The Chequers, Slaugham, reopens its doors

Excerpt from full article By David Tingley, p.10 Jun/July 2016 Cuckfield Life

When a pub changes hands, as they can be prone to do, it feels like a new dawn rising. The Chequers Inn, in nearby Slaugham, is no different since it came into new ownership three months ago, and it opened its doors once again (after a significant refurbishment) last month.

“The meal was simply delicious - just the best steak I have ever eaten!”

I met with General Manager Lukas Ackermann and Executive Head Chef Brett Duarte to find out what their plans were.

The pair are both part-owners in the business which has bought the pub - The Rare Breed Pub Company - and their vision is to create the best steakhouse in the country! Lukas is very clear about that: “We only want to be fantastic at what we do - just good isn’t an option,” he explained.

“Running a pub in a small village like this is a privilege and a responsibility,” Brett said, “and one that we take very seriously.” After signing contracts they attended a public meeting to meet the locals and explain what they were hoping to do with the historic inn. “For us it’s about being part of the community, so we are listening hard to the feedback we get every day.”

On this score the company has future plans to open a farm shop next door, selling meat and produce, milk, juice, eggs and newspapers.

The idea which became The Rare Breed Pub Co was formed while Lukas and Brett (and others) worked alongside each other at a pub in Esher, Surrey. In fact they are still running The Albert Arms, which they hope will become the training ground for chefs and waiting staf alike. “The Albert is a family business run for last 35 years and has become even more popular in the six years we’ve been involved,” Lukas explains. “Last year we began to look for a village pub which we could take on and apply the same theory to; The Chequers is in such an idyllic setting and rural community, we loved it straight away.”

(full article printed in Cuckfield Life magazine)

www.the-chequers.pub

Gielgud Academy Free School - Haywards Heath, West Sussex

A local performing arts academy has put together a proposal to take over the former Haywards Heath College site as a new primary, secondary and sixth form free school.

Suzanne Gielgud (pictured) has been running Gielgud Academy from The Hub since its inception in 2011 but, in the light of Central Sussex College’s decision to close the Haywards Heath campus after the next academic year, she has seen a huge opportunity to create a facility that the whole of West Sussex can be proud of.

“Our proposal is to take over the site and turn it into an all-through school for ages 5-18 with a specialism in the arts,” Suzanne commented. “According to West Sussex County Council (WSCC) many primary schools in the area are at capacity already and more spaces are needed. Creating an all-through school not only meets the need to have an excellent sixth form in the area  but will also relieve pressure for primary places too.”

The new school would be a traditional, and non fee-paying, school but with a specialism in performing arts. “I genuinely believe that within every student there is always a particular gifting in the arts, be it dance, photography, art, music, film or design,” Suzanne continues. “We want to create a school where those gifts can flourish alongside an outstanding academic education.”

Suzanne is currently in the process of forming the Gielgud Academy Trust and has already had very positive meetings with both WSCC and the Department for Education, who are very interested in a provision of this kind being made available in Haywards Heath. “They told me the site was ideally suited to be divided for this purpose. I’ve also walked around the campus with three headteachers who agreed it would be a fantastic facility as a primary, secondary and a sixth form.”

The college buildings are all just a few years old, with particular attention having been spent on creating a state of the art theatre and rehearsal studios all with fully-sprung floors. The facilities are so good that Katie Derham and Anton Du Beke used them to practise locally during the last series of Strictly Come Dancing. Suzanne’s vision includes using the facilities how they were designed to be used. “It would be such a waste of the huge sums of money spent on the building to make it top spec, to not utilise them fully every day,” she explained.

Having a clear vision is something Suzanne is used to. She started Gielgud Academy of Performing Arts (GAPA) five ears ago, and it now teaches nearly 300 children and young people. She also has experience of working with government bodies too. Twenty years ago her management company began working with the Training & Enterprise Council to create a programme to help professional actors and performers gain extra skills to find employment.

Suzanne has been featured on BBC local radio and TV last month as she seeks to promote what she is trying to do with the Gielgud Academy Free School. If accepted the school would open in September 2017. Parents in the area are asked to complete a very short (2 mins) survey at: www.gielgudacademy.co.uk

Singing Allsorts return to Holy Trinity Church - 13th July 2016

The Singing Allsorts, a Cuckfield-based ladies choir directed by Jane Haughton, is holding its sixth annual Charity Concert on Wednesday 13th July in Holy Trinity Church at 7.30pm.

As suggested by its name, the choir performs a variety of repertoire – from folk to classical, pop to Broadway and sometimes even some African numbers. 

This year the choir will be joined by local young pianist Dominic Clarke and Hannah Carter who will be playing some cello solos.

Each year choir members democratically choose two charities, one local and one national/international, to benefit from all the proceeds of their evening. This year they will be raising funds for the Sussex Cancer Fund and Tearfund. Both charities do wonderful work, so check out their websites if you wish to find out more.

Tickets, on sale at Cuckfield Post Office and Wealden Stores at Whiteman’s Green, cost £8 in advance and £10 on the night – if there are any left! Last year’s event was a sell-out, with the audience filling the whole church! 

Tickets can also be bought via any of the 50 strong choir or by filling in a contact form on the website: www.singingallsorts.co.uk

There will be a donation bar, open from 7pm and again in the interval, plus several wonderful hampers of lovely produce and goodies, all donated by the choir members, to be won in a raffle on the night. The last few concerts have raised around £2,000 per evening, and all of this gets divided between the chosen charities.  So don’t delay - check your diary, buy a ticket and enjoy a fun and informal musical evening.