20 NEWS
DECEMBER 2023
A MATTER OF TASTE We send anonymous members of the team to check out local pubs, cafes and restaurants to give you an honest review. These visits are not pre-arranged, and the venues do not know they are reviewing the food and drink!
CRAFTED COFFEE LOUNGE, STONE CROSS
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e fancied a change of pace this month, opting to break away from our usual evening routine, and so we ventured into the world of brunch. We’d just finished a few online meetings and had skipped breakfast, so it seemed the most sensible thing to do. The newest kid on the block, Crafted Coffee Lounge in Stone Cross, had been on our radar for the last few weeks since it opened, so it seemed like the most perfect solution for a spot of brunch. Crafted Coffee Lounge is a brand new café which serves all the drinks you’d expect from a café, but with the lovely addition of great, freshly-cooked food.
Situated in a small block of shops affording a corner plot, it’s easily spotted from the road. This spacious café offers brunch, light bites and lunches from early in the morning until 2pm, but is open for drinks right up until 4 pm and is now open on Sundays. When we first entered, the warmth and friendliness of the clientele was immediately apparent. And just being there for five minutes,
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we already knew three people in there, and it’s only been open a matter of weeks, clearly confirming that it attracts my type of people there! Enhanced by gastro lighting and tasteful furnishings, the ambience is bright and airy, with loads of large windows flooding the space with natural light. A fabulous colour scheme gives a genuinely modern and stylish touch to the overall aesthetic. Accommodating small groups and embracing a child-friendly environment, Crafted Coffee Lounge caters to the diverse needs of everyone. Opting for the recommended ‘Full Stack,’ our culinary choice was a delightful The Breakfast Stack ensemble featuring toasted sourdough decorated with a medley of sausage, egg, crispy bacon, roasted tomato, mushroom, and Taste Potato and Chroizo Hash a side of beans — all for a modest £8.95. Additionally, we indulged in the gluten-free delight of ‘Potato & Chorizo Hash,’ a dish comprising pan-fried potato & smoky chorizo seasoned with spring onion and garlic, topped with poached eggs — also priced at £8.95. Accompanying these dishes were a pot of tea for one and a Chai latte. All food is freshly cooked to order. Each dish was presented beautifully on
colourful crockery and garnish, presenting a delightful combination that was not only visually appealing but also remarkably delicious, satisfying our palates with just the right portion sizes. The evident popularity of this establishment is striking, even within its first few weeks of operation, as witnessed by the continuous stream of patrons coming and going. Many of these individuals appear to be repeat visitors, indicating that the café has already carved a niche in the community. This flourishing popularity suggests that it is destined to become a favoured destination, whether you’re making a deliberate excursion or simply passing through from one town to another. Undoubtedly, it stands out as the perfect pitstop, attracting a diverse clientele seeking a memorable and enjoyable experience. The café’s appeal extends beyond its interiors, as it boasts the added advantage of outdoor seating. Anticipating the arrival of next year’s summer months, I excitedly await the opportunity to enjoy this feature to its fullest potential. The prospect of enjoying the delightful vibe, charming offerings, and perhaps a touch of sunshine in the outdoor seating area adds an extra layer of anticipation to future visits. The full meal, including drinks, cost £22.65 and not only looked great but tasted great too. We’ll definitely be back, but I’m guessing this is going to be a popular place for many more people and parties too, so pre-booking may be on the cards! A collection of charming extras, including cakes, crisps, and calendars. Additionally, there are packs of cards, make-your-own jewellery, and drawings specially curated to cater to the entertainment needs of the younger visitors. Find Crafted Coffee Lounge at 88 Mimran Road, Stone Cross, Pevensey, which has already racked up almost a thousand followers on Facebook!
CARE HOME TO COMBAT ESTATE AGENTS CLINCH LONELINESS THIS CHRISTMAS PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL AWARD A Hailsham care home is opening its doors to help combat loneliness in the community this festive season. On 5th December and 19th December, from 11.30am1.30pm, Care UK’s Bowes House, on Battle Road, is helping older members of the community to get into the festive spirit by inviting them to its winter warmer events. Visitors to the home can share their favourite moments of Christmas as they make new friends while tucking into a Residents get into the Festive spirit warming bowl of homemade soup paired with bread rolls, some festive fun and good thoughtfully prepared by the company – whether it’s singing home’s Head Chef. along to Christmas carols or Studies have shown that watching a Christmas movie almost 1.5 million older people with a mince pie. feel lonelier at Christmas than Jonathan Johnson, Home any other time of year. To help Manager at Bowes House, said: tackle loneliness, Care UK has “Here at Bowes House, we’re launched its Care to Share passionate about playing an initiative, designed to support active role in our community, so older people through the festive we’re delighted to be opening season. our doors for our winter warmer More than 100 Care UK homes events. nationwide will be taking part “We know December can be a to give older members of the difficult month for many, so this community a safe and sociable is a wonderful chance to bring space where they can enjoy people together to get into the
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Christmas spirit and a great opportunity for everyone to build new friendships – as well as reminisce over fond festive memories. “We’d like to invite our older neighbours to book their place at our special event– this is certainly an event yule not want to miss!” To find out more about Bowes House or to book your place on the event, please contact Customer Relations Manager, Karen Milligan by email karen.milligan@careuk.com, or call 01323 888 611.
TEVENS and Carter, based in Hailsham, has achieved the high standards necessary to be awarded the property industry’s most prestigious ‘mark of excellence’. Every year, a rigorous assessment is carried out of every estate and letting agent in the country. There are 13,080 estate agencies and each one is assessed for property marketing, customer service and results, including how quickly they sell or let and percentage of price achieved compared with other Agents in the same location. The very best agents are listed in The Best Estate Agent Guide — a website for Sellers and Landlords to help them choose who to sell or Let their property. On Tuesday 7th November, the results of this year’s assessment were announced at the Best Estate Agent Guide Awards and Stevens and Carter were among those recognised. Staff were delighted to be recognised for their
Kelly Ancell (left) and Sam Beale (right) from Stevens and Carter receive the award from TV personality Rachel Riley
dedication to providing the very highest levels of service. Sales Director Sam Beale (pictured right) commented: “To receive recognition for all of our teams’ tenacious efforts means so much to us all. We continually strive to exceed the service of the competition, so the growth achieved in recent years, coupled with winning this award three years running, shows we are
making large steps towards this.” Sellers and Landlords can search for those Estate and Letting Agents that made the grade in their area by visiting bestestateagentguide.co.uk or by looking out for the distinctive winners marks. For further information, contact us on 01323 840444 or drop them an email sales@stevensandcarter.co.uk
