Sussex Exclusive Magazine Edition II 2022

Issue 2 2022 

Sussex Wines Tours & Tastings 

Discover the Vineyards 

of Mid Sussex 

The Great Sussex Foodie 

Six of the Best Sussex 

Food Experiences 

Strange Tales 

Of a French Invasion of Brighton 

Sussex Ghosts & 

Ghastly Apparitions 

At some of our most 

haunted landmarks 

Delicious Summer Recipes 

Easy to cook & great for 

eating alfresco 

Historic Lewes 

The markets, the shops and 

the best places to visit 

Meet the Makers 

Steyning artists and their inspiration 

78 pages of 

beautiful Sussex

A word 

from the editor 

Editor 

Lucy Pitts 

lucyp@sussexexclusive.com 

Deputy Editor 

Janine Marsh 

Editorial Assistant and DDIP 

Aifric Peachey 

Design & Production 

Philippa French 

Sales 

sales@sussexexclusive.com 

Welcome to the latest edition of the Sussex Exclusive 

magazine. I can’t believe this is our second edition 

already and that we’re halfway through 2022! If you 

follow our newsletter, you’ll know it’s been a whirlwind 

of a year that has seen us exploring every corner of 

Sussex and taste testing and test driving as much as we could along the way. 

In this edition, we’ve continued our Sussex wine, food and drinks theme 

with a whistle-stop tour of our central Sussex vineyards, some fantastic 

local drink suggestions for the summer barbecue and some amazing food 

experiences for the Sussex foodie. We’ve also got two mouthwatering recipes 

for you so that you can enjoy some al fresco dining. 

Health and fitness are always a subject close to my heart, so we’ve got a 

cluster of features for you tackling everything from mental wellbeing, getting 

physically active and boosting your immune system. For the more cerebral, 

local author, Nils Visser, has shared an incredible historic story and historian, 

Peter Benner, has been checking out our county’s ghosts! 

This month, we’ve also shone the spotlight on Lewes, a great place for a 

weekend break or just a good old potter, and we’ve got some ideas for your 

garden by local gardening legend, writer and broadcaster, Geoff Stonebanks. 

If that’s not enough, we’ve also got the result of our photo competition, a 

quick trip to Marrakesh and our usual In the Diary feature. 

So do grab a coffee, or better still, a glass of Sussex wine, put your feet up 

and enjoy. And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter 

and sign up to our free weekly newsletter for more Sussex soundbites. 

Lucy 

Lucy Pitts 

Sussex Exclusive Magazine 

www.sussexexclusive.com 

Front Cover 

Sparkling wine from Ridgeview Wine Estate 

3

Contents 

9 Steyning Arts 

Meet some of the artists from the Steyning Arts 

community and find out what inspires them 

9 

14 Ghools and Ghosties 

Peter Benner tells strange tales of things that go 

bump in the night & a headless horseman 

18 Summer Fashion 

Fashion guru Donna Camera shares some of this 

summer’s must have fashion items 

18 

20 The Best Thing About Sussex 

Sophie Ward announces the winners of our Sussex 

photo competition & shares your stunning photos 

20 

30 

26 Your Central Sussex Wine Tour 

Explore the vineyards and wines of Ditchling, 

Ashdown Forest and Mayfield with our latest tour 

30 Make the Most of Your Garden 

Our gardening expert, Geoff Stonebanks, 

provides some gardening advice & ideas for the 

summer garden 

32 Get Thee Back to France 

Nils Visser tells an extraordinary story of a French 

invasion of the beaches of Brighton 

32 

38 Chicken Cordon Bleu 

Cook up a storm with Vanessa Jamieson’s easy to 

cook summer recipe and enjoy alfresco dining 

4 | sussexexclusive.com

44 

40 The Best of Sussex Drink 

Pip Mortimer shares her Sussex drink 

recommendations to complement your 

summer barbeque 

44 The Great Sussex Foodie 

We explore some of the best Sussex foodie 

experiences, from fine dining restaurants to 

artisan baking 

52 

52 Spotlight on Lewes 

We shine the spotlight on some of the 

highlights of the delightful and historic market 

town of Lewes 

56 

70 

56 In the Diary 

Fill your summer with great Sussex events with 

the help of our round up of the best of what’s on 

60 Feng Shui Your Garden 

Feng Shui consultant, Janine Lowe, shares 

advice on how to invite prosperity into your life 

& your garden 

64 Get Active and Take Care of 

Your Wellbeing 

Our two health consultants take very different 

approaches to getting physically active and taking 

care of our wellbeing 

70 Getting Motivated 

Our blind athlete shares his advice for how and 

why to get active when you have a disability 

72 

72 A Mini Break in Marrakesh 

Explore heady souks and backstreets and enjoy 

the vibrant colours, food and markets 

of Marrakesh 

5

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Contributors 

© Corin Spinks 

Nils Visser 

Lucy Batham Read 

Geoff Stonebanks 

Janine Lowe 

The Writing Dutchman, 

explorer and recreator 

of Sussex lore, here to 

steal your stories, tales & 

legends. 

www.nilsnissevisser.co.uk 

Lucy is a CBT and 

Mindfulness coach 

specialising in working 

with the nervous system. 

She also draws on her own 

experiences of epigenetics, 

the central nervous system 

and the vagus nerve and 

how these connect to our 

wellbeing. 

www.loveursoul.com 

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 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 

Pip Mortimer 

BSc (Hons), WSET Dip, 

Pip Mortimer spent the 

last twenty-five years 

immersed in the UK drinks 

trade, including leading 

IWSC’s Operational 

Team and becoming the 

company Ambassador. 

Although 2021 saw her 

leave the industry full 

time, she regularly posts 

on her Instagram @ 

drinksonthehighstreet and 

hosts tastings and drink 

related events. 

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. 

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. 


Private Client Tax Specialists 

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understanding of what you need or what you do. Our unique combination of specialist skills 

and experience means that we will always bring fresh ideas and added value to the table. 

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7

A Charity 

Concert 

Sat 24 Sept 2pm & 7pm 

Chequer Mead Theatre 

chequermead.org.uk

Steyning Arts 

Meet The Artists 

Fresh from the success of their recent Art Trail, the Steyning artists are already back at their easels and workstations. Formed 

in 2011, the Steyning Arts community brings together some 80 local artists offering them a chance to showcase their talents 

and make art more accessible to the community at large. In this series, we meet four of the artists behind the scenes to find 

out more about what makes them tick. 

Alexandra Owen 

I am the artist and printmaker behind Mega Lily 

Design. I work from my home studio in Hove 

and my tiny shop studio in Cobblestone Walk in 

Steyning. I have always been drawn to creativity 

and a few years ago, I completed a part time 

Fine Art course in Brighton where I discovered 

printmaking. Since then I have developed my own 

style and honed my skills, mainly working with 

linocut printing. 

My style is quite illustrative, focusing on light 

and the structure of the subject in each image. 

My work is mainly lino printing, and this is a 

method of relief printing similar to woodblock 

printing but using artists’ lino. After making a 

drawing, the image is transferred in reverse onto 

the lino and carved using a range of tools. Ink is 

then rolled onto the surface of the carved block 

and the paper laid on top, face down. The image 

is then burnished onto the paper, by hand or 

occasionally using my etching press. I also create 

a number of reduction prints, a complex method 

of printmaking that involves layers of inking with 

more lino carved away with each layer. 

My inspiration comes from the natural world, the 

mystery of humankind and often the relationship 

between the two. I am frequently inspired by 

conversations I have with visitors to my tiny shop. 

I have a particular love for Dandelion clocks and 

Honesty (Lunaria) seedheads, and they feature 

regularly in my printmaking. My three largest 

prints, all limited editions, feature Dandelion 

clocks, including “Delicate World” which was 

shortlisted for the Royal Academy Summer (Not 

Summer) Exhibition in 2020. My latest reduction 

linocut print, “A Little More Honesty…”, is a 

7-layer print created over several weeks in an 

edition of 12 prints. 

It is particularly important to me that owning 

original artwork is accessible to all and I therefore 

make a range of prints with this in mind. From 

tiny single layer prints to complex reduction prints 

and limited editions, there is something to suit all 

budgets. I can be found at Cobblestone Walk on 

Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 11-4, and online at 

www.MegaLilyDesign.com 

9

Amanda Duke 

Ten years ago, I re-established my own studio practice after a career in art 

teaching. I am now on my own creative journey which includes balancing 

exhibiting my work with teaching adults. 

My commitment to carving out a personal pathway and consolidating an 

authentic focus in my work is 100%. In the past I have been influenced 

by Picasso, especially his Cubist and later works, Ben Nicholson’s abstract 

reliefs, Kurt Schwitters collages and Peter Lanyon’s abstract aerial view 

paintings. My work reflects an affinity with these artists as I try to record the 

very essence of my visual, auditory and kinaesthetic experiences. I can relate 

to the abstraction in their observed responses to the world. 

As my works in paper, cloth and stitch have evolved, I have found 

connections with the paper and fabric works of Matthew Harris, especially 

his use of dyeing, stitching and cutting cloth as a medium for drawing. I 

found the gestural free motion machine stitching in Alice Kettle’s large scale 

works in her recent exhibition “Threadbound” exquisite. Her scintillating use 

of colour simply makes my heart leap, attaining her freedom of expression is 

something I truly aspire to. I can also relate to the underlying meaning and 

the symbolism in her work. 

Over the coming months, I will be exploring “Landscapes in Time” which 

will follow an instinct to walk, cycle and travel across my local, national, 

and sometimes international landscape. I will be collecting memorable 

moments, finding random objects, and observing the plant life, searching for 

the fragments that stimulate my imagination. I’ll be making visual responses 

along the way in sketchbooks, through photography and by making memory 

boxes. 

I’m bound to be processing my ideas further in the studio. An emotive, 

exploratory approach to recording the atmospheric effects of the prevailing 

light and weather on the scene and on closer observation of plant life, found 

objects and surfaces will lead my on-site research before processing my 

ideas further in the studio. An intuitive gravitation towards mixed media, 

drawing, paper and cloth collage, assemblage and stitch processes are bound 

to be included. It will be interesting to see whether emerging outcomes 

remain wall based or whether they disconnect from the vertical and occupy a 

different space! 

You’ll find me at www.amandaduke.co.uk 


My work is 

often semiabstract 

but 

always contain 

identifiable 

subject matter 

with some 

accidental 

unforeseen 

results. 

Mike Kelly B.Ed; Dip.Ed; Cert Ed 

I studied arts and crafts between 1959-64 at 

the National College of Art, Dublin. When I 

emigrated to the UK in the mid-60s, I worked 

in industry while I continued my studies. I went 

on to teach art for 25 years, during which time I 

completed a Dip Ed, writing a dissertation on Art 

in the Middle Years at West London Institute of 

Education. I’ve worked with all kinds of media, 

including printing, fabrics, stained glass, oils, etc. 

I now work primarily in acrylics, water colour, 

pencil, inks and mixed media. 

Since moving to Sussex in 2009, the local landscape 

has had a considerable influence on my work. 

Bright colours play a significant part with depictions 

of light on water, landscape and buildings in the 

environment. My work is often semi-abstract but 

always contain identifiable subject matter with some 

accidental unforeseen results. I seek and experiment 

with ways to depict familiar locations in unexpected 

ways. I hope viewers will seek out different 

interpretations when looking at my work. 

My influences have stemmed from my early 

interest in architectural forms and the way 

theatre lighting affects the designs. The built 

environment was the main content of my 

degree exhibition and my involvement with 

amateur theatre groups in West London in the 

1970s and 80s (when I worked with Hounslow 

Theatre Workshop and Nova 70) widened my 

interest in designing and building sets for small 

local theatres and college productions. I’ve also 

produced the publicity posters and programme 

designs for these groups. 

Light effects, with segmented shapes and 

colour harmonies can be found in my current 

work. Artists such as Klee, Kandinsky, and the 

Futurists and Cubists are influences that can be 

seen in my paintings. 

During my early years in Ireland in the 1960s 

and later, I exhibited at the Oireachtas Ireland 

and the RDS (Royal Dublin Society) where 

I won the Taylor Bequest for oil painting. 

I have also exhibited at the Charlemont 

Gallery, Dunlaoghaire during summer visits to 

Ireland. During the 70s I wrote a dissertation 

on Dublin’s Architectural Heritage, which 

included pen and ink drawings of the city’s 

Georgian buildings. Other open exhibitions in 

the UK included Isleworth Regatta, Thomas 

Huxley College, The Waterman’s Centre, and 

Treaty Centre (Hounslow), and more recently 

with Steyning Arts in the yearly Art Trail. 

I was particularly pleased to have been asked 

by the Steyning Horticultural Society to plan 

and design the Welcome Sign including St 

Cuthman and his mother silhouette, for which 

I was awarded the Banksian Medal by the RHS 

in 2020 by Steyning Horticultural Society. 

Email: mike.jame@btinternet.com 

11


Esther Collins 

I have always loved all aspects of art and design, 

noticing patterns, compositions, colour and 

texture in the things that I see around me. I have 

a background in graphic design and worked in 

the industry for eight years, before moving into 

teaching in 2007. I then worked as a lecturer on 

degree courses and as an Adult Education Tutor 

for Aspire Sussex, before running independent 

workshops and courses from my studio in 

Storrington. It was whilst undertaking a PGCE 

in Adult Education at Northbrook College, that I 

became drawn towards the colour and tactility of 

textiles as a medium. 

Over the past 15 years, I have learnt and 

practiced a whole range of techniques, which 

I have developed and made my own. I work 

predominantly with machine embroidery, as I 

love the freedom and speed of mark making, 

using a sewing machine to “draw with stitch”, 

creating collages which often integrate paper and 

other mixed media elements. However, I also 

like the more meditative approach of hand stitch, 

depending on the artwork. There are no rules 

to what I make! In addition, I use Batik dying 

and silk painting, as well as screen printing and 

printing my own papers. 

I am drawn to the natural world for inspiration, 

especially the textures and intricate patterns 

of plants and the landscape around us. I enjoy 

walking - the landscape of the South Downs and 

the local coastline are a big influence. I work 

intuitively, trying to capture the energy, memory 

and my feelings in response to what I see. Recently 

I have become interested in more abstract work, 

exploring surface design patterns, lines and 

layering which have personal meaning to me. 

Central to my work as an artist, is teaching; I 

really enjoy passing on skills to other people and 

hold workshops and courses in my studio in 

Storrington and in venues around Sussex. My 

aim is to create a relaxed and friendly atmosphere 

in a small group setting, with lots of one-to-one 

tuition. I believe creativity is crucial for a happy 

and fulfilling life and I try to encourage this 

however I can. 

See my website www.esthercollins.co.uk 

for more information. 

13

Ghools & Ghosties, & 

Long-Leggity Beasts! 

Our Sussex Exclusive historian, Peter Benner, explores where things go 

bump in the night and who may be rattling our nerves 

One of the first articles that I wrote 

about Sussex (and certainly the 

first I got paid for – I was about 

13 at the time), finished with the 

couplet, 

“I saw a ghost at Jacob’s Post 

Last night, almost!” 

I didn’t, and I don’t know anyone who did, but 

certainly the locals were afraid of passing “the 

post” at night. It is situated on the very northern 

end of Ditchling Common, near where was 

the Royal Oak (actually in Wivelsfield parish) 

and although the pub, and indeed its successor 

are no longer there, the post is and its gilded 

cockerel bears the date 1734, which was when 

the events took place which could have well 

given rise to a haunting. 

Jacob Harris, the murderous pedlar 

A travelling pedlar, Jacob Harris by name, having 

“booked in” at the pub, went on to murder the 

landlord, his wife and maid for which he was 

convicted and hanged at the site of the surviving 

post. This post had a great following, so much so 

that the original post, and probably another, were 

hacked away by people seeking a cure for toothache 

by carrying a splinter of it. 

