic
background and her work as a seamstress at home and at Petworth House.
The cottage and its garden are well worth a visit.
Stay by the Cottage Museum as opposite is an alley with Windmill House
on the right, close to the site of Petworth Windmill, famously painted by
John Constable in 1834. The house was later lived in by the well-known
photographer George Garland.
Continuing further up the High Street for about fifty metres, turn left
through a gate into Egremont Row. Here are the backs of Leconfield Estate
cottages with large gardens, where tenants could plant fruit trees and
vegetables and have a pig to feed their families. The Estate had over 600
houses at its peak; today the number has dropped to about 300. The houses
can be recognised by their brown front doors.
After the slope at the end of the lane, turn left and cross the busy ‘A’ road.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church was built in 1896, a huge and beautiful
church, it was about to become redundant when World War II began, but
afterwards Polish refugees came to the town, swelling the numbers of the
congregation.
To the right, down a sloping track is a path that takes you to The
Shimmings, a beautiful view and walk.
Continuing the opposite way, towards the historic Angel Inn. It is said it
takes its name from when some of the Pilgrim Fathers came to Petworth in
1620 on their way to Southampton to take them to Plymouth to board The
Mayflower. There is a plaque just inside the pub door telling this story.
Walk on the narrow pavement towards the town and turn right into East
Street. This contains some of the older houses in the town. 50 metres up on
the right at the junction of Coach House Lane is Springer’s Hall which dates
58 | sussexexclusive.com

Lombard Street
The Hungry Guest
The Shimmings
Leconfield Hall
from 1652, the date being faintly visible at the top of the rainwater pipe at
the west end of the building. From 1802 to 1835 it was lived in by William
Tyler who was the Land Agent to the 3rd Earl of Egremont. He worked
very hard for him, helping him become very wealthy and enlarging his land
holding. But he was very unpopular in the town as he made sure the rents
were collected, resulting in the Tyler Riots.
It is best to cross the road at this stage, and then look out for Tudor buildings
with Georgian frontages.
Turn left at the top into Church Road with St. Mary’s Church on your right,
originally built in Medieval times but much enlarged and altered since then.
There are many memorials to the Petworth House family here – look for
Percy and Wyndham names, with a large statue of the 3rd Earl of Egremont,
the most progressive of all owners.
Crossing Church Road, leads into Lombard Street, a narrow cobbled road.
To try and make it sound more genteel the name was changed in the 19th
century to Lombard Street, after the City of London’s thoroughfare.
Originally every house along its length was a shop. Quarter way down, the
butcher’s shop frontage is easily seen. Near the bottom on the right is a
building with a funny box on the top. This was a photographic studio run
by Walter Keevis, who photographed many of the then Petworth House
servants in the 1870s, and his photographic prints are a great resource to this
day. At the bottom of the street, enter Market Square, walking on the left
side. The Square is the venue of one of the last remaining Street Fairs in the
south of England. This dates from 1189 and is held on the nearest Saturday
to November 20th each year.
The Square is dominated by Leconfield Hall built in 1794 on the site of a
former covered market. It was the Court House, a small prison cell and a
Council Meeting place. There is a replica bust sculpture of William 3rd on
the top. The Hall now serves as the main public hall for the town, with a
large room able to be transformed into a cinema or a theatre.
At the bottom of the Square, cross New Street by the pedestrian crossing,
and then turn left into the smaller Golden Square. On your right is the
United Reformed Church (URC), built in 1855. It has links with previous
Free Churches on this site.
Continue walking straight on to and through The Old Bakery, returning to
the starting point of the car park.
Gerald Gresham Cooke
Gerald is an experienced Petworth Town Walk leader. He has lived in the area for
over 15 years, and has a great love for the town.
59

In the
Diary
Our round up of what’s on in Sussex during the next
few months, from the weird to the wonderful
60 | sussexexclusive.com
Amberley Museum
26th - 30th October 2022, West Sussex
A full schedule of half term activities and crafts. Enjoy rides on our trains and buses, get stuck
in with craft activities (weekdays only) or explore our family trail, all included in your general
admission. And on Halloween evening, enjoy a night of terrors! Ride on the ghost train and look out
for who (or what) is lurking in the woods! Discover the Museum after dark with all exhibits open for
exploring. Join in on a spooky ghost walk where you can learn about our ghostly happenings.
For more information visit:
www.amberleymuseum.co.uk

Newlands House Exhibition
10th September 2022 to 8th January 2023,
Petworth, West Sussex
This autumn, a new exhibition at Newlands
House will unravel and chronicle the
extraordinary life of Vogue model turned war
correspondent Lee Miller, a pioneer in Surrealist
art, fashion and photo-journalism. The exhibition
will focus on the artist’s relationship with Picasso
and moments lived together, captured by Miller
before and during the Second World War, the
aftermath and beyond. The exhibition will also
tell the unlikely story of Picasso’s accidental
discovery of Sussex, where Lee Miller would
eventually reside with her family.
www.newlandshouse.gallery
A Celebration of Shelley
4th November 2022, St Mary’s
Church, Horsham
Stane Street Sinfonietta continue their
series of concerts celebrating creatives
connected to Sussex with an exploration
of the work of Percy Bysshe Shelley, one of
the great Romantic poets and arguably, one
of Horsham’s most famous sons. They’re
joined by two other Sussex residents - Radio
4’s Chris Aldridge who’ll read some of
Shelley’s most iconic poems, and Angharad
Lyddon, a finalist in the Cardiff Singer of
the World 2019, who’ll join the orchestra
for Respighi’s Il Tramonto an intensely
beautiful and heart-breaking setting of
Shelley’s The Sunset.
Booking required:
www.stanestreetsinfonietta.com
The Northern Lights
30th October 2022, South Downs
Planetarium, Chichester
The Northern Lights is just one of the shows
they put on at the Planetarium and it is worth
checking back in with their website often to
see what else is on. This show involves a virtual
journey to the Artic Circle to see the ethereal
colours and swirls of the Northern Lights.
Booking required: www.southdowns.org.uk
Sussex Landscape:
Chalk, Wood and Water
12th November 2022 to 23rd April 2023,
Pallant House Gallery, Chichester
From Turner and Ravilious to
contemporary artists, this exhibition
showcases how the constantly changing
landscape of rolling hills and rugged cliffs
has been an inspiration for generations of
artists. Alongside works by contemporary
artists, the exhibition will include works by
J.M.W Turner, William Nicholson, Vanessa
Bell, Duncan Grant, Ivon Hitchens, Eric
Ravilious and Edward Burra.
61

