SPACE + THYME Blog

Brighton & Hove welcomes a new Mayor!

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 10:30:17 GMT

Councillor Lizzie Deane is the new Mayor of Brighton and Hove having been elected at the Annual Council meeting in May this year.

A welcome reception for Mayor Deane was held at the stunning Royal Pavilion last Friday, attended by representatives from local businesses, Aldermen, Freemen, fellow Councillors, former Mayors and local charities and was an opportunity for the new Mayor to be officially welcomed in her new role.

Mayor Deane shared her vision for the future of Brighton & Hove as well as introduced the guests to charities that are close to her heart, while guests enjoyed a selection of drinks and canapés:

CANAPÉS

Parma ham on homemade roast garlic + rosemary focaccia with tomato chutney
Sun-dried tomato + roast pepper bruschetta on homemade focaccia and baby basil (vg)

Mushroom, spinach + truffle arancini with truffle crumb (vg)

DRINKS

White wine
Prosecco
Bellinis
Non-alcoholic Sparkling Elderflower

Sparkling mineral water

Before the event ended, guests were invited on a mini tour of the Pavilion, offering a fascinating insight into what life in the King's 'pleasure palace' was like 200 years ago.

This was also our first event at the Royal Pavilion as one of their new preferred suppliers so we were thrilled that Mayor Deane kindly agreed to pose for a quick photo with our team. See if you can spot the difference in the before and after photos below...

We look forward to working with the wonderful Royal Pavilion & Museums Trust team on many more events and we wish Mayor Deane all the best as she undertakes her duties in this important ceremonial role in and outside the city!

PHOTO CREDIT: photos courtesy of Janis Photography

Bryan + Mark’s stellar ceremony!

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 10:25:38 GMT

We returned to The Spire a few weeks after another wedding we catered there, this time for the lovely Bryan and Mark, who first got in touch with us in 2020 about catering their big day.

As with many weddings planned around that time, sadly the date got moved due to COVID. But with two years of extra planning the boys did not disappoint, wowing their guests with some truly stunning décor and entertainment, while we took care of ensuring their guests were in for a feast that was out of this world!

After walking down the aisle to an epic piece of music from the Interstellar soundtrack ( complete with an enormous mirrorball in the centre of the ceiling creating a dazzling Milky Way effect), we transformed the venue from church pew layout for the ceremony to banquet hall for the wedding breakfast!

And with table names including, Dolly, Aretha, Cher, Whitney, Tina, Kylie and Beyoncé, the stage was set for the banquet-style wedding feast to be served:

After the meal, we cleared the banquet seating to make way for dancing, but to get the crowd warmed up a gospel choir first performed a few uplifting songs, their voices sounding incredible in the church venue!

Once the evening guests had arrived and the party was in full swing, fish & chips with mushy peas in cones was served (vegetable croquettes with chips and mushy peas for the vegetarians and vegans).

When the food service was finished and we left the venue, the boys had changed from their red and blue day suits into matching pink and purple suits for the evening festivities! We had a wonderful time being part of this magical day and wish Bryan and Mark all the happiness in the universe!

Photo credits: all photos courtesy of Fern Edwards

Sally and Joe’s oar-some wedding celebration!

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 10:51:31 GMT

Although this lovely couple are based in Brighton, the location for Sally and Joe’s wedding was a bit further away in the picturesque riverside setting of Twickenham, West London. And taking their swap of the seaside for riverside to the next level, the venues for their wedding ceremony and receptions both shared some of the most beautiful views of the Thames you could imagine.

The ceremony, held in York House on the north side of the river preceded a canapé and sparkling wine reception:

Canapés

Pork Rillette with Onion Chutney on a Dried Apple Disc

Smoked Salmon + Dill Cream Cheese Roulade

Spinach, Walnut and ‘Feta’ Roulade (vg/df)

Dolcetatte Scone with Fig Chutney (v)

Afterwards, guests took a short stroll across the nearest bridge to Twickenham Rowing Club on the south side of the River Thames where the main wedding breakfast was to be served and the festivities would continue.

Located on Eel Pie Island (a private island accessible only via a meter-wide footbridge), Twickenham Rowing Club was probably one of the most challenging venues we’ve worked at from an access point of view. Multiple trips across the bridge carting our food and catering equipment in barrows were required, but was totally worth the effort due to the incredible setting and panoramic river views, wonderful onsite event crew and excellent kitchen facilities we had access to.

Sally and Joe were keen on the banquet style sharing platters for their main wedding meal. This style of menu and service has become one of our most requested with around 70% of the weddings we’ve catered in the past few years opting for this format. Their wedding banquet consisted of:

Starters:

Homemade Focaccia, Balsamic Vinegar, Olive Oil & Aioli

Scotch Whiskey-Cured Trout + Horseradish Crème Croutes

Sundried Tomato + Basil Arancini

Mains:

Slow cooked Beef cheek & jus reduction

Lightly spiced chicken and tomato casserole

Butternut Squash, Feta, Spinach, Red Onion, Tomato & Basil Filo Parcel (V/VE)

Broccoli, Green Beans & Pomegranate Salad (VE / GF)

Parmentier potatoes

When the evening guests joined the party we laid out a large grazing table consisting of a selection of cheeses, breads and crackers, grapes, crudités, hummus, olives and sun-dried tomatoes, dips and chutneys. And with that, we got ready to cart all our kit back over the footbridge and make our way home back to Brighton.

Sally and Joe said, "Our big day was beautifully catered by SPACE + THYME and our guests absolutely loved the food. The team worked hard to make the catering at our unique locations go very smoothly. They were professional and enthusiastic throughout and lovely to work with! Thank you!"

Despite the challenging logistics, this was a fantastic wedding to be a part of and a truly extra oar-dinary day! We wish Sally and Joe a wonderful wedded life and have no doubt theirs will be rowing the distance!

(I’ll stop with the rowing puns now before I keel over!)

Photographs courtesy Sarah Ann Wright Wedding Photography

Lauren + Andrew’s wedding feast!

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 09:58:13 GMT

After what has been a pretty terrible few years for so many, Lauren and Andrew wanted the guests at their wedding to have the best time ever! And so, after our team spent an afternoon laying out and dressing all the tables as well as getting our kitchen set up, The Spire was ready for 100 of their family and closest friends to reconnect and share this special occasion together.

This lovely couple had one very important requirement for their menu though… everything had to be gluten free and nut free. Not a problem!

