BRIGHTON’S Real Patisserie has won Gold in the Independent Bakery Sandwich Retailer category of this year’s Sammies.

Real Patisserie, on St George’s Road, Kemp Town, is a family-owned patisserie that bakes artisan bread, authentic French pastries and a range of freshly baked savouries, all made on the premises, freshly everyday.

The eatery has a real community feel with bench seating and an open kitchen and visitors can enjoy a coffee with a freshly made sandwich, quiche or cake.

Owner Justin Gourlay said: “We are delighted to receive this award from the British Sandwich Association.

“We have been building the business for the past six years and it’s a great honour for Real Patisserie to be recognised by the trade association.

“We make everything on site from our home-made bread to our range of jams so this award is real recognition for our business and our team.”

The awards were judged by a panel of industry experts for the British Sandwich and Food to go Association’s awards ahead of British Sandwich Week which runs from May 14-20.

The Sammies covers every aspect of the Sandwich and Food to Go industry with awards for companies large and small.

There is recognition for everything from technical excellence to marketing and retail.

This year for the first time there is a category specifically for new independent retailers.

The mystery shop judges visited Real Patisserie and, aside from scoring top marks in almost every aspect of the report, the judges were very impressed.

Comments included: “What an amazing place!

“The bread was outstanding, the hot and cold sandwiches are excellent.

“This place had great atmosphere, the service was very good.

“Good veggie options.

“Good pricing too.”

The patisserie kitchen is downstairs where three chefs make and bake about 400 pieces of cake, vienoisserie and patisserie every day.

The bread is baked in its own stone-decked oven so it can be that much fresher.

Bread is baked from 2am every day, earlier on Saturdays.

The savouries, quiches and sandwiches also go on sale as soon as they are made.

Justin said: “We are very much a community shop.

“We mix, prove and bake all the bread, savouries and patisserie here in the shop.

“The food goes straight onto the shelves, hot from the oven.

“Once a month we give bread baking classes to improve your own skills and learn the ways of the Artisan Baker.”

British Sandwich Week 2017 will be held from Sunday May 14 until Saturday May 20.

The first sandwich – in name at least – was created by the first Earl of Sandwich in 1762.

He called for cuts of beef to be placed between toasted slices of bread so that he could continue gambling while he ate.

At least it was the first toastie.

Chicken is the most popular filling for sandwiches bought in the UK with 33.7 per cent of sandwiches containing the meat.