Many of us now try to lower our intake of gluten, dairy or sugar, or avoid them completely, says Hazel Sillver. These Sussex businesses show going ‘free-from’ doesn’t mean compromising on flavour
1. Sussex Bread Company, Worthing
The Sussex Bread Company is an award-winning gluten-free artisan bakery and café. Their homemade gluten-free pasta and breads (such as focaccia, sourdough and chocolate brioche) can be delivered across Sussex. Alternatively drop by the café to buy bread or to enjoy brunch, lunch or dinner; every meal is gluten-free and there are dairy-free options.
Montezuma’s sells tasty dairy-free chocolate, such as the Vegan Truffle Collection and the dark Sea Dog bar, which is flavoured with lime and sea salt. This Sussex-based chocolatier also sells gluten-free goodies, such as a large butterscotch milk chocolate heart.
3. St Martin’s Coffee House, Chichester
St Martin’s Coffee House is a friendly gem offering organic, healthy, homemade food, including a good selection of gluten-free, sugar-free and dairy-free meals. Stop by for lunch or a slice of cake in this characterful spot, where the log fire blazes in winter.
4. The Fox Goes Free, near Goodwood
The Fox Goes Free is a charming country pub in the village of Charlton, with oak beams, log fires and views to the South Downs. This is a great place for a cosy candlelit dinner. The tasty menu has plenty of gluten-free dishes and a few vegetarian options.
5. Arun View Inn, Littlehampton
The tables at the Arun View Inn look out over the river. Pop by any day of the week for lunch or dinner and enjoy the luxury of choosing from the separate gluten-free menu, which offers seven starters, 11 mains (including one vegetarian option) and three puddings.
6. The Vintage Tearoom, Midhurst
The Vintage Tearoom has a separate vegan menu offering delicious dairy-free savoury and sweet dishes. They also serve dreamy gluten-free and diabetic (low GI) cupcakes, which can be enjoyed in the café or, if you’re having a party, made to order and delivered to your home.
The Farm pub offers a selection of gluten-free meat roasts, a gluten-free vegetarian nut roast and tasty gluten-free and/or vegan mains (such as rosemary sausages); these mains can be served with gluten-free vegan Yorkshire pudding and gluten-free meat or vegan gravy. Leave room for the gluten-free and vegan puddings.
Treat someone to one of the most delicious gifts money can buy – a box of Booja-Booja vegan and gluten-free truffles. As well as a great range of chocolates, Infinity Foods sells gluten-free bread, pizza, cake, pasta and grains, and a wealth of vegan foods. They also have a café serving vegan and gluten-free meals.
9. The Master Fryer, Hove and Crawley
The Master Fryer chippy in Crawley offers gluten-free fish and chips every first Saturday of the month, from 11:30am to 3pm. Likewise Wolfie’s chippy in Hove offers the option of sustainably harvested fish fried in gluten-free batter.
Situated close to the Palace Pier, Boho Gelato offers a generous range of vegan sorbet and ice cream flavours, including Chocolate Brownie, Pink Lemonade, Lychee and Mint, Elderflower, Mojito and the heavenly Peanut Butter Sea Salt Caramel.
11. The Countryman Inn, Shipley
The Countryman Inn is a country pub situated between Horsham and Henfield beside the beautiful, inspiring 3,500-acre Knepp Wildland. The menu includes lots of gluten-free dishes (including a couple of vegetarian options), prepared with locally sourced ingredients.
12 and 13. Terre à Terre and Food for Friends, Brighton
It is so rare to find an eatery that offers any gluten-free or dairy-free options for vegetarians (never mind vegans) that this guide would not be complete without mention of two Brighton institutions, which offer a huge range of both. Terre à Terre and Food for Friends are high quality restaurants that gluten-free veggies and vegans will adore.
Mrs. Burton’s restaurant and tea room offers a range of gluten and dairy-free eats, including full English and vegetarian breakfasts, sandwiches and other light lunches and cream teas.
15. Flamenco Tapas, Eastbourne
This lovely tapas restaurant caters well for those avoiding gluten. Enjoy a spread of honey-baked chicken, sizzling chorizo, prawns with garlic, grilled sardines, omelette, sherry beans and garlic mushrooms, washed down with a bottle of Spanish red.
Ashdown Manna offers a day course in wheat and gluten-free cooking, which teaches you how to prepare delicious, light gluten-free breads, cakes, biscuits and tarts. They also regularly run a macaron day course (macarons are gluten-free).
17. Sweet Sensations, St. Leonards-upon-Sea
Eating a diet free from refined sugar, gluten, soy and dairy doesn’t mean being deprived of the joys of chocolate, thanks to chocolatier Liz Bygrave. Liz sells raw chocolate bars and truffles made with alternative sweeteners such as agave. She also runs workshops in making dairy, gluten and sugar-free chocolate.
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