After serving some brilliant bite-sized canapés during the reception, the increasingly popular banquet-style menu was the choice for their main meal with an array of feasting platters brought to the tables and shared among guests:

CANAPÉS

Soy + ginger glazed salmon (gf)

Sweetcorn fritter, jalapeno salsa (v/gf)

Crispy potato, beef sirloin, horseradish, pickle (gf)

Sundried tomato and basil arancini (vg/gf)

SHARING BANQUET

Tandoori chicken wings, mango raita (gf)

Trio of frittatas:

- Smoked salmon + goats cheese frittata (gf)

- Sweet pea, asparagus + feta frittata (v/gf)

- Roasted red pepper, courgette + spinach frittata (v/gf)

Halloumi fries, tzatziki, pomegranate (v/gf)

Roasted red pepper falafel (vg/gf)

Onion Bhajis with spiced mango chutney (vg/gf)

Bacon + Wookey hole Cheddar stuffed potato skins (gf)

Selection of hummus and crudite (vg/gf)

Egg, feta, green bean + potato salad (v/gf)

Mixed marinated olives + sundried tomatoes (vg/gf)

Selection of breads + butters (v/vg/gf)

Homemade dips (v/vg/gf)

After the meal and speeches, we cleared the banquet seating to create a dance floor so everyone could enjoy the rest of the evening dancing like they had not been able to dance for more than two years!

Lauren and Andrew said, "SPACE + THYME catered a dinner banquet for our large wedding and did an excellent job. They were very reasonably priced and really accommodating for all our tricky dietary requirements. Several guests complimented us on the food, saying it was delicious! The banquet approach worked really well for our large numbers and there was very little left over afterwards which meant everyone was well fed! We also had several people saying how friendly and helpful all the staff were. I know it must have been a bit of a tricky venue to work in due to lack of space and facilities but they were really organised, friendly and helpful throughout. Top marks!"

We loved being a part of this special day! We wish Lauren and Andrew all the happiness and are so pleased they had the best day ever!

Sophie + Joe celebrate under the big top!

Sat, 25 Jun 2022 16:36:54 GMT

After Joe and Sophie tied the knot in St Margaret’s Church in Ditchling, their reception spilled out onto Ditchling Green turning it into a festive and colourful celebration that felt more like a joyous festival or village fete complete with big top tents!

The couple had already confirmed their bar and catering and just needed to hire a mobile bar unit for the festivities. Our 1960s Airstream was the perfect addition to their set up adding a touch of sparkle and vintage flair to the day.

The whole afternoon was filled with fun, laughter and fairground games for the kids (or those young at heart) and the celebrations continued well into the night with the Airstream mobile bar staying open until the very last dance.

We wish Sophie and Joe all the happiness in the world!

If you would like to hire our vintage Airstream for your special day, please contact 01273 900866 or send an online enquiry

for further details.

All photos courtesy of Jo Thorne Photography

Daisy + Brian's colourful celebration!

Tue, 10 May 2022 11:10:13 GMT

Daisy and Brian are two of the nicest and most laid back clients we have worked with! The catering brief for their civil partnership reception was simple… delicious quality food, served informal buffet style so their guests could enjoy a fun-filled day of relaxed celebrations.

After spending the morning setting up the dining tables and place settings in the main hall of the beautiful One Church on Gloucester Place , guests slowly started to trickle in full of craic and laughter! But all eyes were on Daisy and Brian when they entered the venue, not least because of their brilliantly colourful outfits, especially Daisy’s gorgeous embroidered coat dress!

BUFFET

Mozzarella-Stuffed Pork Meatballs with Roasted Red Pepper + Tomato Sauce

Braised Beef + Wild Mushroom Stroganoff

Spicy Three-Bean Chilli with Avocado + Jalapeño Salsa (vg)

Lime + Coriander Rice (vg)

Peas with Shallots + Parmesan (v)

Boulangere Potatoes (v)

Spiced Pea, Onion + Carrot Samosas with Spiced Mango Chutney (vg)

Chipotle Spiced Sweetcorn Fritter and Tomato Dip (vg)

Scotch Whisky Cured Trout + Horseradish Crème Croutes , Pickled Radish

Wild Mushroom + Goats Cheese Filo Parcels (v)

Chocolate Tart (v)

Pavlova with Summer Fruits + Cream (v)

After the first food service, guests had a few hours to relax and mingle, take photos, play board games or go and join the children on the bouncy castle that was set up in a playroom!

As dusk started drawing nearer, we served a streetfood-inspired snack before everyone filled the dancefloor to join in a traditional Irish ceilidh .

EVENING - STREET FOOD

Aromatic Spiced Pulled Chicken or Sweet Potato Falafel (vg)

- served with Flatbreads and Selection of Salads and Sauces

Daisy and Brian said, “We are so glad we chose SPACE + THYME to cater our civil partnership reception! The whole team were a friendly bunch of problem solvers and most importantly delivered food that was delicious and a highlight of the day. All our guests were raving about it! They guided us in building a menu to cater for all our friends’ diets and the food was so tasty I've still got cravings! Every dish was a total showstopper. SPACE + THYME really understood our requirements and also sourced the tableware and furniture, taking the stress out of organizing the day!”

We are thrilled to have been part of your big day, and couldn’t have asked for better feedback! From everyone at SPACE + THYME we wish you go n-eirí an t-ádh leat (good luck!) as you start the rest of your new life together!

Photo credits: Blue Hours Photography

BRAVO 2022 - the results!

Wed, 04 May 2022 15:40:34 GMT

After what has been a pretty miserable and challenging couple of years, we were excited at the return of the BRAVO’s (Brighton Restaurants Awards Vote Online) after almost a two year break due to COVID.

The BRAVOs are Brighton and Hove’s only entirely publicly generated food and drink awards, and after six weeks of voting by the public racking up a staggering 21,535 votes for the 181 venues that made it into one of the categories, the results were finally in revealing where the best places to eat and drink in Brighton were. We were thrilled to have achieved several Top20 spots as well as a Top10!

Post Hous e, our newest venue that launched in autumn last year despite being a relatively new venue on the Brighton block has already been causing quite a stir among Brighton foodies with their incredible sharing plates menu and their sensational Sunday Roasts (we have lost count of how many reviews say Post House does one of the best Sunday Roasts in Brighton!). So it was no surprise that Post House achieved a hat-trick by being voted 17 ^th overall for Good To Go, 13 ^th overall for Best Brunch and 10 ^th overall for Best Café!

The Mesmerist , a firm favourite among many Brightonians for an expertly mixed cocktail, brilliant boozy bottomless brunch as well as incredible Sunday Roasts achieved Top20 spots in all these categories placing 15 ^th overall for Best Brunch and Best Cocktail with 20 ^th overall being achieved for their Sunday Roast service.

Congratulations to all the teams and staff at these venues, and of course, big congratulations to all the other winners!

To find out more about the BRAVOs and to see who the other winners are, please visit the Restaurants Brighton BRAVO page.

#bravo2022

Carbon Nada think sustainability at The Watershed

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 15:46:01 GMT

Carbon Nada is a London-based organisation aimed at removing carbon footprints for everyone from individuals through to big business. They do this through education, engagement, inspiration and empowerment with their ultimate goal being to reach net zero by 2050.

As well as producing carbon reports and bespoke marketing campaigns, the team at Carbon Nada have also developed tours to showcase sustainable practices used by organisations up and down the country that highlight the difference made to the environment when businesses think and act in a more sustainable way.