Sparkling Wine & Craft Gin Fair
19th November 2022, South Lodge,
West Sussex
A celebration of Sussex sparkling wines and craft
gins and a chance to try and buy at the Bubbles
and Botanicals Fair. With 15 outstanding local
producers and four industry experts sharing their
expertise, it’s the perfect opportunity to stock up
for Christmas.
Booking required:
www.bubblesandbotanicals.net
Fruits, Seeds and Spices
Foraging Walk,
19th November 2022, Cowdray Estate,
Midhurst
A 2-hour guided fungi, fruits, seeds and spices
foraging walk starting from the Cowdray Farm
Shop during which you’ll learn about what is
edible, and what’s not, and how we can protect
these habitats for future generations.
Booking required: www.cowdray.co.uk
Mr Fezziwig’s Christmas
Murder Mystery
10th December 2022, Michelham Priory
House & Gardens,
Upper Dicker, Hailsham
It is 1843 and Mr Fezziwig is holding his
annual Christmas Party in the splendour
of a candlelit Michelham Priory. Jacob
Marley is guest of honour for the evening,
but as other Dickensian characters arrive
Mr Marley goes missing – who might be
responsible for his disappearance? You and
your fellow guests will need to explore the
Priory by torchlight to find your host and
ensure that no one else is lurking in the
dark recesses of this impressive location.
Enjoy a superb meal and drinks, interrogate
the characters, work together to identify
the murderer and decide the motive and
method of the crime.
Booking required: www.sussexpast.co.uk
62 | sussexexclusive.com

HPO Christmas Gala
21st December 2022, St Leonards On Sea,
East Sussex
Hastings Philharmonic Choir perform an evening
of Christmas carols and favourite classics.
The concert will feature Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker
Suite, Anderson’s Sleigh Ride and many other
Christmas gems. Listen out for the distinctive
sounds created by the percussionist of a horse
clip-clopping (temple blocks), and a whip used
to get the horse moving (a slapstick). Towards the
end of the piece, a trumpet imitates the sound of
a horse whinnying.​
www.hastingsphilorchestra.co.uk
Christmas at the National Trust
2022
The National Trust properties do tend to put on
a good show for Christmas and we’re blessed with
a number of National Trust properties in Sussex.
Check out websites for Bodiam Castle, Bateman’s,
Standen House, Nymans, Petworth House and
Uppark for more details.
Wassailing Day
15th January 2023, Weald & Downland Museum,
West Sussex
Bless the museum’s orchard at their winter
Wassailing! Join a procession, with music, songs and
short performances, from the market square to the
orchard for the wassail to ensure a good harvest. In
the orchard an apple tree will be decorated – there
is a ceremony with bread, salt and cider, where the
audience joins in with the “Wassail” shout and makes
lots of noise with bells, rattles or whistles.
www.wealddown.co.uk
For more events in East Sussex visit:
www.visit1066country.com
For more events in West Sussex visit:
www.experiencewestsussex.com
Bolney Wine Estates New Year’s
Day Brunch
1st January 2023, West Sussex
Start the New Year with delicious food and fizz
at the estate’s Eighteen Acre Café. Choose from
an array of mouth-watering dishes from the
New Year’s Day menu or try a winter wine flight
while you dine and sample some of the awardwinning
wines.
Booking in advance is highly recommended:
www.bolneywineestate.com
63

BOOKWORM
The Bookworm
Author’s Corner
Meet four very different Sussex authors and their very different books
New Brighton, by Helen Trevorrow
This gripping dystopian future thriller is set in Brighton, where Robyn
Lockhart has a boyfriend named Vincent, a frail, sickly sister, and a mother
who keeps a lock on one of the cupboards. These things she knows. Other
things are much foggier, and it’s not because of the drugs or alcohol. When
a vicious storm hits the city, a battered ship runs aground on the beach.
Authorities arrive quickly. The gawking crowds are forcefully driven away as
a noxious gas fills the air. Oddly enough, news outlets make no mention of
the event.
As Robyn tries to sort out what is real and why she’s unable to
remember certain details, she starts to unravel the truth about herself,
her family, and the place she’s always called home.
About the author
Helen Trevorrow is a writer and the author of feminist crime thriller,
In The Wake. She is a graduate of the Faber Academy Creative Writing
Programme. She studied at Leeds University and has worked in marketing
and public relations for twenty years.
Helen has written many articles for newspapers and magazines including the
Huffington Post. Born in Slough, she lived in London for twenty years and
now lives in Brighton, Sussex.
Bob the Bear’s Adventures by Alice Chambers
One for the grandchildren, join mischievous Bob the Bear as he plays
hide and seek in Alice’s garden. Laugh out loud with your children at
Bob’s silly hiding places.
About the author
After teacher training, Alice worked in a kindergarten and started
writing children’s books 43 years ago. Life and family got in the way
of her writing and for the last 18 years Alice has run a ladies’ fashion
business. This story is dedicated to Alice’s husband, Bob, who loved
wearing his waistcoats and glasses. Bob the Bear was created after Alice
knitted a large bear with a waistcoat and glasses for her grandchildren
to play with.
64 | sussexexclusive.com

The Daisy Chain by Al Campbell
Set in London in 1771, botanical artist
Daisy Salter meets pre-eminent Georgian
scientist Joseph Banks and not only becomes
Artist in Residence at Kew Gardens, but
‘Lady-in-Painting’ to Queen Charlotte.
However, whilst expecting a quiet and
studious life, Daisy is unwittingly inveigled
into espionage, tea smuggling and the
‘triangular trade’ by mysterious Dutchman
Johannes Van der Humm.
If you like historical fiction mixed with
gardening, art, adventure, espionage,
skulduggery, smuggling, the slave trade and
romance, you’ll love this. The Daisy Chain
is also published in a dyslexia friendly
version.
About the author
Al studied geography at UCL before going into
the advertising world in London as a copywriter,
rising to be an Executive Creative Director. He
is now a freelance copywriter working from
home. Al holds a Diploma in Creative Writing
from Chichester University where he started
writing The Daisy Chain as a project, before
finishing it during lockdown.
... whilst
expecting
a quiet and
studious
life, Daisy is
unwittingly
inveigled into
espionage, tea
smuggling and
the ‘triangular
trade’ by
mysterious
Dutchman ...
BOOKWORM
Stone Cold Killing by D.E. White
An addictive crime thriller with a fiendish
twist, this is book 4 in the Detective Dove
Milson series and is out on the November 9th
in paperback and ebook, published by Joffe
Books. What happens when family loyalties
are torn apart? Detective Dove Milson and the
Major Crimes Team have their work cut out
when past and present cases collide, but each
lead seems to bring them back to the same
family, in this explosive new thriller. Perfect for
fans of Line of Duty!
About the author
D.E. White writes crime thrillers,
including the bestselling Detective Dove
Milson series. She previously worked for
the NHS in the ambulance service and
travelled the world for twelve years as cabin
crew. She now lives with her family in West
Sussex. In addition to writing, D.E. White
also co-hosts Sussex Writing Retreats with
fellow author Lisa Brace.
... What
happens when
family loyalties
are torn apart?
Detective Dove
Milson and the
Major Crimes
Team have their
work cut out ...
65

