Absolutely Fabulous

Tim Hoare, from Adsdean Farm, Funtington, was named the Sussex Farmer of the Year, while the Fox Inn at Felpham was declared the best Sussex eating experience by customers and judges.

The farm has been owned and run by the Hoare family for more than 50 years, and currently has three generations of the family working there.

It is a mixed farm with pigs, cattle and 240 acres of arable crops.

It takes a balanced use of modern farming practices to provide the best possible animal welfare to create the best-quality meat.

A lot of people know the farm through its farm shop, which has been open since the 1970s, selling its own meat plus produce from neighbouring farms.

Mr Hoare was delighted and said the award was for the whole farm.

"The first thing I felt was shock and surprise," he said.

"Although it says farmer of the year, it's a reflection on all the staff who work here.

"We go that extra mile to look after our customers and I'd just like to say thank you to all the customers who voted for us."

Meanwhile the landlady of the Fox Inn, Ali Hirons, said good local produce was a key ingredient to the pub's recipe for success with its quality food made with fresh fruit, vegetables, eggs and meat direct from local Sussex farms and suppliers.

"We use fresh local fish, Goodwood meat and other local produce in our meals," she said.

"It is important to us that our food is local."

She said chef Barry Knight has been cooking up a storm in the kitchen to create a reasonably- priced feast which left customers coming back for more.

"Our customers can come in and have a burger or come here for a night out and have a monkfish," she said.

"We want to be the kind of pub that people can come back to again and again."

Chairman of the judges Clive Beddall said he was pleased at the farmer category being introduced for this year's awards.

"A strong agricultural community is essential to the economic fabric of this country and this county in particular, so it is especially pleasing that we can recognise the farmers' important contribution," he said.

Runners-up in the Farmer of the Year award included Shon and Simon Sprackling, of Sandilands Farm, near Rogate, and Karl Barton of the Goodwood Estate Co.

The Relish Spice Company in Arundel was a runner-up in the Best Sussex Food Producer category.