Last week Inigo Insurance , a London-based property insurance company, were keen to offer their staff an educational and team building day out. Carbon Nada created a bespoke itinerary for them that started in London with staff boarding electric black cabs and heading south to experience some of Sussex’s finest producers including a cheese dairy, a wine farm, and a wind farm, with the final stop on their tour being our stunning floating venue at Brighton Marina – The Watershed.

Sussex High Weald Dairy was the first stop showcasing the processes on the farm that uses water supplied directly from the River Ouse via the dairy’s own 65-metre-deep borehole as well as solar energy from photo-electric panels that produces half of the electricity used in the dairy that they aim to increase to 100% of the dairy’s electricity needs. Since 2015, approximately 80% of the dairy’s hot water has been provided from a biomass boiler supplied by selective coppicing of the farm’s woodlands.

Bolney Wine Estate was next where the estate demonstrated how they mulch their pruning's back into the soil, they recycle water used in spraying, have installed solar panels on the roof of the winery (this generates 50% of electricity used on site) and bottles used are 100% recyclable and all labels are made from recycled paper.

Last stop on the tour was our venue at Brighton Marina Yacht Club, The Watershed, where the team planned to head to the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm 13km from the coastline for a tour of the wind farm before receiving a masterclass in sustainable cooking and tucking into a sustainably cooked meal from a top chef:

Beetroot cured salmon, quail egg on stripped beetroots, pickled cucumber with Sussex honey & mustard drizzle

Lamb stew with spitfire ale potato dauphinois and British spring greens

Crushed meringue, pear coulis on meringue nest with shortbread crumbs & creme anglaise

It was a shame that the after effects from Storm Eunice were still being felt so the wind farm tour was cancelled which meant more time at The Watershed with Inigo’s staff competing against each other with a few team building activities.

Jack Cuddigan, Director of Carbon Nada, said, “'We were really pleased with how the day went. The Inigo Insurance team was a pleasure to host on their first sustainability orientated away day. We could not have done without the support of the teams at Bolney Wine Estate, High Weald Dairy and The Watershed at Brighton Marina Yacht Club. The team at The Watershed was incredibly helpful and went above and beyond to make sure that all our needs were met. The venue and service was 10/10; you couldn't fault either!'

It was great for SPACE + THYME and The Watershed to be a part of this educational eco-awareness tour and we look forward to working with the team from Carbon Nada on their next tour!

BRAVOs are back - VOTING NOW OPEN!

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 15:28:35 GMT

Now in its 5 ^th year, the BRAVOs (Brighton Restaurant Awards Vote Online organised and run by Restaurants Brighton ) are a celebration of the independent food and drink scene that gives Brighton, Hove and Sussex so much of its character. Voting is free, open to everyone and runs for six weeks until 24 ^th March 2022.

This year, our venues are entered in the following categories:

The Black Lion :

The Mesmerist:

The Watershed :

Post House :

The Flipside:

Everyone who votes stands the chance of winning a £200 meal voucher at a restaurant of their choice, and there are also other prizes from various sponsors throughout the next few weeks.

So register today for FREE and please vote for your favourite venues!

Every vote for our venues gives everyone who works there a huge boost after what has been a pretty dismal two years.

Thank you - and good luck!

Brighton - you've got mail!

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 14:19:31 GMT

Post House is the long awaited latest addition to Brighton’s food and drink scene and is a joint collaboration between SPACE + THYME and Simon Duddington from Big Foot Pub Co (The Pond and Easy Tiger at The Hampton pub).

Located in the bustling Lanes district in the original Post Master’s cottage dating back to the 1870s, the building has been sympathetically restored with a few quirky design nods to it’s former life to give it a fresh new look while retaining as many original features as possible including flint walls, ceiling roses, fireplaces, wooden floorboards and large sash windows.

In its newest incarnation, and with the timing of it’s relaunch proceeding such a difficult time for many, Post House is about creating a positive and vibrant place that brings people together without formality or pretence, to break bread, catch up over a decent drink, and remember how important those experiences are to us all. It’s about time. And it’s also about time, together.

Spread over two floors, each area in Post House has its own feel, exploring colours, collaborating with local artists and bringing balance to a beautiful historical building for modern use. The ground floor has a vibrant and inviting main café and bar area, an intimate snug with eye-catching wallpaper by Brighton-based Studio Coverdale and a colourful urban garden with bespoke mural by local artists See Creatures and Marc Collier that spans the length of the outdoor space. See Creatures have also created a striking mural that gives the building’s façade a bold new look.

The first floor comprises the Post Room and adjoining Gallery Room separated by stunning original wooden bifolding doors with stained glass inlays that when opened form a large, modern Victorian space with flexible restaurant-style seating that can also be used for events, larger group bookings as well as private dining.

Open 7 days a week, day and night, you will find high quality service, food and drink with beautiful surroundings and an informal atmosphere. Post House transforms from café in the mornings serving breakfast and brunch as well as speciality coffees and exceptional freshly baked pastries, cakes and breads by their resident pastry chef, Nonor, to a cool restaurant and bar for the rest of the evening serving dinner in the form of seasonal sharing plates inspired by pan-European flavours and ingredients. All that as well as fine wines, great beers & cocktails - all brought to you by people who care about your experience.

For food lovers or for that something a bit special, Post House offers a sensational set tasting menu (minimum 2 people), showcasing some of the standout dishes from the sharing plates menu along with incredible side dishes and finished off with something satisfyingly sweet – exceptional value at £38 per person.

On Sundays, Post House opens at 12 midday and keeps the tradition of roasting going strong by serving one of the best roasts in Brighton… and even has a Bloody Mary station with all the condiments you need to customise yours just the way you like it!

Post House

52 Ship Street (just behind The Ivy)

Brighton

BN1 1AF

www.posthousebrighton.com

hello@posthousebrighton.com

Stay connected by giving a like and follow on Instagram and Facebook: @posthousebrighton

Here's a look at what an incredible transformation this project has been:

Briony + Richard tie the knot!

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 17:19:40 GMT

The lovely Briony and Richard contacted us looking for catering and bar services for their wedding after they were sadly let down by another caterer due to the impact of COVID on their business*.

While many couples start their search for suppliers for their big day more than a year in advance, Briony and Richard only had three months to secure another catering and bar supplier... so with no time to spare, we jumped in to help out!

Fortunately, their reception venue – the iconic Fabrica in the heart of the Lanes – is very close to our HQ and prep kitchen so this made the logistics of the operation that much easier! And so, with welcome drinks, a three-course set menu for the day and a buffet for the evening agreed in record time, we got to work to ensure everything would be all set for their tighter-than-usual deadline which also included hiring all the furniture and linen as well as the usual crockery, cutlery and glassware.

On the day, following a beautiful ceremony at the majestic Royal Pavilion , guests started arriving at Fabrica where our team had spent the morning setting up the venue and laying tables to welcome the high-spirited wedding party!

