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Left: Beachy Head lighthouse is one of the defining images of Sussex. It is seen here on a stormy day in August 2008 - Bank Holiday Monday, no less! Fortunately, the weather isn't often like this in Sussex. If you fancy a visit to this part of the world, this page gives you a flavour of what's here and what there is to do – and, of course, where to find Arundel Ales. Photo by Jeff Vinter.

The brewery is based on the Ford Airfield Estate which is situated just south of Arundel, where the rolling chalk of the South Downs gives way to the Sussex coastal plain that stretches from Brighton in the east to Portsmouth in the west (in Hampshire). The airfield has an unusual history, for it was not initially an RAF station but was established by the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm as HMS Peregrine. Nowadays, Ford Airfield is best known for Ford Airfield Market, a huge open air market and car boot sale that takes place every Sunday.

Above: Chichester's market cross was commissioned in 1501 by Bishop Storey as a place where small traders could sell their produce. Photo by Jeff Vinter.

This part of Sussex is a great place to visit. Ramblers love the South Downs, Britain's newest national park, which can be explored via the South Downs Way, a long distance footpath that runs from Eastbourne to Winchester, while most cyclists will not find the gentle gradients of the Downs overly taxing. If hills are a worry, the coastal plain contains a large network of quiet, level lanes, while the county has also been active in recovering old railway lines for recreational use. The 'big daddy' of the county's rail trails is the Downs Link, which follows two old railways from Guildford to Shoreham-by-Sea via Christ's Hospital, but there are two others, namely the Worth Way (Three Bridges to East Grinstead) and Centurion Way (Chichester to West Dean).

The best roads to the area are the M27/A27 along the coast, and the A3 (London-Portsmouth), A24 (London-Worthing) and M23/A23 (London-Brighton). Other roads tend to be a bit rustic, i.e. not terribly fast, so it is worth considering the county's rail services which are operated by Southern. The current 'Groupsave' offer is excellent value – it allows 3 or 4 adults to travel by train together and only pay the price of 2, with children travelling for just £1 each. The Arun Valley line that links London with Bognor Regis and Chichester is a particularly attractive route and enjoys a half-hourly service, Mondays to Saturdays, with one train an hour on Sundays.

So, when you get here, what is there to do? The county is packed with attractive scenery and interesting towns and villages, ranging from the cosmopolitan delights of Brighton to the genteel pleasures of Georgian Chichester, famous for its cathedral and 16th century market cross, and taking in the quieter pleasures of inland towns such Petworth and Midhurst. The range of entertainments in the area is huge. Theatre goers will need no introduction to Chichester Festival Theatre and its satellite, the Minerva Theatre. CFT was established in the 1960s and is still renowned for its world class main season, which runs from May to September each year. Horse racing enthusiasts will know all about Glorious Goodwood, Fontwell Park and Hickstead, but Goodwood is now equally famous for its annual Festival of Speed and September Revival Meeting which take place at the restored Goodwood motor racing circuit, just north of Chichester.

Above: In years gone by, railwaymen were renowned for their floral displays at stations. This practice has not been forgotten at Pulborough, on Southern's scenic Arun Valley line, as can be seen from the appearance of the station's signal box. The box in itself is a rare survivor in the 21st century. Photo by Jeff Vinter.

For those who love the seaside, there is a string of resorts along the coast, including Eastbourne, Brighton, Worthing and Bognor Regis, while the sailing fraternity is well catered for at places such as Bosham (where King Canute reputedly tried to turn back the tide – his daughter is buried in the parish church) and the large marinas at Brighton and Birdham. If naval history is your thing, Portsmouth and Gosport are just a few miles to the west, Portsmouth being home to the Historic Dockyard and Gosport the lesser known but fascinating Royal Navy Submarine Museum.

Of course, we must not forget Arundel, with its famous castle, Roman Catholic cathedral and the attractive Swanbourne Lake, which used to be a mill pond but is now home to countless wild fowl and a number of very attractive walks. If you like open air museums, we have two first class examples in the county – the Weald and Downland Museum at Singleton, where threatened historic buildings from the area have been re-erected and restored, and Amberley Working Museum, which is a treasure trove of working industrial heritage. Amberley houses a large range of industrial railways, vintage buses, cars and motorcycles, and runs several special events each year when the public can see old crafts in action. If you want to see a walking stick maker, blacksmith or stained glass specialist at work, then one of these special days is your opportunity.

Whatever your reason for visiting this lovely part of England, we hope that this page will have given you some ideas, and do please seek out one of our outlets using the links below. Remember that our beers are available in bottle as well as on draught, so you can always pick up a few souvenirs to take home with you!
 

Where to Find Our Beers

We supply to the free trade and tied pubs on SIBA's Direct Delivery Scheme (DDS), generally within a 50 mile radius of the brewery. In addition, both local and national pub-owning companies stock selections from our range as 'guest ales' from time to time, while many local shops and supermarkets have now begun to sell our bottled beers.

Don't forget that you can buy both bottled and draught beers at the brewery door (click here for details), while Matthew Wright's 'Beer Matt' offers an online service if you would rather that the beer came to you. Our beers also appear at Beer Festivals – click here to see if there's one near you.

Above: Bosham, west of Chichester, is a delightful waterside village, but beware – the road around this natural harbour floods at high tide, so do not park there! The parish church, seen here with its distictively shaped shingle-clad spire, accommodates the grave of King Canute's daughter – a small indication of how much history is to be found in this still rural county. Fishbourne Roman Palace is a few miles to the east and houses some of the finest Roman mosaics in the country. The palace was discovered when workmen in the 1960s were digging to lay a new water main. Photo by Jeff Vinter.

Left: This is what it's all about! Fine ale in pleasant surroundings – come and visit Sussex soon and sample some of our products. Photo by Fractl.

Beer Festivals

• 3-7 August 2010: The Great British Beer Festival, Earl's Court, London. Camra's annual beer extravaganza will this year feature two brews from Arundel – Arundel Special Bitter (ASB) form the core range, and Summer Daze from the seasonal range. Click here for further details, including ticket prices and where/how to buy them.
• 2-5 September 2010: Ale at Amberley 5, Amberley Museum, West Sussex. The good folks at Amberley Museum are holding their annual beer festival once again this September, and they usually place an order with us. It is too early for the organisers to have finalised their beer lists, but we hope that they will again give prominence to local Sussex brewers, as they have in the past. The website for the event is available here and includes details of ticket prices, and where/how to get them.
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