West Sussex Local Events July 2013

With summer well under way and the weather looking good for the foreseeable future there are lots of things to do locally over the next few weeks on the doorstep of Chequers Hotel Pulborough!

 We have just recovered from a hectic yet fabulous weekend of Goodood Festival of Speed with guests having a wonderful weekend again at this annual event. Fortunately for those sad it is over there will be a number of other events at goodwood this summer including the wonderful "Goodwood Revival" and "Glorious Goodwood"...we are excited already!

Goodwood Festival of Speed

In the mean time there are a whole host of other events to enjoy including Arundel Castle International Jousting Tournament 23-28th July and the fabulous Petworth Festival kicking off this week!

Petworth

Other local events over the next couple of weeks:

  15 Jul - 31 Jul Barnum at Chichester Festival Theatre

  16 Jul - 23 Aug Petworth Festival

  19 - 20 Jul Uckfield Art Trail

  20 Jul Katherine Jenkins performance, Haywards Heath

  20 Jul Barnstormers Comedy ClubShoreham

  20 Jul Jamie's Wish Family Fun Day, Littlehampton

  20 Jul WestChiltington Village Show

  21 Jul Rare Breeds Show Chichester

  21 Jul Charity Car Show, Shoreham

  25 Jul Ebernoe Horn Fair, Ebernoe

  26 Jul Jailhouse Screamers, Arundel

  26 Jul Blunter Brothers, Sharpthorne

  27 - 28 Jul Rox, Bognor Regis

  30 Jul - 3 Aug Glorious Goodwood

  30 Jul - 4 Aug Chichester Challenge

Other places that are just fabulous for a day trip from Chequers: 

Amberley, at the foot of the South Downs Way:

Amberly Castle

The South Downs National Park providing fabulous Walks and Cycle Routes:

View of the South Downs from Chequers Hotel Pulborough

 Arundel with the Castle and Wetlands Centre, Petworth House and Park, Parham House - open last weekend for the annual Garden Show on Saturday and Sunday, Petworth with its quaint antique shops, The Way and Arun Canal Boat Trips, River Arun:

River Arun

Bignor and Fishbourne Roman Villas, Pulborough Brooks Bird Reserve and the beautiful beaches at Littlehampton and East and West Wittering - blue flag awarded as mentioned in our previous blog post.  Also Horsham, Chichester, Worthing and even Brighton!

North Laines, Brighton

 There really is a lot to do in the area and with the childrens holidays upon us, parents will be pleased to know its all great for both the little ones and adults alike!

Lissette x

A day at the British seaside!

With the weather warming up, I thought it would be a good time to write about our lovely local beaches - especially as 2 of them have just won blue flag awards (http://www.blueflag.org/Menu/Criteria)  for the cleanest beaches in England - Littlehampton and West Wittering!

People often stop off at the hotel when going to or coming from these beaches - sit in the garden and enjoy morning coffee, afternoon tea, a light lunch or even supper!

I used to go to Littlehampton beach a lot when my daughter was little and spend hours with her collecting shells from the beautiful sandy beach, with the tide there going out a long way exposing a mile of sand...

Home to superb sandy beaches, a bustling marina, harbor and stunning contemporary architecture, Littlehampton on the Sussex coast is both the perfect place to enjoy a fun family day out.

This seaside town’s attractions include the famously unusual East Beach Café and the UK’s longest bench, as well as West Beach Local Nature Reserve – a site of Special Scientific Interest. For those seeking activity -enjoy sailing and fishing on the River Arun. 

West Sussex Beaches

Many of Littlehampton’s annual events take place on the seafront or around the harbour including the annual Waterfront Festival, Carnival and spectacular Bonfire and Fireworks event.

Down a pretty windy road from Littlehampton you come to Climping - a little secret really!

Climping Beach, West Sussex

Climping beach, as with many along the south coast, has pebbles at high tide. But at low tide, a huge expanse of fabulous sand is exposed, making it an ideal spot for a family day out. The Beach is a quieter area of coastline than its neighbours of Littlehampton and Bognor Regis and much of the area is now designated to scientific interest.

 A great place to base a coastal walk; you have pebble and grass banks at high tide, and compact sand to walk along at low tide. Walking to the East you have the dune eco-system whilst to the West you are backed by countryside and the many private beach estates (Elmer, Middleton-on-sea, Felpham) that line this stretch of Coast.

