STEYNING FARMERS MARKET

Published on 1st July 2024
Steyning Farmers Market celebrated its 25th anniversary at Steyning High Street Car Park on Saturday 1 June.
The first market was held in June 1999, organised by a group of local farmers led by Derek and Vicki Crush, with support from the Steyning Business Chamber. From humble beginnings with just a handful of stalls, mostly small producers based on the Wiston estate, the market now attracts over 35 producers a month, selling a wide range of products including fruit and vegetables, bread, tea, spirits and ales, dog treats, plants and flowers, wood carvings and local game.
Derek said: ‘We were growing produce on our farm in Ashurst and were mostly selling wholesale to shops and Brighton Market. We thought we would do better by selling directly to the public instead. As a member of the local business chamber, I spoke to other producers interested in establishing a market, before approaching Horsham District Council. The Council was keen to support us as the idea was that the market would encourage people into town and benefit High Street businesses too. With so much out-of-town shopping available these days, you need things in place to attract people to small towns and that’s what we’ve managed to achieve.’
‘When you grow fresh produce, you need somewhere to sell every day of the week, so we have helped establish other markets in Dorking, Arundel, Chichester and Shoreham. Steyning has been one of the most successful and several of the stallholders that were here 25 years ago are still on the market today.’
SURVIVING COVID
After Vicki’s passing eight years ago, Derek handed over the reins to daughter, Louise. Lou has continued to run the market every month in the car park, occasionally moving indoors to the Steyning Centre when the weather is bad. The market was even able to carry on through the pandemic, with producers listing items online for customers to place orders for collection. This further cemented its reputation in the community, says stallholder Jane Ford.
Jane (pictured on page 41) owns Jaju Beans and Leaves, tea and coffee specialists based in Saltdean. She said: ‘I used to do lots of different markets and events, but now cherry-pick my favourites and Steyning is among them. I have been coming for eight years and am fortunate to have many loyal customers. I have noticed a positive change in recent years too. During lockdown, everyone pulled together to make the market work. People who had never been to a local market before suddenly relied on them as shops were shut or lacked stock. Since then, demand for some local markets has fallen away, yet Steyning has maintained many of those new customers and become one of the best in the county.’
Other regulars include Albion House Bakery, based in Eastbourne, selling its award-winning breads and pastries. Chanctonbury Game, now based in Ashington, has been a mainstay throughout the market’s history, selling free range, freshly-shot game from estates on the South Downs, including pheasant, partridge, mallard and venison. Founded by Anthony Skeet, the business also sells to London markets, but has many regular customers in Steyning.

Another family-run business at the market is Sussex Roses, based in West Chiltington. Established in 1996, founders Paul and Cathy Streeter sell a wide range of roses and bouquets, while also catering for weddings, funerals and other occasions. Cathy said: ‘We used to be cut-rose specialists, but now have more varieties so we make up more mixed bouquets. We have about 10,000 rose bushes and grow 14 varieties on our farm, including Jacaranda, a scented rose with a lovely cerise pink colour and wonderful scent. We’ve been part of Steyning Market for about 20 years and love it as people come out to spend and support local businesses. There is a real sense of community among the stallholders too. Our daughter Jess was only eight when we first joined the market has grown up with a whole family of traders around her.’
Offering a very different range of plants are brothers John and Brian Court from Lodge Hill Farm, West Dean. Having run a dairy for many years, the farm diversified and now focuses on arable, with a nursery specialising in perennial plants too. They sell at farmers’ markets and Steyning is one of their most successful, says John. ‘We find county markets in places like Steyning, Petersfield and Arundel are better for us than those in larger towns like Winchester, Chichester and Horsham. More of those who visit the markets are keen gardeners and we find people tend not to go to bigger town centres to buy plants. They go for a coffee instead!’
BEER TODAY, SCONE TOMORROW
Many of the traders on the market are based in Steyning. The Adur Brewery was launched in 2008 and sold a few years later to the Adur Valley Co-operative. Today, a handful of ale enthusiasts including the jester-hatted Graham Timmins enjoy making real ales at the brewery.
Graham said: ‘Markets are a good way of reaching new customers and talking to them about traditional methods of brewing. We currently make six beers and the market means people can try before they buy. Our bestsellers include Ropetackle Gold, a light, refreshing golden ale, and Chillinger Gold, which has a taste and aroma of root ginger. We brew Steyning Special too, a strong bitter that harks back to the Edwardian era. We do find people appreciate having a local brewer making beers in time-honoured fashion.’
Kim Cook is a familiar face to many, having owned Steyning Tea Rooms for 10 years until its closure in 2022. Kim has since established The Steyning Sconery, building a business around one of the most popular items at the tea rooms. She said: ‘I make several varieties including plain, sultana and rhubarb, as well as gluten-free and vegan scones.’
‘We’ve been on the market two years and have regulars who come every month to buy their favourite scones. Rhubarb is our bestseller, although it’s rare I leave with any scones left in the baskets. I also sell online and send the scones all over the country. However, I love Steyning Farmers Market as there’s a nice atmosphere and it gives us a chance to talk to customers.’

RANGING BENEFITS
For the 25th anniversary, a few special events were held, including a tombola, with proceeds going to Steyning Area First Responders. Visitors could also try out a juicing bicycle, sampling cocktails and juices made solely from produce available at the market. However, it’s mostly the familiarity that ensures people keep returning, says Lou Crush.
‘We have always focused on stalls that make and sell their own produce,’ she said. ‘We have broadened the market to offer Spanish and Sicilian delicatessens, bringing produce that can’t be grown locally, but mostly it’s local. We try to avoid duplication too, as space is limited and we want every stallholder to have a chance of making a good living. You can’t do that if you have 10 stalls selling cakes and you’re not offering variety to customers then either. While we have many loyal stallholders, we’re always on the lookout for something new and most months we welcome an artisan craft stall to add a different element.’
‘Another reason why the market has been so successful is that it has benefited the High Street too. Steyning is much busier on market days and people explore the shops too. As it’s only once a month, some traders sell produce at local shops throughout the month, so the market boosts the local economy in many ways, just as mum and dad hoped it would when they first established it all those years ago.’
WORDS: Ben Morris / PHOTOS: Alan Wright
Further information:
Steyning Farmers Market is held in the High Street Car Park on the first Saturday of each month, 9am – 1pm.