Press Release Date 17 September 2007

Ale on the Rail Rolls into Feastbourne Station

Feastbourne, Eastbourne’s Food and Drink Festival, is joining British Food Fortnight with special events for train passengers at Eastbourne Railway Station.

Held on 6 October, Feastbourne Station will see a farmers market joined by live entertainment and food demonstrations on the station concourse, while train passengers can taste real ale on the trains.

Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet Spokesperson for Tourism, Cllr Steve Wallis said “This is a great way of making fresh local produce more accessible and really encouraging people to become excited about food and drink.  With award winning producers offering both traditional products and more exotic spicy alternatives, there is plenty to suit all tastes.”

On Southern Railway, the Fallen Angel microbrewery will be installing hand pumps on some trains between Hastings, Eastbourne and Brighton.  A winner at the Sussex Food and Drink awards, passengers can sample their Gamekeeper’s Bitter, just one of their many real ales which range from the heavenly Shepherdess Draught to their Devilish Naughty Nun and chilli beers.

Back at the station, live music and food demonstrations will entertain shoppers and waiting passengers, with popular Sussex producers including Chilli Pepper Pete’s home-made sauces, pickles and fresh chilli’s, and MECC Unique’s blend of African spices and sauces. 

Offering more traditional produce, Gran Stead’s Ginger bring their 150 year old drinks recipe while Deerview Products supply home-made preserves and Sussex Food Producer of the Year, Cocoa Loco, supply a range of organic chocolates.

Feastbourne runs from 4 – 13 October with a mix of wine tasting events, cookery master classes, kitchen and cellar tours, real ales and a tribute dinner to the doyenne of modern cooking, Elizabeth David.  The festival ends with the return of the popular Oktoberfest style Eastbourne Beer Festival from 11 – 13 October.

Feastbourne Station opens from 10am to 5pm.  For more information telephone 0871 663 0031 or visit www.visiteastbourne.com.

Real Ale will be available on the following trains on 6 October:

• 11.12 Hastings to Brighton
• 12.32 Brighton to Hastings
• 14.12 Hastings to Brighton
• 15.32 Brighton to Hastings

Contact:Tracey Robertson, Promotions Officer. Tel: +44(0)1323 415413 Promotions@eastbourne.gov.uk

END

Date: Wed 12 September 2007
Released By: Tourism Promotions Office

Feastbourne Seeks Budding Food and Wine Critics

Eastbourne’s Food and Drink Festival, Feastbourne, returns this year from 4 to 13 October with a delicious array of events, including the return of the popular Eat Your Words competition.

Seeking out the best foodie writers in town, the competition is open to keen writers, chefs and food and drink enthusiasts to write the most inspirational and original food or wine article.

With prizes including a case of wine from Cooden Cellars, a meal for two at the Grand Hotel’s award winning Mirabelle Restaurant and the winning article featured in Eastbourne Herald’s December issue of ‘Instyle’ magazine, there is plenty of reason to get writing.

Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet Spokesperson for Tourism, Cllr Steve Wallis said “Feastbourne is a fantastic way of celebrating the great culinary assets and fresh produce we have on our doorstep.  I am sure there are plenty of enthusiastic connoisseurs out there who can offer an innovative and exciting new take on the world of food and drink.”

A panel of judges comprising Eastbourne Herald Editor Peter Austin, Grand Hotel Manager Jonathan Webley and Ian Jarman of Cooden Cellars will judge the best article based on writing quality, style, inspiration and innovation.

Feastbourne returns this year with a mix of wine tasting events, cookery master classes, cocktail mixology, real ales, farmers market and a tribute dinner to the doyenne of modern cooking, Elizabeth David.  Held during British Food Fortnight, the festival will also include live music and food demonstrations at the Railway Station and Enterprise Centre.

Eat Your Words articles should be no longer than 750 words, and word processed with double line spacing.  Submissions must be original pieces of work and must not libel any establishment, chef, vineyard, brewery or any other purveyors of food and drink. 

Send entries no later than 13 October to Feastbourne Eat Your Words, Eastbourne Borough Council, 68 Grove Road, Eastbourne BN21 4UH or e-mail to events@eastbourne.gov.uk.

For more information visit www.feastbourne.com or telephone the Events Office on 01323 415442.

Ends

Further Information

Tracey Robertson, Promotions Officer. Tel: +44(0)1323 415413
Promotions@eastbourne.gov.uk

Cooden Cellars cook up a storm at the Harbour

As part of this year’s Feastbourne celebrations (4th to 13th October) Cooden Cellars, Eastbourne’s multi-award-winning independent wine merchants, are holding their Annual Portfolio Tasting on Friday 5th October in the Royal Sovereign Suite, Sovereign Harbour Yacht Club, overlooking the harbour and its glittering display of boats.
Over 100 wines from all over the world will be available to sample between 7pm and 10pm, with representatives from UK importers there to advise on the wines and answer questions. Included in the illustrious line-up are two representatives from world-renowned estates:

Walter Clappis, Winemaker with Amicus winery in Australia

and

Stephen Ludlam, Export Director from The Winery of Good Hope in South Africa.

And amongst the importers there will be a face familiar to watchers of the 80’s TV consumer programme ‘That’s Life’, actor Gavin Campbell. His tall frame will be seen administering some very choice white burgundies that have become his all-consuming interest since the programme’s demise.
To help the evening along there will also be bottled beers from Sussex’s smallest micro-brewery, Fallen Angel from Battle, spirits such as brandies and whiskies (including world-beating single malts from the Nikka Whisky Company in Japan), rums, eaux de vie and liqueurs and a display of gourmet items as well as finger-food provided by Andy and Kathy from Frith & Little, the superb new delicatessen in East Dean.
“It’s a real honour to have so many of our suppliers with us for this event” said partner Ian Jarman, “and we hope it will be a great experience for our customers and a wonderful opportunity to get to know some of the products and people behind the scenes and in such a fantastic venue and a warm and convivial atmosphere”.
Admission to the event will be by ticket only, at £15 per person, obtainable from Cooden Cellars on 01323-649663. Any orders of a case or more (mixed or unmixed) placed as a result of the event will have the cost of the tickets refunded.

Images:
Sovereign Harbour Yacht Club