Watson’s Brasserie in Lindfield Life Magazine February 2010
January 13, 2010 | Leave a Comment
As I write, Lindfield is experiencing a heavy fall of snow and the scene looks much like one from a pretty picture postcard. It seems there is little I can do but wrap up warm, embrace the cold, crisp air, go in search of inspiration and savour a delicious mug of hot chocolate? Well someone has to do it! Today is a ‘Watson’s day’, as it has become affectionately known in my house and, fortunately for me, that happens to be one of my favourite destinations on the High Street.
Owned by the partnership of Paul Vallis and Paula Schofield, Watson’s Brasserie first opened its doors in August 2008 and since then has become a great place for both visitors and locals to meet. It offers everything from a business breakfast, brunch, lunch and afternoon tea to a full dinner menu each evening. The atmosphere is warm and friendly, the food tasty and enough to satisfy any size of appetite and everything is reasonably priced, which means it’s tempting to make it a regular treat!
Hospitality is clearly an area they both enjoy. Paula, who is the cook, worked in corporate and event hospitality for a number of years and Paul, who looks after ‘front of house’, has held a variety of management positions, although these seem a long way from his original choice of career. Having trained at the Royal Academy, he was a percussionist with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Birmingham Royal Ballet, the Bournemouth Orchestras and the Welsh National Opera over a period of twenty years.
The couple first met ‘next door’ when Paul managed the Bent Arms for a brief spell back in 2002. From there he took on the popular ‘Weir’ in Walton-on-Thames, before being reunited with Paula again in a move to Frant near Tunbridge Wells where they ran the Abergavenny Arms. The latter proved to be a good stepping stone between “working for others” and “running the show”, as Paula described. It certainly prepared them for a return to Paula’s home village, Lindfield, which came with its own set of challenges. Patience and determination were certainly required, especially since it took over a year just to get full planning consent on the building.
The brasserie is now open from Tuesday to Sunday and offers a variety of dishes which are freshly prepared, with produce being sourced locally wherever possible. Cheese comes from the High Weald Dairy, fruit and vegetables from Paul’s greengrocer, fish from Sebastian in Haywards Heath and meat is sourced from farms across Sussex. The Sunday lunchtime carvery at £8.50 per head is especially popular as is the steak night each Friday when two can enjoy steak with a bottle of house wine for just £24.95. Bookings are essential!
As a bit of a tea addict, I was really impressed with the range of ‘tea pig’ teas and teapots which you can buy to take home. There is also a stunning collection of prints by Iain Scott, a well known nature photographer and conservationist who runs the charity ‘Wildlife for all’ (www.wildlifeforall.org) where Paula volunteers during her spare time. Iain’s book “Wonders of Nature” is available to read and will certainly be one for my coffee table.
Opening times for Watson’s Brasserie are Tuesday – Friday 8am-11pm, 10am-11pm each Saturday and 10am-6pm each Sunday. I hope you have a ‘Watson’s day’ very soon!
Posted by gabrielle | Filed Under Lindfield Life Magazine
Lindfield Arts Festival 14th/15th/16th May 2010
January 13, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Heart & Soul is delighted to announce that it will be sponsoring the ’sculpture trail’ in the forthcoming Lindfield Arts Festival. The sculpture competition will be open to all schools and colleges in the local area and entrants will be invited to design and make a sculpture for one of the specialist independent shops on the village High Street.
Lindfield Arts Festival 2010 will be running a variety of events throughout the weekend including workshops covering art, drama, music, photography, dance, poetry, textiles, writing and cookery. In addition there will be many other ways to enjoy the village with historical walks, storytelling, trails, walking photography talks and opportunities to sample festival fare from the many organisations taking part. For more information see the festival website www.lindfieldartsfestival.com.
All profits will go to the Chestnut Tree House, the only children’s hospice in Sussex
Posted by gabrielle | Filed Under Press, Supporting the Local Community