The happy couple in question are lifelong Sussex residents and have experienced so much in their time together – while their hometown, and the world itself might have changed beyond recognition in the intervening years since they first tied the knot, it was quite clear that their love for each other remained undiminished.

The event took place at the hall adjoining the historic St. Paul’s Church (which dates back to 1836) on Churchside, just at the top of North Street, and there was certainly a reason for this choice of location! The couple were married here in 1951, making the return visit in 2011 all the more evocative and poignant; in attendance were family members and friends from across the generations, all intent on wishing them well.

Champagne, canapes and vintage china

We were called upon to provide champagne and canapes, which we’re very happy to say went down a treat, and a range of cakes and other teatime delights. The latter were served on a fine selection of vintage chinaware, which brought a little period detail to the party!

Being that this was a Diamond anniversary, the couple were sent a letter of congratulations from The Queen, which added to the already special nature of the day. As a historical aside, the tradition of the sovereign personally sending congratulatory messages to those reaching anniversaries and birthdays of note began in 1917, and has continued ever since.

It is being a part of moments like these that always make us feel fortunate and grateful for being able to do what we do – truly a case of being in the right place at the right time, and we’d like to take this opportunity to wish all concerned the very best for the future.

The following is an extract from a letter we received shortly afterwards – once more, this kind of praise really does make it all worthwhile for us!

Dear Sharon,

Thank you so much for helping us again! The catering was spot on, as always. Brilliant that you could support the fifties theme with vintage china, also I liked the proper linen table cloth, and the flowers you brought for the catering table, it all added the finishing touches.

Also thank you for helping with the decorations. We were running late and the fact that you and your staff offered to help with that too, was beyond going the extra mile. Needless to say the hall looked brilliant. Any party is safe in your hands. I hope we can work together again.

Over the years, we have received a huge number of “thank you” letters and emails, and these really do make it all feel worthwhile!

Shown below is a genuine testimonial from a satisfied customer who we recently helped host a Halloween party, and we’d like to think her kind words speak for themselves!

Dear Sharon and your crew,

I now know what the queen feels like…

Thank you so very much for all your hard work on Saturday night at the Halloween Party. You helped make the evening a fantastic success. Everyone loved the food, that was plentiful and piping hot. This was an extra amazing feat given the 1960′s kitchen that you had to work in!

Your calmness, efficiency and professionalism meant that Peter and I could relax and party the night away! I really did feel like royalty!

From our very first meeting I knew the party would be in capable hands and you exceeded my expectations, especially when I looked in the kitchen afterwards and there was no sign that you’d been there, let alone cooked for 80 hungry people!

Please thank all your staff for me. They were fantastic and it was lovely to see you all enjoying the party, even if you did all refuse to dance with me!!

Thank you! Thank you!

Heidi

Our Butternut Squash and Sweet Chestnut soup is a seasonal and surefire winner if you’re entertaining friends and family on November 5th (though of course equally delicious on other dates too!), so do try it out; it’s very simple to prepare, and mouthwatering to boot!

Ingredients

• 1 Butternut Squash
• 2 tins of Sweet Chestnut Puree
• 1 teaspoon of Madras curry paste
• 1 small carton of double cream
• 1 veggie stock cube
• 1 teaspoon of sugar
• Salt
• Pepper

The Recipe

1. Peel the squash and cut into cubes, then add to 1 ½ litres stock and bring to the boil.
2. Add the 2 tins of chestnut puree, the sugar, and the curry paste.
3. Boil for 15 mins. Liquidise the soup and add back to pan.
4. Add cream, then salt and pepper to taste.
5. Leave to cool and the refridgerate until needed (it’s much better the next day!).
6. Top with toasted sunflower seeds and serve with hot bread.
7. Enjoy!

Our Finger Buffet and Fork Buffet menus represent an excellent choice at funerals and wakes, and additionally we can also provide wine, soft drinks and waitress services.

It is our aim to offer a discreet, professional and courteous service at all times, and to ensure that the catering arrangements do not add any extra stress at what is always going to be a difficult time.

If you require funeral caterers, please do not hesitate to contact us.