Reception Drinks

SPACE + THYME Signature Cocktail

Sparkling Elderflower Mocktail

Starters:

Cherrywood-Smoked Duck Liver Parfait, Melba Toast, Beetroot Chutney, Pickled Salad

Red Onion Tart Tatin, Goats Cheese Brûlée, Hazelnut Pesto (v)

Mains:

Chicken Ballotine stuffed with Spinach + Wild Mushroom Duxelle, Pommes Boulangère, Celeriac Purée, Buttered Greens, Madeira + Chestnut Mushroom Sauce

Seared Fillet of Beef, Roasted Chantenay Carrots, Pommes Fondant, Roasted Cauliflower C, Peppercorn + Red Wine Sauce

Spinach, Wild Mushroom + Pine Nut Pithivier, Pommes Boulangère, Carrot Purée, Roasted Carrots, Buttered Greens, Red Wine Gravy (vg)

Dessert:

Custard Panna Cotta, Raspberries, Sherry Chantilly Cream, Meringue, Raspberry Coulis (v)

When the formalities of the day were over and the evening guests arrived, we served a light buffet that consisted of:

Evening Buffet:

Pork + Black Pudding Scotch Eggs

Mini Salt Beef Rueben Sandwich with Sauerkraut, Pickles + Russian Dressing

Bacon + Wookey Hole Cheddar-Stuffed Potato Skins

Thai Crab Cakes with Red Pepper Ketchup

Halloumi Fries with Tzatziki + Pomegranate Seeds (v)

Onion Bhaji with Spiced Mango Raita (vg)

Afterwards, Briony and Richard said, “We cannot recommend SPACE + THYME more! Everything was amazing on the day and they took the stress out of planning a wedding in such short notice! But most importantly the food was delicious! So much so that we had multiple (very hard to please) guests come and tell us it was the best food they had ever had at a wedding - and we certainly agree! All of the team were so attentive, friendly and honestly just the best. We really have nothing but praise for all of them!”

We were delighted to be a part of Briony and Richard’s big day but even more thrilled that we were able to turn their disappointment into delight by delivering topnotch food and drinks for their wedding celebrations!

We wish them both everything of the best for their new life as Mr and Mrs! xx

Photo Credits: Allison Dewey Photography

* 2021 has been an incredibly challenging year for the hospitality industry – with approximately 30% of hospitality businesses having to close their doors for good and many more unable to fulfill a job due to ongoing staffing or supplier issues caused by COVID and Brexit.

Hats off to Katie + Lee!

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 16:19:09 GMT

Montague Farm is a stunning, brand new wedding venue in Pevensey near Eastbourne, managed by Blue Door Weddings , and SPACE + THYME had the pleasure of catering and running the bars at the venue’s fifth wedding since it opened, for the wonderful Katie and Lee.

The couple’s hat themed wedding had guests looking like they’d fit right in at a day at the races, as Champagne and jugs of Pimms were served after the ceremony along with a selection of tasty canapés.

Canapés:

Pork rillette with onion chutney on a dried apple disc
Roast beef + horseradish Yorkshire pudding
Scotch whiskey cured trout blinis with lemon crème fraiche
Wild mushroom arancini (vg)

The couple wanted a relaxed feel for the food that would reflect the surroundings so opted for a delicious slow-smoked buffet menu which also ensured everyone could sit back, relax and enjoy a day of feasting and celebration with family and loved ones… all while wearing the most fantastic hats and headpieces!

From the smoker:
Beer-brined chicken quarters
Dry rubbed smoked brisket
Whole salmon stuffed with spinach, red pepper and whisky
Halloumi + Mediterranean vegetable skewers (v)

Salad selection:
Spinach, pine nut, feta, egg + potato salad (v)
Peas with bacon, shallots + parmesan
Mixed baby leaf salad (vg)
Asian slaw with orange dressing (vg)
Breads + flavored butters

Throughout the day the venue’s main bar was kept busy ensuring guests enjoyed a selection of fine wines, local craft beers, premium spirits and bubbles while signature ‘his’ and ‘hers’ cocktails (whisky sours for him and cosmopolitans for her) were mixed in the bespoke cocktail lounge where guests could relax on comfy Chesterfield sofas and take in the sweeping views across Pevensey.

A cheese table was brought out later in the day and with a nod to Lee’s Thai heritage, the evening snack consisted of chicken pad Thai and Thai vegetable curry & rice.

We were thrilled with two great results at the end of the event… firstly, we secured our place on the preferred supplier list for Blue Door Weddings and secondly, Lee’s mother who is a fastidious Thai cook and who was keeping a close eye on how our team p erformed during the day, scored our chefs a brilliant 9 out of 10 for their efforts (which we are told is high praise from her indeed!), only narrowly missing out on a perfect 10 because one of the Thai dishes could have done with a splash more soy sauce.

Katie and Lee said "SPACE + THYME was an obvious choice as our wedding caterers as they created an amazing menu for the relaxed vibe we were going for, and we were in love with the idea of having their cool smoker train for incredibly tasty food! It was fabulous and the team was absolutely fantastic! Robert was there for me from beginning to end and was always happy to spend over an hour on the phone talking through choices with me and dealing with a stressful bride's moments like a pro! Chris and Penny's wine and sparkling choices for the bar were perfect and the food was great and exactly what we wanted! The whole thing went off so well on the day! Thank you so so much for making our day magical!"

We loved being part of Katie and Lee's special day a nd wish them everything of the best as husband and wife! We are looking forward to our next wedding at Montague Farm! xxx

Photo credits: Fern Edwards Photography

Elderflower Fields Forever!

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 09:56:58 GMT

Festivals are back! Hurraaah! Our first festival for this year (in fact our first festival since 2019… damn you COVID-19! *shakes fist*) was the wonderful Elderflower Fields ; a five-day family festival that took place in the stunning Pippingford Park estate near Uckfield.

The festival, organised by the brilliant crew at So Sussex and now in it’s 10th year, provides a unique family experience that opens children and their parents’ minds to new opportunities in sport, music, the arts, nature and food by getting more kids out into the beautiful countryside and inspired by new challenges.

SPACE + THYME set up the Woodland Bar near the campsite that consisted of our horsebox for coffees and other hot drinks, as well as our beautiful vintage Airstream bar alongside a cheerfully decorated tipi tent to chill out in, or to take cover should the heavens open… and they did!

But this did not dampen the festivities or enjoyment of the families and festival goers… especially the children who had smiles from ear to ear despite being covered in mud!

There were plenty of activities to keep the young and young-at-heart entertained including a live stage area, art trail, flag making, puppet and mask making workshops, star gazing, bird and foraging walks, kayaking, tree climbing, circus skills… and even a woodland spa!

We were thrilled to be a part of this unique family festival for the first time and already cant wait for next year when the festival will take place from 27th to 30th May 2022.

For more information about Elderflower Fields, please visit https://south.elderflowerfields.co.uk

Photo credits:

Leapfrog Lawns - Bex Maini

Lazy Glades - Kerrie Wood

Tumbledown Meadows (camping) - Lesley Burdett

Night Jars & Urban Woods (campervans) - Leyla Güler

Dragonfly Hill - Raphael Moran

Into The Trees - Sam Pharoah

Jess + Luke's big day finally arrives!