Climping beach, West Sussex

These also include the beautiful non-commercialised beaches of East and West Wittering, internationally recognised for their wild natural beauty and wildlife.With a wonderful stretch of open countryside , West Wittering is a favorite destination for a family day out, whether you chose to swim in the sandy tidal pools on the beach or relax away from the sand on the extensive areas of mown grass close to the beach which are perfect for picnics, barbeque's and games. The area is also famous among wind and and kite surfers thanks to the unique winds, tides and vast stretches of sandy beach!

West Wittering Beach

The seaside village of East Wittering is slightly bigger than its neighbour Braklesham, but they both share a magical location on the seafront of Braklesham Bay...

In fact, there are so many things to do, you’ll definitely want to stay for longer!  Why not book this year’s holiday or short break - stay at The Chequers Hotel and use it as a base for visiting other local attractions.

A memoir from our trip to Climping Beach last weekend...

Happy exploring

Lissette x

West Sussex Vineyard's

With the arrival of summer weather and English wine week we thought it was good time to start exploring some of Britain’s best wine Estates right on our doorstep, with the nearest one being 2.5 miles from Chequers Hotel Pulborough and 4 of the best in England being within a 25 mile radius.You can’t beat a weekend in the English countryside enjoying a spot of wine tasting and a tour of the Vineyard!

England’s Sussex countryside is actually an ideal wine growing area – gentle slopes protected by the South Downs with the same fertile green sand soil as Champagne in France.

Nutbourne Vineyard

First stop - Nutbourne Vineyards, only 2.5 miles up the road from Chequers is part of the new renaissance of English Wine – a stunning boutique vineyard with its own state of the art winery producing award winning still and sparkling wines. The vineyard is open to visitors Tuesday to Friday 2pm-5pm and Saturdays 11am-5pm and they hold special events on Bank Holidays. There is no entrance charge for the estate and visitors are welcome to walk among the vines, enjoy the beautiful setting and visit the windmill tower to taste and buy the wines. They also offer group tours of the vineyard and winery along with organised tastings incase you would like to combine your visit with a chance to enhance your knowledge on the subject of wines!. These take place in the Estates wine lodge where you can also choose to have a buffet or BBQ (perfect for larger hospitality groups)! Nutbourne Vineyard The Estate also hosts: “Jazz in the Vines”: two summer afternoons of live music and fine English wine on Bank Holiday Mondays 27th May and 26th August 2013 where you can relax among the vines between 2pm and 7pm, listening to live jazz music. Tickets need to be booked in advance for £12 per person, including half a bottle of Nutbourne Wine, by calling 01798 815 196, www.Nutbournevineyards.com Nutbourne Vineyard Next stop: Nyetimber (3.3 miles away from Chequers), with well over 400 acres of wines, it is the largest vineyard in England and produces sparkling wine to rival the very best in the world, including Champagne. Unfortunately Nyetimber is not open to teh public at the moment but worth a mention given its fame and success! 2010 was a fabulous year for Nyetimber and English wine generally when a sparkling wine from England trumped its more prestigious French and Italian counterparts to win the blind test at the world sparkling wine championships. The current chapter of the Nyetimber story began in 1988, when Stuart and Sandy Moss planted the first vine and transformed Nyetimber from a working farm into a vineyard. The present owner, Eric Heerema, acquired the estate in 2006 and now combines his vision and leadership with the knowledge gained from two decades of viticulture at the estate and has since grown from 34 to just over 400 acres of rigorously vetted vineyard sites. The manor house has also recently been carefully restored to its former glory, its history protected and its place at the heart of Nyetimber now preserved. Nyetimber vineyard, Gay Street, West Chiltington, West Sussex, RH20 2HH, www.nyetimber.com On to Bolney Wine Estate (17.2 miles away) which offers a variety of tours hosted by knowledgeable and experienced guides allowing you to wander leisurely around the 40 acre estate, inspect the state-of-the-art winery and taste the wines. As we discovered, if you go at the right time, you may even get to taste from the barrel! www.bolneywineestate.co.uk Ridgeview Wine Estate (23 miles away) was founded in 1994 by Mike and Chris Roberts and is dedicated to creating world class sparkling wines in the South Downs of England. Making the most of a similar setting to the vineyards of the Champagne region – a low, limestone ridge in the Sussex Downs with a mild micro climate, the vineyards specialise in growing classic grape varieties to make the highest quality bottle fermented sparkling wines. The world class status of the wines is reflected by the number of national & international medals and trophies they have received since the release of their first wines from the 1996 vintage. The second generation of the family have now become established in key roles within Ridgeview, enabling the continued expansion of the business. Their dedication, passion and determination have significantly contributed to the international reputation and popularity now attributed to English Sparkling Wine. They have a number of different activities for visitors to choose from: ·         Tour of the vineyard where they grow the Champagne grape varieties Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier ·         Explanation of the various vineyard activities that occur throughout the year ·         Tour of our state-of-the-art specialist winery and equipment ·         An insight into the sparkling wine making process ·         Visit to the cellars where secondary bottle fermentation takes place ·         Tasting of all their current releases in our picturesque tasting room that overlooks the South Downs www.ridgeview.co.uk English vineyard Chequers offers secure bike storage for any of our guests wishing to cycle to the vineyards – though we take no responsibility for your tipsy cycle back to the Hotel afterwards! However, in our continuing quest to supply our guests with local produce, Chequers stocks the award winning Ridgeview Estate Wine and Nutbourne Estate wines which we will have chilled ready for you to relax and enjoy after a day at the vineyards when you arrive back! English Wine Relax and enjoy some cheese and wine when you get back to Chequers! Lissette x

