Champion at the ‘Rural Oscars’
We are delighted to announce that we have been crowned ‘Tourist Enterprise Champion’ at the Countryside Alliance ‘RuralOscars’.
Thank you to our loyal customers who have supported us over the past 225 years.
Press Release:
Local Sussex brewer Harvey’s Brewery has been crowned Champion in the Tourism Enterprise category of the Countryside Alliance Awards, held at the House of Lords (Wednesday 27th April).
“The Rural Oscars”, as they have become known, cover just four key categories of countryside endeavour: Butchers, Village shops, Post Offices and Tourism Enterprise. Thousands of original nominees across the nation are whittled down to just 10 finalists in each category.
British Champion: Harvey’s Brewery, Lewes, East Sussex
Countryside Alliance Chief Executive Tim Bonner announced Harvey’s victory by saying: “The champion in this category is appealing in many ways. It is woven into the history of the town and area it serves, it supports local farmers and producers, it is a huge local employer and, crucially, it brews beer.”
“Harvey’s Brewery is revered as a Sussex name and embodies all the high standards and values of a bygone era with the 7th and 8th generations of Harvey family at the helm. Trading since 1790, it is the current generation’s challenge to merge the old and the new, and this it does to great effect.”
“Brewery tours are conducted personally by the Directors, late night shopping festivals are held in the yard and the dray horses ride through the town every week for no other reason than that they put a smile on peoples’ faces ”
“Harvey’s are very proud of their British credentials: all hops are grown within 50 miles, all malt within 90 miles and all by-products are returned to local agriculture, including Plumpton Agricultural College which converts the spent grains into 1 million pints of milk. 90% of their beer is consumed within 50 miles and the spring water for brewing is drawn via an artesian well 60 feet below their premises.”
“Harvey’s support local events and activities through sponsorship of Sussex Food and Drink Awards, Lewes Business Awards and the Heavy Horse Village at the South of England Show. With many people coming to Lewes for the coastline, South Downs and a myriad of further attractions the concept of a traditional pub is very high on people’s to-do list and Harvey’s ensure their brewery and pubs remain as traditional and English as the beers themselves.”
Harvey’s Brewery executive chairman, Hamish Elder received the award and said:
“We were delighted and surprised to have been honoured with this tribute. It is reassuring to know that the efforts of our team are recognised. I suppose the reasons were chosen are manifold: People, pubs, hops and horses. We have always striven to employ local staff, contract local craftsmen, use local ingredients in our beer, and sell local products in our shop and pubs.”
“We have invested greatly in our pubs recently, particularly in guest rooms. But I believe it may have been our venture in re-establishing the presence of a heavy horse dray in Sussex’s towns which has caught the imagination for this award. We love the fact that the horses make people smile. They seem to embody our traditions, strengths and local rural heritage.”
Further information and quotes available on request.
Please contact Hamish Elder on 01273 480 209.
Photo Credit: Countryside Alliance
Photo caption: Hamish Elder (Harvey’s Brewery Executive Chairman), Elizabeth Truss (Environment Secretary) and Carol Thwites (Harvey’s Brewery Spirits, Cider and Minerals Buyer).
Please visit the Countryside Alliance website for more information.