Sat, 31 Jul 2021 13:45:52 GMT

We first met Jess and Luke in 2020 when they started planning their wedding, so naturally our ‘meeting’ happened over a Zoom call as this was at the height of the Coronavirus pandemic and all planning at that stage had to be done from our remote offices (a.k.a our respective living rooms!)

Fast forward 12 months (make that 13 months as the date had to unfortunately get pushed back by one more month due to COVID related reasons), and whilst still not out of this situation and all parties involved having to adjust and cope with ever-changing situations that a global pandemic coupled with the impact that Brexit was having on supply chains such as the availability and cost of ingredients as well as staffing levels, their big day finally arrived!

And what a glorious day it was! Despite a torrential downpour and gale force winds the night before, the sun shone brightly over Horstedpond Farm near Uckfield where large tipis, glamping yurts, mobile bars and of course our mobile catering units were all ready for a busy day ahead of festivities in honour of the happy couple!

CANAPÉS

Miniature roast beef Yorkshire puddings, horseradish créme
Chorizo rillette, melba toast, bocconcini pearls
Peppered wild mushroom croutes with parmesan (vgo)
Butternut squash + gorgonzola arancini with tomato jam (v)

PLATED MAINS

Beef cheek braised in thyme, red wine + garlic, dauphinoise potato, buttered asparagus + tenderstem broccoli, thyme + red wine jus
Beetroot, goats cheese + pine nut strudel, hasselback roasted new potatoes, buttered asparagus + tenderstem broccoli, salsa verde, white wine cream sauce (v)
Beetroot pine nut + feta strudel, hasselback roasted new potatoes, asparagus + tenderstem broccoli, salsa verde, white wine sauce (vg)

DESSERT

White chocolate caramel mousse, biscoff, caramac, chantilly cream (v)
Shortbread, hazelnut ice cream, salted dark chocolate ganache, praline caramel sauce (vg )

As evening started to fall and the wedding party was in full swing, fire pits were lit in the field outside the tipis that signalled the start of the evening food service offering guests mini kebabs served in flatbreads with a choice of fillings:

Choice of:

Shredded Cajun Chicken

BBQ Pulled Pork

Sweet Potato Falafel (vg)

Served with choice of:

Asian slaw (vg)

Giant Pearl Cous Cous (vg)

Mixed Baby Leaf (vg)

And selection of homemade sauces:

Cucumber Raitha (v)

Roasted Garlic Aioli (v)

Lime + Chilli (vg)

Jess and Luke said. "SPACE + THYME did a brilliant job catering our wedding. We loved that they created a bespoke menu just for us, based around our favourites - it made everything feel more personal. The food was absolutely delicious, with rave reviews from loads of our guests. Everything went really smoothly on the day, so a big thank you from us for a fantastic day!"

We wish Jess + Luke all the happiness in the world as they start their new life as Mr and Mrs!

Welcome back! We've missed you!

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 11:58:22 GMT

After a whole year of closing, opening, closing again and re-opening, our venues have finally thrown open their doors (well, their gardens and outside spaces for the time being) and are once again welcoming customers who have not only missed spending time with their friends and family but also a few pints and some quality food that they haven’t had to cook themselves or get delivered to their home!

At The Black Lion , customers enjoying the beer garden or the additional outdoor covered seating at the front of the venue can enjoy an exciting collaboration with UmamiNation who are taking over the kitchen for the next 5 weeks (until 17th May) although some of the classic dishes from The Black Lion will still be available, including their brilliant roasts every Sunday.

UmamiNation uses strong Asian inspired flavours on popular Western foods so you can expect incredible flavours and imaginative combinations on their wings, burgers, fries, poppers, salads and even their homemade ice creams and sorbets. UmamiNation also has a strong vegan offering so there is something for everyone!

www.blacklion.pub

Around the corner at The Mesmerist , customers can head up to the lush roof garden or take advantage of the additional covered outdoor seating on Bartholomew Square at the side of the venue. Either way, they can enjoy a Deep South menu during the week, bottomless brunches every Saturday and awesome roasts with all the trimmings every Sunday. Or why not go for the ‘Funday’ Bottomless Roast instead… everything you’d expect from a traditional Sunday Roast but with all the fun of bottomless drinks thrown in! It’d be rude not to!

www.mesmerist.pub

And finally, at Brighton Marina Yacht Club, The Watershed ’s large sunny deck overlooking the marina will be open from 12 midday on Saturdays and Sundays only for the time being, although no Saturday brunches or Sunday Roasts service will be available until the 22nd May. Instead, customers can enjoy the delicious new Spring menu while soaking up the sun on the west-facing deck that is also perfectly orientated for sundowners at the end of the day. The deck has been fitted with two gazebos so there is some covered seating.

www.thewatershed.club

For table bookings in any of these venues, please visit their websites.

We cant wait to see you again!

Umaminate your tastebuds!

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 16:07:03 GMT

Another lockdown… another chance to binge watch The Tiger King. Hhhmmm… maybe not! Instead, we have been making the most of this down time and keeping ourselves busy by creating a new and exciting food concept for our kitchen at The Black Lion .

And so, as the country remained in lockdown and everyone was feeling increasingly like part of a nation in isolation, we started up our newest food venture… UmamiNation ! Available to order through Deliveroo in Brighton & Hove now!

Umami means “ essence of deliciousness ” in Japanese, and is also referred to as the fifth flavour after sweet, sour, bitter and salty. Its savoury deliciousness is known to deepen flavour and UmamiNation brings these strong Asian-inspired flavours to more Western-style food formats for an intensely satisfying food experience.

Burgers, wings, salads, fries and even homemade ice-creams and sorbets have all been 'Umaminated' so you can enjoy all your favourite foods on another flavour level! UmamiNation also uses some brilliantly creative and surprising flavour combinations and there is a strong vegetarian and vegan offering so everyone is catered for.

Crispy chicken wings or roasted Romanesco cauliflower 'wings' (vg) are smothered in a choice of sauces including sticky soy BBQ, spicy tomato & gochujang, peanut satay or honey & sesame.

Customise your burger with a choice of beef patty, fried chicken thigh or vegan B12 patty then add your favourite topping with incredible flavours that include miso mayonmnaise, jangajji pickles, miso-pulled sticky jackfruit, garlic and ginger, kimchi slaw, umami ketchup, mixed wild mushroom satay and more!

Salad noodle boxes and fries are also given the umami treatment and the selection of sweet stuff includes homemade ice creams with honey & sesame or lemongrass & chilli, or a refreshing coconut & Thai basil sorbet.

Umaminate your tastebuds by ordering UmamiNation through Deliveroo in Brighton and Hove NOW!

BRAVO for achieving Top 20!

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 14:46:34 GMT

The Brighton Restaurant Awards (BRAVO’s) is an annual awards event that is voted for by the public recognising and celebrating the best bars, restaurants, pubs and cafés in Brighton and Sussex. The winners are usually notified in the first quarter of the year, but the 2020 results were unfortunately put on hold due to the COVID pandemic.