BOOKWORM
Unblocking
Writer’s Block
Sussex author and journalist, Lisa Brace, shares her tips to help you get
started on that book you’ve been wanting to write
I have a secret for you.
Want to be a writer?
You need to write.
I know. It seems obvious, but if you’re first starting out with aspirations
to become the next Stephen King or Marian Keyes, the process can
seem daunting.
Maybe you want to write the next War & Peace, or you’ve got an idea to
create a 20 part Sci Fi series.
Great. It’s fantastic to have these ideas, but the only way you can get these
ideas to the bit where people read your story is …
By putting words on a page.
And then another page.
And then more words.
You can Google ‘how to write a novel’ as much as you like and there are
countless courses online from 20 week, ‘how to write a novel’ classes,
masterclasses from the greats via the BBC to incredible free ones. However,
all of them will tell you the same thing - that eventually you will have to
actually crack on and get those words written.
There’s a romantic view of a novelist, sat at their grand desk, looking out at
a stunning view, a steaming cup of coffee to the side of them as they plough
through hours of tortured writing. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Here are my tips for getting words on a page –
1) Use whatever time you have. Early morning person? Set your clock
half an hour earlier and write for that 30 minutes. Can only write at the
weekend? Great, grab your laptop, your phone (the incredibly successful
Gone Girl was written on a phone by a commuter) or your notebook
and get whatever you need down.
66 | sussexexclusive.com
2) Don’t compare your writing style to others. Everyone has their own
processes and just like you don’t have your coffee the same as the person
next to you in Starbucks, nor should you write in the same way. Some
people like to aim for a word count per day, per week, or month. Others
like to write for a length of time. Others just write! You do you.

3) You don’t have to write. You can dictate. I’m not suggesting you have
to employ a scribe to take down your every word, but there are many
free dictation apps, which, once trained to your voice will ‘write’ your
thoughts down. I’ve found these are a perfect tool if you drive a lot and
want to get some words down. Sure, you have to get used to talking to
yourself and you will find a few odd words creep into the dictation, but
at least all you have to do is save them across to your book, take a light
look through to edit and you’ll have some more words down.
BOOKWORM
4) Don’t be precious. Your first draft is never going to be good. I’m just
going to tell you that now. No-one’s first draft is good. Maggie O’Farrell
who wrote the multi-award winning Hamnet, wrote 20 versions of her
story before she was satisfied with it and look how well she’s done. Now,
I’m not suggesting you’ll need to rewrite quite so many times, but the
point is, your first draft has to be bad. You need to get to know your
characters, allow them to talk to you, and when you reach the end,
you’ll have to go back to the beginning again and edit.
5) Don’t edit before you’ve finished. As I’ve said above, you need to
get to know your book inside and out, allow it to breathe. If you
constantly amend the previous work you’ll only ever have a handful of
words, not a book.
6) Find your family. Seek out people who are also writers. There are
hundreds, nay thousands, of groups on social media packed full of
writers. If you’re lucky, there may even be a group set up near to you
in real life that you can meet with. By getting to know other writers,
they can share with you their tips and tricks, whilst also being there
to offer support and advice (whilst the rest of the world has got
frustrated with you staring out of a window, attempting to find the
right phrase for something).
7) Lastly, KEEP GOING. There’s a sticky point for most of us when we’re
writing novels. Most novels are between 80,000-100,000 words and
many writer has reached the 30,000 point and despaired at how awful
the story is, or how far they have to go before they reach the halfway
point. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. Be accountable.
Reach out to a writer friend, post on Twitter, do whatever you need to
do to get the momentum back but don’t stop. Soon the words will be
pouring out of you again.
8) Okay, this is the last one. If you’re really up for a challenge,
NaNoWriMo takes place in November. Write a novel in a month. If you
stick to the challenge, you should see something resembling an outline
of a novel and many thousands of words down in a document if you
take part. Though, I’m minded to repeat the advice at the beginning of
this article. The only way thousands of words can make their way down
onto a page is if you start with one.
Lisa Brace is one half of the duo behind
Sussex Writing Retreats, which provides
writing mentorship for authors at all stages
of their careers. Lisa, a debut author who
writes commercial and historical fiction,
is accompanied by D.E. White, a Harper
Collins published author who has sold
over 250,000 books. They run one and
three day writing retreats across Sussex
packed full of 121s, mentorship, support
and inspirational guests from the film, TV
and literary worlds. For more information
on the upcoming 2023 retreats, go to
www.sussexwritingretreats.co.uk
or email Lisa and Daisy on
sussexwritingretreats@gmail.com
By getting to know other writers, they can share
with you their tips and tricks, whilst also being there
to offer support and advice...
67

Wishing You a
Feng Shui Christmas
Add a little
Feng Shui
and Chinese
Astrology
to your
Christmas
with our
expert
consultant
Janine Lowe
Christmas can be the happiest
and the saddest time of year for
people. Personally, it brings back
such happy memories with my
family as I was growing up and
now as an adult, well as a sort of
adult, things change.
As an adult, our job at Christmas seems to be
making sure this festive time is special for others,
so I thought I would give you a few tips to
enhance your Christmas 2022 for yourself and
everyone around you.
Favourable dates
Christmas cards: the most favourable time to
send these are Thursday 15th December. Why use
a favourable day I hear you ask. Because it means
the recipient will have all the joy of receiving your
card and it will arrive in the post and not get lost.
What date should you put your Christmas
tree up? If you are an early bird, Saturday 3rd
December, if you are someone who likes to put it
up in the middle of the month then Wednesday
14th December is the date for you and if you are
a lastminute.com type person the 21st December
and no later.
Favourable positions for your tree
Place your Christmas Tree in the south to
enhance your dreams and wishes. If you are
looking for more wealth (and why not), place
your tree in the north east. If you would like more
helpful people in your life at Christmas time, then
place your tree in the north west.
What colour decorations?
What colour is auspicious for your tree
decorations in 2022? This year, this is easy as
it’s red and silver. There is nothing wrong with
having different colours on the tree, but red and
silver will enhance your Christmas cheer.
Best times?
When is the most auspicious time to have a party/
Christmas dinner? It’s a late one I am afraid at
between 15.00-17.00 (or maybe that’s not late
enough for some people!).
By the way, in Chinese Astrology, Christmas Day
is an “Establish” day (I know you don’t know
what that means). Establish means no hoovering
all day and that might make some of you super
happy.
Whatever you decide to do on Christmas Day, my
wish to you is that it makes you happy.
www.janinelowe.com
68 | sussexexclusive.com