Certainly Sussex has had its fair share of hauntings, 

and several historians have recorded them, notably 

R Thurston-Hopkins (1884-1958), Judy Middleton 

(Ghosts of Sussex 1988) and self-proclaimed ghost 

hunters such as Andrew Green of Robertsbridge 

and others who have gone out to seek strange 

phenomena, with some success. My purpose 

therefore is to try to link some of the actual 


appearances that have graced our homes, ruins 

and glades. 

The headless hitchhiker 

If Jacob Harris did not appear to the unwary 

traveller, certainly the phantom “hitchhiker” 

did in St Leonards Forest near Horsham. The 

horsemen who took rides across the forest were 

likely to find an unexpected passenger riding 

pillion behind him. We know who it was, namely 

Captain Powlett, which is just as well because 

when hitching a lift, the Captain was not normally 

wearing his head! 

The Powletts were an ancient family in Shipley, 

just south of the forest but just who the Captain 

was, what he had done with his head and why he 

needed assistance with his transport arrangements 

is not clear. 

The horse of Brewer Griffith 

Certainly horses are known to appear when not 

expected. My late father-in-law Ronald Kenyon 

believed he saw a ghostly one crossing the road 

in front of him when returning at dusk from 

Brighton to Horsham at Dale Hill between 

Pyecombe and Poynings. This was undoubtedly 

the horse of Brewer Griffith of Brighton who was 

murdered by robbers near this spot and his horse 

turned loose. Like many other hauntings, recent 

researchers have associated this spot with “ley 

lines” radiating from Wolstonbury Hill. 

Geranium Jane 

Other Sussex hauntings can be linked by the 

nature of the manifestations. The former Kings 

Head at Cuckfield enjoyed the presence, and scent 

of Geranium Jane. A former housemaid who 

having fallen pregnant by the landlord, was killed 

by him dropping a pot of geraniums on her head. 

Other sad ladies who turn up to those that are 

receptive seem to be characterised by their clothing. 

There are plenty of “grey ladies” – they appear to 

those prepared to see them at the theatres of the 

Theatre Royal at Brighton and The Connaught at 

Worthing, but they also crop up at Preston Manor 

near Brighton and Michelham Priory. 

Drummer Boy 

White ladies abound too at Herstmonceux 

Castle and Battle Abbey, whilst some of our well 

documented hauntings are manifested by sound: 

at Herstmonceux the ramparts of the castle are 

well known (heard) to be frequented by the 

Drummer Boy whereas elsewhere in the county 

the acute may be regaled by ghostly music – the 

monkish choir at Poling, near Arundel, the 

lone singer at Didling and the phantom Polka 

performer at Angmering. 

Mysterious hands 

Sometimes however the manifestations 

vouchsafed to the faithful do not even offer them 

a full apparition! At Hangleton Manor near 

Hove, white hands have been known to resist 

access to doors, whereas at Twineham Rectory 

near Cuckfield, a gloved black hand was seen to 

progress on its own along the landing. One could 

say “unnerving”! 

Happy to be home 

So are the sad spirits from the past more likely 

to appear to those of a receptive mind? Maybe. 

Or perhaps, like the white lady at Preston Manor 

they will be appeased when properly re-interred 

in hallowed ground. Or some, like the old groom 

who haunted a stable at Alfriston or another 

benign spirit who crops up from time to time, 

the late Sir Hubert Parry who has appeared in his 

beloved Knightscroft at Rustington, perhaps they 

are all just happy to be home. In fact, perhaps 

these spirits are, like the rest of us, happy to be 

home in Sussex. 

Herstmonceux Castle 

Theatre Royal, Brighton 

A former housemaid 

who 

having fallen 

pregnant by the 

landlord, was 

killed by him 

dropping a pot 

of geraniums on 

her head. 

15

Inheritance 

Tax 

Agricultural Property Relief 

for Vineyards and Wineries 

A 

great bottle of wine is a 

wonderfully simple thing, at least 

to the consumer! The issues for 

a winemaker or the owner of a 

vineyard are however much more 

wide ranging. 

Let’s focus on Inheritance Tax (“IHT”) which is 

ordinarily payable at the rate of 40% on the assets 

of an individual who has died, subject to the nil 

rate band, currently £325,000, and any reliefs 

available, which are discussed below. The reason 

for this focus is of course that consideration 

of the IHT consequences is an integral part of 

succession planning for you and your vineyard or 

winery. 

HM Revenue and Customs (“HMRC”) have 

confirmed Agricultural Property Relief (“APR”) 

for IHT purposes 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. 

But first, what is APR? 

In summary, APR is the tax relief given for IHT 

purposes on land occupied for the purposes of 

agriculture, together with related buildings and 

houses used in conjunction with that land. There 

are time ownership requirements: two years for 

owner occupiers and seven years for tenanted 

farmland. 

There is then the rate of tax relief: 100% if the 

land is in-hand or let on a Farm Business Tenancy 

or if vacant possession can be obtained within 

two years, and 50% in most other cases. The tax 

legislation does not define “agriculture” but it 

is normally taken to include horticulture, fruit 

growing, rearing of livestock or fish, together 

with any woodlands ancillary to the farming 

operation. 

What is the official guidance? 

The guidance from HM Revenue and Customs 

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”. 

Given the increasing acreage made over to wine 

production in South East England, this is to be 

much applauded. With Sussex and Surrey being 

the perfect location to produce outstanding wine, 

it is no wonder there are now over one hundred 

wineries including a number of well-known 

names such as, Ridgeview, Bolney, Wiston, 

Tinwood and Rathfinny as well as others with an 

international following. 

So what does that all mean? 

Whilst each of these businesses will benefit from 

this clarification when assets are gifted in lifetime, 


on the passing of an individual or when put into 

trust, more significantly this tax relief contributes 

to the continuity of the business as it passes from 

one generation to the next and the livelihoods of 

those involved. 

Does APR include farm 

buildings? 

Whilst farm buildings used as part of the winery 

will qualify for APR, derelict farm buildings 

do not qualify for APR as they are not being 

occupied for the purposes of agriculture. 

This may be particularly relevant if a farm is 

transitioning from traditional horticultural use to 

being a vineyard or winery and not all the farm 

buildings are used in the wine making business. 

And what about the owner’s 

house? 

The test for whether the owner’s house is of “a 

character appropriate to the property” requires 

consideration of four factors: 

• Is the house appropriate by reference to its 

size, content and layout with the winery 

buildings and the size of the vineyard? 

• Is the house proportionate in size and nature 

to the requirements of the winery? 

• Would the educated rural layman regard 

the house as the core of the winery or just a 

large country house with land purchased for 

lifestyle reasons? 

• How long has the house been associated with 

the land and is there a history of horticulture? 

The winery owner’s house should therefore 

qualify for APR if of a character appropriate to 

the vineyard or winery, provided it is where the 

wine making business is controlled from. 

Also when a wine making business transitions 

from one generation to the next, there is a risk 

the house may in fact have become a retirement 

home and is no longer the centre of operations 

for the winery. The next generation may need 

to occupy the house if they are continuing the 

family winery business with the older generation 

moving to a different and perhaps smaller 

property on the vineyard or elsewhere. 

Are farm cottages within APR? 

Cottages on farms can also qualify for APR, 

usually at 100%, provided they meet the 

“character appropriate” test and an occupation 

test. Employee occupied houses qualify as do 

certain others. 

If a temporary vacancy is to occur it is to 

your discretion whether the cottage would 

be considered as held for the purposes of 

agriculture. Individuals should take care that 

the cottages let to an unconnected person 

will be unlikely to qualify for the relief, on 

the basis it would ‘not be occupied for the 

purposes of agriculture’. 

How are borrowings treated? 

The old rules provided that borrowings, even 

if used to acquire property qualifying for APR, 

would be deductible against the asset on which it 

was secured. 

It is now the case that where new borrowings are 

taken out, the borrowing is set against the assets 

qualifying for APR to the extent the borrowings 

were used to acquire the APR qualifying property. 

What are the APR dangers? 

There are some. The most obvious in a wine 

making business is APR will not be available 

if there is a binding contract for sale of the 

property in the partnership or shareholders 

agreement, but this can usually be avoided by 

having in place buy and sell option agreements. 

Landowners also need to be cautious of 

alternative revenue streams on the land. 

Diversification of land operations may lead to 

income from alternative sources, but could hurt 

the availability of APR on the asset. Examples of 

this may include renewable energy projects and 

holiday businesses. 

What if the farmland and 

buildings have development 

value? 

APR is only given for the agricultural value of 

the property as opposed to the open market 

value of the property. Sometimes these amounts 

are the same but on occasion HMRC insist on 

agricultural value being 60-70% of open market 

value even though there is no such standard 

discount. Each case will need to be considered 

on its merits. 

If however the land has hope or development 

value, particularly if the vineyard is next to a 

built up area or could be the next strategic site in 

a local authority approved plan, the excess value 

over the agricultural value will not attract APR. 

The position may however be saved by Business 

Property Relief, another form of tax relief for 

Inheritance Tax relief purposes, if the land is 

used in the owner’s own trading business. 

If you would like to discuss Agricultural 

Property Relief for your vineyard or winery, 

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 Philips 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 relief for 

IHT for agricultural 

businesses as they pass 

between generations. 

17

2 

1 

3 4 

Summer Style 

Donna Camera spills the beans on this season’s essentials from festival 

Ts to beach themed earrings essentials from floral prints to chunky boots! 


5 

6 

7 

The days are long, the sun is hazy 

and it’s time to enjoy the very 

best of summer whether that 

means glamping at a festival, 

meeting friends for a barbeque 

or escaping for a well-earned break. Nothing 

says summer more than bright colours, 

t-shirts, and sandals and Donna from La 

Vida has her top six recommendations to 

help you feel and look great as you jet off to 

enjoy the sunshine. 

1 Float like a butterfly 

An easy to wear butterfly sleeve dress is just 

perfect for the summer season. Designed using 

Indian saris for the print, this style is soft and 

silky to wear. 

2 It’s all about the statement T 

This one with the fabulous Frida Kahlo icon is 

perfect for that summer festival vibe 

3 More from Frida! 

This summer fruit Frida Kahlo scarf can be 

used in so many ways. Add to a plain T or 

dress by draping around the neck, use as a belt 

or even as a head scarf on the beach. 

4 The perfect summer dress for 

any social occasion 

This bold summer print dress is the perfect outfit 

for a summer wedding, christening, garden party 

or just a bit of glamorous colour. 

5 Accessorise your feet! 

These beautiful butterfly jewelled sandals in a 

neutral colour will go with all of your summer 

wardrobe while the jewels will sparkle in the 

sunlight. 

6 Bold is beautiful 

This stunning and quirky crepe print dress has 

a lovely drape crossover to the front. The shape 

is very flattering to wear, and the exquisite stork 

print makes this dress a real statement. 

7 Beach babe moments 

Embrace the summer beach vibe with our hand 

beaded shell earrings. Statement jewellery is a 

must have for the summer! 

Donna 

www.lavidaboutique.co.uk 

Donna Camera 

has worked in 

fashion for over 

20 years and 

is founder and 

owner of La 

Vida Boutique in 

Horsham which 

specialises 

in affordable 

luxury in ladies’ 

fashion and 

accessories. 

19

1st Sarah Russell, Shoreham Beach 


The Best of Sussex 

on Camera 

We asked and you delivered! Here are the 

winners of our Sussex photo competition as 

judged by professional, local photographer 

Sophie Ward 

Back in May, we invited you to send us 

photographs with the theme of “The 

Best Thing About Sussex”. We loved 

receiving all your shots and because 

we thought they were all beautiful, we 

asked Sussex photographer Sophie Ward to help 

us judge the winner. 

Sophie worked as a professional photographer in 

London’s newsrooms and magazines for 20 years. 

She started her own photography business in 

2007 after moving out of London to Broadbridge 

Heath near Horsham in West Sussex. 

“When I first moved here, I was instantly 

welcomed by the people of Broadbridge Heath. 

My husband and I have fallen in love with West 

Sussex. We feel very lucky to be bringing our 

children up here”. 

Nowadays you will find Sophie shooting for 

businesses and weddings in the south east 

of England and recently running business 

photography workshops for Horsham District 

Council. And she’s been kind enough to provide a 

little bit of feedback too. 

So to the results and our winning 5 and top 10 

photos! Thank you to everyone who submitted a 

photo, we can’t share them all here, but we will 

post them on our social media with full credit to 

you, of course! 

Sophie’s winning selection 

1st Sarah Russell, Shoreham Beach 

2nd Chris Lees, Tilgate Park 

3rd Anna McCabe, Balcombe Viaduct 

4th Anna McCabe, Rushey Hill, Peacehaven 

5th Peter Nesbitt, Littlehampton 

2nd Chris Lees, Tilgate Park 

21

Our judge’s feedback 

Sarah Russell. 

Shoreham Beach 

This would make a lovely front cover on any local 

magazine, the reflection from the sun on the sea 

and wet rocks is beautiful, you have also captured 

the glistening shingle on the beach and some 

wave detail. A stunning photo. 

Chris Lees. 

Tilgate Park 

When I first looked at this photo the colour hit 

me. Then I spotted the bee and was pleasantly 

surprised. A wonderful capture of a very fastmoving 

creature. There is lots of detail on the 

flower and I like the slightly upwards angle the 

photographer has taken. 

3rd Anna McCabe, Balcombe Viaduct 

Anna McCabe. 

Balcombe 

Viaduct 

A well-lit landscape of 

the famous Balcombe 

Viaduct, you have 

captured some splendid 

cloud detail and the 

shadows on the viaduct 

aren’t too harsh so you 

can still see some detail 

in them. You have 

made the viaduct look 

huge which it is, so 

well done. 

4th Anna McCabe, Rushey Hill, Peacehaven 

Anna McCabe. 

Rushey Hill 

A night scene, with 

the moon over a 

holiday park, lovely 

cloud detail and good 

composition. I love 

the contact with the 

warmth of the holiday 

homes against the cold 

of the night. 


5th Peter Nesbitt, Littlehampton 

Peter Nesbitt. 

Littlehampton 

I love how the winding path is leading my eye down to the empty beach, 

making me want to wander into the middle of the photograph. A calm photo. 

Amy Parsons. Bluebells at Highdown Worthing 

Amy Parsons. 

Bluebells at Highdown Worthing 

A gorgeous full frame of bluebells, I can almost 

smell them, and the colour is so rich. I’m slightly 

distracted by the tall stem poking its head up 

in the middle of the photograph. But a nicely 

framed photo. 

Anna Key. Sheffield Park 

Anna Key. 

Sheffield Park 

Lovely composition of 

autumn tree reflections 

in a lake and taken in 

beautiful light. The 

shadows on the righthand 

side are a bit 

distracting, maybe try 

cropping them out of 

your photo. Overall a 

lovely photo. 

23

Tracy Voller, Tulips 

Becca Bridges. Henfield Priory 

Tracy Voller 

Stunning detail on this very vibrant tulip but 

be careful about the background which can 

sometimes be a bit distracting. 

Becca Bridges. Henfield Priory 

A pleasing photo of a beautiful moth on some buddleia. The moth is very 

sharp, and you can see lots of detail. The photo has lots of contrast which is 

slightly detracting from the main subject but a very nice wildlife photo indeed. 

Anna McCabe. 

Peacehaven 

A beautiful seascape 

and I can almost feel 

the sea spray on my 

face. The cloud detail 

is lovely but try using 

your camera grid as 

the wonky horizon is 

a bit distracting. 

Anna McCabe. 

Peacehaven 


A celebration of 

Sussex Sparkling Wine & Gin 

Saturday November 19th 

12.00 - 6.00pm 

South Lodge, Brighton Road, Horsham RH13 6PS 

Book your ticket today 

www.bubblesandbotanicals.net 

Stalls & 

Tastings 

An event by 

25

Central Sussex 

Wine Tour 

Experience vineyard life and discover award winning local wines 


This year, and as Sussex has been appointed a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) for wine by 

the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), at Sussex Exclusive we’re 

celebrating our Sussex wine heritage. And in this second in our series of wine tour suggestions, we 

explore Ditching, Ashdown Forest and Mayfield. 

