Seaford of Sussex – September Hits

Seaford Head, looking back over the town to Newhaven harbour. Photo VDuBourdieu©2010

Seaford Head, looking back over the town to Newhaven harbour. Photo VDuBourdieu©2010

Seaford Live! The 2010 festival runs from September 3- 12

FREE entry to many events

For the third year running, the old Cinque Port of Seaford comes alive for a week of entertainment, music and arts events. Get details here.

Across the town, pubs, cafes, bars and theatres are joining the festival with music ranging from Rock, Indie, Blues, Jazz and Swing to Folk & Jam Sessions, Choirs, and Dancing.

As well as entertainment and events, here are a handful of my favourite places to visit in Seaford. Most visited is the Health Shop, owned and managed by David and Helen Pollard for the last 19 years.

They sell fresh, organic fruit and vegetables, a gluten-free range of products, and more grains, seeds and nuts than you could consume in a lifetime.

Additionally, they also sell an excellent range of organic wines and beers. Quickvit is the Seaford Health Shop’s online website. You can visit it here.

Seaford Head towards Cuckmere Valley & Seven Sisters. Photo, VDuBourdieu©2010

Seaford Head towards Cuckmere Valley & Seven Sisters. Photo, VDuBourdieu©2010

The Seaford Health Shop also sells the entire range of Pukka’s wonderful organic tea range, including the Ayurvedic trio: Relax, Refresh and Revitalise.

At the moment – and I’m sure it will be fixed soon – you can’t order Pukka online at the Seaford Health Shop so click here for the Pukka link if you want to buy tea directly from the manufacturer.

Moving up the highway towards Eastbourne, Sebucy Framing Gallery is a new family run picture framing business.You’ll find them close to Seaford Library at 13 Sutton Park Road on the main road to Eastbourne.

As well as framing anything you can think of, Sebucy shows Sussex artists, like Margaret Turton, who has painted the scenery around her for over 25 years.

Margaret’s favoured media is gouache (watercolour) paints, and she enjoys choosing familiar places but from a different angle, and subtle light conditions often add intrigue to her compositions. You can see Margaret Turton’s website here.

Insecticide-free tomatoes at Dymocks Farm Shop. Photo VDuBourdieu©2010

Insecticide-free tomatoes at Dymocks Farm Shop. Photo VDuBourdieu©2010

Another place I visit a lot is Dymocks Farm for fresh vegetables. Click here to find out more.

The last place on my list definitely requires booking (especially Friday and Saturday), but is well worth the wait: Ollivers Restaurant.

Ollivers is run by Juliet and Steve Anderson, and I can vouch for Chef, Juliet’s expertise in the kitchen. All the food is made on the premises, and much of their food is sourced locally.

Not only do Ollivers have wine specials each month, you can print off a special coupon worth £5 per person off their five course menu (print off ten if you have ten guests).

See Ollivers’ menu’s online here.

Living It Up at The Swan, Lavenham

The Swan at LavenhamSince Nick Wilson joined The Swan, Lavenham, as head chef last year, dining at the 15th century hotel has become a gourmet experience. Nick focuses on modern British cuisine with French undertones.

This comes through in each of the four different areas devoted to food: the elegant Gallery Restaurant, the Garden Lounge, the historic Airmen’s Bar or the hidden gardens and Cloister Courtyard.

Keen to source fresh and local food, Nick has developed a range of dishes that change with the season.

Gallery Restaurant 5, The Swan at Lavenham

Gallery Restaurant 5, The Swan at Lavenham

For autumn he recommends Six Churches partridge roasted with liquorice root, and served with confit duck hash and parsnip purée.

In spring, you might try sautéed lamb cutlets with sweetbread soufflé, crushed Suffolk new potatoes and summer cabbage.

Fresh fish caught daily on the local coast is on the menu all year; a favourite of Nick’s is pan-roasted sea bass with risotto of Cromer Crab and caramelised butternut squash.

Nick, 37, came to The Swan from the Michelin-listed Walnut Club restaurant group, in the Peak District. Previously, he worked with Christophe Novelli for seven years, including a spell as head chef at the Michelin starred Les Saveurs in London’s Mayfair district.  He has also worked at Gleneagles in Scotland.

Gallery Restaurant
The fine dining AA two rosette Gallery Restaurant with its beautiful, vaulted beamed ceiling and Minstrels’ Gallery is open for lunch and dinner daily.

Tempting lunchtime menus start from £14.95 for two courses mid-week, and £24.95 on a Sunday for three-courses, including a choice of roasts.

A main course at The Swan, Lavenham

A main course at The Swan, Lavenham

Additionally, you might consider a traditional Swan Tea with scones, clotted cream, preserves, finger sandwiches and freshly baked cakes. This is available from 2.30 to 5.30pm at £14.95 per person. A lighter Suffolk Cream Tea costs just £7.95.

Residents and non-residents are welcome to enjoy a full breakfast at The Swan, which is served in the Gallery Restaurant.  After juices, fruit, cereals and yoghurts you have a choice of six hot dishes ranging from a Full Suffolk to a Classic Egg Benedict, grilled Lowestoft kippers or their Garden Breakfast.

The latter includes sautéed sweet potato, a grilled flat mushroom, plum tomato, chargrilled artichoke and free range egg from the local Manor Farm – fried, poached or scrambled. Breakfast is £15 per person.

The half-timbered Swan Hotel is a quintessential country retreat set in the heart of the historic Suffolk village. Prices start from £180 per double/twin room per night B&B mid week (Sunday-Thursday) for two sharing and £200 over a weekend.

To book a room or table in the Gallery Restaurant telephone 01787 247477; details can also be found here.