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Celebrations were tinged with sadness at the glamorous Sussex Food & Drink Awards ceremony, where seven food and drink heroes received their trophies, but it was also announced that the Sussex Farmer of the Year 2009/10, voted for by the public, was Simon Bishop from Battle, who tragically died in a car accident last November.
Over 9000 people voted for more than 300 Sussex food and drink businesses and personalities in this fourth year of the Sussex Food & Drink Awards, which is run by MDHUB member Natural PR in partnership with A Taste of Sussex, part of Sussex Enterprise and JustBIZ web solutions.
Said Clive Beddall OBE, Chairman of the Judges: “Sussex food and drink producers are now leading the way in the UK’s local food revolution and the food and farming sector here is becoming the envy of its colleagues in other regions of the UK. This year our winners come from right across the county and the quality is absolutely outstanding.”
Over 200 leaders in the food, drink and farming industries enjoyed a ‘Sussex bubbly and ale reception’, sponsored by Harvey & Son and Carr Taylor, followed by a stunning five-course dinner made exclusively from Sussex produce. They were then treated to an Oscars-style awards presentation, hosted by Danny Pike of BBC Sussex, at the East Sussex National Golf Resort & Spa near Uckfield.
The winners are:
Sussex Food Producer of the Year, sponsored by Musgrave Retail Partners Prosperity Brownies, Lancing, West Sussex
Sussex Drink Producer of the Year, sponsored by Mayo Wynne Baxter Hepworth & Co Brewers, Horsham, West Sussex
Sussex Farmer of the Year, sponsored by Knill James Simon Bishop, Netherfield Place Farm, Battle, East Sussex (who tragically died in a car accident in November 2009)
Sussex Young Chef of the Year, sponsored by Skills South East Oliver Darby, Temptation, Brighton
Best Sussex Eating Experience, sponsored by A Taste of Sussex Anise, Felbridge Hotel & Spa, East Grinstead, West Sussex
Sussex Food Shop of the Year, sponsored by JustBiz Cheese Please, Lewes, East Sussex
Sussex Butcher of the Year, sponsored by SEEDA Meads Village Butchers, Eastbourne, East Sussex
Best Sussex Farmers Market, sponsored by Natural PR Uckfield Farmers Market, Uckfield, East Sussex
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