You can find the first of our wine tours here: West Sussex Wine Tour 

Ditchling 

Our central Sussex wine tour starts in Ditchling, 

just north of Brighton where there is a veritable 

cluster of exceptional vineyards. 

Ditchling may be small, but it is perfectly formed 

and has some good reasons to visit in addition to 

the wine. The village dates back to about 765 AD 

and is perhaps most famous for being owned by 

King Alfred the Great! By 1068 it was recorded in 

the Domesday Book as belonging to William de 

Warenne. 

Ditchling Garden Manor (just opposite the 

church) was gifted to Anne of Cleves as part of 

her divorce settlement from King Henry VIII. 

Although she never lived there, it is a striking 

and beautiful Tudor building. To the side of the 

church, is Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft 

which celebrates, in part, the life and work of 

sculptor and letter cutter Eric Gill and the Guild 

of St Joseph and St Dominic, a local community 

of artists and craftsmen, including painters, 

silversmiths, sculptors, ceramicists and weavers. 

No visit to Ditchling is complete with out a hike 

up the South Downs and Ditchling Beacon. The 

beacon is the highest point in East Sussex and 

was the site of an Iron Age hill fort, which, if you 

know what you’re looking for, you can still make 

out. It’s now owned by the National Trust. 

Court Garden 

Court Garden is on a site that dates back to 

Saxon times when it was the Manor of Ditchling 

Garden. The vineyard was established in 2005 

and is a 17-acre, family vineyard growing Pinot 

Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier for the 

production of sparkling wine, and also Pinot 

Gris, Ortega, Rondo and Pinot Blanc for use in 

still wine. Two rare old varieties of Arbanne and 

Petit Meslier are grown as well. Court Garden 

has won both national and international awards, 

including the IWC Trophy for Best English 

Sparkling Wine awarded to their Blanc de Blancs 

2010 Vintage in 2015. 

They offer two different guided tours, plus a selfguided 

tour and a tasting-only tour as well as a 

picnic lunch option. 

Vineyards in Ditchling 

Ridgeview 

A Sussex wine big gun and winner of the IWSC 

winemaker of the year 2018, Ridgeview have 

been established for over 25 years and were one of 

England’s first wineries. They produce sparkling 

wine from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot 

Meunier grapes. 

Ridgeview is well stocked across the county, and 

they also offer “The Ridgeview Experience” which 

includes a tour of the vineyard, winery and cellars 

followed by a tasting overlooking the South 

Downs. This summer (2022), they are opening a 

brand new, all-weather outdoor venue for dining 

and wine tasting. 

27

Black Dog Hill 

Named after a local legend (about a black dog 

that roams the hills), this family run vineyard 

within the Ditchling Beacon also has a cellar door 

in Ditchling village. 

They produce vintage Classic Cuvée using their 

own Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier 

grapes combined with the talents of well-known 

winemaker, Dermot Sugrue. Their wines have a 

won a number of awards including IWSC Gold 

in 2015. You can arrange a tour by appointment, 

and they deliver locally for free. You can also 

taste and buy their wines at their brewery at 

Morehouse Farm in nearby Wivelsfield. 

Bee Tree Vineyard 

Just north of Ditchling at Wivelsfield Green, 

Bee Tree is an independent, family-run vineyard. 

They are all about ethically and sustainably 

grown fruit and are certified by the Sustainable 

Wines of Great Britain committee. They 

produce a mixture of sparkling and still wine and 

although they don’t offer tours as yet, you can 

buy from their shop. 

Ashdown Forest 

The next leg of your central Sussex wine tour 

takes you north to Ashdown Forest. This is 

an area of ancient and open heathland within 

the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural 

Beauty. It has views across Sussex and has 

played an important role in our Sussex life since 

prehistoric times. 

Today it covers 9.5 square miles and is ideal for 

short walks or longer hikes. It’s also famous for 

being the setting for the Winnie-the-Pooh stories 

and has its own windmill at Nutley. Nearby 

places to visit include the Bluebell Railway, 

Wakehurst Place and Standen House (a National 

Trust) property. 

There are a couple of fabulous local places to 

stay too which include Buxted Park Hotel and 

Ashdown Park Hotel and there is a visitor centre 

at Wych Cross, near Forest Row. 

Vineyards near Ashdown Forest 

Bluebell Vineyard Estate 

In between North Chailey and Danehill, Bluebell 

Vineyard Estates is home to “Hindleap” sparkling 

wines and “Ashdown” still wines. Once home 

to thousands of Large Whites and Landrace 

pigs, there are now over 130,000 vines growing 

Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and 

Seyval Blanc. 

They offer three tours /tasting experiences 

namely: Wine Tastings, Public Vineyard and 

Winery Tours (described as a “true ‘grape to glass’ 

experience) and a Wine & Cheese Tour. 

Kingscote Estate and Vineyard 

A family-owned vineyard just to the north 

of Ashdown Forest, the 160-acre estate at 

Kingscote has 70 acres of vines and several 

different varieties of grape. They have 


een operating organically since 2019 and they 

produce still and sparkling wine. 

You can also stay in their beautifully refurbished 

coach house, and they offer a variety of tours and 

tastings as well as fishing and what they call their 

Bottomless Brunch: Sunday Brunch, with as many 

glasses of bubbles as your heart desires accompanied 

by a feast of local produce and homemade Brunch 

treats; sweet pastries, savoury baked goodies, Greek 

yogurt with fresh berries, honey and granola, homebaked 

banana bread and more. 

Soaked in history, the farmhouse itself was built 

in 1320 as an Iron Master’s house, while the new 

visitor centre is in an original 15th century Tithe 

barn. 

Downsview Vineyard 

To the east of Ashdown Forest, and just between 

Hadlow Down and Crowborough, Downsview 

was planted in 2010. They have a mixture of 

grapes including Dornfelder, Bacchus and 

Ortega, as well as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and 

Pinot Meunier. They make their wines and some 

ciders in their purpose-built winery, powered 

by renewable energy. They offer a tour of their 

vineyard and winery, followed by a tasting 

during which you’ll learn about growing vines in 

England, and the winemaking process for both 

still and sparkling wine. 

They also have four bell tents in a little orchard 

next to the vines with a fire pit and a welcome 

glass of Downsview wine. 

Mayfield 

This last part of our central Sussex wine tour 

takes you to Mayfield, a picturesque and historic 

village only a stone’s throw from Royal Tunbridge 

Wells. Steeped in local legend and folklore about 

Mayfield, St Dunstan and the devil, Mayfield 

predates the Doomsday book. 

Dominating the town is the school which was 

once the site of a palace of the Archbishop of 

Canterbury, and it’s believed that Elizabeth I was 

entertained here. The village also has a smuggling 

past, and the Mayfield Gang (with their leader 

Gabriel Tomkins) were known as non-violent 

“owlers” (wool smugglers). The Middle House in 

the High Street has numerous tales of its own – 

from secret priest holes and prison cells to murders 

and suicides, and the Mayfield Gang are believed 

to have used a number of tunnels that run under 

the village one of which ends in the wine cellar of 

The Middle House. 

Other properties of note in the village include the 

18th century Stone House, Yeoman’s (an early 

15th century Wealden Hall), and 15th century 

Walnut Tree House. 

If you’re looking for things do, head to Royal 

Tunbridge Wells for shopping and theatres, or 

towards Argos Hill and the town’s windmill for 

a hearty walk. Mayfield also holds its own music 

and arts festival each spring. Nearby, Heathfield 

has a spring “Cuckoo” fair, as well as a sizeable 

agricultural show in May and a Cuckoo cycling 

trail. 

For places to stay, The Middle House in the 

village itself is a charismatic central point or for 

something different, try the luxurious and utterly 

beautiful tree house at Heavenly Hoots just 

outside the village. 

Vineyards near Mayfield 

Fox and Fox 

Just outside Mayfield, Fox and Fox is another 

family vineyard where they have been producing 

wine since 2009. They grow Pinot Noir, Pinot 

Meunier, Chardonnay and Pinot gris. Their 

emphasis is on minimal intervention in the 

vineyard and light manipulation in the winery 

with a “desire to create interesting and delicious 

cuvées for wine lovers and occasional drinkers 

alike”. They’ve won multiple awards for their 

wines, and although they don’t offer tours yet, 

you can buy online. 

Tickerage 

This is perhaps one of the smallest vineyards in 

Sussex with just five acres. Situated in Blackboys 

just outside Uckfield, they now have a cellar door 

and are also offering monthly tours, with tasting 

of 2 sparkling and 1 still wine. They also offer 

bespoke private tours with a selection of deli style 

platters and homemade scones to accompany 

their range. 

Hollow Lane Vineyard 

A small family run vineyard, near Uckfield, the 

first vines were planted here in 2011. They now 

have 5600 vines and produce sparkling wine at 

their onsite winery. They also now have a wine 

tasting area and host vineyard tours and wine 

tasting, and you can also order a picnic. 

29

GARDENING 

© Selina Lake and Sussie Bell 

Make the most of 

your garden 

From tea parties to bug removal, award winning gardener, 

writer and broadcaster, Geoff Stonebanks, shares his tips 


Every garden 

enjoyed, every 

piece of cake 

served and 

every cuppa 

poured will 

support the 

wonderful work 

of Macmillan 

Cancer Support, 

Marie Curie, 

Hospice UK, 

Carer’s Trust, 

Parkinson’s 

UK and The 

Queen’s Nursing 

Institute - 

charities 

supported by 

the National 

Garden Scheme. 

Welcome to this, my inaugural 

gardening feature for the 

digital magazine. I hope you 

enjoy reading the content 

and future articles about 

gardening and garden visiting. 

The month of July is often one of the hottest 

months of the year and a great time to sit back 

and appreciate the fruits of your labour by 

enjoying your garden. It is essential to keep plants 

looking good by regularly dead-heading and you'll 

be able to enjoy a longer display of magnificent 

blooms. Make sure you keep new plants wellwatered, 

using grey water where possible, and hoe 

off weeds, which always thrive in the sunshine. 

Host a Tea Party 

If you enjoy sharing your love of gardens then 

maybe the perfect solution is to host a party 

for family and friends and do so as part of the 

National Garden Scheme’s, Great British Garden 

Party, now in its third year! It is very simple to take 

part, as the scheme invites everyone and anyone to 

join them and Dame Mary Berry, President of the 

National Garden Scheme and undisputed Queen 

of Cakes invites you to hold your own Great 

British Garden Party event to raise funds for some 

of the most important and best-loved nursing and 

health charities in the UK. 

The important point is that it doesn’t matter 

whether your garden is large or small, a horticultural 

delight or a children’s playground, you can still 

get involved and have fun! Your event can be 

anything - an informal barbeque, coffee morning or 

quintessential afternoon tea and cake, family bakeoff, 

book swap or plant sale by your garden gate. 

Every garden enjoyed, every piece of cake served 

and every cuppa poured will support the wonderful 

work of Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, 

Hospice UK, Carer’s Trust, Parkinson’s UK and The 

Queen’s Nursing Institute – charities supported by 

the National Garden Scheme. 

Joining the Great British Garden Party couldn’t be 

simpler. Just sign up, invite your guests and start 

planning your perfect day. On the website you’ll 

find colourful invitations to send to your guests, 

tips on how to boost your fundraising, mouthwatering 

recipes, and inspirational ideas for the 

perfect event to help you on your way. Their 

official garden party week is 16 th – 24 th July but 

you can choose any day across the summer that is 

best for you. Full details at www.ngs.org.uk 

Greenhouse 

If, like me, you have a greenhouse remember they 

can really overheat through the summer months 

and your plants can suffer from sun scorch. It 

might be useful to install some shade netting or 

a polythene mesh to help reduce temperatures. I 

put mine up every spring and take it down again 

for the winter months to allow maximum light in 

the darker months. Something I’ve not personally 

tried but can also achieve success is to use shade 

paints which are painted on the exterior of the 

glass. Make sure you open greenhouse vents 

and doors on warm days, to help improve air 

circulation. If you are growing tomatoes, water 

daily to prevent them drying out, which can lead 

to split fruit. 

Bugs 

I’ve got several large containers of wonderful lilies 

around the garden. Those orange ones pictured, 

belonged to my aunt, who died back in 2004. I 

inherited the pot from her garden and the flowers 

pop up religiously every year in her memory! 

They are beautiful flowers, but their one downfall 

is that they are very susceptible to damage from 

scarlet lily beetle. 

The larvae from them can strip plants in a matter 

of days, so, be on the lookout for them. I’ll also 

be checking for their sticky brown larvae on the 

underside of the leaves. You can just remove the 

larvae and the beetles by hand. It’s also a good 

thing to look for aphids (greenfly and blackfly) on 

the stems and leaves of your plant shoots as well. 

I do tend to use a bug spray in my garden when 

needed. 

Plant care 

If, like me, you have a few sweet peas in the 

garden then do remember to water and feed them 

regularly, pick the flowers every few days, and 

remove seed pods to prolong flowering, you’ll 

be surprised at how many flowers they produce. 

They are such delicate flowers with an amazing 

scent. Now is also a good time to cut back hardy 

Geraniums and Delphiniums, after their first 

flush of flowers. This will really encourage lots of 

new growth. 

Visit Driftwood 

If you open your garden, as I do every summer, 

then cakes are one of the key ingredients to make 

it a success. Over the 10 or more years that I’ve 

been doing it, I’ve personally baked in excess 

of 8500 portions of cake. The added bonus at 

Driftwood is that I serve everything on vintage 

china too, making the experience a perfect 

summer day out, weather permitting, of course. 

For those that would like to visit the garden, it 

is open from 1 st June right through to 31 st July, 

every day for visitors “by arrangement”. 

Just call 01323 899296 or email 

visitdriftwood@gmail.com to arrange. 

Full details at www.driftwoodbysea.co.uk 

GARDENING 

31

Get thee back 

to FRANCE 

Tales of a real-life French invasion of Brighton 

as recounted by local historian and author, Nils Visser 


Clockwise: 

British Napoleonic 

re-enactors 

(dreamstime.com) 

© Alejandro 

Montecatine, 

© Martin Brayley 

Prince of Wales (later 

George IV), ca. 1798 

Nils Visser © 

Corin Spinks 

Nixon Martha Gunn 

Get Thee Back to 

France Closeup 

As author of short stories, novellas, 

and novels set in Sussex I’m always 

on the lookout for anything weird 

and wonderful to adapt for my 

stories. Needless to say, Sussex has 

plenty on offer. 

One of my favourites by far is one that sounds 

so far-fetched that it begs to be relegated to 

the status of urban myth, namely a simulated 

“French” invasion of Brighton. 

Fear of revolutionary France was rife in the 1790s. 

An invasion wasn’t a wholly unrealistic prospect, 

and one for which Britain was poorly prepared. 

One Briton, however, simply couldn’t wait for 

such excitement to happen, namely one George 

Augustus Frederick Hanover. He would later 

ascend the throne as King George IV, but at the 

time of this tale he was still the Prince of Wales, 

affectionately known as “Prinny” in Brighton. 

His extravagant lifestyle and fondness of dubious 

entertainments did much to set the tone of social 

life in Brighton, where he was also dubbed “The 

Prince of Pleasure”. 

The Prince of Pleasure was fond of military 

pageants. Later, as Prince Regent, he would reenact 

famous Wellington victories in London’s 

Hyde Park, but in the 1790s he had to make do 

with more modest affairs. Like a French invasion 

of Brighton. 

Too impatient to wait for a real invasion, Prinny 

ordered two battalions of the British Army to 

Brighton beach, and a temporary stand built 

from where he could observe the proceedings 

with guests. One battalion, from Northumbria, 

was dressed up in blue coats and armed with 

mock training stocks instead of real muskets. 

They were landed ashore by the Royal Navy. The 

other battalion, in their own red coats, was to 

march through Brighton and arrive in the nick 

of time in order to heroically repulse the French 

invasion. 