The South Downs Way

Given that Chequers is centrally located in the foothills of the South Downs National Park we thought it was high time we had something to say about it! Since taking over Chequers last May we have been exploring some of the many routes by walk, run and bike and welcoming many guests who have enjoyed exploring the wonderful local trails too; whether it be to rest their head at the end of a long day, or to refuel over lunch, afternoon tea or dinner after their efforts!

 

South Downs Way Walks from Chequers Hotel Pulborough

The South Downs Way path runs for around 100 miles with an undulating path that begins in Winchester and moves past Cheesefoot Head, the towns of Petersfield, Arundel, Amberley, and Steyning, Bignor Roman Villa near Bury, Chanctonbury Ring, Devil's Dyke viewpoint near Brighton, followed by Ditchling Beacon and miles of chalk downland across to Beachy Head, finally ending in Eastbourne. It also passes Birling Gap, a beach area that provides the opportunity to swim - irresistible on a warm summer day! Chequers is within easy reach of many of these stopping points which is why a number of guests have chosen to stay with us for a few days whilst they are walking the many routes.

South Downs Way walks from Chequers Hotel Pulborough

Much of the South Downs Way is on high chalk downland and the views are always interesting. Perhaps the most dramatic vistas are on the high chalk cliffs on the Seven Sisters, Sussex towards Beachy Head and before the descent to Eastbourne. However, there are also superb views in clear weather from the ridgeway sections on the tops of the downs, especially on Ditchling Beacon.

South Downs Way walks from Chequers Hotel Pulborough

The Way lies within the South Downs National Park and there is plenty of historic interest along the way, such as the Long Man of Wilmington near Eastbourne, as mentioned above. Diversions are needed to visit Brighton or Lewes, the latter town being of great beauty with an historic centre. Without exception it is a very well maintained and signposted route. While it crosses various villages for provisions much of it is surprisingly isolated and quiet considering the density of the population in south-east England.

South Downs Way walks from Chequers Hotel Pulborough

Another good spot - the famous Devils Dyke - is a popular port of call for our guests! A nice walking destination with spectacular views to the Isle of Wight. Local folklore explains the valley as the work of the devil. The legend holds that the devil was digging a trench to allow the sea to flood the many churches in the Weald of Sussex. The digging disturbed an old woman who lit a candle, or angered a rooster causing it to crow, making the devil believe that the morning was fast approaching. The devil then fled, leaving his trench unfinished. The last shovel of earth he threw over his shoulder fell into the sea, forming the Isle of Wight.

South Downs Way walks from Chequers Hotel Pulborough

The South Downs Way trail can be walked at a leisurely pace in about a week while a good walker, horse rider or cyclist would take two or three days. It is closed to motorised traffic along the route.