Sussex Community
Foundation Launches
Cost of Living
Appeal
“If the pandemic was a crisis, this is an emergency. There is no way out for
the many who are suffering. We are going to witness food poverty and food
insecurity on a level never seen before by this generation.”
This quote is just one of many from a
recent survey to our network of small
charities and community groups.
Over 100 groups have fed back
about the signs of fear and panic in
the minds of people about what lies ahead. The
scale of this crisis has real potential to eclipse
that experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Crucially we are also seeing the impact on the
charities themselves with their own increased cost
base and worries on whether they will survive.
We recognise the worrying effect that rising costs
are having on charities and are deeply concerned
about what this means for the most vulnerable
and marginalised people across Sussex – which is
why we are launching our Cost of Living Appeal.
The people of Sussex were so generous during
the pandemic and we are asking you again to rise
to the challenge and help us keep these charities
going so they can support those who need it
most.
Sussex Community Foundation is here to make
and strengthen connections between people who
have and those who have not, and every donation
large or small will be gratefully received.
See more information on the appeal Cost of
Living Appeal - Sussex Giving
Give to the Appeal here TotalGiving - Cost
of Living Appeal - Sussex Community
Foundation - Fundraising Page
69

Are your kitchen
appliances turning
the heat up on your
energy costs?
Shaun Penticost from Holmewood Interiors talks about how
to save money in the kitchen
70 | sussexexclusive.com
Did you know that three of the top
five energy hungry appliances in a
home are found in the kitchen, with
lighting and consumer electronics
taking the other two spots?
Reducing energy consumption and spiraling
energy costs are currently hot topics. With this
in mind, I recently saw a Which running costs
report that stated, by using poor energy efficient
appliances, you could add £490 a year to your
bills. It was dated November 2021 and the figure
will now have increased considerably after the
recent energy price increases. However, the report

does go on to say that by using the most efficient
appliances, this cost could be reduced to just £154
a year.
So, anyone like me who has had the dubious
honour of watching a smart meter rapidly
counting up, will know that heating and cooling
appliances use the greatest amounts of electricity.
That includes your hobs, ovens, fridges, freezers
and washing machines.
Cooking up a storm
In the kitchen, for energy efficiency induction
hobs come out top every time, and we closely
monitor the Neff, Siemens, Bosch and Falmec
product updates to ensure our customers can find
the best fit for them. The benefit of an induction
hob is that it generates all of its heat into the
saucepan and no heat is lost to the surrounding air
before it reaches the food. However, to maximise
the energy savings, it is important to use cookware
that is made for induction, rather than saucepans
that ‘will work’ on induction, as they use less
power for faster heating results.
As part of our Holmewood Interiors’ customer
service commitment, we always check to see how
our clients are finding their newly fitted kitchens.
The most frequent comment that always makes
me smile is when I’m told how much faster a
new oven cooks. Few realise that over time the
seals that trap the heat in an oven degrade. Heat
is lost, more energy is used to maintain cooking
temperatures, and the cooking times and costs
increase. So it is worth considering whether your
oven could be costing you more than it should.
Put the kettle on, or not?
And, still on the heating theme … have you ever
worked out how many times a day you boil a kettle?
Although many may consider it an extravagant
luxury, this is where a boiling water tap comes
into its own. To have boiling, chilled, filtered and
sparkling water ‘on-tap,’ you could be surprised
to learn that a Quooker tap only costs around 3p
a day to run. Compare this to the cost of boiling
a full kettle several times a day at 2.5p each time,
along with the ‘estimate’ that a hot water tap draws
up to 50% less energy than a traditional kettle, and
you have to consider whether this is now a luxury
or a cost saving must have.
With a Quooker tap you only run the exact
amount of boiling water you want into your mug.
You never waste electricity boiling more water
than you need and you do not have to waste
water running the tap a bit to get cold water to
drink. This tap is energy saving, does reduce water
wastage and is a sustainable purchase, as with ontap
sparkling water you reduce your plastic bottle
waste too.
Lighting up or switching off?
Lastly, let’s take a look at lighting as it holds the
number four slot on the energy consuming home
appliances list. Your kitchen is arguably the most
used room in the house, and it therefore stands
to reason that a good proportion of your energy
usage for lighting will come from this room.
Most kitchens are multi-functional. Yes, we
prepare food and cook here, but it is also the focal
point in the home, a place to chat with family
and friends, set up a work from home area and to
help the children plough through their homework
too. So, the lighting mix needs to be warm and
ambient to relax in, as well as being bright and
clear to work in.
Good lighting will alter the whole look and feel
of a room and the different tones and formats of
energy efficient LED light does just this. Dated
strip lights can be changed to LED down lighters
and the under unit fluorescent tubes switched to
cost saving LEDs. Different moods can be created
with LED pendant lighting above kitchen tables
and islands, whilst being styled to look elegant,
modern, retro or sumptuous; all very achievable
whilst reducing your energy bills too.
But savings can go even further with the use of
clever technology. For example, lights can be
placed on sensors in cupboards so that it activates
when the door is opened – think of your fridge
light. You only use the light you need when the
door is open, so the whole room does not need to
be floodlit to find just one mug!
Taking the time to carefully consider the energy
efficiency when designing your kitchen and
choosing new appliances will help to reduce
your energy costs. If you would like further
information, or more tips on how to use your
appliances as efficiently as possible, please visit our
website www.holmewoodinteriors.co.uk ,
call us on 01403 254090 or email
info@holmewoodinteriors.co.uk and we will
always do what we can to help.
71

Sustainably estate agency
Why does it matter to y
At Homes Estates and Letting Agents explain
If you’re buying, selling or renting a property you probably have to
choose an estate agent. There are lots of things you may take into
account. Perhaps you’ll look at their reviews or base your choice on the
valuation they gave, their fees or their success rates. But why should
you choose an estate agent who claims to care about sustainability? Is it
just a gimmick, or is this an important new criteria that you need to take
into account? And how can an estate agent be sustainable anyway?
72 | sussexexclusive.com

.
ou?
If you’re buying, selling or renting a
property you probably have to choose an
estate agent. There are lots of things you
may take into account. Perhaps you’ll look
at their reviews or base your choice on
the valuation they gave, their fees or their
success rates. But why should you choose
an estate agent who claims to care about
sustainability? Is it just a gimmick, or is this
an important new criteria that you need to
take into account? And how can an estate
agent be sustainable anyway?
Is sustainably estate agency just
a gimmick?
Absolutely not. The energy efficiency of
our UK housing is really important for two
major reasons. The first is that an energy
efficient home costs less to run. The
current energy crisis may not last forever,
but if 2022 has taught us anything, it is that
we need to futureproof our homes against
the sort of spiralling costs that we’ve seen
this year.
Making a home more energy efficient can
mean a number of things from making sure
we build new homes in a more sustainable
way, and which are heated using renewable
energy to making sure a house is properly
insulated. At the moment, 90% of our
homes are still heated by fossil fuels,
accounting for a third of UK total gas use.
And that brings us to the second reason
that sustainable estate agency matters,
which is that there is, of course, the bigger
picture to take into account. The UK
government and indeed, countries around
the world have set some ambitious
targets to tackle global warming, and
emissions from our homes are a major
contributor to overall UK emissions.
Without being trite, we all have to do
what we can to live in a more sustainable
way and help reduce our emissions.
estate agents have a responsibility and role
to play in changing the attitude and habits
of the property market.
You’ve got to mean what you say
It is of course easy to say that that you’re
a sustainable estate agent, but you do
have to lead by example. Estate agency
has historically operated in quite a nonsustainable
way. Think lots of brochures
printed on paper, lots of petrol or diesel
consumption used for viewings, very little
recycling, lots of plastic.
But just like everyone else, as estate
agents, we have to start changing our
habits. And there are lots of small ways
we can do that. Using suppliers who
use of 100% renewable energy, using
recyclable materials in our offices and in
our marketing materials. Offering more
online viewings and using digital marketing
materials, investing in TerraCycle bins,
and compostable covers for property
brochures. Taken together these things
add up.
Are we a sustainable estate agent?
We’re not operating 100% sustainably yet
but we are working hard to make changes.
We’ve already taken some significant steps
in the right direction. If you’d like to know
more, why not get in touch, or come into
our new office premises in The Carfax in
Horsham or in Storrington and see we what
we’re doing.
For more information visit:
www.athomeestates.co.uk
But what’s that got to do with my
estate agent?
In a nutshell, quite a lot. If an estate agent
cares and talks about sustainability with
their clients, this can change perspectives
and more importantly this can affect
demand and property trends. Some
house buyers may never have considered
sustainability as a criteria or may not know
what to look for. When house buyers and
renters start to demand more sustainable
housing, then landlords and developers
have to listen. An estate agent is often the
one who operates in between house buyers
and renters on the one hand and landlords
and developers on the other, and therefore
73

