Sussex pub named region’s best

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A traditional family-run Inn has been named the region’s top pub.

The Wilkes Head, named after 18th century radical John Wilkes, has won the CAMRA Regional Pub of the Year 2012 accolade.

The pub, situated just off the A29 at Eastergate and five miles east of Chichester, will now be entered for the national finals in February where the 16 regional winners will compete to be crowned National Pub of the Year.

CAMRA decided on the winners by judging on all the criteria that makes a “great” pub, including the decor, atmosphere, customer service, value money, clientele mix, and the quality of real ale and cider.

Sonia Scott, director of the pub, who works alongside her husband Trevor Brown and daughter Nina Scott in running the premises, has spoken of her joy at their pub receiving the award.

She said: “We are extremely honoured to receive the accolade. We feel we have provided the best service we possibly can.

“The food and drink we supply are both to a very high standard, the premises have improved a lot and the business is very well run.”

The family’s fourth anniversary at the pub was on September 3. CAMRA describes it as a “small Grade II-listed red-brick pub” dating from 1803, offering four guest beers and an October beer festival.

The October festival is the second of the year. The pub successfully staged a festival during the Jubilee celebrations.

This year 51 new pub entries from Surrey and Sussex have made it into CAMRA’s 40th anniversary edition of the Good Beer Guide.

The region also now has 40 breweries, including eight newly opened in the last year. A total of 1,009 breweries are now in operation across the country, more than twice as many as a decade ago.

 

This can also be found on http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/9933237.Sussex_pub_named_region_s_best/

Disabled woman “trapped” in Brighton flat due to faulty lift

A disabled woman has been stuck in her flat for nearly four weeks after a lift giving her access to her home stopped working.

Sue Hall has been unable to independently leave her council flat in Brighton since August 16 due to the fault.

Miss Hall, who has only one leg, said she and her neighbours have been left trapped in their own homes by Brighton and Hove City Council.

The 61-year-old, who lives in Leach Court, Park Road, said: “I feel like a prisoner inmy own home.

“I can’t get out. I am trapped indoors 24 hours a day.

“I was told that the lift would be fixed by August 23 but that never happened.

“I called up a week later and was then told that the part needed for the lift had to be ordered from Germany, so it would take another week to be fixed.

“One week passed and again nothing. So I called up and this time I was told that the part was in the factory but had to be made to size, so it would be another week – unsurprisingly nothing was done.

“No one wants to accept responsibility.”

Miss Hall said three other people on her floor are also disabled and have been unable to leave their flats.

Miss Hall said the only time she was able to leave her flat was for two hospital appointments last month when paramedics had to carry her downstairs.

She added: “I wrote to my MP, Simon Kirby , and he replied back instantly with his sincerest apologies but it isn’t him who should be apologising, it’s the council.”

Geoffrey Bowden, ward councillor, said: “It is really regrettable that some residents have had to endure a prolonged period without a lift at Leach Court.

“The problemis the age of the lift which hasmeantthe failed part has had to be made from scratch. Both lifts in the building are due for replacement.

“Council staff have been working closely with all residents to make sure anyone who needs extra support has been getting it, including moving people to temporary accommodation.

“We are sorry the broken part has taken so long to replace and completely understand the frustration of residents, their carers and families.

“We would like to assure everyone that we are doing everything possible to resolve the problem.”

 

This can also be found on: http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/9923799.Disabled_woman__trapped__in_Brighton_flat_due_to_faulty_lift/