South Downs Way walks from Chequers Hotel Pulborough

Various events are held along the route; including the British Heart Foundation's annual Randonee. Part or all of the 100 miles is cycled to raise funds for heart disease, the fastest times are sub 8 hours with most riders taking under 14 hours. For the hardcore running community, the national park hosts the SWD 100 in June - a 100 mile ultramarathon, with a total of 12,7000 feet climbing and a time limit of 30 hours!

Stay a while in Pulborough at the Chequers Hotel -  an area of outstanding natural beauty and at the foot of the South Downs National Park and explore the local surrounding areas too – Arundel, Petworth, Chichester, Parham, Pulborough Brooks RSPB and more! We have plenty of maps for our guests choosing to take on the challenge!

Lissette x

Wedding Venues, West Sussex

The wedding season is upon us and now is the time to plan! There are a number of beautiful wedding locations in and around Pulborough and whether you be the bride or groom, family or friends and need somewhere to stay,  Chequers Hotel is ideally situated being one of the closest to each of the venues. The Hotel also provides more than just somewhere to stay for the wedding but being a Grade II listed building built in 1548 - herself set in an area of outstanding natural beauty overlooking Pulborough Brooks, Chequers provides a great base to enjoy a weekend in the West Sussex Countryside!

Wedding in a Barn!

So in order to be able to provide our guests with knowledge and expertise, I have recently been visiting some of the venues, something I had been meaning to do for some time!

Beautiful wedding flowers, West Sussex

FITZLEROI BARN

I found the function and wedding barn situated on a beautiful West Sussex Farm in the stunning countryside, which also benefits from a private courtyard - distance from hotel 3.2 miles

on to

BARTHOLOMEW BARN

Another day another venue!  This time Bartholomew Barn - a stunning rustic barn wedding venue situated a short distance from the attractive villages of Wisborough Green and Kirdford - easily accessible to Chequers Hotel.  A captivating idyllic setting, with Frances the wedding venue owner there to cater for your every need!

On next I visited

UPWALTHAM BARNS

Upwaltham Barn

Another pretty venue.   A collection of traditional Sussex flint long barns set around a stunningly pretty courtyard, surrounded by the Goodwood Estate and South Downs.  Again privately owned - Tim and Nicola on hand to assist

So leaving Upwaltham, I then ventured on to

DORSET HOUSE

Again a gorgeous wedding venue near Chequers Hotel Pulborough! The Great Barn built in the Tudor Period is in the pretty village of Bury on the South Downs and in 40 acres of beautiful medieval gardens with views of the River Arun!

Next stop was

GRITTENHAM BARN IN TILLINGTON
A magical venue - rustic surroundings with stunning views of the South Downs and the freedom to wander through the orchard, languish by the lake or ponder the flower gardens.
The barn has a warm and relaxing feel and beautiful lighting - a great place for a chilled out garden party type wedding!

Wedding in a Barn West Sussex 

Last but not least I travelled over to

BIGNOR PARK

The 12000 acre privately owned Estate, again at the foot of the South Downs National Park - majestic but with an understated style and quirky rugged charm - Louise is the contact.

South Downs National Park

To book your accommodation at Chequers Hotel near to the above venues - please call 01798 872486

A warm welcome awaits!
Lissette x

Bluebell walks in West Sussex

The bluebell or “Hyacinthoides non-scripta” is a bulbous perennial plant, found in Atlantic areas from north-western Spain to the British Isles. It is known in English as the common bluebell or simply bluebell. In spring, the Bluebell produces a nodding, one-sided inflorescence of 5–12 tubular, sweet-scented violet–blue flowers, with strongly recurved tepals, and 3–6 long, linear, basal leaves. The flower is particularly associated with ancient woodland where it may dominate the understory to produce carpets of violet–blue flowers in "bluebell woods". It is protected under UK law and it is said that half the world’s bluebells flower in the British Isles.

Bluebell Walks 

April is a great month for a woodland or river bank walk to view these spectacular plants - good for both the soul and mind!