The museum was opened in 1970 and is set in 50 acres of a beautiful 19th century park, and features over 40 historic buildings including a Tudor farmtead and 17th century working watermill (they were originally located within the area covered by the South Downs and The Weald, which stretches between the south coast and London at its northernmost extremity, and have been painstakingly transported and reconstructed on the site to preserve them for the future), including the breathtaking Crawley Hall (which was built in the 15th century) with its imposing timber-framed “great hall”.

As a contrast to the ancient buildings, the Downland Gridshell workshop became operational in 2002 – this is an incredible oak built structure that boasts modern curved lines, and has picked up a number of sought-after awards for its groundbreaking architecture.

We really can’t think of anywhere that brings history to life better, and in such an accessible manner, and the many awards it has received, such as the prestigious Museum of the Year, just go to show just how truly special a place it is!

Marriages at the Weald and Downland Museum

Crawley Hall is also an accredited wedding venue, with only one ceremony ever scheduled to take place on any given day, and your party can benefit from access to the grounds, including the tranquil lakeside area.

SJI Food and Service is hugely proud to have been worked at the museum as a caterer, and we can provide a complete catering service for you including a Canape Menu, Finger Buffet or Fork Buffet, all of which can be served inside or outside under the Market Hall.

We’d be delighted to look after your food and drink requirements including glasses, ice and more, and can even arrange for our polite, experienced staff to serve it. We want to help ensure that your day in this most fabulous of venues goes as smoothly as possible, so that you can enjoy the peace and beauty of the place to the fullest.

Planning your wedding? Want to know more?

Contact SJI Food and Service through our website and be sure to contact Rebecca on 01243 811464 at the Weald and Downland Museum for details on dates and prices.

You can also view the Weald and Downland Museum’s website for further information.

Here at SJI Food & Service, we’ve been delighted to provide catering for hen parties in Sussex for some time now, so if you’re starting to plan yours, why not speak to us?

If you’re looking for inspiration on what to do for your hen night or weekend, we’ve put together a few suggestions featuring some of our favourite places and events…

The Chichester Catering guide to hen party venues and events

Racing at Goodwood

Soak up the atmosphere at one of the most beautiful race courses in the world, with incredible panoramic views from the crest of the South Downs; the Glorious Goodwood meeting held every summer is a firm favourite in social and equestrian diaries everywhere, and widely regarded as one of finest flat racing events there is. Elegance is high on the agenda too over the three days of the festival, so why not enjoy the spectacle, and perhaps the odd glass of champagne! June also sees Friday evening races throughout the month.

Goodwood Festival of Speed

A three day paean to all things automotive, where visitors get the chance to see some of the fastest (and quite possibly most expensive) cars on the planet do battle to take the glory of the quickest time on “the hill”; while it might be said that the event is chock full of boys’ toys, where else could you get to rub shoulders with world-class drivers of past and present such as Jensen Button, Lewis Hamilton or Damon Hill?

Goodwood Revival Meeting

The Goodwood Revival Meeting was instigated by the Earl of March (owner of the Goodwood Estate) to renew interest in the racing of classic cars and bikes on the historic Goodwood Motor Circuit. Visitors to this unique and much-loved event get the opportunity to travel back in time to the golden era of British car racing between 1948 and 1966.

Everyone is strongly encouraged to wear period costume over the weekend, and it’s not unusual to see a huge range of characters from Marilyn Monroe to RAF Spitfire pilots enjoying themselves in the late summer sunshine. We think this is a brilliant way to spend a hen weekend – after all, what girl could resist all that old world charm and glamour coupled with the chance to dress up in something out of the ordinary?

Country Pursuits

For those hen parties looking to get away from the crowds, thankfully the local area has plenty to offer – why not indulge in a bit of sunbathing and a picnic on West Wittering beach? This is one of the most unspoilt stretches of coastline in the whole of the UK, and has won numerous awards for its outstanding cleanliness (including a European “Blue Flag”), and the wonderful dunes of the East Head are a haven of tranquility and beauty, and a magical place to watch the sun go down.