This second battalion wasn’t local either and 

unfamiliar with Brighton. Instead of marching to 

the beach, they headed west toward Shoreham, 

inadvertently bypassing the “invasion” altogether. 

The “French” army duly landed on the beach 

and assembled in formation, but there wasn’t a 

redcoat to be seen, leading to much confused 

shouting. Now the common folk from the Lanes 

hadn’t been told about Prinny’s grand plans. 

All they knew, was that a great many soldiers 

in blue coats had landed on the beach. They 

couldn’t make head nor tail of the Northumbrian 

dialect, and concluded that these strange soldiers 

speaking “furrin” must indeed be the muchdreaded 

French. The word spread like wildfire in 

the Lanes: The French are invading! 

Being properly patriotic, the common Lanesfolk 

mobilised, grabbing whatever was to hand – 

mostly tools of their trades – and storming out of 

the Lanes and onto the beach, led by none other 

than the famous Queen of the Dippers, Martha 

Gunn, formidable still at eighty-seven years old, 

and wielding a broomstick. 

It was, of course, an incredibly brave thing to 

do, because the Lanesfolk assumed they would 

be tackling real French soldiers armed with 

loaded muskets and bayonets. The blue-coated 

Northumbrians took one look at the charging 

Lanesfolk and fled into the surf, hollering at the 

Royal Navy boats – rowing back to their ships – 

to come back and pick them up. The Lanesfolk 

reached the “French” soldiers where they were 

able to scramble into the boats and gave them 

a proper “bannicking” (broad Sussex dialect for 

beating). It was reported that Martha Gunn 

picked up an officer by the scruff of his neck, 

lifted him in the air, and then gave him a knockout 

punch, shouting, “Get thee back to France!”. 

Prinny was delighted and cheered the Lanesfolk 

on, afterwards insisting that Martha Gunn was 

introduced to him. 

Looking further into this remarkable event, 

I found a logical explanation for the whole 

affair. In 1794, John Colley Nixon produced an 

illustration showing Martha Gunn and other 

women beating back a “French” invasion of 

Brighton, as a satirical comment on the lack of 

national preparedness for such a calamity. The 

illustration, it was said, subsequently led to the 

invention of the urban myth. 

However, it’s likely that Nixon based his 

illustration on an actual incident. In his The 

Brighton Garrison, historian Roy Christopher 

Grant relates that the “battle” took place during 

Easter exercises near Brighton. The Prince of 

Wales had indeed organised a mock invasion 

of Brighton by British troops dressed as French 

soldiers. These troops hailed from the north of 

England. Grant told me, “Some locals heard them 

speaking in a funny dialect, assumed they were 

French, and a battle ensued.” Grant points out 

that the two men hiding in the bathing machines 

in Nixon’s illustration were caricatures of the two 

British Generals Sheridan and Fox, “who were 

fully aware that the ‘invaders’ weren’t French and 

were much amused by the whole event.” 

As they say elsewhere in Sussex, there be 

something of everything and everything of 

something in Brighton. Although that isn’t 

necessarily intended as a compliment, it cannot 

be denied that courage and bravery were amongst 

those Brighton qualities on that bizarre day back 

in the 1790s. 

33


The Loxwood Joust 

Announces the Quest for 

the Crown of Loxwood 

There are jousts. There are reenactments. 

And then there is 

Loxwood Joust, the UK’s most 

spectacular immersive Medieval and 

jousting festival. And the gauntlet has 

been thrown down in the battle for the Crown of 

Loxwood as the clash for a successor to the throne 

takes place. 

The thrill of the joust 

In the magical Kingdom of Loxwood, you are 

transported back in time to Medieval England 

as you interact with townsfolk and peasants and 

rub shoulders with royalty. There is full-contact 

jousting, daring displays of weaponry, archery 

and cannon fire and the impressive knight on 

knight combat, that will be waged in the quest 

for Regent. 

The intrigue of the forest 

You enter the realm via a magical forest, and are 

met by an array of colourful characters, each 

with a story to tell, rumours to spread or a favour 

to ask. Accept the right invitations, choose a 

quest and improve your standing from Citizen 

to “Squire of Loxwood” in this unique day of 

adventure, intrigue, fun and merriment. 

The skills of the executioner 

The Living History Village plays out life in the 

Middle Ages and falconry displays, torture with 

the executioner, the witches’ incantations and an 

insight into the spirits of nature will capture your 

imagination and draw you into times past. 

A feast like no other 

Experience and savour authentic recreations from 

a Medieval nobleman’s salver, in the banqueting 

hall. With dishes of the finest fayre served to 

accommodate both traditional and vegetarian 

palates; jesters, storytellers, live music and riddlers 

will lead a merry dance and embroil you in gossip 

and laughter. 

New skills to be learnt 

New for 2022 is the creation of Scribe School and 

the Copper Bangle making workshops, which are 

adding to the ever-popular workshop activities 

such as: Handfasting ceremonies, Blacksmithing 

workshops, Sword school, Copper bowl making, 

Chain mail making, and Singing workshops with 

the Mediaeval Baebes. 

A kingdom for children 

In the Children’s Kingdom, the young princes 

and princesses can use their Medieval groats to try 

have-a-go-archery, pelt-the-peasant, non-contact 

sword fighting and circus school, in addition to 

watching court jester shows and enjoying face and 

wound painting too. 

Who will be crowned your new 

King or Queen? 

With fast-paced battles and challenges that have 

shaped the story’s Medieval mayhem and gallant 

chilvery, visitors to the Joust - the people of 

Loxwood - will be immersed in the plot to decide 

who should be their King or Queen. 

The Loxwood Joust is excellently located just 

off the B2133 between Wisborough Green and 

Loxwood and has ample Free Parking. Experiences 

and banqueting places must be booked in advance 

when booking tickets at www.loxwoodjoust.co.uk. 

Accept the 

right invitations, 

choose a quest 

and improve 

your standing 

from Citizen 

to “Squire of 

Loxwood” in 

this unique day 

of adventure, 

intrigue, fun and 

merriment 

The Loxwood Meadow, Loxwood, West Sussex RH14 0AL 

www.loxwoodjoust.co.uk 

6,7,13 and 14 August 2022 

35


DANNY & MO 

Present 

in association with 

LOXWOOD 

JAZZ 

31 July 2022. 12 midday- 8pm 

A VERY SPECIAL BOUTIQUE FESTIVAL IN WEST SUSSEX 

JAZZ, GIN & BLUES will take place in the tranquil glade at Loxwood 

Meadow, site of the popular medieval jousting festival, Loxwood Joust. 

An intimate crowd of just 500 people will enjoy a stellar line-up of jazz 

and blues artists in a sheltered woodland setting. 

Alexandra Ridout Band 

Julian Burdoch Trio 

Spice Fusion 

Simon Bates Organ Trio 

Special Guest Georgina Jackson 

And 

The Mike “Ozzie” Osbourne 

Samba Workshop 

Loxwood Meadow, Loxwood RH14 0AL Free parking 

Tickets £25 from www.jazzginblues.co.uk 

37

Chicken Cordon Bleu 

Vanessa Jamieson has been in the kitchen rustling up 

something tasty for those summer evenings 

This month’s 

recipe is a 

French classic 

– perfect for 

serving on a 

summer evening 

al fresco, along 

with a crisp 

salad, crunchy 

French stick 

and of course, 

a cold glass 

of Provence 

rosé wine. This 

dish will serve 

6 and takes 

minimal prep 

time at around 

20 minutes, 

so perfect 

for rustling 

up on those 

unexpected 

fine summer 

evenings when 

you would 

rather be in the 

garden than the 

kitchen! 

Ingredients: 

12 skinless chicken thigh fillets 

12 slices Emmental cheese 

12 slices good quality ham 

80 g butter 

6 tbsp plain flour 

800 ml whole milk 

200 ml dry white wine 

100 g finely grated Parmesan 

150 g sourdough bread 

2 crushed garlic cloves 

2 tsp olive oil 

Chopped fresh parsley for garnish 

Method: 

Preheat the oven to 200/180 fan. 

Place the fillets between two sheets of greaseproof 

paper and flatten to around 1cm, with a rolling 

pin. Place one slice of cheese and one slice of ham 

on top of each fillet and roll them up – placing 

the seam side down in a deep roasting dish. 

To make the sauce, whisk the flour, milk, white 

wine and butter in a pan on a low heat. Allow 

it to come to the boil and then let it simmer for 

4 minutes. Stir in the Parmesan, season to taste 

with salt and pepper and then pour the sauce over 

the chicken. Place in the oven for 30 minutes. 

Put the sourdough, olive oil and garlic clove 

into a food processer and whizz to a fine crumb. 

Scatter these over the chicken and bake for a 

further 10 mins until golden. Scatter over the 

parsley to garnish. 

Mini Rosemary Roast Potatoes 

Ingredients: 

2 kg Jersey Royal potatoes 

A good glug of olive oil 

A handful of fresh Rosemary sprigs – stalks 

removed 

Method: 

Cut the potatoes into quarters and spread thinly 

in a roasting tin. Pour over a generous amount 

of olive oil and season with Rosemary and salt 

and pepper. 

Put into pre heated oven at 200/180 fan for 40 

mins, shaking halfway. 


39

The Best of Sussex 

to Drink with a 

Barbecue 

Pip Mortimer, who spent 25 years in the UK drinks trade, has been out taste 

testing the best booze for the barbecue (as well as some non-alcoholic options) 


Whilst summer is an elusive 

season at best in Britain, 

when the sun shines there 

is no better time to gather 

your crockery and move the 

cooking out of doors and onto the barbecue. But 

whilst we all know how to grill a sausage and flip 

a burger almost to perfection, it is more difficult 

to know what to drink when it comes to these 

occasions, especially if you are trying to keep your 

food miles to a minimum. 

Luckily, Sussex is at the forefront of massive 

growth in the drinks sector. With vineyards, 

distilleries, breweries and wineries dotting the 

landscape, the local drinker is spoilt for choice 

when it comes to knowing what to serve with a 

summer spread. 

Here we highlight some homegrown choices to 

fill your glass and whet your palate as you soak 

in the sunshine and wait for the charcoal sparks 

to fly. 

Kinsbrook Pinot Gris 2020 – £19 

Kinsbrook Pinot Noir Précoce 2020 – 

from £20 

As the youngest vineyard owner in the country, 

with vineyards on land that his family have 

owned for decades, Joe Beckett is ideally placed 

for having his finger on the pulse of the local 

vibe. As he says, he wants to “try and do things 

other people would like”, rather than stick to a 

predetermined plan. The wonderfully relaxed and 

welcoming vibe that he and his partner Rebecca 

Dancer have created is evident the moment you 

drive into the car park. 

So if you want to take some of the effortlessly 

cool vibe that pours from the Picketty (their 

temporary onsite servery) with you for your 

outdoors experience, then grab a bottle of the 

Pinot Gris 2020. Retailing from £19, this is the 

perfect food wine with a delicate mineral nose, 

touches of white peach, a smattering of herb 

and spice notes. Nicely acidic but with a lovely 

rich mouth filling flavour that makes it versatile 

enough to pair with a big salad, grilled fish, 

cheese and even meat! 

If outside eating equals rosé; then try the head 

turning Pinot Noir Précoce (Preh Coss) instead. 

Précoce is an early ripening variety of the famous 

Pinot Noir grape from Burgundy in France, a bit 

more forgiving with the temperamental English 

weather. Joe described this wine as “marmite”, 

not because of its flavour, but more because 

this is not your delicate, insipid rosé. From the 

first sip your mouth is filled with rounded rich 

clotted cream, before strawberries and raspberries 

follow through. It’s like Eton Mess in a wine, 

without the sweetness and the fruit and flavour 

are punchy and rich. This is a rosé that can stand 

up to the charcoal grill and effortlessly slide from 

delicate starters to meaty mains, fish to meat, 

pulses to spiced dishes. 

Both wines are available either directly from the 

vineyard or via their website 

www.kinsbrookvineyard.com. Limited 

availability from www.hawkinsbros.co.uk and 

www.thehorshamcellar.co.uk 

Wolstonbury Vineyards Pét Nat 

Sparkling – £24 

Nestled on the edge of the South Downs 

National Park, just over the South Downs from 

Brighton and sitting under the benevolent 

protection of Wolstonbury Hill, lies the perfectly 

petite vineyard of Wolstonbury. Planted as a 

passion by Ivan and Charlotte Weightman in 

2015 their wines embrace sustainability and 

nurture. From bijou beginnings they have now 

grown and recently planted another 9000 vines 

to increase production. Their whole approach is 

minimal and with a love of the beauty and nature 

around them; they tread lightly on the landscape. 

This is reflected in their Pét Nat Sparkling. Made 

from Bacchus, the grape that is currently 

becoming to the UK what Sauvignon Blanc is to 

New Zealand and made in the méthod ancestrale 

way, otherwise known as pétillant naturel, often 

shortened to pet nat. This means that the wine 

is bottled whilst it is still fermenting, and the 

carbon dioxide created in the process is trapped in 

the bottle. The wine is lightly fizzy and unfiltered 

(so don’t shake the bottle if you don’t want the 

wine to be cloudy). 

What you get is a lightly sparkling, not too high 

alcohol, dry wine. The nose is a delicate blend 

of apricot, peaches and almonds with a hint of 

green lovage underlying the fruit. In the mouth 

it is dry with a delicate peach and mineral note. 

Absolutely delicious with salads, fish and white 

meat this is delightful to sip throughout the day 

as you graze on a selection of food. Available 

directly from the vineyard www.wolstonbury.co 

or from Southdown Cellars in Hurstpierpoint 

www.southdownscellars.co.uk 

Folkington’s Juices and 

Sparkling Drinks 

In the bucolic countryside of East Sussex, the 

Bendit family produce a wide range of soft 

drinks. With sustainability at the heart of 

everything that they do, this is alcohol free 

drinking with both a conscious and a sublime 

taste. All the fruit juices are from producers whose 

ethos matches their own and the provenance of 

the fruit is proudly displayed, be it apples from 

41

south east England or lemons from Sicily. With 

10 different varieties to choose from these are the 

perfect accompaniment to your table with their 

stylish glass bottles. 

Fancy a bit of alcohol-free fizz? Then break 

open a can from the sparkling drinks range. 

The Folkington’s Lemon and Mint makes for a 

refreshing, dry drink with natural notes of citrus 

and the freshness of garden mint - summer in 

a can. You can even add it to gin for a twist 

on flavour and it is perfect for parties. Like 

all Folkington’s drinks the packaging is fully 

recyclable. 

If you are breaking out the spirits, then mixers are 

available. Softer in flavour with a mix of quinine 

and myrtle leaf orange extract they make for a 

gentle accompaniment to any Sussex gin. All 

drinks can be purchased from ocado.com or 

amazon.co.uk or direct from folkingtons.com 

Harley House Sussex Blue Gin – £35 

Harley House Pure Sussex Gin – £37.50 

Adam’s passion is evident the moment you start 

talking about gin. A self-taught distiller he produces 

his range of gins from the very start to the very end 

bottle. This is truly home grown, with the water 

coming from a local aquifer and the base spirit 

being made on site in the micro distillery. The 

passion that goes into crafting each spirit shines 

through from the art deco packaging that reflects 

his lovingly restored house, to the descriptions of 

distilling on each bottle. 

The wide range of gins, rums and flavoured vodka 

can cater to any sort of party, but for a show 

stopping drink pick up a bottle of the Sussex Blue 

Gin. Containing colour from the petals of the 

butterfly pea flower that is grown in Thailand, 

amaze your guests as you pour them a shot and 

add tonic, watching it turn pink in front of their 


eyes! The secret is that the flower is a natural pH 

indicator and reacts to the citric acid in the mixer, 

but this is more than just a party trick. The flavour 

of the gin comes through with a delicate balance of 

fifteen different botanicals with smooth, spicy and 

sweet notes. 

