touch & taste & savour

Lying between the villages of Sedlescombe and Westfield, Carr Taylor Vineyards is in a fairly sheltered valley that’s been used to grow hops for centuries. The soil is rich in iron ore minerals which, when combined with a thin layer of clay shale, gives the wines highly aromatic flavours and an enduring taste. Nearby Sedlescombe Organic Vineyards Sedlescombe Organic Vineyards take advantage of the region’s unique maritime climate to enjoy a long and cool growing period.

There are frequent Farmers’ Markets in Hastings , Bexhill, Rye and Battle where visitors can talk to the producers directly and benefit from pure, unadulterated food.

The Hastings Fish Market is directly connected to the fishing fleet and, as demonstrated by its recent certification by the Marine Stewardship Council, offers fresh fish caught in an environmentally friendly way.

Rye is also renowned for its marine produce and have even created an entire festival devoted solely to their excellent shellfish while Autumn’s ‘Taste of Rye’ is a week-long celebration of locally sourced foods prepared in creative and exciting new ways.

If eating takes up one half of an afternoon in 1066 Country’s towns, the other must surely be given over to shopping. Rye, Hastings, Bexhill and Battle have numerous antiques shops tucked away in their narrow streets and twittens. The Rye Pottery is both a shop and a museum that celebrates this refined, elegant craft. The pottery produces remarkably ornate ceramics for clients throughout the world and has drawn widespread acclaim for its traditional methods and loving techniques.

Hastings’ Priory Meadow Shopping Centre was opened in 1997 by Her Majesty the Queen and offers 1066 Country’s biggest and best high street shopping experience. With all the major brands in one place together with a host of cafes and restaurants and an incredibly convenient central location, Priory Meadow is perfect for visitors who like to keep their shopping quick and simple.