Friday 30 August 2013

Game season is upon us

With the summer days still here it is hard to imagine that the delicious "game season" is just round the corner; meaning our specials menu will be fuelled with locally sourced game. Last year our West Sussex venison went down a storm so we will have that on the menu again. If were lucky John will make his legendary "venison Wellington" and no doubt our popular homemade venison burgers will make a comeback! Lissette has already been picking blackberries in our garden and researching some recipes that will combine the delicious end of summer fruit with the seasons game; such as an autumnal pot roast of "roast grouse with hedgerow blackberries and salt-baked celeriac"....
Blackberries from the Hotel Garden
Deer on Pulborough Brooks
The onset of game season for those that love their seasonal food also comes with shooting season for those choosing to enjoy the seasons sport- in fact Grouse started on August 12th and Partridge will start on 1st September followed by the popular pheasant on 1st October!
Given that the award winning Norfolk Estate at Arundel famed for its "conservation and high quality Partridge shooting", the popular Chiddingfold Leconfield & Cowdray club and the famous Charlton club (mentioned in the August edition of Tatler as the most exclusive hunt club in England) are just up the road , we thought it was high time that we wrote a blog about the many shoots on our doorstep and celebrate the changing of season!
View of deer from Chequers Hotel Pulborough
We have done some investigations and found that each "bird" has its time so here is a list of shooting dates to jot down in your diary:

Pheasant
Oct 1st - Feb 1st
Partridge
Sept 1st - Feb 1st
Grouse
Aug 12th - Dec 10th
Ptarmigan
Aug 12th - Dec 10th
Blackgrouse
Aug 20th - Dec 10th
Snipe
Aug 12th - Jan 31st

We are teaming up with gunsonpegs.com - they suggested we register as the hotel is situated in the middle of around 30 local shoots . Their website is in fact the best source of information for all of the "shoots" we mention below and many more!
Just a few of the other "shoots" taking place in and around Pulborough..
Ashbourne shoot, Bignor Park shoot , Borde Hill shoot, Bury Hill shoot, Cowdray Estate, Cowdowne Farm, Goodwood Estate, Kings Walk, Kinscote shooting Estates, Little Thakeham, Mayes Estate, Naldrettes, Old Park Farm LTD, Petsalls Shoot, Raggets Wood Shoot, Springhead Estate, Smokey Hole Syndicate shoot, Tattleton Estate, The Sloughbrook shoot, Turners Hill shoot and Wytings shoot to name just a few!!

So as summer officially comes to an end this weekend we can all start to look forward to the prospect of everything we love about Autumn...you can take Tatlers advice and "wear ladies tights (for the boys too) to keep you warm on country pursuits", "bring your sat nav" for finding fabulous remote shoots and rest assured in the knowledge that you can return to Chequers for a delicious locally sourced Autumnal dinner followed by a warming tipple by the fire! 
Chequers wonderful Inglenook Fireplace
Chequers is available for private hire as well as for smaller groups – Bed and Breakfasts and also evening meals catered for either from our a la carte menu or a menu devised to suit your particular needs...Fabulous food and fine wines from our local specialist wine shop "Hemmings", lashings of hot water, a log fire and space for the dogs!
Chequers contact details your requirements and to make your reservation!

Lissette x

Wednesday 14 August 2013

West Sussex Golf Clubs On Our Doorstep

With 2 fantastic golf courses right on our doorstep, we have been out checking out the clubs and whilst we don't play golf regularly ourselves we have heard many fantastic things about the famous golf courses on our doorstop from guests who love their golf!
West Chiltington Golf Course
West Sussex Golf Course is one of the best in the area - a charming sandy outcrop of heathland - a stunning undulating site set on the edge of the Downs with views over the sussex countryside...
West Sussex Golf Club
The course was officially opened in 1931, having been designed by two outstanding golf architects, Guy Campbell, who also designed Princes’ and Killarney and Cecil Hutchison, designer of Gleneagles and Turnberry. (Very recently, Stafford Hotchkin has been attributed to West Sussex too). I's not surprising that the course is regularly judged one of the outstanding inland courses in Britain. West Sussex is a private club but visitors and societies by arrangement can play on the course. There are rules that apply (you need to be registered with an official golf club and have a handicap).
West Chiltington Golf Club also right on the doorstep, is set in the rolling Sussex countryside with some of the most stunning views the area has to offer. The club provides excellent golf practice facilities such as a driving range with covered and outdoor bays, a putting and chipping green as well as a practice bunker, all of which offer a beautiful panoramic view across the South Downs. All facilities at West Chiltington golf club are open to the public year round and have a number of exciting West Chiltington Golf Club events including the upcoming August Bank Holiday fun competition for members and non members.
I have visited both clubs and they are set in the most amazing landscapes. If you are a golf fan what better way to spend a weekend than enjoying these spectacular clubs and coming back to relax over a delicious locally sourced dinner and well deserved tipple at Chequers Hotel Pulborough!
Great news...we are teaming up with the wonderful West Chiltington Golf Club - with a "Play and Stay" late summer offer. Catch the last couple of months of the good golfing season and stay at Chequers Hotel just down the road from the golf club! Packages include bed and breakfast or dinner, bed and breakfast & golf at a reduced rate. Stay an extra night or two and enjoy not only the golf but all the attractions this area of outstanding natural beauty has to offer!
 Contact the hotel for details www.chequershotelpulborough.co.uk
hotel@chequershotelpulborough.co.uk
01798 872486

We look forward to welcoming our guests who are interested in playing Golf in Sussex!

Lissette
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