Viva Lewes Issue #153 June 2019

Photo by Charlotte Gann
MY LEWES: HELEN BROWNING-SMITH
How long have you lived in Lewes? I’m Sussex
born and bred – grew up in Burgess Hill – and
have always visited Lewes. I moved here in 2006,
when my daughter Flora started school. Three
years ago we moved to this flat in the High Street.
I look out onto Victory’s face every morning – the
War Memorial is right outside my window.
You work as Tourism & Arts Manager for
Lewes District & Eastbourne Borough
Councils? Yes, I’ve been in this job since January.
I concentrate on the Lewes District. It’s easy
to promote a place I love so much myself. I’m
passionate about the town’s unique cultural
identity. I’ve always been drawn to its slight
rebelliousness, as well as its wealth of art and
culture. On top of that, we have the Downs – I
love how you can see them from wherever you
are in the town – and of course the coast nearby.
It’s also great collaborating with so many
excellent freelancers. I’ve been working with
your cover artist, Chris Lewis, recently on
rebranding Lewes tourism – bringing it up to
date – including creating a new website which
should be live by June. We hope people will
take a look, and like what they see. Chris has
been brilliant. Carlotta Luke, Nigel French
and Peter Cripps have supplied some beautiful
photography. Meanwhile, Galia Pike’s helping
me with the Gin & Fizz Festival, and Charlotte
Parsons co-ordinates Artwave. These are the two
big events we organise each year, but I’m hoping
we can develop more, in time.
The Gin & Fizz Festival is in the Grange
in June: how did it come about, and what’s
involved? This is its third year (well, third and
a half, because we also did a smaller version in
December, at Late Night Shopping). The first
summer event was in 2017. Three of us together
came up with the idea (although I wasn’t yet
in this role then). We wanted to find a way to
celebrate all the amazing local drinks producers,
and we’re thrilled with how it’s turned out. The
first festival sold out. This year, we’re expanding.
There’ll be a daytime event, with talks, music
curated by Union Music, and a vintage ice cream
van. Between 4-5pm we’ll be busy transforming
for the evening: the ice cream van will make
way for the Harvey’s mobile bar and a converted
horsebox-bar – Coppertop, from Brighton – will
serve cocktails of locally sourced drinks.
Our issue theme is Sports. What’s your
favourite way to exercise? Well, I’m definitely
a walker – who could not be, living here? I don’t
drive, so walk all over town. Climbing Chapel
Hill doesn’t present too much of a challenge. I
also like cycling. I’ll be pleased to see Egret’s
Way open fully soon. Once it’s finished, there’ll
be a direct link by bike from Lewes all the way to
Paris – which seems pretty special in these, um,
interesting times. Interview by Charlotte Gann
Tickets to Sussex Gin & Fizz in advance
from the website, Tourist Information, or
Harvey’s. 29 June, Grange, 11am-4pm; 5-10pm.
sussexginandfizzfestival.com; visitlewes.co.uk
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