THE Sussex Gin and Fizz Festival, which launched last year, returned to Lewes at the weekend.

Celebrating the best of local sparkling wine and gin and organised by Lewes District Council, the festival was held in the walled Southover Grange Gardens in Lewes.

Serving up their own fizz were seven local producers ranging from Rodmell-based Breaky Bottom, one of the oldest vineyards in the UK, to Divergent, from Worthing, who have a brand- new product made in the same method as prosecco.

New to the event was the Bolney Wine Estate while Wiston Estate, Carr Taylor, Plumpton College and Charles Palmer Vineyards all made a welcome return.

The event’s nine gin producers included Chichester-based The Nodding Donkey Distillery and Generation Distillers from Chailey, who unveiled brand new gins, and Seven Sisters Gin, made from the remains of grapes pressed for wine, by Rathfinny Estate in Alfriston.

Tom Cat Gin from Crowborough revealed its new Blueberry Gin, and well-known local names Slake Spirits, from Shoreham-by-Sea, Cabin Pressure, from Horsham, Harley House from Seaford, Chilgrove Spirits from Chilgrove, near Chichester, and Brighton Gin were also present at the event.

Other exciting exhibitors included: Folkingtons (locally made tonics and juices); Fierce Botanics (a new tonic made in Lewes); Noble and Stace Chocolatiers (chocolates flavoured with Sussex gin and fizz); Miall’s (alcoholic sorbet) and the Great British Wine Tours, a Brighton-based company that arranges tours around Sussex. Locally-produced food was on sale from the Garlic Wood Farm, Hannah’s Van, The Pig & Jacket, Betsy’s Bakes, Seven Sisters’ Spices, Kabak and The French Revolution.

The festival featured live music from duo Lucas & King; trio Mudlow and King Size Slim playing an eclectic mix of acoustic roots boogie, classic and alternative country and rock ‘n’ roll interspersed by a selection of tunes from DJ Stephanie Goodman.