This year, the BRAVO’s saw more than 470 venues across Sussex compete in 16 categories including Best Restaurant, Best Brunch and Best Team. More than 30,500 votes were cast by the general public in a bid to see their favourite venues recognised for their contribution to the local food and drink scene.

The waiting is finally over and we are thrilled to announce that two of our venues were both awarded a Top 20 spot in their categories!

The Back Lion pub was awarded 13th place for Best Sunday Roast category while The Flipside, our 70’s inspired cocktail lounge, came 12th in the category of Best Cocktail.

We would like to thank everyone that voted for them! This recognition means so much to all of the hard-working staff and management in the venues, especially during these difficult and very challenging times!

We hope to be open again soon and doing what we love – creating expertly mixed cocktails and awesome food including our epic Sunday Roasts!

In the meantime, if you are missing a bit of Black Lion charm or Mesmerist and The Flipside magic, why not buy a gift voucher for these venues for loved ones to use once lockdown is over! You could also buy these as Christmas presents to give the awesome gift of a dine-in or drink-in experience at these legendary Brighton venues!

For a full list of all the categories and the winners, please visit the Restaurants Brighton BRAVO page .

Thank you for all your continued support!

NEW VENUE - The Watershed at Brighton Marina Yacht Club!

Mon, 03 Aug 2020 14:07:56 GMT

Over the past few months during lockdown, we were eagerly awaiting the government announcement for when venues in the hospitality sector can reopen so we can open our central Brighton pubs and bars again. During that time, we were also working on an exciting new venture - The Watershed - as we prepared to take over the bar and catering hospitality services at Brighton Marina Yacht Club (BMYC).

The Watershed is a floating venue that rises and falls with the tides and is nestled in the heart of Brighton Marina among the yachts and sailboats moored there. It was given a fresh new look during lockdown and now offers a comfortable and relaxing place to eat, drink and socialize so you can live out your fantasy yachting lifestyle without the hefty price tag of a sailboat attached.

The light and airy venue with it’s iconic wave-shaped roof features a large open plan seating area ideal for lunches/dinners and drinks as well as a lounge area by the bar with Chesterfield sofas and a large flatscreen TV. Both areas have floor to ceiling windows with views of the marina and doors leading out on to the deck.

Enjoy alfresco lunches, dinners or drinks on the large sunny west-facing deck overlooking the tranquil setting of the marina.

The deck is also perfectly orientated for sundowners and to watch spectacular sunsets as the day moves from dusk into evening.

There is also a separate room with large boardroom table with seating for 10 guests and flatscreen TV that could be used for private dining or meetings.

The sophisticated new interior colour scheme forms the perfect backdrop for all the nautical paraphernalia and memorabilia including photographs and paintings, model ships, sails, flags and insignias as well as cabinets filled with trophies the BMYC has been awarded over the years.

The BMYC is an active and friendly club with a strong tradition for yacht racing and cruising around the Sussex coast and further afield around the UK, Europe and across the Atlantic. It’s not entirely about sailing though, they have a great social calendar. More information about joining and the many benefits - including 20% discount on all food and drink served at The Watershed - can be found on the BMYC website .

The Watershed menu, uses fresh local produce and ingredients served as small plates, classic dishes and sharing platters. Featuring a number of fish and seafood options, there are also dishes for those who prefer their protein more ‘turf’ than ‘surf’. Veggie and vegan options are available too.

The well-stocked bar includes local craft brews and international draught beer brands, bottled beers, a good selection of quality wines and spirits. We also serve barista coffee using local specialty coffee suppler White Cloud Coffee as well as fine teas.

The Watershed is also available for private hire for corporate hospitality, away days and team building as well as birthdays, wedding parties and other celebrations. All private hire events would need to adhere to the current government COVID secure guidelines until further notice.

Opening Hours:

Sunday to Thursday – 12pm to 11pm

Fridays and Saturday – 12pm to 12am

We open earlier on Wednesdays and Sundays when yacht racing takes place.

Kitchen open from 12pm to 9pm daily.

The Watershed

Western Concourse

Brighton Marina

Brighton

East Sussex

BN2 5UP

www.thewatershed.club

01273 818711

Our Brighton pubs and bars re-open after 3.5 month closure!

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 15:57:54 GMT

When spring arrives after a cold and bleak winter, it usually heralds the promise of new life, and the time of the year when people start venturing outside more to enjoy the warmer days and sunnier weather. It is at this time that our outside seating areas, beer gardens and roof gardens at our central Brighton venues become increasingly more popular. Sadly, this year, that was not the case for us and all other pubs, bars and restaurants across the country.

This weekend, however, we were finally able to throw open the doors again of The Black Lion , The Mesmerist , The Flipside and The Bottle Shop after a 3.5 month closure! We have had to make some changes to the venues and also to the way that we operate in order to comply with the latest government guidelines to keep our customers and staff safe and to adapt to the ‘new normal’ while maintaining an enjoyable atmosphere in the venues until restrictions are completely lifted.

Some of the main changes that we have made include:

• online booking: we encourage everybody to book a table online in advance as walk-ins will be limited during peak times and this will guarantee your table and minimise queuing. Details of how to book can be found on the venues websites. Please note this is a temporary measure whilst our venue capacity is reduced, in order to accommodate as many people as possible, and to help keep our business afloat during uncertain times. This will also help us to plan ahead, rota staff and order supplies accordingly.

• on arrival: a host will greet you at the door, confirm your booking and show you to your table.

• hygiene: hand sanitizing stations are located at the entrance and at various points around the venues.

• size of bookings: tables are currently limited to a maximum of 6 people per table. Due to Government Guidelines there are some limitations on the size of groups we can accommodate.

• ordering food and drink: all food and drink can be ordered online (crazy we know!). This reduces the amount of contact between people. We encourage you to order online and take advantage of table service, rather than ordering at the bar.

• our menus: we are offering a slightly reduced menus as we just don’t have the capacity at this stage to offer the full shebang! But don’t worry – there’s still plenty to choose from and we are still doing bottomless brunches at The Mesmerist every Saturday and delicious roasts at The Black Lion and The Mesmerist every Sunday!

• seating plans: our seating has been spaced accordingly to comply with the current 1m+ guidance and we ask that you don’t move any furniture, however much you want to feng shui the venues, we’ve arranged it that way for a reason. We have brand new booth seating with protective barriers in the beer garden of The Black Lion and a beautiful sun trap of a roof garden at The Mesmerist!

• signage: we have placed some sexy new signage around the venues to point out the best way to move around, especially to the toilets.

• all children must be at the table with you at all times.

• all dogs must be on leads (no matter how cute).

• please respect social distancing and personal space. Some people may be less comfortable than others about distance

• if you’re running late or anything changes with your booking or you need to cancel please do let us know ASAP.

Please note that these may change from time to time as we are given more guidance by the government. But for now, please sit back and enjoy the new norm and we look forward to welcoming you back very soon!

See you on The Flipside!

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 14:17:27 GMT

A truly iconic era was honored last week when Brighton’s newest and coolest cocktail lounge, The Flipside , was officially launched! Located on the first floor of The Mesmerist, the cocktail lounge draws it’s inspiration and takes its design nods from the 70’s where kitsch was cool and fashion trends were being set that are still very much alive to this day.