HEALTH
Welcome to
Doing Wellbeing Well
Your chance to join wellbeing at work consultant
and naturopathic health coach, Alison Wilkins, on
a step-by-step journey to better health
I'm Doing Wellbeing Well.
Alison of Brighton Wellbeing
Company and this is my blog –
As a wellbeing at work consultant and
naturopathic health coach I have gathered some
interesting and not so interesting information
over the years and it feels like it’s time to start
sharing.
So, I am here to dedicate time and effort to
inspire you to take one small step towards a new
healthy habit. Only one, there’s no rush. We have
all the time in the world to transform into the
highest possible healthy version of ourselves.
We will take one step at a time and revel in the
journey along the way.
Nowadays, it seems to be a WELL-being we have
plenty of work to do.
Be fit, eat well, rest, sleep, don’t be stressed, relax,
socialise. Everything requires time and attention
on top of living, cleaning, working, household
management, finances, learning, recycling,
beach cleaning, and being aware of our world,
the economy, feeling empathy with the plights
of those around the world, oh and of course,
managing a world pandemic and the relentlessly
reported on recession.
I’m exhausted already.
So, to counteract all the high drama and world
shenanigans I am going to make it simple.
Together, we are going to stop, just for a moment.
74 | sussexexclusive.com

HEALTH
We are going to be together, in collaboration.
We are going to connect and we are going to
breathe and see where the inspiration takes us.
To be clear. Right now. You have to do nothing.
The wellbeing articles I have created, invite you
to take a moment. They will inspire without
adrenaline, and educate without jargon.
Simple, easy ways to implement change into
your day, one healthy step at a time.
So, lie back, listen, read and embody the
information I have collated for you. If it
resonates, do something, if it doesn’t … let it
go. It will pop up again when you are more
ready to receive the wisdom.
I’m feeling more relaxed already. I hope you
are.
So, over the next few months I will bring you
information regarding the following:
• Health Coaching - what it is, why you will
benefit
• Whole Health - what does it look like and
why would you want it
• Foundations of Whole Health - running
through key areas to start boosting your
health and wellness
• Nutritional articles - because as
Hippocrates said a long time ago ‘Let
food be thy medicine and medicine be
they food”. Seriously, what we put in
fuels 1000s of biochemical processes, that
simply happen without us even knowing it.
• Lifestyle Hacks – who doesn’t need a hack
or two every now and then
• Recipes that will maximise nutritional
intake
• Thought provoking pieces that will invite
you to consider your impact on the planet,
covering organic, free range, oils to cook
with, plastics and community
• What inflammation, immunity and
hormone health have in common. I hope
you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
I’d love to answer your questions too, so if
you are in need of healthy lifestyle help or
have a particular condition you need help
with, get in touch. We will do our best to
answer your questions.
Modelling
Wellness
STEP 1. Modelling Wellness
One step at a time
The beauty of taking one step at a time is captured in the image of the spiral
staircase. The start point is a stair, a single, linear structure, with depth and
strength. Alone it represents a single step in a single direction. As we travel
from one step to another, we build momentum and the structure shifts.
Linear becomes curve, stair become staircase, and as we move along, one step
at a time the journey becomes a collaboration of structure and energy.
Now let’s consider your wellbeing
Firstly, what does wellbeing mean to you? What are the components of
wellbeing that are important to you? Is it nutrition? Exercise? Mindfulness?
Or healthy relationships? Is it weekend exercise and a couple of days eating
whatever you like? Or is it challenging yourself to a fitness goal that takes
you out of your comfort zone and beyond your limits?
Secondly, how did you get to those ideals? Was it family behavioural
patterns? Was it because of a particular experience? How old were you? What
happened? Who are you now?
Maybe you decided that you needed a 6 pack, or a particular fat/muscle ratio
or a tiny bum to embody health and wellbeing? Or maybe it was … Why
did you decide that meditation wasn’t for you and that adrenalised workouts
that pushed you to your limits were the best way to be living a well life?
Thirdly, once you have understood how your wellness ideals have been
formed, ask yourself are they still relevant now? How would you like your
wellbeing to look now? In this very moment? What do you want to achieve?
How do you want to live? How do you want to be?
Because believe it or not, with very little effort and through reflection/
inspiration you have all the tools you need to make a change.
And just like the spiral staircase, you can take your linear structure, add a
single step, build momentum and move toward your goals.
Each journey of a new habit starts us on a path, that leads us elsewhere. The
beginning never reflecting the end point, and the journey gently shifting as
we create change and build momentum.
alison@brightonwellbeingcompany.com
follow us on
instagram@brightonwellbeingcompany
www.brightonwellbeingcompany.com
75