If you are more of a traditionalist with your G&T 

then you cannot go wrong with the award winning 

pure Sussex Gin. The spirit is weighting, smooth 

and very soft, with citrus notes and a gentle floral 

note shining through. Mix with a classic dry tonic 

for a smooth sipping spirit. 

Available direct through the website 

www.harleyhousedistillery.co.uk or various 

online retailers. 

Firebird Bohemia Pilsner – £3.50 

(500 ml can) 

Firebird Heritage Sussex Best – £2.99 

(500 ml bottle) 

Firebird Work Ethic New England 

IPA – £4 (500 ml can) 

Firebird is the partnership of Bill King and Richard 

Peters who first meet at university whilst studying 

brewing science, rekindling their friendship to start 

the company in 2013. With a slew of awards under 

their belts and a dedicated following who travel far 

and wide to the shop and taproom in Rudgwick, 

there is a beer for all tastes here. 

For a long lazy day with the barbecue sizzling in the 

background then you cannot go wrong with the 

Bohemia Pilsner. A Czech Pilsner in style, this is fresh 

and hoppy with notes of lemon, citrus and floral 

countryside. At only 4.8%, it is light and refreshing 

and is both gluten free and vegan to boot. 

The classic Heritage Sussex Best is the perfect food 

beer. Made from a classic old recipe with a malty, 

deep rich and nutty flavour with notes of dried 

mixed fruit, this has the power to stand up to rich 

smoky meats fresh off the charcoal. 4.0% ABV in 

strength and both gluten free and vegan, this is 

a reimagined classic at its best. From £2.99 for a 

500ml bottle. 

Fancy something a little bit different? The Work 

Ethic IPA suggests that you should close the emails 

and put down your pen and wander over to where 

the party is instead. This cloudy New England Keg 

IPA hits you with a delectable nose of lemon, limes 

and yuzu. Fresh and hoppy with lingering fruity 

notes this is a crowd pleaser that is hopefully here to 

stay. 5% ABV and vegan, but not gluten free. 

£4 a can. 

Available direct from www.firebirdbrewing.com 

it is also worth a visit as larger format beers are 

available from the brewery shop. 

All prices correct at time of going to press and reflect 

the cost direct from the producers’ website. 

43

FOOD 

The Sussex Foodie 

A 

quick search of the hashtag #Sussexfoodie on Instagram recently revealed over 15,000 

posts and whilst Southeast England is being described as the wine capital of the UK, what’s 

becoming clear is that Sussex is fast becoming a serious contender for one of the UK’s best 

foodie destinations! 

The Michelin Guide mentions 13 West Sussex restaurants and a further 24 in East Sussex. There are 

over 70 Sussex vineyards, at least 7 artisan cheesemakers, a chocolatier in almost every town, and dozens 

of award-winning bakers. Then there is a veritable army of producers who are rearing and growing 

fantastic local ingredients and enabling more and more unique farm to fork experiences or dining that 

has a genuinely low carbon footprint (and a real taste of Sussex). 

Mapping all our wonderful Sussex foodie experiences would be more than a job and a half for Hercules 

but as the saying goes, How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. So that’s what we’re going to do, 

by showcasing a handful of our finds in every edition of our Sussex Exclusive magazine. 

The Curlew, Bodiam 


FOOD 

Restaurants 

Birchwood, Flimwell, East Sussex 

Birchwell is owned and run by chef Will 

Devlin and is his third restaurant, alongside 

The Small Holding (Kent) which was awarded 

a Michelin Green Star in 2021, and The 

Curlew (East Sussex). 

The ingredients at Birchwell are local, 

seasonal, home-grown, and wild. 

Championing the artisan suppliers of Kent 

and Sussex, the menu plays host to local 

cheeses, dairy, wines, spirits, and beer, while 

many ingredients, such as mushrooms, 

brambles, elderberries, wood sorrel and birch 

sap come from the woods on the steps of the 

restaurant. And many of the vegetables, fruit 

and herbs used at Birchwood come from 

the one-acre farm at The Small Holding, 

less than five miles away in Kilndown, along 

with eggs, pork, lamb, hogget and mutton 

from free-range chickens, Berkshire pigs and 

Romney sheep, who live on site and at a 

nearby farm. 

Opening at 8 am for breakfast, there is 

home-smoked trout, duck egg and sourdough 

crumpet; waffles with fruit compote and 

woodruff cream or set goat yogurt with local 

Goudhurst honey and summer berries. Stay 

for lunch after a walk in the woods for Paley 

Farm lamb chops and parsley dressing; skate 

on the bone with new season potatoes and 

perry vinegar dressing or farm salad with 

pickles and preserves. 

Waffles with fruit compote & woodruff cream at Birchwood © Key & Quill 

The Parsons Table, Arundel, 

West Sussex 

The Parsons Table opened in 2015 in Arundel, 

since when it has put itself well and truly 

on the Sussex food map. With a Michelin 

Guide mention and two AA rosettes for 

culinary excellence, chef and owner Lee 

Parsons worked at Claridges and Raymond 

Blanc’s world renowned Le Manoir aux Quat’ 

Saisons, as well as having an esteemed career 

in Canada. 

The Parsons Table describes itself as having 

“an utter dedication to local and seasonal 

ingredients, relaxed informal dining and 

impeccable service”. Roasted cauliflower, 

aubergine and summer squash Masala, salt cod 

croquette, shaved summer vegetables, Basil 

and orange loin of South Downs lamb gratin 

potatoes are just some of the flavours that 

grace the menu, followed perhaps by baked 

crème fraîche tart raspberries or chocolate and 

hazelnut marquise poached pear. 

The Parsons Table, Arundel 

45

FOOD 

Sussex producers 

Balcombe Dairy, Balcombe, 


Based on the Balcombe Estate (not far from 

Haywards Heath), Chris Heyes is the man 

behind Balcombe Dairy which makes small 

batch, single herd, handmade blue cheese - 

Blue Cloud. The cheese is made just feet from 

where the cows whose milk is used are grazed 

and milked. 

Having worked at High Weald Dairy in 

Horsted Keynes as a novice cheesemaker, Chris 

was mentored by Michael Wisdom who had 

worked for many years for both an Italian 

cheesemaking family in the Kenyan mountains 

and on his own farm there. In fact, Michael’s 

talents were such that in 2009, one of his 

semi-soft cheeses was named as the fifth-best 

cheese in the world at the World Cheese 

Awards! Inspired by his mentor’s passion and 

attention to detail, Chris went on to study 

with the Artisan School of Food and take 

over from Michael when he retired as Master 

Cheesemaker. 

Blue Cloud has won multiple awards including 

a gold medal at this year’s Artisan Cheese 

Awards, and last year, Balcombe Dairy released 

a new cheese, The Balcombe Breeze, a semi hard 

Alpine style cheese. Both cheeses are available 

locally at a number of local delis as well as 

online via The Cheese Hut. 

Sussex Gourmand, Brighton, 

East Sussex 

Sussex Gourmand produce Sussex venison and 

beef Bresaola (a lean, cured meat from Italy). 

They are passionate about their surrounding 

landscape as well as about being sustainable and 

ethical. They use local ingredients, and organic 

and wild foods wherever possible. 

In 2021 they won a Great Taste Award (guild 

of Fine Food) which is just one in a number of 

awards that they’ve won over the years. Their 

artisan cured Sussex grass-fed beef and wild 

venison Bresaola is additive-free and naturally 

cured with hand-harvested, sustainable sea salt, 

home-grown herbs, spices, hedgerow berries 

and Sussex gin. 

They sell a number of Gourmet Snack Kits, 

hampers and gifts sets online packed with lovely 

local produce to complement their Bresaola. 

46 | sussexexclusive.com 

The Dorset Arms, Withyham 

Foodie experiences 

The Artisan Bakehouse, Ashurst, 


Another multi award winning Sussex 

experience, The Artisan Bakehouse sits on 

the edge of the South Downs down a quiet, 

tree lined drive set in 5 acres of gardens and 

woodland. The 16th century holiday cottages, 

luxury shepherd hut and the Bakehouse with 

its traditional wood burning oven provide 

the perfect base to escape and learn the art of 

traditional artisan bread making. 

With a range of different workshops available 

you can experience making various breads from 

around the world, including sourdough, working 

with wholegrains & Rye, Mediterranean flatbreads 

& pizza, Bagels & Pretzels, Pastry, Viennoiserie 

and enriched doughs, as well as seasonal classes 

for St Patricks Day, Easter & Christmas. Amongst 

their tutors is Sussex based international baker 

and author, Emmanuel Hadjiandreou so you 

are in safe hands, his knowledge and expertise is 

infectious! Owner Les is the other lead tutor and 

also brings a wealth of experience from his time 

living in France, his classes are always very popular 

with lots of laughs along the way! 

Louise and Leigh are also always on hand to 

make sure the experience is an exceptional one, 

with handmade refreshments and seasonal lunch 

to compliment the days. You can also stay in 

one of their beautiful holiday cottages or luxury 

shepherd’s hut if you choose to extend your day 

to explore more of the area. From time to time 

they also host pop up café openings and other 

seasonal events. 

A Secret Garden Lodge, Withyham, 


A brand-new experience has just launched at 

The Dorset Arms in Withyham, East Sussex. The 

Secret Garden Lodges are in the grounds of The 

Dorset Arms and are decorated in vibrant faux 

florals and foliage, inspired by the Regency period, 

with untamed vines, free falling wisteria and bold 

roses and flowers. Seating 2-10 guests in each 

lodge, with full sized dining tables, gramophone 

style Bluetooth speakers, you even have your own 

mini cocktail lounge with soft seating. 

Vibrant in the daytime and magical at night, the 

lodges are lit by magical twinkling lights. The 

lodges have double opening doors and windows 

both sides to offer a breezy, al fresco experience 

on warmer days and The Dorset Arms provide 

a bespoke lodge menu, which includes amazing 

dishes such as lobster, prawns, Tapas, beautiful 

main courses made with lots of local produce. 

Their artisan 

cured Sussex 

grass-fed 

beef and 

wild venison 

Bresaola is 

additive-free 

and naturally 

cured with 

hand-harvested, 

sustainable 

sea salt, 

home-grown 

herbs, spices, 

hedgerow 

berries and 

Sussex gin.

HANDCRAFTED IN ENGLAND 

roebuckestates.co.uk 

47

Enjoy warm summer evenings 

and great local wine at 

The Chequers Inn at Ro 


Outstanding cuisine, a 

warm welcome and a 

beautiful setting. Welcome 

to The Chequers Inn 

at Rowhook. 

A unique Sussex pub 

In the tiny village of Rowhook, The Chequers 

is set in a beautiful 15 th century building, with 

a welcoming fire for those cooler evenings, and 

plenty of terrace and garden seating for those 

warm summer days. 

Dog friendly 

Set just to the edge of the Warnham to Rudgwick 

footpath and just south of the Sussex Border 

Path, The Chequers is ideal for walkers and also 

welcomes dogs. And we’re more than happy to 

provide you with dog treats and water. 

An exceptional chef 

Chef and founder Tim Neal trained 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 

in 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 but also a dash of comfort. 

We 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 Salad of Grilled Squid, Chargrilled Bavette 

of Steak with Chimichurri and Coffee Panna-cotta 

with Honeycomb and Dark Chocolate Sauce to 

tempt you, The Chequers is a great place to enjoy 

the long summer days and create some wonderful 

memories. 

whook 

Call now to book or to find out more: 

The Chequers Inn 

Rowhook Road, Horsham, RH12 3PY 

thechequersrowhook.com 

01403 790480 

49

Slow cooked 

Lamb Shoulder 

with A Garlish® Pistachio & Parsley Pistou 

If you like 

lamb, you’ll 

love this. 

A Pistou is 

something I 

came across 

many years 

ago in a 

restaurant in 

France. I was 

a little spun 

out by its 

appearance 

and was 

convinced 

that it was 

‘pesto’ spelt 

wrong, but 

once I tasted 

it, I knew 

that I had to 

recreate it. 

Ingredients: 

Serves: 4 

1 x lamb shoulder 1.5 – 2 kg 

1 onion (quartered) 

5 garlic cloves 

1 cinnamon stick 

Marinade: 

1 onion 

A good slosh of Garlish® Oil 

A handful of rosemary leaves 

A handful of thyme leaves 

3 tbsp – Garlish® Crush 

2 tbsp mustard 

1 tsp ground coriander 

1 tsp cinnamon powder 

1 tsp ground coriander 

2 tbsp redcurrant jelly 

A good slosh of white wine 

1 lamb stock cube 

1 tsp flour 

Salt and pepper 

Parsley Pistou 

2 large handfuls of fresh parsley 

150g salted pistachios 

3 tbsp Garlish® Crush 

1 tsp salt 

1 tsp black pepper 

100ml olive oil 

Juice from 1 large orange 

Method: 

Place the leg of lamb in a roasting dish and 

using a very sharp knife, make plenty of holes 

in the meat. 

Next, blend the marinade, then pour over 

the leg, making sure to push it down into the 

holes. Cover the tray and leave to marinade 

for 4-5 hours. 

Once marinated, preheat the oven to 160°C. 

Add the onion quarters and garlic cloves 

to the dish and sprinkle the lamb with the 

remaining rosemary. Add the cinnamon stick. 

Drizzle with oil and season generously with 

salt and pepper. Very loosely cover with foil. 

Place in the oven and cook for 5 hours, or 

until the meat falls off the bone. Every hour, 

re-baste the lamb and jostle the onions and 

garlic in the oil. 

Set aside, re-cover with foil and leave to stand 

for 30 minutes. 

Meanwhile, drain any juice into a pan and 

add the flour. Bash any lumps out and let it 

simmer until it has thickened. Spoon off any 

oil that comes to the surface. 

For the Parsley Pistou 

Simply blend the ingredients together. The 

mixture should be like a paste, so if it runs too 

thick, simply add more olive oil or orange juice. 

Once ready to serve, roughly pull the meat 

apart and drizzle over the gravy. Add the 

roasted garlic cloves and onions. Serve with 

the Pistou on the side 


51

Spotlight 

on 

Lewes 

Explore this historic market town that has bustled 

with life since Anglo Saxon times 

Lewes has a long, interesting and at 

times distinguished past, making it a 

delight to visit for anyone with even 

a passing interest in history. But it’s 

equally a great spot for those that 

love quirky flea markets, craft beer, beautiful 

countryside or a splash of culture. 

A look back 

The first evidence of life near Lewes dates back 

to the Iron Age and a hill-fort built on nearby 

Mount Caburn, a steep hill that overlooks the 

town. The Romans were here too with a villa at 

the foot of Mount Caburn. 

Lewes has the ultimate strategic position, based 

as it is on the River Ouse and in a small gap in 

the South Downs. As a result, it’s thought Lewes 

began to grow as an Anglo Saxon settlement from 

the 6th century onwards. Certainly, by the reign 

of King Alfred (the Great), the town had been 

fortified in response to Viking raids, and by the 

Norman invasion it was a thriving settlement. 

Following the Battle of Hastings, William the 

Conqueror granted William de Warenne the 

Rape of Lewes and he in turn built Lewes Castle 

and cemented the town’s place in Sussex history. 

In 1264, the castle and town were the site of the 

infamous Battle of Lewes, during which Henry 

III was defeated by Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl 

of Leicester, and his army of rebel barons. 

The castle itself passed to the ownership of the 

Earl of Arundel in 1347 and after 300 years, this 

marked the beginning of the demise of the castle 

as somewhere of significant importance. 

But that’s not to say the town hasn’t featured 

in Sussex history since. Between 1555–1557, 

Lewes was the site of the execution of 17 

Protestant martyrs, and during the Civil War 

it was a Parliamentarian stronghold. From the 

mid-18th century, the town gradually prospered 

again and developed textiles, iron, brewing, and 

ship-building industries. Today, Lewes remains 

a bustling market town with dozens of historic 

buildings and landmarks as a testament to its 

long past. 


