Cuckfield shops aim for clean sweep in Muddy Stilettos Awards 2021

By Bradbury Williams

Eight Cuckfield businesses have been nominated for the prestigious Muddy Stilettos Awards 2021.

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Artologie - Best Art Gallery - FINALIST

Beautique - Best Beauty Salon - nominated

p.j and The Hare - Best Children’s Business - nominated

Ockenden Manor Hotel & Spa - Best Day Spa - FINALIST

Tom’s Food - Best Cafe - nominated

Oliver Cunningham - Best Hair Salon - FINALIST

Pepperbox Interiors - Best Interiors Store - FINALIST

jojo Boutique - Best Women’s Fashion Store - FINALIST

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One of the most coveted accolades for independent enterprises, they are run by the Muddy Stilettos website, the biggest lifestyle site outside of London.

When they were last run in 2019, around 750,000 customers and Muddy readers voted. Now in their eighth year, they’re seen as one of the most valued local business awards, providing a huge boost for winners in 27 lifestyle categories across 25 counties.

Artologie in Cuckfield, finalist in Best Art Gallery category

“It’s really exciting and it will help to promote the business alongside all the other galleries in Sussex, but there is a lot of competition,” said Wendy Rowark of Artologie, who is a nominee in the Best Gallery in Sussex category. “I am really hoping to go on to the next steps of the awards process.”

Over the long lockdown months, Wendy has been busy developing and expanding a very successful website. “I did three webinars and then learned as I went along. On average people spend just a few seconds on each page, so you have to work hard to keep their attention,” she added.

For the Muddy Stilettos, it would be more than appropriate for Cuckfield to feature amongst the winners as Cuckfield was named by them as one of the best villages to live in Sussex – just behind Steyning.

The finalists to the awards have now been selected and you can find out whether you can now vote for the Cuckfield-nominated businesses as part of the Muddy Stilettos finals online at: https://sussex.muddystilettos.co.uk – the winners will be announced at the end of July.

A summer lunch out at Ockenden Manor, Cuckfield

By David Tingley

It was a gloriously sunny afternoon in Cuckfield when we arrived at Ockenden Manor. I can’t help feeling that this is the best time to arrive at this 500 year old traditional Sussex manor house – when its bathed in sunshine and the gardens sparkle in green delight.

Looking out from the restaurant

We are shown through to the dining room, which is a bright and airy space with design elements that satisfy both the traditional and contemporary palette. The crisp white linen on the tables, candle wall lights and a dado rail on the burgundy walls juxtapose with the modern large pendant lights hanging from the ceiling and bold, floral wallpaper.

Bold, floral wallpaper adorns the Dining Room at Ockenden Manor, Cuckfield

Its lunchtime on a Tuesday and so we are handed the A La Carte menu along with the Daily Lunch Menu. The full menu (priced at £65) includes Hand Dived Scallops and Carpaccio of Trenchmore Farm Salt Beef – both from local suppliers. Something the chef – Stephen Crane – is passionate about.

Food and drink sourced from close to the hotel

Emily and I enjoy a refreshing glass of sparkling water (filtered with love by the chalk beneath the South Downs, of course) while perusing the Lunch Menu in more detail. As we do so, we are brought out a delicious selection of breads. The favourite on the table was the wholemeal walnut loaf – beautifully warm, and crisp on the outside, with butter served on a simple grey slate.    

Confit Salmon

To start Emily has opted for the Confit Salmon, served with an assiette of beetroot, apple, horseradish and game chips. The salmon was ‘delightfully fresh’ and was lightly smoked – more akin to sushi in texture and taste. I, on the other hand, selected the equally cool Chilled Gazpacho Soup with rouille and croutes – but I must admit I went back for more of that tasty bread to accompany it too!

Newhaven Landed Cod

More local specialities next as my main course was Newhaven Landed Cod (topped with a very flavoursome crispy crumb) served with the most beautifully prepared Jersey Royals and peas, beans and tenderstem broccoli. The homemade fresh pasta had taken Emily’s eye earlier and she enjoyed the Provençale vegetables in a rich tomato sauce with baby spinach and large chips of parmesan. Both perfect meals for a (very) warm summer’s afternoon – when eating is the last thing on your mind.

Lemon Meringue Pie with Raspberry Sauce

The two course lunch option is priced at £22 but I, for one, am not inclined to deny myself when you’ve got this kind of ‘foody talent’ at your disposal in the kitchen – so I happily selected the sublime Lemon Meringue Pie from the Dessert Menu. It was served with cluster of the most juicy and sweet raspberries I think I’ve ever tasted and a gorgeous raspberry sauce to drizzle over. The extra indulgence comes at a price of £7, whereas Emily decided she couldn’t resist the idea of fresh coffee and Petit Fours (£6) – which she was very happy about. Her biggest problem was the order in which to eat them! From the description of the salted caramel fudge cake – I’d say that was her favourite!

Petit Fours and Coffee

Oh and I should also note the beautiful crockery which came with her coffee; as with everything else at this excellent food venue in the heart of West Sussex – it looked fab and the taste was terrific too.

You can reserve a table at Ockenden Manor by calling 01444 416111 or see more at: www.hshotels.co.uk/ockenden-manor/restaurant

Or take advantage of this great offer in SEPTEMBER 2018 - click here...

Eddie Redmayne stays in Cuckfield

Eddie Redmayne was recently spotted at local luxury hotel, Ockenden Manor Hotel & Spa. He was in the area to film scenes as Stephen Hawking in the upcoming film Theory of Everything, a biopic of the remarkable physicist which is set to be directed by Oscar-winning director James Marsh. 

During his stay Mr Redmayne was in good company. Also spotted at the hotel were Charlie Cox, best known for his leading role in Stardust, and British actress Felicity Jones. Mr Redmayne stayed in one of the six suites in the contemporary spa, which opened in January 2012 in the Elizabethan manor’s 19th century walled garden. 

Ockenden Manor is surrounded by nine acres of peaceful gardens and parkland. The hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant menu uses the freshest ingredients, sourced locally in Sussex.