Chichester MP backs Ashling Park as Sussex Winelands takes shape
Chichester MP Jess Fuller Brown has praised Ashling Park Estate as a shining example of Sussex’s fast-growing wine tourism sector during a recent visit to the award-winning vineyard.
Touring the estate, Ms Fuller Brown experienced first-hand the breadth of what Ashling Park offers visitors from vineyard tours and guided tastings to its restaurant, café, gin school and cocktail masterclasses. The estate also features five beautifully designed lodges created by Will Hardie of Channel 4’s Amazing Spaces, making it a destination for overnight stays as well as day visits.
Her visit comes as local vineyards collaborate to form Sussex Winelands, a new initiative designed to promote the region through curated wine trails and clearer regional identity. With over 1,104 vineyards now operating across the UK, and more than 140 in Sussex, the county has rapidly emerged as a leading English wine producer. West Sussex now has the largest area under vine in the country.
Ashling Park Managing Director Gail Gardner said the estate is ideally placed at the heart of Chichester’s thriving wine cluster.
“Ashling Park is the perfect base for exploring some of the area’s outstanding vineyards, including Stopham, Tinwood, Roebuck and Digby. Each offers a completely different experience, making it easy for visitors to enjoy several in one day, and then return here to relax, dine and stay overnight.”
Wine tourism now accounts for around 25% of total income for vineyards and wineries, and the sector is expected to continue expanding, creating new jobs and driving increased visitor spending across hospitality and retail.
Speaking after her visit, Jess Fuller Brown MP said: “Ashling Park showcases the very best of what Sussex wine tourism has to offer, innovation, quality and a genuine visitor experience. It is businesses like this that are helping to put Chichester on the map as a must-visit destination. I am proud to support the growth of our local vineyard cluster and the opportunities they create for jobs, tourism and the wider economy.”
With its combination of premium wines, immersive experiences and luxury accommodation, Ashling Park is positioning itself at the forefront of Sussex’s wine tourism success story.