Lewes castle 

Lewes Castle 

Lewes Castle 

Places to visit in Lewes 

Lewes Castle 

The castle is a motte and bailey design and still 

dominates the town. It’s now owned by the 

Sussex Archaeological Society and there is a 

small museum at the entrance. Materials from 

the South Downs and the Weald were used in 

the castle’s construction, and it’s well worth a 

visit because you can climb up the two towers 

and enjoy magnificent views of the surrounding 

countryside. It’s here you get a real understanding 

of the strategic position it once held. 

Lewes Priory 

At the other end of the town are the remains of 

Lewes Priory. Founded by William de Warenne’s 

wife with monks from France, the Priory of St 

Pancras survived until 1537. Both de Warenne 

and his wife Gundrada were buried at the Priory 

and their remains were discovered in 1845. 

Helpful information boards tell the story of 

priory life. 

Historic buildings 

Lewes is peppered with interesting architecture 

and historic buildings including a 16th century 

timber-framed house which formed part of Anne 

of Cleves’ divorce settlement. It’s also now owned 

by The Sussex Archaeological Society. Other 

buildings worth a visit include Southover Grange 

(created in 1542 by William Newton) and home 

to a mulberry tree rumoured to be 350 years old, 

as well as a walled garden, a stream, a well and a 

sculpture of Nicholas Yonge (an English singer 

and publisher). 

While you’re exploring the cobbled back streets 

of Lewes, take a detour down Pipe Passage where 

you’ll find the Grade II listed Round House, 

originally built as a windmill in 1802. It was 

bought by Virginia Woolfe and her husband on 

a bit of a whim in 1919, although they never 

actually lived there. 

53

Lewes life 

Lewes continues to be a market town with its 

weekly Friday Food Market. It is also home to 

a fabulous flea market, a craft market, and a 

Christmas market. While you’re in the vicinity 

of the market, you can’t miss Harvey’s Brewery 

which is almost symbolic of the town itself these 

days. The brewery has been at the current site at 

Bridge Wharf since 1838 and they do brewery 

tours. At this end of town, you’ll also find art 

and antique shops and cafés spilling out onto the 

pavement next to the river. 

Head up the High Street and past the castle 

and you’ll come to a fabulous 15th century 

bookshop stacked to the beamed rafters with 

books, including a collection of second-hand and 

collectors’ books. Just past this you’ll come to the 

UK’s biggest Polish pottery shop, Baltica, where 

you can browse mountains of beautiful “eyespot” 

stoneware, dishes, pots and plates. 

No account of Lewes is complete without a 

mention of its bonfire events. Described as 

the bonfire capital of the world, the town 

commemorates both the uncovering of 

the Gunpowder Plot and the execution of the 

Protestant martyrs. There are at least seven 

bonfire societies all of whom put on processions 

and firework displays throughout the town in 

November. The event has become so renowned 

(with visitor numbers of 80,000 plus thronging 

through the narrow streets with flaming torches), 

the town has at times been forced to close its 

borders to outside visitors! 


Refuel at … 

The Rights of Man 

The Rights of Man pub on Lewes High Street 

has a combination of cosy traditional booths and 

wooden panelling in the bar and a refurbished 

roof terrace with views inside the castle. Their 

menu promises to use local ingredients where 

possible. This includes fish from Brighton, local 

smokers and meats from farms around Kent and 

Sussex. It also, of course, serves Harvey’s beer. 

The Pelham Arms 

Also on the High Street, the Pelham Arms cure 

their own meats using their own smokehouse 

and use a whole host of local producers. They 

also brew their own beer and have their own 

brewery and taproom across town in a Victorian 

malthouse off Daveys Lane. 

Stay at … 

Monty’s Bed and Breakfast 

With great reviews on TripAdvisor, Monty’s 

is described as a luxurious home from home 

experience with high ceilings, exposed beams and, 

a four-poster bed and views of the High Street. 

Blue Door Barns 

Just outside Lewes, Blue Door Barns is bed and 

breakfast accommodation with suites called 

The Sailors House, The Nook, Little Lodge, 

The Lodge and The Cabin. They look as quaint 

as they sound and are set around a candlelit 

courtyard garden with an open fire and BBQ 

area. Blue Door Barns is dog friendly too. 

Places to visit nearby 

Lewes is a great central hub from which to 

explore the surrounding area. No visit is complete 

without a walk on the South Downs, and you 

could do worse than walking a stretch of the 

South Downs Way or climbing Mount Caburn. 

Alternatively, enjoy opera at Glyndebourne, 

dive into the world of the Bloomsbury Set at 

Charleston and Monks House, visit Lewes 

Railway Nature Reserve or enjoy a day at the 

races at nearby Plumpton. 

3 

things you 

may not know 

about Lewes 

• The deadliest avalanche in British history occurred in Lewes, in 1836, when during a 

particularly harsh winter, snow that had accumulated on Cliffe Hill collapsed on Boulder Row 

below, killing eight. The Snowdrop Inn was subsequently built on the site where the destroyed 

houses once were. 

• In 1967, Mick Jagger spent time in Lewes prison on remand. 

• Lewes is sometimes referred to as the Seat of Democracy. Following the Battle of Lewes, 

victor Simon de Montfort called two parliaments in 1264 and 1265, both consisting of 

knights and leading men in what was effectively an experiment in democracy. De Montfort 

was eventually killed. 

55

In the 

Diary 

As the summer months unfold, here is 

our pick of some of the great events and 

activities taking place across Sussex 

which will add sparkle to your diary 

Talk and Screening: Jake 

Auerbach presents ‘FRANK’ 

8th July, 6:30 pm. Newlands House Gallery, 

Petworth, West Sussex 

Jake Auerbach is the maker of major 

documentaries including a series on 

contemporary artists such as Allen Jones, Paula 

Rego, Lucian Freud, Frank Auerbach and Kitaj. 

You can join Auerbach for an exclusive screening 

of “FRANK”, a 56-minute film produced and 

directed in 2015 with a question-and-answer 

session. 

German-British painter Frank Auerbach has a 

reputation for being something of a hermit but 

when an exhibition of his work opened in the 

Kunstmuseum Bonn, Jake Auerbach decided to 

film the show so that his father could see how 

it looked. The result is a film that unfolds an 

obsessive painter’s personal manifesto (citing 

references as diverse as Morecambe & Wise, 

Gauguin and Shakespeare) which is woven into 

the relationship between father and son. 

Tickets:www.tickettailor.com/events/ 

newlandshousegallery/700340 

Event is free for Newlands House Gallery Art 

Pass Holders 

Lordington Lavender 

11th July to 17th July, 10 am - 4 pm. 

Lordington, Chichester, West Sussex 

Tucked away in a fold of the South Downs, 

Lordington Lavender opens its lavender fields 

every July to the public to enjoy. A perfect day 

out for all the family, whether it be a tractor 

ride, a lavender ice cream or taking those perfect 

Instagram shots. 

With ten acres of lavender, you can walk up and 

down the rows, discovering beautiful butterflies 

and honeybees and enjoy delicious, homemade 

lavender cakes before you leave. Lordington 

Lavender also host an adult only event – “An 

Evening at Lordington Lavender”, with live music 

and a celebratory drink as you watch the sunset 

over the lavender fields. 

To visit the lavender, you pay on arrival, no 

booking required. Adults are £7, children are 

£1.50 and under 3s are free. “An Evening at 

Lordington Lavender” is a ticketed event. 

www.lordingtonlavender.co.uk/ 


South Downs Summer Music 

International Festival 

19th to 24th July. St. Andrew’s Church in 

Alfriston, East Sussex 

This well established and popular classical music 

festival draws some of the finest international 

artists to perform in the village of Alfriston. 

This year, the festival is welcoming acts such as 

world-renowned violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky, 

Hastings International Piano competition 2022 

winner Shunta Morimoto, and an established 

festival favourite: clarinetist Julian Bliss. This 

year’s music and spoken word evening will see 

thespian couple Harriet Walter and Paul Guy 

delivering dramatised readings accompanied 

by harpsichord player Maggie Cole in a 

celebration of the life and work of Violet Gordon 

Woodhouse in: Violet Gordon Woodhouse - her 

life in words and music. 

www.southdownssummermusic.co.uk/ 

Crazy For You 

11th July to 4th September. Chichester Festival 

Theatre, West Sussex 

Charlie Stemp and Carly Anderson will lead the 

cast of Susan Stroman’s new production of the 

musical comedy CRAZY FOR YOU, with music 

& lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, 

and book by Ken Ludwig. 

This hilarious, riotously entertaining musical 

is packed with glorious Gershwin melodies 

(including Someone to Watch Over Me, 

Embraceable You, I Got Rhythm and They Can’t 

Take That Away from Me), and its stunning tapdance 

routines are guaranteed to set the spirits 

soaring. The witty book and dialogue are written 

by Ken Ludwig, who also wrote this season’s 

Murder on the Orient Express and is the author of 

the Tony Award-winning Lend Me a Tenor. 

www.cft.org.uk 

Jazz, Gin and Blues Festival 

31st July, 12 noon until 8 pm. Loxwood 

Meadow, Loxwood, West Sussex 

Celebrating a third year of gloriously indulgent 

Jazz, Gin and Blues, this boutique festival which 

is held at the tranquil Loxwood Meadows, home 

of the Loxwood Joust, will once again be hosting 

an intimate crowd of just 500 people. 

A stellar line-up of jazz and blues artists will be 

performing live. Curated by Simon Bates the 

founder and organiser of the legendary Loxwood 

Jazz Club, the new line-up is impressive, and 

includes artists such as the Alexandra Ridout 

Band, The Simon Bates Organ Trio, the Julian 

Burdock Trio and Spice Fusion, with more special 

guests still to be announced. 

www.jazzginblues.co.uk 

Shanty Sundays - Food, Wine & 

Music! 

10th July, 14th and 28th August, and 

18th September. Charles Palmer Vineyard, 

Winchelsea, East Sussexx 

Kick off your Sunday Sesh in style with a Shanty 

Sundays pop-up seafood and wine event at the 

gorgeous Charles Palmer Vineyards: an afternoon 

of live music by the Rye Bay Crew, delicious local 

seafood platters, English wines and self-guided 

tours of the vineyard. 

www.vineandcountrytours.co.uk/ 

57

Steampunk at Amberley Museum 

13th to 14th August. Amberley, West Sussex 

Steampunk returns to Amberley Museum for 

another weekend of anachronistic madness! 

There will be performers providing entertainment 

throughout the weekend and plenty of photo 

opportunities. You’ll also have the chance to visit 

a number of Steampunk traders and indulge in a 

little retail therapy. Steam trains and regular buses 

will also be running all weekend. 

www.amberleymuseum.co.uk/whats-on/ 

steampunk/ 

Airbourne - Eastbourne 

International Airshow 

18th to 21st August. Eastbourne Seafront, 


Airbourne will celebrate 28 years of airshow 

excellence in 2022. Attracting huge crowds, 

Eastbourne’s International Airshow boasts a 

2-mile flying display line along Eastbourne 

seafront. 

Early confirmed displays for 2022 include the 

RAF Red Arrows, RAF Typhoon and Battle of 

Britain Memorial Flight. 

www.visiteastbourne.com/airshow 

Bubbles and Botanicals 

19th November. South Lodge, Horsham, 


A celebration and chance to taste, test and buy 

some of the region’s best sparkling wines and local 

craft gins. Pop the date in your diary as tickets go 

on sale soon. 

www.bubblesandbotanicals.net/ 

Brighton Pride 2022 

6th to 7th August. Brighton and Hove, East Sussex 

Brighton Pride is one of the best international pride festivals, and is a 

fantastic and glittering celebration and an unforgettable day of Pride. The 

main stage artists this year will star the likes of Christina Aguilera, Paloma 

Faith and Sophie Ellis Bextor and there will be popular favourite attractions 

including Cabaret Tents, Queer Town, the QTIPoC stage, dance tents and a 

host of new, diverse and immersive experiences. 

Described by The Guardian as “the country’s most popular LGBT event,” 

the Brighton & Hove Pride Festival is a vibrant celebration of all that is 

wonderful about the city’s diverse community, with visitors from across the 

globe enjoying its spectacular celebrations. 

www.brighton-pride.org/pride-festival/ 


59

Feng Shui 

Your Garden 

Feng Shui Consultant Janine Lowe 

explains how to Feng Shui 

your garden in time for 

summer garden party season 

It’s garden party season and this year we can 

enjoy bringing as many people as we like 

into our homes and gardens. So here are my 

top tips for garden prosperity. 

Find the centre of your garden 

You need to find the centre of your garden and 

stand with a compass in your hand with no 

jewellery on. I always find the old-fashioned 

compasses work better but if you only have an 

iPhone that will do. 

How do you find the centre of the garden? Walk 

the length of the garden counting your steps, for 

example 14 steps. Then walk the width of the 

garden and count the steps, for example 10 steps. 

Then all you have to do is walk seven steps from 

the edge of the garden from the left and then five 

steps from the edge of the garden width and there 

you have it, you now know where to stand. 

Find the south 

Find the south which is at 180 degrees. This 

is an auspicious / favourable area this year and 

the perfect place to position your BBQ. A good 

colour for this area is red. Fill it full of red plants 

with big round green leaves and small trees if 

the area allows. I find using pots is the easiest 

thing to do especially if you have a small garden. 

Ensure the chef has a red apron to enhance their 

luck working in this area. And if you want some 

extra good fortune, spend time with the chef 

when he is cooking and make sure he / she is 

well looked after. 

Head northeast 

If you’d like more wealth / knowledge (and who 

wouldn’t), you’ll find this in the northeast of 

your garden. Spend time in this area and design 

it as an area of contemplation. Add a chair and 

/ or a water feature, make this area lush with 


colours of dark red, terracotta, orange, and 

yellow flowers. Another good tip for this area 

is to have a statue the resembles wealth, such as 

tigers (this year, as this is the year of the Water 

Tiger), tortoises, swans, or money Buddhas. Or 

place eight x £1 coins in a pot. 

While you are placing these items, don’t forget 

to manifest wealth. Manifesting is about 

feeling, thinking, and actioning ways to bring 

in wealth and if you’d like to know more about 

manifesting, try reading The Secret. 

Next travel northwest 

The next auspicious / favourable area is the 

northwest. This year the key to this area is 

“helpful people”. We all need those special 

people in our lives. This is the area to place 

a mirror that reflects either the south or the 

northeast. Another Feng Shui tip for this area is 

to place six round metal balls that are touching 

each other in this area or ornaments such as a pig 

or a dog. 

Place a white table and chairs in this area and 

have coffee with your friends and family. By 

spending time in this area, you will activate the 

positive chi / energy that will enhance your noble 

people to come in. 

Finally, turn southeast 

The final area of your garden to enhance is the 

southeast which this year has the “four star” 

which is the good fortune star. 

In my house, I have a pond with lots of goldfish 

to stir up the energy to bring in happiness, wealth 

and of course good fortune. I know not everyone 

can put a pond there, but you might be able to 

put a water feature there. 

I am often asked whether you can use a solar 

water feature? And the answer is unfortunately, 

no, unless it has a backup of batteries. The idea 

of a water feature is that it is continuous moving 

water. Feng Shui means wind and water and that 

is why we use water to activate areas. I know 

some people use windchimes but unless it is 

windy, they don’t chime. 

In the southeast, you can place blue and green 

flowers, the larger the better and again using pots 

is a great idea. 

Spending time in this area is positive Feng Shui 

and as it is so close to the BBQ in the south, I 

would place your outdoor dining area here. Place 

hanging candles or stand-alone candles around 

your dining area, and what about one of those 

outdoor clocks perhaps? 

That leaves the north, east, southwest and west 

with nothing for you to do, well this year at least. 

The centre of your garden should be left clear too, 

to enhance your health. 

You can download my free pocket guide to all 

the Chinese Animals for 2022, click here, NOW. 

www.janinelowe.com 

If you’d like 

more wealth / 

knowledge 

(and who 

wouldn’t), 

you’ll find this 

in the northeast 

of your garden. 

