Sussex Breakfast

What is a Sussex Breakfast?

The Sussex Breakfast is an initiative to promote the delicious, local and seasonal produce found across East & West Sussex.

When you see the Sussex Breakfast logo, you can be assured that sausages and bacon come from pigs reared outdoors or in open straw barns and eggs are from free range chickens. Other quality ingredients may include seasonal apple juice, homemade jams and marmalades or fresh milk from small local dairies - all quality ingredients sourced direct from Sussex producers or purchased from farm shops supplied by local farmers and craft processors.

A Sussex Breakfast means shorter supply chains and reduced food miles, most of the food you willhas not travelled outside of Sussex. A recent estimate calculated that a Sussex Breakfast clocked up around 225 food miles as opposed to 225,000 if prodcuts included butter from New Zealand and bacon from Denmark. To claim a Sussex Breakfast the establishment has passed an audit process guaranteeing they are serving at least 60% locally sourced, ethically produced ingredients.

Why Choose a Sussex Breakfast?

Tastier and Healthier

You can taste the difference. Small scale producers tend to take great care over their products using high quality, natural ingredients. Traditionally reared, grass-fed cows, pigs and chickens produce milk, meat and eggs rich in Omega-3s (those essential fatty acids that are important for childrens’ and adults’ health).

Sustaining Rural Communities

Buying food from local producers shortens the supply chain and supports local economic activity. Food enterprises established by local people create jobs and develop new skills.

Keeping Sussex Beautiful

The rolling Downs and patchwork of small, irregular fields, hedges and ancient woodland of the Weald has been created and maintained by traditional farming over many hundreds of years. By serving a Sussex Breakfast you are helping local farms to stay in business and continue their important role in safeguarding the Sussex landscape and wildlife.

How do I become an accredited Sussex Breakfast provider?

Any Sussex accommodation or hospitality business serving breakfast can become an accredited provider including B&Bs, Hotels, Cafes and Visitor Attractions.

The ingredients of a Sussex Breakfast can either be sourced directly from the producers or from farm shops, other retailers and distributors. It is important to check with the shop to find out where they source their produce. For example a butchers' shop may make their own sausages but the meat could be imported.

Local resources such as the Sussex Food Finder contain lists of producers by product type as well as markets and shops specialising in local produce or call Hilary Knight at A Taste of Sussex on Tel: 01444 259265. If you have any difficulties sourcing ingredients contact Topsy Jowell, Nethercot Centre for Sustainable Food & Farming, Tel: 01424 775615

To register as a Sussex Breakfast provider you need to complete a registration form (see the link at the bottom of this page) and return  it to Tourism & Economic Development at Southover House, Lewes. All applications will be checked by A Taste of Sussex to ensure that you meet the criteria. If you can't meet all of the criteria then we will do our best to find you a supplier for the ingredients you need. If you do meet the criteria you will be approved and sent the logo and other publicity materials to use.

Promoting the Sussex Breakfast

Accredited Sussex Breakfast providers are promoted via our Enjoy Sussex Visitor Guide and the Lewes and Seaford Tourist Information Centres. Visit the Enjoy Sussex website for local businesses with a Sussex Breakfast Accreditation.

The Sussex Breakfast is an initiative of the Sussex Tourism Partnership, A Taste of Sussex and the local authorities of East and West Sussex.