HEALTH
Sussex Health:
Insomnia &
Getting to Sleep
76 | sussexexclusive.com

HEALTH
Insomnia is difficulty getting to sleep or
staying asleep for long enough to feel
refreshed the next morning. It is a common
problem thought to regularly affect around
one in every three people in the UK and is
particularly common in elderly people. So this
month, our Sussex Exclusive health consultant
takes a look at the causes, as well as what you can
do to help yourself enjoy a better night’s sleep.
Psychological causes
• Anxiety
• Stress, or how effectively a person copes with
any emotional, physical, social or economic
change
• Depression.
Ironically, a lack of a good night’s sleep can lead
to these very same psychological states, setting up
a vicious cycle.
Physical causes
• Hormonal changes in women – including
PMS, pregnancy and menopause
• Decreasing production of melatonin (the
“sleep” hormone) – this occurs inevitably
with age so that, by 60, the body produces
very little melatonin
• Medical conditions – including allergies,
arthritis, asthma, heart disease, high blood
pressure, hyperthyroidism and Parkinson’s
disease
• Pain – this is one of the most common causes
of a disturbed night’s sleep
• Other sleep disorders – including sleep
apnoea (whereby a person temporarily stops
breathing during sleep) and periodic leg and
arm movements during sleep (“restless leg
syndrome”).
Temporary events and other
contributing factors
• Adjustment sleep disorder – this may be
caused by a traumatic event such as an illness
or loss of a loved one, or a minor event such
as a change in the weather, or even just an
argument with someone
• Jet lag – most people who have travelled
across time zones will have experienced brief
bouts of insomnia
• Working night shifts or long shifts – night
shifts can lead to sleep pattern disorders.
Generally, a person who works regular
night shifts is able to adapt over time. Those
working a “floating” shift pattern (such as
police officers) will struggle much more with
insomnia
• Medications – insomnia can be a side effect
of various medications, both prescription and
over-the-counter
• Overuse of caffeine and alcohol – caffeine
can disrupt sleep even when consumed 12
hours or more prior to bed. Whilst alcohol
before bed may help a person relax, it can
also lead to fragmented sleep and wakefulness
a few hours later
• Environmental noise, extreme temperature
changes
• Media technology in the bedroom –
research suggests that using devices with
screens before bed can cause a loss of sleep,
particularly in young people.
Effects of insomnia
The impaired mental function caused by
insomnia can:
• Affect concentration and memory, and can
affect one’s ability to perform daily tasks
• Cause accidents – insomnia is a common
cause of traffic and industrial accidents.
Police statistics show that fatigue contributes
to about 4% of fatal road crashes and 2% of
all collisions in Britain
• Cause stress and depression – insomnia
increases the activity of the hormones and
pathways in the brain that cause stress; and
research shows that changes in sleep patterns
have significant effects on mood
• Contribute to heart disease – research
indicates that people with chronic insomnia
have signs of heart and nervous system
activity that might put them at risk for heart
disease.
Insomnia may also play a role in the development
of chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes.
Lifestyle modification
• Adopt a regular sleeping and eating routine
combined with caffeine avoidance. Avoid
going to bed hungry
• The use of behavioural therapy, relaxation
tapes, breathing exercises and mindfulness
can also be helpful
Ironically,
a lack of a
good night’s
sleep can
lead to these
very same
psychological
states, setting
up a vicious
cycle.
77

HEALTH
• Keep telephones and other devices outside of
the bedroom
• Ensure that the room is a comfortable
temperature before bedtime
• Use blackout blinds or curtains to eliminate
all external light sources
• Studies have shown that in as little as four
weeks, individuals with chronic insomnia
who begin regular exercise can fall asleep
up to 13 minutes faster and stay asleep 18
minutes longer. In fact, research indicates
that exercise was just as effective as
prescription drugs in relieving insomnia
• A hot bath before bedtime will aid sleep,
since melatonin production increases with
rising body temperature, thereby inducing a
state of sleepiness.
Nutritional supplement
treatment options
5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) has been
used successfully for people with insomnia,
as it converts to the chemical messenger,
serotonin. (Serotonin is the “Happy Hormone”
that stabilizes mood, feelings of well-being,
and happiness; as well as helping to regulate
appetite, digestion, sleep and memory).
5-HTP supplementation has been shown to
particularly improve sleep patterns in those that
wake repeatedly during the night. It has also
been shown to improve sleep quality in people
suffering with fibromyalgia.
Magnesium is known to have a sedative effect on
the body and helps to relax muscles and induce
sleep. This is partly due to its ability to regulate
the production of melatonin. Magnesium also
appears to increase levels of gamma aminobutyric
acid (GABA), a brain messenger with calming
effects. It has also been shown to significantly
improve sleep quality in people suffering with
Restless Leg Syndrome.
GABA (Gamma Amino-Butyric Acid) is the
main inhibitory and sedative chemical in the
brain. It assists in inducing sleep, uplifting mood
and reducing anxiety. Many B vitamins – B1, B2,
B3, B5, B6 – as well as zinc are required in the
production of GABA.
Botanical treatment options
Valerian root makes getting to sleep easier and
increases deep sleep and dreaming. Additionally,
Valerian does not cause a morning “hangover,”
which is a common side effect of prescription
drugs. Valerian root can be combined with other
mildly sedating herbs e.g. Chamomile, Hops,
Lemon Balm and Catnip.
CBD Oil – Research shows that CBD has a
calming effect on the nervous system and can
also alter mood because it affects the function of
serotonin. Research suggests CBD can help with
a number of sleep disorders, including insomnia,
REM sleep behaviour disorder and excessive
daytime sleepiness disorder. Additional research
suggests CBD can also help to improve general
sleep patterns and reduce anxiety.
Montmorency Tart Cherry has the highest
naturally occurring content of melatonin. It helps
to raise melatonin blood levels and can assist
in a more rapid sleep onset and improved sleep
quality. Montmorency tart cherry also supplies
anthocyanin antioxidants, which relieve muscle
and joint aches that can make it hard to fall asleep
or may wake you in the middle of the night.
Lavender oil contains many medicinal
compounds that are known to be calming and
may therefore be helpful in treating insomnia.
Research has suggested that inhaling lavender
oil before bed can improve the quality of sleep
and can even be as effective as some commonly
prescribed sleep medications. Lavender oil can
either be used in a diffuser near your bed or by
placing a few drops on your pillowcase. (Apply
to the underside of your pillow, as lavender
oil can cause sensitivity to the skin and eyes if
applied directly).
Article contributed
by Dr Tracy S Gates,
DO, DIBAK, L.C.P.H.,
Consultant,
Pure Bio Ltd.
Copyright © Pure Bio
Ltd 2021. All rights
reserved
Pure Bio Ltd are a
leading UK supplier
of the highest quality
PURE nutritional
supplements, based
in Horsham, West
Sussex. Visit www.
purebio.co.uk for
all your nutritional
supplement needs
78 | sussexexclusive.com