The décor is unmistakably vintage and includes heavily-patterned wallpaper, kitsch lampshades, macramé plant hangers, wicker peacock chairs, a feature wall covered with turn-of-the-century mirrors, a jukebox and lava lamps. 70s inspired prints and artwork adorn the walls including a collection by local artist and queen of vintage Poppy Faun that will be rotated every few months so there’ll be something new to see when you visit again. Poppy's designs are also used on The Flipside's cocktail menus and business cards.

The Flipside’s cocktail menu pays homage to drinks that were once all the rage but have been given an up-to-date quirky twist that The Mesmerist is known for. Cocktail names include some humorous references to legendary film and music moments that happened half a century ago. Bonus points if you can name them all!

Although The Flipside specialises in cocktails, the venue has a decent wine list and serves craft beers in cans and also on tap as well as all your favorite spirits and mixers too if shaken or stirred are not your thing.

Guests were treated to an evening of retro cocktails and canapés while DJ Eddie the Goat Boy kept the vinyl spinning on the decks and magician and mind reader Rooster blew everyone away with his awesome mind tricks and sleight of hand.

CANAPÉS

Spanish cured meats:
Lomo, salchichon + chorizo served with bread + handmade aioli

Olive + anchovy pinchos

Pan con tomato

Banana blossom ‘squid’ with sticky Thai sauce

Grilled hake with garlic + parsley

Chicken, spinach + pine nut croquettes

Sticky vegan date loaf with figs + pomegranate

The Flipside is open for table reservations on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and is available for private hire on all other days. With its own bar, toilets and smoking area it is the perfect venue for parties and events up to 80 guests.

To enquire about a table reservation or private hire, please contact theflipside@mesmerist.pub or phone 01273 328542.

First Floor of The Mesmerist

1-3 Prince Albert Street

Brighton

BN1 1HE

See you on The Flipside!

Event photography by: Ashley Lornie from Brighton Creatives

#BRAVO2020 - voting now OPEN!

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 12:59:29 GMT

It’s almost Valentine’s Day! And what better way of showing some luuurve than by voting for us in the Brighton Restaurant Awards Vote Online (BRAVO)!

The BRAVO’s are Brighton’s only entirely publicly generated food and drink awards in the city, giving people the change to praise their favourite cafés, bars, pubs and restaurants.

There are 16 categories to recognise the very best that Brighton has to offer, including Best Restaurant, Best Local, Best Roast, Best Cocktails, Best Café and Best Team to name just a few.

Our central Brighton venues, The Black Lion, The Mesmerist and The Flipside are all in the running and we need your votes! Registration to vote is free, and best of all, you stand the change of winning a £200 meal voucher courtesy of Restaurants Brighton to spend at a venue of your choice. Voting closes on the 15th March and the winners are announced week commencing 30th March.

To vote for your favourite venue, click on any of the links below:

The Black Lion – Best Roast and Best Team

The Mesmerist – Best Cocktail and Best Roast

The Flipside – Best Cocktail

Thank you, and good luck!

Lots of Love, the SPACE + THYME team! xx

The Flipside sees some Hazy Dayz

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 11:22:22 GMT

Fashion is cyclical, and nowadays you have to be out of fashion to be in fashion! So it is no surprise that anything retro and vintage is becoming increasingly more fashionable, not just because of its cool and effortless style, but also because second hand clothing and items have less of an environmental impact.

Hazy Dayz Vintage , a Brighton-based vintage clothing store, sells styles that were all the rage in the 60s and 70s that are now back in fashion including retro and boho, to gogo and dandy and prides themselves on each item being personally handpicked with a strong eco fashion aesthetic.

Our groovy 70s inspired cocktail lounge, The Flipside , was the ideal location for their recent photo shoot and the models dressed from head-to-toe in their Hazy Dayz garb looked perfectly at home as they posed and pouted for the camera.

The Flipside cocktail lounge is open in the evenings for table bookings from Thursday to Saturday and available for private hire on all other days. It is the ideal location for fashion and photo shoots or filming, and with it’s own private bar, lounge area, smoking terrace and toilets it is also the perfect venue for private parties and functions for up to 60 guests. It can also accommodate a DJ with space for dancing.

To enquire about hosting your next party or event at The Flipside or hiring it for a shoot, phone 01273 328542 or email hello@mesmerist.pub

See you on The Flipside!

The Flipside

1st Floor – The Mesmerist

1-3 Prince Albert Street

Brighton

BN1 1HE

Vintage clothing by: Hazy Dayz Vintage

Fashion photography by: Chris Bulezuik Photography

First Supper Club of 2020 celebrates Veganuary!

Wed, 15 Jan 2020 17:54:17 GMT

2020 has started with a bang, and we are thrilled to announce that this year also sees the start of our bi-monthly supper club, being hosted in The Flipside lounge at The Mesmerist.

Every other month, we will bring you a thoughtfully designed menu created by our Head Chef that showcases the very best seasonal ingredients or that captures the flavours of a particular month or occasion in a very special gastronomic way. So what better way to kickstart the first of these supper clubs than by celebrating Veganuary month!

Featuring a six-course celebration of plant-based food using locally sourced ingredients combined with international flavours and cooking techniques, this month’s supper club will bring vegetables to life in a truly exciting way!

£37.50 PER PERSON OR 2 FOR £55 OFFER!

We have also created a vegan-friendly wine and cocktail pairing as an optional extra so you can enjoy each delicious course with an expertly matched drink that complements the flavours of each dish.

And as an added bonus, each diner will be offered a 10% discount on the food when they next visit The Mesmerist!

To book your place at the first of our supper clubs taking place on Thursday 30th January from 7pm, please email hello@mesmerist.pub or book directly online by CLICKING HERE .

The Mesmerist

1-3 Prince Albert Street

Brighton

BN1 1HE

Tel - 01273 328542

SPACE + THYME go treasure hunting!

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 15:57:17 GMT

We are proud to be working in partnership with several wonderful businesses in Brighton and their talented teams. These partnerships are testament to the sense of community and entrepreneurial spirit in Brighton, as well as to the quality of our food and the professionalism of our service.

Our latest partnership sees us team up with local business Black Cat Treasure Hunts who offer personalized and affordable team building activities that are great for corporate groups as well as birthdays and other group activities. They are a fun way to explore the local area while uncovering its fascinating history.

Being in the heart of the Lanes district, our two central Brighton, The Mesmerist and The Black Lion are the perfect place to either start or finish your treasure hunt and to enjoy some top quality food and drinks to compliment your event.

Best of all, if you book your team building activity with Black Cat Treasure Hunts and start or end the hunt at either of these venues, you and your group will qualify for a 10% discount on all food and 20% discount on selected drinks. Speak to your hunt organizer to get the codeword for the discount.

Book your next team building activity through Black Cat Treasure Hunts by CLICKING HERE .

For a list of the other businesses we work in partnership with, please CLICK HERE .

