Ridgeview Vineyard & Winery Visit
Hot on the heels of our staff trip to Bitburger in Germany, our next trip was a little closer to home in Sussex, but no less fascinating.
Matt took a group of team members from the Beach House, Corner House and Tap House into the heart of the South Downs to visit the vineyard and winery of Ridgeview, supplier of our wonderful Ridgeview Bloomsbury English fizz.
The team were able to see the vineyards, which started life back in 1995, in all their glory. Planted in the foothills of the South Downs, the soil is a perfect combination of chalk and clay to sustain the classic grape varieties grown there including Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The vines benefit from high levels of natural acidity which is exactly what is needed to produce Ridgeview’s incredible sparkling wine.
The winery was also incredible to see, a mix of traditional methods with modern, specialist machinery to enhance the process of wine-making without taking over. The team at Ridgeview still handpick their grapes and use very gentle pressing techniques to ensure the highest standards of wine production. Their bespoke, underground wine cellar is unique in England and also means that the wine produced can be stored perfectly.
All of this hard work and effort is clear when tasting Ridgeview’s wines and its not difficult to understand why it is frequently served not only in No 10 Downing Street but also Buckingham Palace. What better way to show off England’s finest produce. 20 years after the first vines were planted, Ridgeview now produce more than a quarter of a million bottles which are sold across the World and of course, most importantly, supplied to us in Worthing and Shoreham!
Have you tried Ridgeview’s Bloomsbury English Fizz yet? Available at all our establishments by the bottle or by the glass.
Road trip to Germany – Bitburger Brewery
Some of our key team from the Beach House, Corner House and Tap House were recently invited to take a tour of the Bitburger Brewery in Germany!
5 of our lucky team took the 400 mile trip to Bitburg, a small town in the South West of Germany not far from the border of Luxembourg. Steeped in tradition, the Bitburger brewery was founded back in 1817, by Johann Peter Wallenborn. By 1883 they were brewing the first of their Pilsner style beers and soon exporting to their nearest neighbour, Luxembourg. The brewery grew in strength until it was destroyed in 1944 towards the end of the war. But Bitburg was made of strong stuff and by 1949 they were back to full production. Many milestones came and went, but it was in 1964 when their recognisable goblet was first designed and introduced.
By the end of the 80s and early 90s Bitburger had developed into the one of the most important beer brands in Germany, available in more than 30 countries. Celebrating its 200’th birthday in 2017 it is still one of the most important German breweries still in private ownership and remains to this day the most poured draft beer in German bars.
Our team had a wonderful glimpse into the Bitburger Brewery, with a very warm welcome from the dedicated and passionate brewers who gave great insights into the process of making their wonderful premium Pils.
Local, Natural & Organic Wines
Our updated wine list has just been launched and we have some great new features!
Not only are more than half of the wines we offer vegan, we have one of the largest selections of organic and natural wines in Sussex including a wonderful natural Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa. With 6 organic wines, all vegan, and 4 ‘natural’*, if the quality of your wine is important then The Tap House must be your destination of choice.
*For more information about natural wines, visit here
Alongside our wonderful range of organic wines, we are also proud to be flying the flag for award winning local vineyard Ridgeview Wines. Planted in 1995 in Ditchling, East Sussex, Ridgeview specialise in sparkling wine and we are proud to be able to offer their Bloomsbury English Fizz at the Tap House. Winning the 2018 SILVER Decanter at the World Wine Awards, Ridgeview describe Bloomsbury as “light golden in colour with a fine, persistent mousse. Citrus fruit aromas with hints of melon and honey”. Sounds delicious and is something very special.
With an extensive wine list we hope that we have brought a wonderful selection of high quality wine for our discerning customers can try something new. View our full wine list here.
Our new Spring menus have arrived!
We are proud to reveal our new spring menus, which launched on 1st April!
As always with a focus on fresh, local ingredients, we have brought in some bright new dishes to complement our signature dishes and crowd-pleasing favourites. We are lucky to be in one of the best areas for fresh fish and seafood, which we have reflected in our springtime menus with dishes such as our smoked salmon with prawns, horseradish and lime vinaigrette appetizer (pictured right).
We have also included in both our main and Sunday menus daily oysters, the exact dish of course changes every day depending on the daily catch. Please check our board for details of what is on offer next time you visit. We are also very pleased to be able to pair our oysters with a very special Bloomsbury Ridgeview English Fizz, by the glass for £7.95. The award winning Ridgeview winery is very local, in Ditchling, East Sussex and has been producing very special sparkling English fizz for over 20 years.
Of course a Tap House menu would not be the same without our very popular signature burgers and signature mussels dishes for which we have become known throughout Shoreham. And of course, we also have choices for vegetarian and vegan diners, including our wonderful BBQ Jackfruit burger with avocado and spinach.
If you are just popping in for a spot of lunch when one of our sandwiches or salads is sure to delight. Our new melon, mint and feta salad is already proving popular! Our vegan superfood salad is full of goodness, or enjoy a more traditional Ploughman’s Platter with a whole host of tasty treats, perfect for sharing.
Rounding off our menu, our delightful new dessert Eton Mess is sure to be a crowd pleaser (pictured left).
Our Sunday menu has also had a fresh new lift for the Summer, but will continue to focus around our delicious roasts, mussels and now oysters.
The Tap House is awarded the prestigious Cask Marque
We’re very proud to have achieved the Cask Marque for The Tap House
When you’re a bar or pub that cares passionately about the beer you offer to customers, a Cask Marque is high on your list of accreditations you want to receive. It’s an independent award for pubs and bars serving great quality cask ale, and is based on the temperature, appearance aroma and taste of the ale served. With all this in mind, you’ll understand why we’re thrilled to say that The Tap House is now a Cask Marque accredited bar.
Cask Marque is run by brewers, pub groups and trade bodies with the aim of improving beer quality through an accreditation scheme. Qualified assessors visit pubs and bars around the country to determine their eligibility for a Cask Marque. One of their criteria, for example, is that the temperature of the beer must be between 10 and 14 degrees to score full marks. They leave no stone unturned when it comes to appraising ale!
To be awarded this badge of quality backs up our passion and determination to serve only the best local ale to the people of Shoreham. We’re so proud to have received this accolade and are determined to keep up the good work!
COMPETITION – Mari Wilson @ The Ropetackle
The Tap House are very proud to be a Business Friend of Ropetackle Arts Centre in Shoreham, a fabulous venue bringing amazing shows and performances to our town.
The Ropetackle has won lots of awards along the way, being staffed almost entirely by volunteers, it is run by and for our wonderful community!
On 28th February we are very pleased to be supporting the performance by Mari Wilson, a sensational talent made famous in the early 80s with her beehive hairdo! Mari’s hit singles included ‘What I Always Wanted’ and ‘Cry Me A River’ among others. Mari has continued to perform and was recently nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for her Original Song Moon & Back which she composed for the US TV show The Young and the Restless.
Mari performs with her 8-piece band the New Wilsations, featuring songs from her album Pop Deluxe which showcases songs made famous by Dusty Springfield, Cilla Black, Petula Clark and Sandie Shaw. Mari will also perform other well known songs and treat the audience with her wit and storytelling.
To celebrate our support of this show The Tap House has 2 tickets to giveaway, together with a 3 course pre-show meal for 2 and a bottle of house wine at The Tap House.
To enter please visit our Facebook Page and comment on the pinned post at the top with the name of your plus one. Closing date for entries is Wednesday 6th February 2019. Winner will be announced on Thursday 7th.
To book tickets directly from The Ropetackle Arts Centre click here