Food and Drink

If food is an important part of your holiday, head for Sussex. You can eat well all over the county, from fish ‘n’ chips on the beach and shepherd’s pie in a country pub to a gourmet tasting menu in a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Sussex has an incredible choice of eateries, with food from just about everywhere in the world, but don’t miss the best of modern British cuisine at the county’s top restaurants. In tune with the nation’s increased interest in organic food and buying local, chefs have rediscovered the gourmet goodies on their doorsteps. Menus feature local produce like Selsey prawns, freshly caught fish from Hastings and Newhaven boats, Sussex cheeses and Romsey Marsh lamb. And when it comes to wine, Sussex vineyards are producing acclaimed vintages, particularly the exceptional sparkling wines, which regularly beat French Champagne in international competitions. 

Pubs are great for food too, so forget about stale sandwiches and a packet of crisps. Now in rustic hostelries, waterside taverns and elegant coaching inns, you’ll find good value grub from the traditional to the exotic, plus wines by the glass, as well as real ales and local brews.

If you’re looking for killer cocktails, rare single malts or obscure Finnish vodkas, try one of the new brand of bars springing up around the county. Ranging from dark and sultry hotspots to cool and casual chill out zones, they’re good places to start and end an evening – and with tapas and bar snacks on offer, you might just settle in for the night.