RSPCA Good Business Awards

RSPCA announces restaurant and pub finalists in the Good Business Awards 2010

Hooray! The Countryman restaurant in West Sussex has gone and done it again! We have made it to the finals of the RSPCA awards. Recognising the very best businesses in the UK, the Good Business Awards reward companies for their ethical approach to animal welfare. The Countryman is battling it out against McDonalds, Due South in Brighton and The Feathers, Stocksfield, Northumberland. All four establishments were praised by the high profile judging panel for excellence in advancing animal welfare and going the extra mile to include best practice in their ethical business policy.

This is what RSPCA say about us: The Countryman Inn, Shipley, West Sussex: a traditional rural hostelry, this pub has direct contact with its farmers and conducts regular visits to ensure full traceability for all the produce they use. This constant monitoring of their suppliers’ animal welfare credentials extends to using predominantly produce from RSPCA Freedom Food approved farms in its menu.

All businesses of all sizes can follow the same philosphy

“The RSPCA Good Business Awards are a great leveler. When it comes to animal welfare it doesn’t matter if you’re a global chain or a small local pub – putting your heart and mind into improving standards is what the judges will look for,” added Johnson.

One of the judges, TV journalist and presenter Richard Johnson, says: “It is fantastic to see eateries both large and small actively listening to customers and taking huge steps forward for animal welfare. With spending on ethical goods and services showing three-fold growth over the last 10 years, retailers would be foolish to ignore this area.”

The RSPCA Good Business Awards evening ceremony will be held at One Marylebone, London, on Wednesday 6th October.

Sussex Food and Drink Awards

The Sussex Food and Drink Awards are the only awards that highlight, recognise and support Sussex farmers and producers and the businesses which sell and promote their produce in the local market place.

A Taste of Sussex is sponsoring the BEST SUSSEX EATING EXPERIENCE. and this is what they are looking for:

The winner could be a restaurant, hotel, pub or café which uses and promotes mainly Sussex produce and offers consistently high quality food in an enjoyable atmosphere.

Judged it on its quality, taste and value for money. Consider the ambience and service of the eating experience.

• What makes you go there time after time?
• How well does the venue use seasonal products or ingredients?
• Does it serve county wines or beverages?
• Are local cheeses available?
• What was the presentation of the meal like and what was its flavour like?
• How well was it cooked?
• Was the menu interesting?
• Are families welcome and how is this demonstrated?
• Are local suppliers’ names mentioned on the menu?
• Also consider quality and speed of service, the knowledge of the staff and the overall atmosphere.

To help you make the right decision, why not call us on 01403 741383 and book a table at our restaurant in Shipley, West Sussex to remind you just how delicious our food is and how good the ambience is!

We look forward to seeing you soon

Daily tapas from The Countryman restaurant in West Sussex

We’re bringing the Spanish sunshine to all our customers this August. So if you prefer to take a planet-friendly Staycation, phone us here at The Countryman pub and restaurant on  01403 741383 to reserve a table so you can enjoy our Spanish delights.

You can choose from a selection of Roasted Peppers, Char grilled Breton Onions, Marinated Artichoke, Sundried tomato, Spicy Chorizo, Caper Berries, Wild Mushrooms, Parma Ham, Buffalo Mozzarella, Crumbled Feta with fresh herbs, and Much much more… a mixed tapas board of 5 items for £5. All these mouth-watering dishes are created by our top London chef, Paul Reeves.

Enjoy our perfect summer snack with a chilled glass of Rose wine … We promise we won’t be siestering as we cook up these sunny delights for you.

The Countryman Inn, country pub and restaurant in Sussex.

New Chef joins The Countryman Inn, Shipley

New chef Paul Reeves starts showing off his culinary skills here at The Countryman Inn, Pub and Restaurant in West Sussex, on 2nd August. This is after Paul has been on a two-week familiarisation and training course with our kitchen and working practices.

Paul (42) comes with a wealth of experience having worked as head chef for Wheelers Seafood Restaurants in both Brighton and London. Paul is passionate about local produce and is delighted to be working in an establishment that shares his ethics and passions for free range freedom foods and home grown organic produce.

Call 01403 741383 to book your table at The Countryman, and be one of the first to experience Paul’s fine cuisine.