PURE BIO Ltd is a leading UK supplier of the highest
quality PURE nutritional supplements, organic toiletries
and healthy lifestyle alternatives.
HEALTH
Pure Bio is based in Horsham West Sussex and was
conceived in 2000 by practitioners to provide top quality
products at competitive prices. Proud winner of Southern
Enterprise Awards, Best Nationwide Hypoallergenic
Nutritional Supplements Distributor 2022.
We only sell products that have been carefully selected
and scrutinized for their purity and efficacy. ALL of our
products exceed the highest professional standards and
are FREE of all binders, fillers, artificial colours, coatings,
sweeteners & stearates.
Our reputation for PURE quality products, excellent
customer service and generous practitioner benefits sets
us aside from competitors.
Browse our extensive nutritional supplements range on
www.purebio.co.uk. Orders can be placed either online, by
phone, by email or good old-fashioned pop in and visit us!
Pure Bio Ltd
Ground Floor, 44 Springfield Road.
Horsham West Sussex RH12 2PD
www.purebio.co.uk • info@purebio.co.uk • 01403 730342
10% DISCOUNT*
ON PHONE ORDERS
FOR READERS OF
SUSSEX EXCLUSIVE.
QUOTE SE10
*One time use only.
Leading UK supplier of the highest quality pure nutritional supplements
Best
Seller
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5-HTP 50MG – £38.50
5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is an
intermediate in the natural
synthesis of the essential amino
acid, tryptophan, to serotonin. A
highly bioavailable free-form amino
acid derived from the Griffonia
simplicifolia plant.
MAGNESIUM GLYCINATE – £20.99
Magnesium (glycinate) is a highly
bioavailable magnesium chelate that is
suitable for sensitive individuals.
Magnesium contributes to normal
functioning of the nervous system and
the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
Gluten, Soy & dairy free.
WHY CHOOSE US?
• 100% PURE PRODUCTS
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VITAMIN B3 (NIACITOL) – £25.99
Niacitol® is unlikely to cause
flushing, a common side effect of
niacin. Niacin (vitamin B3) is for
metabolism support, tiredness and
fatigue. It is a coenzyme involved in
the production of energy through
the citric acid cycle.
CBD 10% OIL – £41.99
High strength pure CBD oil
infused in organically grown
cold-pressed hemp oil. 10ml
bottle contains 1000mg (10%)
full spectrum pure CBD extract.
Suitable for vegetarians and
vegans.
01403 730342 info@purebio.co.uk
www.purebio.co.uk
79

Bubbles & Botanicals is the brand-new
Sussex sparkling wine event, being
held at stunning South Lodge on the
19th November 2022.
Come and meet local producers. Try
and taste superb local sparkling wine
and gins. And learn more about the
vineyards, distillers, sparkling wines
and craft gins of Sussex.
There’s also a fantastic line-up
of industry professionals who
will be giving insightful talks and
demonstrations throughout the day,
including owner of independent wine
shop The Horsham Cellar, Luke Smith,
Jane Peyton, drinks broadcaster and
founder of The School of Booze and
Dimple Athavia, wine maker and
founder of All Things Drink.
Bubbles & Botanicals is the perfect
opportunity to get together with
friends, stock up on Christmas
supplies, enjoy some great local wines
and learn more about the awardwinning
Sussex wine industry.
Who will be at Bubbles & Botanicals?
With more than 15 stalls representing
some of the best sparkling wine
producers and gin makers from Sussex
and the surrounding areas, there will
be samples and event-only deals for
ticket-holders. See our website for
more details of exhibitors
Ticket holders will need to choose
from one of the following sessions
taking place (you can of course book
for more than one if you wish) –
11.00am – 1.00pm
1.30pm – 3.30pm
4.00pm – 6.00pm
Tickets are £15 per session and will
include a glass of Sussex sparkling
wine on arrival, a bag, wine guide
and access to all stallholders offering
samples and show offers.
A celebration of Sussex Sparkling Wine & Gin
80 | sussexexclusive.com
Saturday November 19th • 11.00 - 6.00pm
South Lodge, Brighton Road, Horsham RH13 6PS
Book your ticket today
www.bubblesandbotanicals.net

Immerse yourself in
Cava and the Arts
in Barcelona
and Catalonia
Kevin Pilley stays at the Arts Hotel
and explores the
Cava region of Spain
as part of the perfect
autumn break
81

Arts Barceloma
La Sagrada Família
Views of the Arts
You don’t have to leave your room to see
Barcelona if you stay at the Arts Hotel, the
44-floor inside-out steel and glass skyscraper that
was originally built for VIPs attending the 1992
Olympics.
From your city-facing room, if you spurn a
Med-facing one, you will see Antoni Gaudi’s
unfinished 1926 Basilica Temple Expiatori de la
Sagrada Familia, Agbar Tower, Tibidabo Hill and
church, Parc de la Citadella with the parliament
of Catalunya and a zoo within the park. You can
also see the El Born quarter’s Basilica de Santa
Maria del Mar, the Gothic Estacio de Franca
railway station built for the 1929 Universal Expo,
the MNAC National Art Museum, Montjuic
Castle and lighthouse and Barcelona Cathedral.
That’s quite a view.
The only thing missing is Camp No, home of
Barcelona FC. So you’ll have to leave the hotel
once. But you don’t have to exert much energy
or go too far. The open-top city tour bus stops
outside. And the limos are even closer.
The views here are certainly top draw. So is a
rooftop sauna with the best views in the world.
It has windows that don’t mist up. Too much?
The largest ballroom in the city and opening
your curtain in the morning to see a 52-metrelong
goldfish are also amongst the hotel’s many
attractions.
The hotel overlooks Frank Gehry’s famous giant
fish sculpture which he called a goldfish and
which the locals call a whale. On top of which,
as the name might suggest, Hotel Arts is also
home to over 500 pieces of original Spanish art,
including works by Manolo Valdés, Luis Feito,
José Manuel Broto and Perico Pastor.
Michelin starred dining
The chef-in-residence at the Arts Hotel is
Catalan, Michelin-starred chef Paco Pérez who
runs the hotel’s two-star Enoteca (meaning
wine cellar) restaurant as well as the Miramar
restaurant in his hometown of Llanca (and one
for Cinco at Berlin’s Das Stue Hotel).
Pérez took over at Enoteca in 2008, winning his
first star two years later and a second in 2013.
The Barcleona FC fan also helped open central
Manchester’s Tast Cuina Catalana restaurant,
co-owned by Manchester City manager, Pep
Guardiola.
In his younger years, Pérez trained under
legendary chefs, Ferran Adrià and father of
nouvelle cuisine, Michel Guérard. So you could
say he knows how to dress a sea prawn and has
mastered the art of the bacon waffle.
His lobster Salpicon rocoto, almond, black garlic
and anchovy, sustainable chilli crab, lobster,
coral and tomato salad, shrimp dumplings, Koji
cured red mullet and sea cucumber Fricando,
and stewed tendons and the 130€ tasting menu
provide the perfect opportunity to spoil your
palate and tastebuds. And of course, this is the
start of your Cava experience as you sample the
high life in the form of some of the famous local
sparkling wine.
82 | sussexexclusive.com