Spend time 

in this area 

and design it 

as an area of 

contemplation. 

61

A New Era for 

Estate Agency 

And Why It Matters 

Estate agency isn’t and shouldn’t be just about buying and selling homes 


Whilst sustainability isn’t 

necessarily the first thing you think 

of when you think about estate 

agency, the At Home team have 

put it at the very heart of what 

they do. 

At Home Estate & Letting Agency 

is moving to new premises in 

the Carfax in Horsham with an 

increased focus on sustainability, 

responsibility and leaving a positive 

legacy. This comes just over a 

month after At Home also opened 

new offices with a fresh new look 

at what was (until January this 

year) Clarke and Charlesworth in 

Storrington. 

Both new offices reflect the 

determination of the At Home 

team to have a positive impact 

on their community and put 

sustainability at the heart of what 

they do. Suppliers sourced for the 

renovations were carefully selected 

for their use of 100% renewable 

energy, recyclable materials 

and low impact credentials, 

demonstrating a clear commitment 

to reducing At Home’s carbon 

footprint. 

The move towards sustainable 

practices builds on the support 

that At Home already provide to 

their local community in the form 

of Community Chest schemes and 

Positivity Projects (a direct way 

of giving back). The team is often 

seen out and about supporting 

local events. 

Owner and Director, Paul Davies, 

explains why sustainability and 

community are so important to the 

At Home team and to the estate 

agency sector, 

“As an estate agent, I feel 

very strongly that we have a 

responsibility to our community. 

Estate agency isn’t and shouldn’t 

be just about buying and selling 

homes. It’s about helping people 

achieve their aspirations so they 

can create a positive lifestyle, and 

that goes much deeper than bricks 

and mortar. It also means doing 

what we can to leave our own 

positive legacy. 

We are trying to live and work 

by our values and set a good 

example. We’ve been working 

with a Sustainability Consultant to 

ensure we are conscious across all 

business operation. We know we’re 

not perfect and there’s a lot to do 

but we are determined to be part 

of a new and more responsible era 

of estate agency.” 

The new premises in the Carfax 

will be opening on the 18 th July, 

and visitors are welcome. At 

Home are launching a new website 

demonstrating their values 

and approach. They have been 

represented through the branding 

as Runic symbols. To learn more 

about their Runes and services 

visit their website: 

www.athomeestates.co.uk 

63

HEALTH 

Ready to 

Wage a War? 

Let go of preconceptions about exercise and 

become an “Everyday Athlete” 

High-performance coach Alan Dean explores 

what it means to get active 

Are you ready to wage a war? 

… a war on inactivity! 

An everyday 

athlete is a 

person who 

makes the 

most of their 

life... 

The UK’s government guidelines of 

30 minutes of moderate activity 

each day, in the form of a brisk 

walk or exercise session, is the bare 

minimum. 

Yet, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) 

physical activity results for 2020 indicate that 

approximately 40% of the population do not 

achieve even this modest level of activity. Add in, 

that only 20% of the 18-64 age group engage in 

“adequate exercise”, it’s not surprising we’re seeing 

a rise in obesity. 

What does “adequate exercise” 

actually mean? 

There is a lack of consistency in UK government 

advice as to what constitutes an adequate exercise 

level. There is no clear guidance on the level of 

intensity to which we should be exercising, how 

often we should exercise, and what exercise is best 

for varying demographics. 

Even the basics of a walk or a light exercise class 

aimed at improving bone density and strength 

development are vague. Unfortunately, this 

approach isn’t very helpful. 

As a Professional Sports & Performance Coach, 

I can confidently tell you that 30-minutes of 

moderate activity is not adequate exercise. 

Consider the quality of life you would like to 

attain or maintain; whether it’s playing with your 

children or grandchildren without running out of 

breath or feeling physically fit and able to enjoy 

everyday pursuits and activities. It’s painfully 

sad when I see people unable to enjoy physical 

activities, that once they wouldn’t have thought 

twice about. 

I feel passionate about changing this and as a 

collective group of everyday athletes, we each 

have a responsibility to encourage others to step 

up to join our humble society. 

How to break into the “Active 

Group” 

This group I’ll rename the “Everyone’s an Athlete 

(EAG) Group”. 

An everyday athlete is a person who makes the 

most of their life, taking opportunities to live 

life to the fullest. To be alive, to be mindful 

of the opportunities they have to express 

themselves physically. They are action-orientated 

and motivated to be the best they can be right 

now and in the future. They do not give up, 

irrespective of age. 

Physical activity is a massive part of an everyday 

athlete’s life. It is engrained into their daily life, it 

defines them. An EAG athlete seeks to challenge 


HEALTH 

themselves physically, mentally, emotionally - all 

in the name of personal growth. It’s not about 

being elite, or championships. The competition 

they face stares back at them every day in the 

mirror. An athlete’s biggest rival is him or herself. 

The aim of the Everyone’s an Athlete Group is 

to inspire and motivate others, to live their best 

lives, and to become everyday athletes themselves. 

The everyday athlete looks to stretch themselves 

and inspire others to do the same. 

We all know someone who has perhaps led a 

sedentary life in the past, but who took decisive 

action to start doing something physical. Maybe 

it was to start running, enter a virtual race, get 

into cycling or engage in on-demand exercise 

sessions. 

They refused to allow themselves to be trapped 

in their former selves. Each and every everyday 

athlete is a work in progress, seeking to find the 

best physical versions of themselves. Not to be 

bound by other people’s views or disdain. 

This could see them strength training, playing 

football, climbing and bouldering, or trying 

something new, not confined to the stereotypical 

gym or health club. The gym is but a small tool in 

the everyday athlete’s toolbox. 

Cultivating an athlete’s mindset is about living 

life to the full and being present, never saying “I 

wish I could … but I am too old, too unfit, not 

enough time or money”. The everyday athlete 

defines what living their fullest life means to them 

and they challenge themselves to achieve it. 

The key driver to the everyday athlete is health, 

engaging in activities that promote their best 

health, physically and mentally. 

The everyday athlete also considers society and 

the impact that they have on developing the 

health of others and the community at large, in 

the long term. 

So, the question to be asked: Are you an EAG 

athlete or do you aspire to be one, in the war 

against inactivity? 

Join the movement and let’s embrace life as an 

athlete. 

Cultivating 

an athlete’s 

mindset is about 

living life to the 

full and being 

present, never 

saying “I wish 

I could … but 

I am too old, 

too unfit, not 

enough time or 

money”. 

I’m Healthy 

But I’m Yet To Find 

My Wellbeing 

Wellbeing and resilience coach Lucy Batham Read explores 

what it means to enjoy a sense of wellbeing 

When I was given the title for 

this article my immediate 

thought was, Great, at last an 

opportunity to start to debunk 

the myth we seem to buy into 

and the wellness industry’s obsession with green juice 

and turmeric being the answers to living well. 

Mix these beliefs with the press’s obsession with 

constantly giving us updates on what we need to 

take out of our lives, it appears we are abstaining 

from more and more … as opposed to simply 

trusting life more than we fear it whilst equally 

keeping our feet on the ground and making 

choices now that play both our body chemistry 

and reality forward well. 

Don’t get me wrong I grew up with a weak 

immune system and an unregulated nervous 

system, but it didn’t stop me running a software 

house, travelling the world and being lucky 

enough to marry and have three children. 

When change is needed 

But, and it’s a big but, in between my second 

and third child things got a bit hairy in more 

65

HEALTH 

Our kids watch 

what we do 

far more than 

anything we 

ever say, 

although 

they are also 

our greatest 

teachers if we 

are willing to 

listen without 

being triggered 

by what they 

are showing us. 

ways than one and change was needed, including 

changes in my belief systems and new boundaries. 

20 years later, I feel healthier than I ever have 

with no signs of any immune conditions and a 

trust in life that has baffled me more often than 

not. 

These days, I allow a “wealthy life” to be about 

allowing the good and the bad into my life 

without predetermining which is which and 

being bold enough to know that we don’t make 

mistakes, we simply make choices (albeit some 

conscious some not). But we own those choices 

and our goal in life should surely be about getting 

to the end knowing we were mostly true to 

ourselves and we lived with less regret and much 

more heart and soul. It enables the dirt paths, 

the bumps and the joy to all be about living, not 

just existing within this game called life. It also 

enables the kind of peace with life that allows us 

to sleep like a baby and wake up ready to take on 

the challenges life will always bring. 

What is wellbeing? 

So back to the title, are you yet to find your own 

wellbeing? What changes need to happen that 

you are ignoring? 

Did you know that the World Health 

Organisation’s definition of wellbeing is far less 

about the absence of disease and much more 

about the mind, body, spirit connection? 

It requires us to resist the cognitive bypassing 

of being grateful for the good bits and it means 

we need to get into self-responsibility and selfawareness. 

It is here we learn to surrender to what 

is but equally shift our perceptions enough to 

allow what will be. 

It also requires us to understand that although we 

can eat the green juice and do the yoga, if we are 

still stuck in the mind, we are no nearer to peace 

than our friend who eats and drinks what they 

want and lives as if today is their last day. 

Conscious thought and 

observation 

From experience working in the mental health 

arena for the last 15 years, conscious thought is 

vital these days just as is knowing our own minds 

and trusting life just that little bit more than we 

fear it. 

Coming out of the mind is important but hard. 

Mindfulness automatically tells us to think about 

the mind and yet coming out of the mind and 

into our bodies is one of the most important 

things we can do in order to sleep like a baby and 

live as only we can. 

Empathy for ourselves 

Shakespeare famously said thoughts are neither 

good nor bad only thinking makes it so. 

Brene Brown says put shame into a Petri 

dish, and it only needs three things to grow 

exponentially: secrecy, silence and judgement. If 

you put the same amount of shame in a Petri dish 

and douse it with empathy, it can’t thrive. 

Being human is as simple as it is complicated but 

if you want to find peace it begins with kindness, 

especially with ourselves. But mix that with selfresponsibility 

and we begin to know we can do 

hard things even when we have no idea how. 

Pass it on 

Learn this by osmosis and life is very possible and 

the gap between dreams and reality becomes a 

series of stepping stones during which we are able 

to adjust our lens at any time to learn the lessons 

and thrive at the same time, without becoming 

addicted to destinations or living in fear of the 

proverbial tap on the shoulder. 

Learn this as an adult and it’s a powerful 

motive to raise generations who learn to smash 

glass ceilings without the fear of never being 

enough. Our kids watch what we do far more 

than anything we ever say, although they are also 

our greatest teachers if we are willing to listen 

without being triggered by what they are showing 

us. That’s not always easy but then being human 

isn’t easy. Do the work however and watch them 

thrive and grow. 

None of this is a quick fix or an easy lesson. Like 

all things worth the weight, it takes time and 

conscious thought as well as practice. But if you’re 

looking for a sense of wellbeing, start by looking 

within, because you almost certainly have it 

already, you just need to uncover it. 


HEALTH 

Optimise Your 

Immune System 

Sussex health expert, Dr Tracy S Gates of Pure Bio, provides valuable 

advice of natural ways to improve your immune system 

Optimising your immune function 

seems like an obvious course 

of action. However, boosting 

your immune system is actually 

much harder to accomplish 

than you might think. Your immune system is 

incredibly complex: it needs to be strong and 

active enough to fight off a variety of illnesses and 

infections, but not so strong that it overreacts 

inappropriately, leading to allergies and other 

autoimmune disorders. 

However, there are everyday dietary and lifestyle 

changes that will invariably support your immune 

system against infection or illness. 

Maintain a healthy diet - eat plenty of 

vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, and 

lean protein. As well as providing energy, healthy 

eating will provide sufficient amounts of the 

micronutrients that play a role in maintaining 

your immune system, including vitamins C, E 

and B6. Vegetables are also rich in antioxidants 

which protect the body against inflammation. 

In addition, the fibre content of vegetables feed 

your gut bacteria and maintain a healthy gut 

microbiome, which further protects against 

invasion of harmful bacteria and viruses. 

Eat more healthy fats - healthy fats, such as 

those in olive oil, fish, chia seeds and avocado, 

boost the body’s immune response to potential 

infection by decreasing inflammation. 

Avoid sugar - All forms of sugar (including 

honey) interfere with the ability of white blood 

cells to destroy bacteria. Studies show that diets 

high in sucrose (refined sugar) impair certain 

aspects of immune function. 

Alcohol intake - including occasional episodes 

of modest consumption, interferes with a wide 

variety of immune defences. 

Exercise regularly - As well as maintaining 

muscle strength and helping to reduce stress, 

exercise is also an important part of supporting 

a healthy immune system. In fact, studies have 

shown that just 30 minutes of moderate exercise 

every day helps stimulate your immune system. 

Stay hydrated - Adequate levels of water in your 

body is key to a healthy immune system. Lymph 

- largely made up of water - carries lymphocytes 

(white cells that fight infection) around your 

body. Dehydration slows down the movement 

of lymph, which can impair immune system 

function. 

Get plenty of sleep - Important infectionfighting 

molecules are created while you sleep. 

Minimize stress 

- Response to 

stress – whether 

acute or more 

prolonged - 

suppresses 

your immune 

system, which 

increases the 

risk of infection 

or illness. 

67

HEALTH 

Studies have shown that people who don’t get 

enough good quality sleep are more prone to 

becoming infected when exposed to viruses. 

Minimize stress - Response to stress – whether 

acute or more prolonged - suppresses your 

immune system, which increases the risk of 

infection or illness. Long term stress also increases 

inflammation, which in turn also suppresses 

the immune system. Finding ways to deal with 

inevitable stress is key – including meditation, 

moderate exercise, finding a hobby, or consulting 

a professional. 

Nutritional supplement treatment options 

Multivitamins - most double-blind studies have 

shown that elderly people have better immune 

function and reduced infection rates when taking 

a multiple vitamin-mineral formula. 

Zinc - affects multiple aspects of the immune 

system, from the barrier of the skin to the 

regulation of white blood cells. Zinc is crucial 

for the normal development and function of 

cells that are involved in general immunity. 

Zinc supplements have been shown to increase 

immune function. 

Beta-glucan - is a fibre-type polysaccharide 

(complex sugar) derived from baker’s yeast, 

oat and barley fibre, and many medicinal 

mushrooms such as maitake, reishi and shitake. 

Numerous studies have shown that betaglucan 

can activate white blood cells. In fact, 

there have been hundreds of research papers 

on beta-glucan since the 1960s. The research 

indicates that beta-1,3-glucan, in particular, 

is very effective at activating macrophages and 

neutrophils (important immune cells). A betaglucan–activated 

macrophage or neutrophil can 

recognize and kill tumour cells; remove cellular 

debris resulting from oxidative damage; speed up 

recovery of damaged tissue; and further activate 

other components of the immune system. 

Vitamin D - has numerous effects on cells within 

the immune system and is therefore essential for 

the normal functioning of the immune system 

(including the inflammatory response to wounds 

and infection). Vitamin D is also known to play a 

role in autoimmunity. 

Vitamin E - enhances some measures of immunecell 

activity in the elderly. According to doubleblind 

research, this effect is more pronounced 

with 200 IU per day compared to either lower or 

higher amounts. 

Beta-carotene - and other carotenoids have been 

shown to increase immune cell numbers and 

activity. 

Vitamin C - stimulates the immune system by 

both elevating levels of immune system proteins 

68 | sussexexclusive.com 

and enhancing the activity of certain immune 

cells. 

Vitamin A - plays an important role in immune 

system function and helps mucous membranes 

(including those in the lungs) resist invasion by 

micro-organisms. 

Colostrum - can be effective as a means 

of providing passive immunity to protect 

against disease. The immune-boosting effects 

of colostrum are mostly due to its high 

concentration of the antibodies IgA and IgG, 

which are proteins that fight viruses and bacteria. 