Mixed Bean Taboule, The Countryman, Fine Dining Country Pub, West Sussex

Mixed Bean Tabouleh is a hit with our locals. The recipe originates in the Middle East and is a finely chopped salad flavoured with fragrant spices and mixed with cous-cous. The Countryman version uses home grown spring onion, cucumber and tomato and as well as mixing with a citrus infused cous-cous. We also use a mix of crunchy Thai green beans, soft pinto beans and chick peas to add incredible flavour and texture. Since adding it to the summer menu, it has quickly become one of the top selling lunchtime light bites with many of our regulars who fancy a quick refreshing snack in what is all too often a hectic day.

Phone 01403 824229 now to book a table at The Countryman Inn, in the finest country pub in West Sussex. This recipe will be part of our brand new recipe books, and you can buy all the fresh ingredients from our Farm Shop.

Yum! We can’t wait to try it!

Fresh new products at The Countryman Farm Shop

Summer has finally arrived! And what better way to celebrate it than with local fruit and salad vegetables – they have so much more flavour!

Now available from The Countryman shop: home grown cucumbers and little gem lettuce, as well as locally picked strawberries and raspberries, punnets of mixed cherry and baby plum Nutbourne tomatoes. Plus delicious country fresh farm eggs, home baked bread and our ever extending range of local honey, preserves and relishes.

So come on down and have a browse. You can also stop and soak up the sun in our famous garden! Enjoy the scenery as you sample some of our culinary delicacies.

Phone us now on 01403 741383 to book your table at The Countryman Inn, country pub and restaurant located in the heart of West Sussex.

Celebrate Mid Summers Day at The Countryman pub and restaurant in West Sussex

Come down to The Countryman pub and restaurant in West Sussex on Thursday 24th June to Midsummers Day!

Enjoy the:

• ‘Bluegrass’ band in the garden: Bluegrass music is an American Folk style with Fiddles, Mandolin, Banjos & Bass… Just think of The Beverly Hillbillies!
• BBQ all evening
• Guided walk around the Knepp Estate starting from the Countryman at 5.30pm, and finishing back at the pub.
• Only £10 per person

More about Mid Summers Day, courtesy of Mysterious England: The festival is primarily a Celtic fire festival, representing the middle of summer, and the shortening of the days on their gradual march to winter. Midsummer is traditionally celebrated on either the 23rd or 24th of June, although the longest day actually falls on the 21st of June. The importance of the day to our ancestors can be traced back many thousands of years, and many stone circles and other ancient monuments are aligned to the sunrise on Midsummer’s Day. Probably the most famous alignment is that at Stonehenge, where the sun rises over the heel stone, framed by the giant trilithons on Midsummer morning.

Find out more about Blue Grass Music by clicking here.

So what are you waiting for? Call 01403 741383 to book your ticket.

Sussex Day was launched in 2007 and it has become a popular way for residents of Sussex to celebrate their county’s rich heritage. Every year businesses, employers, schoolchildren and traders celebrate and shout loud about everything that is good about Sussex.

If you would like to take part in The Countryman Sussex Day celebrations. Give us a call on 01403 741383.

The official West Sussex flag

Magog Morris Dance at Christs Hospital – Come and see them at The Countryman on Tuesday 25th May at 6.30pm

Believe it or not, another bank holiday (31st May) is just round the corner, and to celebrate the May Festival we are holding a special event. Yippee!

Come to The Countryman pub and restaurant in West Sussex and celebrate May festival of dance on Tuesday 25th May at 6.30pm in our famous garden. We will get the garden party going with Pimms, a hog roast, real ales and a giant Paella! OK, we know that Paella isn’t actually a traditional English dish. Think of this as a cosmopolitan evening at a traditional country pub!

Did you know?

A morris dance is an English choreographed folk dance accompanied by music. The morris dancers use props including bells, sticks, swords, handkerchiefs and tobacco pipes.

Morris dancing dates back to the 15th century, and has been popular to day in both the UK plus other countries including the United States, Australia, Canada, Cyprus, France and New Zealand. There is even the Artic Morris Group in Helskinki and Stockholm.

It is refreshing to know that English tradition is still popular abroad.

We look forward to seeing you at The Countryman very soon!

Our our fine country pub, you can enjoy our infamous BBQ’s which take place on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Our outside shop and kitchen will be selling fresh produce, including free range eggs, Sussex Charmer cheeses, fresh pasta sauces, home grown tomatoes, relishes and pickles.

You can read more about our farm shop at The Countryman Inn pub and restaurant in West Sussex by clicking here.

Book 01403 741383 to reserve your table, or use our online table booking system by clicking here.

Bank Holiday fun at The Countryman pub and restaurant in West Sussex