The Going Out Awards

Best Pub or Bar - Sponsored by Harvey’s The Sussex Brewery

For centuries the pub has been a central focus of the UK night out – and that stays true today, from the swift pint after work to the launch pad for a big Saturday night.

With the changes in licensing hours pubs have had to change with the times and the line between and pub and a bar is not so easy to define.

We’re looking for exciting, individual places to go across Sussex for a quiet drink or a storming night out, with a good selection of beers, wines and spirits and a great atmosphere.

THE SHORTLIST

Sidewinder, Brighton

FOR a long time Sidewinder has been a popular bohemian haunt in the centre of Kemp Town, situated in the middle of St James’s Street.

In July their kitchens were taken over by Smokin’ Gringo to offer a menu of Mexican street food, including tacos and burritos alongside their range of beers.

Park View, Brighton

IT may be out on the edge of Preston Park, but Park View in Preston Drove aims to offer the same cosmopolitan feel you get the town centre – but presumably without the tourists.

From the outside the big selling point is its multi-level covered beer garden, popular both in summer and winter. But the pub also offers a wide range of real ales, ciders and rare spirits, plus a selection of 15 world beers on tap.

The Basketmakers Arms, Brighton

NOT only does The Basketmakers offer a range of vegetarian and organic home-made and locally-sourced food, but the bar boasts at least eight hand-pulled real ales daily.

And for sheer entertainment value the walls are lined with tin boxes, many containing messages, jokes, drawings and plain rudeness left by previous drinkers to be discovered on a night out.

Find it tucked away from the bustling North Laine on Gloucester Road.

Pub du Vin, Brighton

HAVING taken over the Sussex Arts Club more than five years ago, the first in Hotel du Vin’s Pub du Vin chain was never just for residents.

The Ship Street venue was designed to be a local pub in the heart of Brighton.

As such the wood and pewter bar offers local beers including Sussex Best, Hophead, Thatchers Gold and Smoky No1, with a menu of traditional pub fare. The space ranges from a comfortable snug, to a 110-capacity function room.

The Eagle, Brighton

The bar offers hand-pulled ales, while the food menu mixes pub classics like steak and chips and barbecue ribs with honey-glazed duck breast and slow-roast belly pork.

The Indigo pub’s walls are piled high with Brighton memorabilia and paintings adding to a homely feel.

AND THE WINNER IS... The Sidewinder, Brighton

Sidewinder manager Hannah Wadddington took over the pub early in 2014 and calls winning the Going Out Award the perfect bookend to the year.

“I’m incredibly pleased and very proud of my team and the group of people we have got working together. The award is a reflection on them putting in some hard yards and coming to work and having a good time, which is what our customers say they have when they visit.”

Waddington welcomed chef Matt Young to the kitchen earlier in the year and his Smoking Gringo Mexican food is among the most adventurous in Brighton.

Assistant manager Jess Ayres has programmed popular events including the summer art battle and Judi Thomas’s body doodling.

Next summer Waddington hopes to follow the recent Sidewinder Ale Festival with a festival celebrating cider.

“People are pleased to see a real Kemp Town boozer like Sidewinder get a breath fresh air and be the sort of pub people enjoy," she added.

THE SPONSORS - Harvey’s The Sussex Brewery

Best Pub or Bar – Sponsored by Harvey’s The Sussex Brewery Harveys of Lewes is the oldest independent brewery in Sussex and is still in the Harvey family after eight generations.

The history of brewing at Harveys dates back over 200 years. Harveys is still very much a local brewery – our hops come from Sussex, Kent and Surrey.

It may come as some surprise to many that Harveys have a long history in the wine trade, with records at the brewery indicating distribution of brandies and ports to the local Lewes area as far back as 1794.

We are equally as passionate about our wines as we are about our award-winning cask ales, and in the brewery shop and into the on-trade we showcase a large and diverse portfolio of fine wines from all over the world. With the run-up to Christmas upon us, we have put together a selection of wines perfect for each stage of merriment on Christmas Day.

The case reads as follows: Court Garden Classic Cuvee 2011, Ditchling, East Sussex: Champagne blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Delightful floral aromas abound, this is ideal with smoked salmon for a festive treat.

Chablis by Varoux, Burgundy, France: Classic steely, mineral character, with racy green apple flavour. Excellent white for Christmas, with enough presence to partner turkey.

‘Predator’ by Rutherford wines, Central Valley, California: The name references the ladybirds that feed on the insects that attack the vines, eliminating the need for synthetic pesticides. The wine is made from Zinfandel harvested from 50-year-old vines, showing incredible concentration of red and black fruits, with stunning complexities of marzipan, dark chocolate and kirsch. Gorgeous with Christmas dinner.

Moscatel by Vistamar, Limari Valley, Chile: Otherwise known as Muscat, or Moscato in Italy, this sweet dessert wine has a delicate floral bouquet, with a palate of fruit and notes of honey. Perfect with fruit puddings or chocolate.

‘Collector’ Ruby Reserve Port by Ramos Pinto, Douro Valley, Portugal: Stunningly well balanced port with a flavour profile of raisins, plums and damsons. The perfect partner to your Christmas pudding, mince pies and cheese board – particularly the blue cheese. A perfect way to end the Christmas meal.

We are very pleased with our Christmas selection case, and hope that you enjoy every mouthful.

Have a very merry Christmas from us all at Harveys Brewery!

To order this case, please visit http://www.harveys.org.uk/shop or pop into our brewery shop.

For more information watch our video at: http://www.bit.ly/FestiveCase/terms