Probiotics or Prebiotics - (growth factors that 

encourage the development of healthy bacteria 

in the gastrointestinal tract) may help protect the 

body from harmful organisms in the intestine 

that could cause local or systemic infection. 

Botanical treatment options 

Echinacea - human studies have found that 

echinacea taken orally stimulates the function of a 

variety of immune cells, particularly NK (natural 

killer) cells. Studies also suggest that echinacea 

speeds recovery from the common cold, via 

immune stimulation (as opposed to killing the 

cold virus directly). 

Asian (Panax) Ginseng - has a long history of 

use in traditional herbal medicine for preventing 

and treating conditions related to the immune 

system. 

Eleuthero (Siberian ginseng) - has also 

historically been used to support the immune 

system. Research has shown that healthy people 

given eleuthero tincture had an increase in certain 

lymphocytes important to normal immune 

function. 

Ashwagandha - is considered a general stimulant 

of the immune system and is known as an 

adaptogen —a herb with multiple, non-specific 

actions that counteract the effects of stress and 

generally promote wellness. 

Astragalus - contains complex polysaccharides 

that act as “immunomodulators”. Studies indicate 

that it can prevent white blood cell numbers 

from falling in people given chemotherapy and 

radiotherapy and can elevate antibody levels in 

healthy people. 

Cat’s Claw - contains substances called 

oxyindole alkaloids that have been shown to 

stimulate the immune system. 

Green tea - has very high levels of antioxidants, 

which facilitate its immune-boosting and antiinflammatory 

properties. Several studies have 

also shown that green tea has antimicrobial 

properties that inhibit the growth of bacteria 

and viruses. 

Article contributed 

by Dr Tracy S Gates, 

DO, DIBAK, L.C.P.H., 

Consultant, 

Pure Bio Ltd. 

© 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.

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69

Getting Motivated 

to Improve 

Your Physical & 

Mental Wellbeing 

If You Are a Disabled Person 


So just don’t 

sit there. Start 

readying your 

mind and get 

motivated. 

And finally, 

just remember, 

there is 

somebody 

ALWAYS 

worse off 

than yourself. 

Chris Smith (not his real name), a 

former Paratrooper, was injured 

during active service and lost his 

sight in 2001. Battling depression, 

he took up exercise and, in his 

words, “discovered a new me”. Still active, he 

shares his thoughts on how to get started. 

Motivation can be defined as the force that 

energises and directs behaviour, but all said and 

done, if you are disabled, you still have to feel 

the need to energise yourself to improve your 

mental and physical abilities and to extend your 

independence. So basically, it comes down to 

the fact that you have to be in the right frame 

of mind to initiate a course of suitable fitness 

depending on your disability. 

Consult your doctor 

This first action is always a priority, and you 

should consult your doctor to ensure your blood 

pressure and heart are functioning correctly and 

within limits and to take advice about what is 

possible for you. Your physical instructor will 

need to know your limitations so a programme of 

fitness can be structured around them, whatever 

they may be. Additionally, if you are a diabetic, 

you should make sure your bloods are in the 

green zone. But the positive aspect of having 

diabetes is that you can turn the sugar in your 

blood into energy which will reduce your blood 

sugar levels and any need for insulin or tablet 

medication. Although as always, discuss this with 

your instructor and doctor. 

Work with a physical instructor 

A lot of exercises are or should be supported 

by good breathing and the regulation of your 

vascular system. Before committing to any 

exercise regime, you must get a feel for your vital 

signs and ensure they are all in the green, then 

your instructor will focus on the most relevant 

part of your body that needs improving, for 

example a limbless person might spend time 

concentrating on upper body strength in order 

to enable them to manage themselves on and 

off various platforms. A person who is severely 

sight impaired has to be managed on and off 

any exercise equipment and be monitored by 

instruction or staff while they are exercising. 

Setting goals 

When one is physically disabled, or sight 

impaired it is very difficult to motivate 

oneself into thinking about trying to get fit or 

improving one’s overall mobility. Being blind 

and physically disabled myself through military 

service, I got to the point where I needed to 

make certain changes to improve my overall 

ability and general wellbeing. It was hard 

enough just thinking about it let alone doing 

it, but I managed to set myself small objectives 

and gradually went from strength to strength 

as I started achieving them. Again, I stress it’s 

important to take advice from a professional 

instructor so you can comfortably work within 

an envelope of your capability, without causing 

stress or pain to an existing disability (your 

limitations). But by setting yourself objectives 

and reaching them, as you progress it’s very 

satisfying and soon, you start to see the benefits 

of the exercise that you have undertaken. 

Getting motivated 

In the military it was always mind over matter 

(we don’t mind, and you don’t matter). And this 

holds firm, as we all know the mind controls the 

body and it’s important to get that balance right. 

To generate the right motivation, you have to 

want to improve your overall wellbeing and 

mobility and in turn improve your overall 

confidence and stress levels, making it possible 

for you to achieve more. 

But what triggers motivation? A look in the 

mirror or weighing yourself is a norm for a 

reasonably healthy person, but if you’re disabled 

that often doesn’t apply. Your motivation will 

need to come from your own determination 

to improve your overall wellbeing and 

independence, without relying on anybody 

else for your daily routine unless it’s absolutely 

necessary. This comes from deep within. 

But once the mind is switched on it enables you 

to focus on the programme of fitness that has 

been designed specifically for your disability, 

and this will allow you to set your objectives 

and achieve them. Gradually, and over time, 

you will be able to extend your objectives as you 

progress. You will of course, encounter pain and 

exhaustion to begin with but they say there is no 

gain without pain. As you find yourself getting 

more flexible, there are other options you may 

look at too, like Yoga and Pilates, which involves 

using muscles that you never knew you had and 

I have found personally this has worked wonders 

for me. 

Working with others 

You may also find it helpful to join a group 

which can work quite well and injects fun into 

the activity. As the saying goes, together, we 

can do more. 

So just don’t sit there. Start readying your 

mind and get motivated. And finally, just 

remember, there is somebody ALWAYS worse 

off than yourself. 

71

A Mini Break in 

Marrakesh 

Discover the souks of the Medina and the exotic 

palaces and gardens of Marrakesh 


Morocco is only a threehour 

flight from Gatwick, 

making it a great mini 

break destination. Despite 

its proximity to Sussex, the 

hot, pulsing streets of the Marrakesh Medina 

couldn’t be more different to the sleepy slopes 

of the South Downs, giving you something 

totally different from the norm. 

Where to stay 

The big decision to make is whether you want 

to stay within the Medina. Staying outside 

means you can escape the hustle and bustle and 

your hotel might be a bit more spacious (with 

room for that all important pool perhaps) but 

you will have to either walk or catch a taxi into 

the centre. Staying in the centre means you’ll be 

right in the heart of the action. Or you could 

combine space and place by staying in one of 

the super swanky central hotels. 

We stayed in the Amani Hotel which is not far 

from the railway station and theatre and had a 

pool, and spa. Shop around for the best price 

but I found a double room in September for 

less than £85 for two nights. 

Things to do in Marrakesh 

There is so much to do in Marrakesh, and you 

won’t have time to see it all, especially if you 

want to fit in some rest and relaxation. 

The Medina 

Inevitably, your stay is going to be focussed on 

the magnificent Medina. 

Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the 

Medina is the old, historic part of town 

surrounded by high stone walls. It was founded 

in the 11 th century and is a rabbit warren of 

narrow streets, covered alleyways (derbs) and 

hidden courtyards, all centred around the large 

central square, the Jemaa El Fna. This is where 

you’ll find snake charmers, monkeys, stilt 

walkers and a whole host of street entertainers, 

especially at night. 

The Medina is a brightly coloured, full-on 

assault on the senses whether you visit day 

or night, with hawkers, bikes, carts, fabrics, 

pottery, lamps, spices, livestock, pastries and 

more all trying to grab your attention. Any trip 

to Marrakesh demands that you spend at least 

half a day here. 

Top tip: if you’re apprehensive, visit early in the 

morning when it’s at its quietist and use the 12 th 

century Koutoubia Mosque as your way marker 

(you can see it from the plane as you land and it’s 

in the Medina). 

73

...originally 

designed to 

house a harem, 

with a central 

courtyard and 

surrounding 

rooms for the 

concubines! 

Bahia Palace 

A little to the south east of the mosque is this 

stunning 19 th century palace with marble 

courtyards, stuccos, mosaics, intricately engraved 

wood and plasterwork and little oases of floral 

calm. It feels tranquil and cool after the bustle of 

the Medina and it’s easy to understand why the 

King of Morocco used it as a palace. 

But it’s also worth bearing in mind that it was 

originally designed to house a harem, with a 

central courtyard and surrounding rooms for the 

concubines! It gets busy but there are still some 

excellent photo opportunities. 

Le Jardin Secret 

Another perfect escape from the madness of the 

Medina is this magnificent palace and gardens 

that date back to the 16 th century and has been 

home to some of the great and the good of 

Morocco. There are two main buildings namely 

the riad and the tower, with inlaid cedar wood, 

hand-carved stuccos and geometric designs with 

two main gardens, namely the Exotic Garden and 

the Islamic Garden. 

La Mamounia 

There are a number of exceptional hotels in 

Marrakesh, but if you want outstanding opulence 

and luxury, head to the La Mamounia, favourite 

hangout of Winston Churchill and set in its own 

17 acres of grounds in the Medina. If you can’t 

afford to stay here you might want to pop in for 

a pre-dinner drink, but beware there is a dress 

code, and a single drink is likely to set you back 

at least £20. 

The Jardin Majorelle 

Just outside the Medina, to the north east, The 

Jardin Majorelle is both exotic and evocative. You 

can book online in advance, but we didn’t and 

didn’t have to queue for long. 

The French painter Jacques Majorelle began 

planting here in 1922, with botanical specimens 

from around the world. Yves Saint Laurent and 

Pierre Bergé bought the gardens in 1966 and these 

days they are a heady combination of exotic plants, 

bold colours and Art Deco style with the feel of an 

oasis. It’s also home to The Pierre Bergé Museum of 

Berber Arts (there is an additional fee for this). 


Relax with a Hammam 

This is another must do when in Marrakesh. 

A Hammam is a type of traditional Moroccan 

bath which has developed into a spa treatment. 

Practises vary but generally this relaxing and 

invigorating treatment includes a dry hot room, a 

hot steam room and a thoroughly vigorous scrub 

down and massage. 

Top tip: ask your hotel to recommend somewhere 

rather than just visit one off the street. 

Places to eat 

Wherever you go in central Marrakesh, you are 

spoilt for choice when it comes to places to eat, 

whether it’s street food or posh nosh that you’re 

after! 

Dar Essalam 

Dar Essalam is in Rue Zitoun Kedim (just off 

the main square). This restaurant is phenomenal 

and a perfect summary of hedonist Marrakesh. 

It was once the haunt of the likes of Winston 

Churchill, Charles Trenet, Alfred Hitchcock, 

James Steward and Doris Day and it’s set in a 

magnificent 17 th century palace. Think beautiful 

fountains and tiles, fine engravings and marble 

work and Arab-Andalusian art. In addition to 

a traditional menu, the entertainment includes 

belly dancing, head wobbling and traditional 

music. An evening you won’t forget. 

Koulchi Zine 

Just a short walk from Dar Essalam (in the same 

road) Koulchi Zine is a great place for lunch. It 

has a roof top restaurant, a cool vibe and some 

great smoothies, local pastries and vegan options. 

You feel cool, calm and collected up above the 

souks and as you recuperate over a long and 

lingering lunch here. 

Le Marrakchi 

Just off the main square we stumbled in here 

because we were looking for somewhere that 

served alcohol during Ramadan. Call us heathens 

but we’d just come from the desert. It’s got a 

buzzing atmosphere, a terrace overlooking the 

main square, lots of local dishes and cocktails. 

Flights 

There are frequent flights from Gatwick 

including a red eye service which will have 

you in Marrakesh as early as 10am on a Friday 

morning (the Saturday flights are generally a bit 

later). Depending on when you travel, there’s 

also a good choice of return flights that allow 

you to return either Sunday afternoon 

or evening. 

75

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 


Welcome to 

THE ARTISAN BAKEHOUSE 

A country retreat like no other, where you’ll learn 

the art of artisan bread making in the heart of the 

beautiful Sussex countryside. 

BAKE 

Learn to bake bread by the glow of a wood oven 

in our traditional bakehouse. Experience making 

various breads from around the world with our 

hands on and small group workshops. Or you can 

join a range of 40-minute online breadmaking 

masterclasses if you prefer. 

ENJOY 

Take away skills for life and a renewed love of 

baking with recipes and techniques you can enjoy 

at home. 

RELAX 

Suitable for any level of experience, hone your 

baking skills in a relaxed, informative and fun setting 

at the foot of the stunning South Downs. Come for 

the day or you can ‘stay and bake’ in one of our 

gorgeous holiday cottages or luxury shepherd’s hut. 

Browse our award-winning workshops and 

Use the booking code: “Gourmand” for a 10% discount off workshops 

www.theartisanbakehouse.com 

77

Award winning sparkling wine from 


Exceptional wine, lovingly grown 

We hand craft wines that reflect and celebrate the natural 

environment. With just 5 acres of north facing slopes on 

the edge of the Sussex Weald, we like to do things a little 

bit differently and allow each wine to tell its own story. 

As well as our online shop, this summer we have opened 

our cellar door. Now you can drop in on Saturdays to buy 

your favourite still or sparkling from our award-winning 

range. Once a month we give vineyard enthusiasts the 

opportunity to see behind the scenes with a tour and 

sample 2 sparkling and 1 still wine. We continue to offer 

bespoke private tours with a selection of deli style platters 

and homemade scones to accompany our range of 8 wines. 

To book or shop, please visit: 

www.tickeragewine.co.uk • or contact Anthony@tickeragewine.co.uk 

VISIT HEPWORTH’S SHOP 

Open 10-5.30 Monday to Friday 

and Saturday 10-4pm 

• 45 beers and more 

• Range of wines, English 

award winners and selected 

world wines 

• Fine boutique gins 

• Local ciders 

Plenty of Parking 

• Cocoa Loco chocolate, 

Gingerbread, jams and 

marmalade 

Stane Street, Pulborough, West Sussex RH20 1DJ 

www.hepworthbrewery.co.uk • 01403 269696 


The 

Last Word 

The last word this month goes to local historian, Peter Benner, 

who looks back on some 70+ years of living in Sussex and beyond 

Chailey windmill Halnaker windmill Jill windmill Rye windmill 

Mills on the Move 

There was a time, up to about 150 years ago, when to mount any eminence in Sussex, particularly 

the South Downs, one could spot (in addition to the church towers which so infuriated the devil 

and set him “a digging of his Dyke”), a selection of mills. Particularly the white post and smock 

mills which stood out against the green of the Weald. 

Many of these have disappeared, through wind or fire (they are prone to overheating) but those that have 

not suffered destruction, were often not quite as permanent as you might assume and many of them were or 

are not in their original locations. 

Indeed, a complete smock mill was moved to Dyke Road in Brighton from what is now Regency Square. 

This was achieved using a team of 30 yoke (or more) of oxen. Jill, the white smock mill of Jack and Jill at 

Clayton was similarly moved across the Downs from Brighton. The present mill on Chailey Common, said 

to mark the central point of Sussex, is actually a reproduction of a previous mill destroyed by fire but that in 

turn had been moved from Highbrook whilst another mill was transported whole to Newhaven. 

What was Lowfield Heath mill, on the county boundary near Gatwick, was in the last century removed 

into Charlwood in Surrey. But when the Jolesfield mill at Partridge Green collapsed, its working parts were 

re-assembled in the grounds of Gatwick Manor hotel. A dear friend of mine, Rodney Little, not only claims 

to have visited every surviving windmill in England and Wales but has also built a half sized working mill in 

his garden. 

Many are the trusts and bodies of volunteers to whom we are indebted for painstakingly preserving and 

rebuilding these striking landmarks and reminders of the essential providers of our daily bread in years past. 

79

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