Codorníu Winery
Penedès and the Cava region
For oeno/eno/vini-tourists, the three most
important words to know while in south Spain
are Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada. These
are the three grapes that make classic Cava in
Penedès, about a 45 minute drive from Barcelona.
For oeno/eno/
vini-tourists,
the three most
important
words to know
while in south
Spain are
Macabeo,
Xarel-lo and
Parellada.
These are the
three grapes
that make
classic Cava in
Penedès ...
Cava, its designation of origin
and Sant Sadurni d’Anoia
Spain produces 330 million-something
bottles of sparkling wine a year. The Cava DO
(denominacion de origen or designation of origin)
is the official classification which was granted in
1986. Cava can be produced throughout Spain,
but most Cava is made here in Penedès. Its
350-something wineries serve 100 countries.
The capital of Cava is Sant Sadurni d’Anoia and
here is where the leading Spanish Cava houses
are based.
Tours and tastings at the
magnificent Codorníu
Codorníu (est.1551) is the oldest family
business in Spain and was the first vineyard to
produce Cava. In 1659, farmhouse aristocrat
Anna Codorníu married into the family and
her husband named the house after her. In
1872, Josep Raventós applied the traditional
Champagne-style wine production method to a
combination of three local grapes. Chardonnay
was introduced in 1984 and Pinot Noir only
in 2002. By 2024, all Cordorníu wines will be
organic.
Codorníu offers daily tours and tastings during
which you can get close up and personal with
antique presses, disgorgement tools and vintage
oenological paraphernalia before tucking into
the celebrated perlage. As well as learning that to
be called Cava the wine must be aged for at least
nine months.
Codorníu’s eponymous wine is Spain’s best-selling
Cava. A bottle of their prestigious Ars Collecta
2010 is currently the world’s most expensive Cava
at 174€ a bottle. Their Non Plus Ultra was the
first brut Cava and has been produced by them
since 1897.
Self-guided tours are not recommended as
Codorníu is huge and one wrong turn might
take you to Buenos Aires or Montserrat. Or back
to Barcelona. The vast underground cellars even
have street names, so the winemakers don’t get
lost. Visitors are transported by mini-trains.
83

Bruno Colomer
A region rich in cultural
treasurers
The 1895 Codorníu building was declared a
National Historic Artistic Monument by King
Don Juan Carlos in 1976. Other examples of
Spanish eclectic Nouveau Art nearby can be seen
in the former homes of Mestres (1909), Cal Rigol
(1903) and Cal Calixtus (1885).
But you haven’t come all this way just to admire
the Noucentisme brickwork and the work of
architect Josep Puig I Cadafach, visit Vilafranca’s
“Vinseum” and see the limestone substrate of
the Alt Penedès which forms one of the world’s
oldest and largest wine-growing region. Or eat in
Codorníu’s excellent El Jardins restaurant.
You have come to try some top “vinum
titullium” which was what the Romans called
sparkling wine. You have made the trip to treat
yourself to some quality mousse appreciation
and celebrate Spain’s most famous bubbles.
And enjoy the genius of current winemaker and
technical director, Bruno Colomer, who also
designed the winery’s gardens. Colomer was
named best sparkling winemaker in the Bacchus
Awards 2021 (a prestigious international wine
and Cava competition organised by the Spanish
Union of Tasters).
The Carretera del Vi and the
great houses of Cava
But Cava is not all Codorníu or Freixenet (est
1861). There are also Recaredo, Sumarroca, Caves
Ferret, Juve y Camps, Castell d’Olerdola (which
makes an excellent deep cerise rosé), Torelló, and
the collective EU brand, Corpinnat (the heart).
You’ll learn this and more, navigating the
Carretera del Vi wine route which takes in seven
towns and thirteen possible winery tastings. There
are also several Camins del Cava (a network of
roads linking vineyards together with restaurants,
accommodation and other interesting points such
as shops, companies to rent bikes, parking and
museums).
October sees La Setmana del Cava (a week-long
celebration centred around Cava) and Cavatast,
a food and drink fair and an opportunity to try
and taste . Both are in Sant Sadurní d’Anoia and
bicycle and walking tours are available, with maps
and directions (although your Sat Nav won’t tell
you to take the first exit at the giant steel frothing
bottle. And then take the second exit with the
two XL wine glasses).
Wine is everywhere in south Spain. Even the
sculptures in the middle of the roundabouts
leading down into the shrine of Cava worship
(Sant Sadurni d’Anoia) where Spanish sparkling
winemakers look down on the rest of the world.
But surprisingly, Cava still remains a little off-the
grid when it comes to wine tourism. Responsible
Travel is one of the few travel companies offering
immersive Cava holidays. There are country
lodges and small hotels, but most wine tourists
stay in Barcelona. And take organized degustation
tours from there via their concierge.
For more information, please visit:
Hotel Arts Barcelona
Carrer de la Marina, 19-21,
08005 Barcelona, Spain
+34 932 211000
www.hotelartsbarcelona.com/en
Enoteca
+34 93 4838108
www.enotecapacoperez.com/en
www.codorniu.com
www.penedesturisme.cat
www.easyjet.com
84 | sussexexclusive.com

The Answers to
Sussex Quiz
So how did you do? Are you Sussex through and through,
or have you got much to learn. Find out:
3
ANSWERS
1 On which date is Sussex Day?
June 16th
2 Which recent Prime Minister was born in Eastbourne?
Theresa May
4
3 What is the county flower of Sussex?
The round-headed rampion
(known as the “Pride of Sussex”)
4 01243 is the area dialling code for which Sussex town?
Chichester
5 Which former glamour model grew up in Brighton before
becoming a TV personality?
Katie Price
6
6 With which Sussex town do you associate the year 1066?
Hastings
7 Which house has many works by JMW Turner?
Petworth House
8 In which stadium do Brighton and Hove Albion play?
The Amex Stadium
9 For what food is Chiddingly known?
Hot pot
8
10 Which independent school has a uniform that involves yellow socks?
Christ’s Hospital
Sussex dialect question
The Sussex dialect word yoyster means:
C to play about roughly and noisily
85

The
Last Word
The last word goes to Sussex Exclusive local historian, Peter Benner,
who looks back on some 70+ years of living and working in Sussex.
Two Ancient Fairies
There was a respected senior partner at a firm of local solicitors who I knew, albeit not well. Let’s call him Fred.
Fairly stout and well moustached, as befitted his military service, he regularly used to have an evening libation in
the Best Beech, a hostelry between Wadhurst and Mark Cross.
It happened that his daughter, who lived in Mayfield, was a keen supporter of the local amateur dramatic society and
was organising a summer fancy dress party along the road from the Best Beech. Fred was due to attend with a friend
of similar proportions. Although there were costumes on offer, the best had been snapped up, so that by the time
they were brought to the pub to be fitted, all that was left were the good and bad fairy costumes, tutus, wands and
all.
With some difficulty, Fred and his friend were persuaded to don these outfits, and it is alleged that some fortifying
fluids were taken before they tottered out into the evening sun to move a few doors down the road.
A local resident, returning from a day at the seaside came round a bend at that point, to see this pair of tottering
fairies making their way towards him, wands in hand and in his surprise, the driver swerved through a garden hedge!
It just goes to show, you never know who you’ll meet when exploring the villages of Sussex.
86 | sussexexclusive.com

At Home
Estate and Lettings Agency
Make a house your
home this winter
We’re here to help you with your plans.
Contact a member of our friendly team.
01403 886288 | athomeestates.co.uk
87

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