We have been scouting to find the best bluebell walks in the local area for our guests to enjoy and discovered there are many beautiful “Bluebell” walks in West Sussex close to Chequers. Whether it is along the River Arun or through our local woods, you can enjoy the annual spectacle turning our woodlands into a beautiful blue landscape with trees bursting back into life and the beautiful background music of bird song once again. Here are a few examples of nearby places to enjoy the scene:

1) The Low Weald nature reserve of Ebernoe Common near Petworth encompasses ponds, streams and meadows as well as ancient woodland which are renowned for their beautifully scented bluebells. You can even hear the nightingales singing from April to June whilst enjoying the spectacular scene of bluebells. We advise you to park next to the church off Steel's Lane (sat nav gu28 9jy). If you are enjoying a stay at Chequers ask John or Lissette for maps or go to sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk for a map of paths.

Bluebell Walks

2) Angmering park estate near littlehampton hosts the annual “Raw Energy Persuits” 10km and 10 mile bluebell trail walk and run on 21^st April. This is a rare opportunity to explore the privately owned 11,000 acre Angmering Park Estate. The woods of which are peppered with picturesque cottages and outbuildings in amongst the stunning bluebells. This year will be the 9^th staging of this spectacular trail event and sees people returning year after year to get involved. Contact Rawenergypursuits.co.uk/events for more info and to enter.  

We advise our guests to park at The Fox pub in Patching (Sat Nav: BN13 3UJ).

3) Woods Mill Sussex wildlifetrust near Henfield where you can enjoy a pleasant walk through the woods scattered with bluebells and round the lake. I actually spent a wonderful 6 month sabbatical 3 years ago working on Woods Mill Nature Reserve so have a lot of information and stories to tell about this great trust. Just ask me about any questions you have!

Enjoy!

Lissette  x

Afternoon Tea in West Sussex!

We have been on our travels again – this time in search of  the perfect afternoon tea!

Tea and porcelain teacups were produced in China as early as 3500 BC.  In Europe, afternoon tea became a fashionable social event in the 1840’s, two hundred years after the first tea was brought from China. As a young women, Anna the 7th Duchess of Bedford lived during a time when it was common to eat only two main meals a day, with breakfast scheduled early in the morning and dinner occurring late in the evening. Weakened and irritated by hunger pangs each day, she decided to schedule time to take tea and snack each afternoon. This private ceremony was firstly done in her bedroom, but over time well-heeled acquaintances joined her and the practice was perpetuated. It became a truly British institution and tradition. Nowadays tea rooms throughout the country offer variations of this centuries-old tradition.


Afternoon tea in the garden!

Now that Spring is officially here, it is the time to start thinking of the beautiful English countryside, flower shows, cricket, tennis and those lovely lazy days spent taking afternoon tea....

  We are now taking bookings for Afternoon Tea at Chequers and for inspiration we have been to The Ritz, London; Reid’s Palace, Madeira; The Mock Turtle, Brighton and Orange Pekoe, Barnes. All of these afternoon tea spots have one aim in mind – to serve the perfect afternoon tea with the usual fair including sandwiches, scones, cakes and freshly brewed teas and coffee (orange Pekoe in particular is famous for its wide range of exotic teas ranging from "Antique Rose Buds White Tea" to "China Rose Congou")! All of these places serve wonderfully indulgent cream teas in a relaxed and ambient atmosphere and Chequers looks to join them on the list of "top spots for this famous English Institution".

Gluten free orange and almond cake

Our menu includes delicious home made sandwiches and cakes and everyone’s favorite – scones with clotted cream and jam.  Our daughter has a gluten allergy so we know how important it is to cater for those that cant enjoy normal cake! In order that everyone can enjoy our Afternoon Tea we source gluten free cakes on request from the famous Treacle & Co in Brighton!

To drink we have freshly brewed coffee and English teas. Taking inspiration from Orange Pekoe we have a range of teas including refreshing Clipper Green Tea with Lemon, Twinings Chai Tea, Earl Grey and English breakfast tea as well as a selection of Twinings and Pukka herbal infusions. Keeping with English tradition you may also like to enjoy a refreshing jug of elder-flower cordial or a glass of champagne!

Chequers Home Made Red Velvet Cake!

Take your Afternoon Tea in our sitting room next to the inglenook fire, the restaurant

or weather permitting our beautiful garden filled with edible flowers and herbs and in summer attracts birds, bees and butterflies – visiting in search of nectar, food and water.  The plants and herbs are grown especially for our kitchen to use in the restaurant.

For afternoon tea bookings at Chequers contact us on 01798 872486 to make your reservation.

John and Lissette x