As an alternative, what about a shopping trip to Chichester, the county town of West Sussex? Brimming with history, this cathedral city is home to some excellent fashion boutiques and high street names alike. Brighton is an hour away from Chichester, and provides an eclectic mix of shops, bars and nightlife as well as some remarkable sites to visit such as the world-famous Brighton Pavillion; a delicious architectural confection that takes the mysterious lands of the East as its source of inspiration.

The South Downs that traverse most of East and West Sussex are soon to become part of a National Park, and as such are widely known for their beauty; why not let us help you find the ideal spot for a picnic, and we’ll do the honours with putting together the hamper of your dreams!

Home from Home

If you’re looking for a base in the local area from which to explore, we’d seriously recommend the following properties to rent; The Upper House in Itchenor, and Poplars Farm House in Almodington – both these fabulous country houses offer unparalleled levels of luxury, privacy and sophistication, while remaining close to all the events and things to do mentioned above.

And finally…

Don’t forget that we can provide all the fabulous food, wine, champagne, celebration cakes and barbecues that you could ever wish for on your hen night or weekend, so why not let us help you see off your single life in style?

The event, held in June 2008, had a nautical theme, which was hugely appropriate given its seaside setting, and the close proximity of some of the best sailing in not only the country, but the whole world. West Wittering is undoubtedly a destination of choice for the cognoscenti of all things littoral, with its EC Blue Flag award for water cleanliness, and stunning sand dunes that continue to wow visitors year after year.

The evening began with Champagne and canapes served on the shore, with the fully-equipped beach bar we had set up acting as a focal point at this stage in proceedings. It was immediately evident that the attendees had embraced the theme of the party, and had dressed themselves up to the nines in black tie liberally accessorised with everything from sailors’ caps, lifejackets to eye patches and piratical tricorns adorned with the Jolly Roger!

When the sun had passed over the yardarm, the 150 guests decamped to the fabulous marquee, provided by our friends at West Sussex Party Marquees, which was decked out with brightly-coloured flags and a blue wave pattern, and featured some truly stunning detailing, including table centres that contained live goldfish.

We served up succulent joints of pork from our barbecue menu, as well as a full buffet, which helped assuage any appetites brought on by the bracing sea air!

After Dark Productions ensured that the party kept going into the night, with an amazing combination of music and advanced lighting – things only started to wind down after eight bells (4 a.m.), with many of our staff members staying until the very end to attend to the guests’ needs.

We also provided security for the event, and left our barbecue equipment set up, so that breakfast could be served the following morning.

All in all, it was a fantastic night for all concerned, and we wish the birthday girl all the very best for the coming year!

Thinking of arranging a party in West Sussex?

If you are thinking of arranging a party, event or function in West Sussex, why not speak to us and find out how we can help with the catering, and much more…

The function was a huge success with over 170 guests dressing up as virtually the entire pantheon of heroes and villains from the much-loved films; Baron Samedi could be seen rubbing shoulders with Jaws. A large white Persian cat, not unlike Ernst Stavro Blofeld’s very own, was also on the guest list, and undoubtedly enjoyed keeping a watchful feline eye over proceedings.

We provided a bevy of beautiful Bond Girls, who were on hand to look after the attendees, and serve the mouthwatering array of cocktails expertly mixed up by our staff – needless to say, the classic Vodka Martini (shaken not stirred, naturally!) was very much in evidence.

“Don’t touch that! That’s my lunch!” – Q

Hungry guests were treated to a delicious selection of buffet food, including a traditional English menu, as well as a full far eastern curry spread, that would not have looked out of place on the set of Octopussy.

Our trusted partners West Sussex Party Marquees provided a fabulous setting for the event, in the guise of their flagship Capri Marquee model, which lent an undeniable touch of glamour that even the late, great Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, veteran producer of no less than 22 of the super spy’s cinematic outings, could only have been impressed by.

We also provided the flower arrangements for the evening – Nothing makes us more happy than to act as a “one stop shop” in order to make life much easier for party organisers!

Guests got a chance to peruse Mr. Bond’s favourite method of transportation, a gleaming silver Aston Martin DB8 Vantage that was parked in front of the marquee for all to admire.

All in all, the function was an enormous success, with the merrymaking carrying on well into the wee small hours of the morning – it can truly be said that espionnage has rarely been such fun! We’re delighted we were there to “keep the British end up” as regards the catering!