Top score for Food Hygiene Rating

Mon, 09 Dec 2019 15:55:27 GMT

Following a recent Environmental Health Officer (EHO) visit from Brighton & Hove Council, our SPACE + THYME kitchens scored full marks for their Food Hygiene Rating.

Areas that were inspected to achieve this 5 star rating included:

Hygienic food handling

Hygienic handling of food including preparation, cooking, re-heating, cooling and storage

Cleanliness and condition of facilities and building

Cleanliness and condition of facilities and building (including having appropriate layout, ventilation, hand washing facilities and pest control) to enable good food hygiene

Management of food safety

System or checks in place to ensure that food sold or served is safe to eat, evidence that staff know about food safety, and the food safety officer has confidence that standards will be maintained in future

Well done to our brilliant kitchen team for a great result! You guys rock!

Tom and Holly tie the knot!

Tue, 03 Dec 2019 17:19:52 GMT

Shakespeare is arguably one of the most famous playwrights and poets of all time and wrote many of his plays and sonnets about love. So it seemed fitting that when Tom and Holly decided to get married, they chose a Shakespearian classic, A Midsummer Night's Dream to theme their special day around.

The Venue in Hove was the setting for this love story to unfold and the couple had a close friend play the part of the mischievous Puck, welcoming guests and keeping them entertained with magic tricks and love potions until they arrived from their ceremony.

Tom and Holly wanted to offer their guests a wide choice of items for their wedding feast with a relaxed and informal feel, so we catered a buffet that consisted of:

CANAPÉS

Mackerel + pickled cucumber sushi

Asian slaw spring rolls with soy

Cheddar rarebit with tomato jam

BUFFET

Salt + pepper chicken wings with homemade hot sauce

Veggie chilli con carne with charred corn salsa

Pulled pork sliders with coriander slaw

Mac ‘n’ cheese nuggets with jalapeno ketchup

Mushroom, caramelised onion + goats cheese wellington

Pea + coriander falafel with chilli + mint dip

New potato + spring onion salad with red wine vinaigrette

Tomato, red onion, mozzarella + olive oil

CHEESE BOARD

Four cheeses, crackers/toasts, celery, grapes + chutneys

Tom and Holly said “We are so happy we chose SPACE + THYME to cater for our wedding. They did everything so well! All our guests commented on how delicious the food was and it was so well presented. Their prices are fair and we couldn’t recommend them highly enough”.

We loved being a part of your special day and we wish you all the best in your new life as Mr and Mrs!

Husky Racing World Championship at Firle

Thu, 21 Nov 2019 16:45:20 GMT

Last weekend the 2019 World Sleddog Association Dryland World Championship took place in the stunning Firle Place estate near Lewes, welcoming 160 teams from 16 countries including Spain, Belgium, France, Germany, Slovakia and even as far afield as Russia.

Around 250 dogs raced the 5km course through the estate’s woodland in teams ranging from eight, six, four and two with the drivers on three- and four-wheeled riggs. There was also a solo class with competitors either on mountain bikes or running, tethered to the huskies. as well as categories for juniors and also rescue dogs.

As well as the racing, there were plenty of opportunities to get up close to the dogs that included breeds such as Siberian huskies and Alaskan malamutes. There was also a Christmas market, Santa’s Grotto and food stalls.

We served up tasty breakfast baps and lunches as well as warm-spiced mulled wine and boozy hot chocolates with a shot of Bailey’s, Amaretto or brandy. Cheers!

The Mesmerist brings the flavours of the South to the south coast!

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 15:46:18 GMT

We are always excited when we give a seasonal update to the menus in our central Brighton venues. The changes give us an opportunity to keep our food offering up to date while trying out new and exciting dishes.

The latest menu at The Mesmerist has taken the food offering in a completely new direction for the venue as well as bringing the unmistakable and irresistible spicy BBQ and smokehouse flavours of the South to Brighton.

The menu still offers all our pub classics, including burgers, fish & chips and sausage & mash, but the stars of the show on the new winter menu will undoubtedly be those dishes that feature Cajun spices, sticky BBQ sauces and glazes as well as those Southern smokey flavours.

Starters or a few small plates ordered together are a great way to sample a few of the new dishes. Tuck into the sticky BBQ pork belly bites and slaw, chicken wings with blue cheese dip, jalapeno corn & tomato croquettes with pico de gallo or the mac’n’cheese nuggets with chipotle sour cream.

For those looking for something more substantial, the smoked ribs in Laine’s ‘Mangolicious’ BBQ sauce with fries, slaw and charred corn, the mac’n’cheese with tomatoes and crispy kale, or the trio of soft-shell tacos filled with Cajun marinated tofu with jalapenos, guacamole and chilli aioli are all featured on the mains section and packed full of flavour.

And if all those flavours sound too good to pass up, 'The Boss' sharing board for two people has you covered featuring smoked ribs, BBQ pork belly bites, buffalo wings, beef brisket, charred corn, deep-fried pickles, onion rings and more! Top tip – make sure you have plenty of napkins to hand!

The Mesmerist

1-3 Prince Albert Street

Brighton

BN1 1HE

For reservations phone 01273 328542 or email hello@mesmerist.pub

The Mesmerist also serves boozy bottomless brunches every Saturday and epic roasts every Sunday!

All photos taken by Restaurants Brighton

ORM Digital celebrates 20 years of success!

PAR002_123@heg.com — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 12:17:30 GMT

Anniversaries are a pretty big deal, and this was no exception for ORM Digital when they celebrated their milestone 20th anniversary earlier this month and threw a big bash for their staff in the picturesque setting of Hollingbourne in Kent.

SPACE + THYME were brought in to deliver top notch catering throughout the day as well as run a bar from our vintage silver Air Stream. Despite the weather forecast being a bit touch and go, the sun was shining down providing the perfect day for a late summer BBQ where our swing grill and smoker train were used to produce a menu that consisted of:

FROM THE SWING GRILL:

Prime beef burger in brioche bun with cheese + caramelised onions

Bratwurst sausage in a soft roll with homemade ketchup + mustard

Halloumi + fire roasted red pepper burger (v)

(all served with dressed mixed leaf and pasta salad)

FROM THE SMOKER TRAIN:

Smoked BBQ pork ribs + gherkin slaw, with flatbread

Slow-smoked beef brisket served with confit cherry tomatoes + rocket in flatbread

Roast butternut, smoked hummus, confit cherry tomato, salsa verde + rocket on ciabatta (vg)

(all served with Asian slaw and cous cous salad)

SWEET TREATS:

Homemade ice cream

Mini sugared donuts with sauces

FROM THE AIR STREAM BAR:

Two Tribes craft beers on draught

Orchard Pig draught cider

Prosecco

Pimms

Aperol Spritz

Gin + tonic

SPACE + THYME cocktail

To add to the celebrations and to keep guests entertained all day, there were circus performers and magicians, a band, lawn games, a photo booth and a fire performance at the end of the day that drew the proceedings to a close.

Amy Creeden, Senior Marketing Manager at ORM who was responsible for organizing the celebration said, “Thanks to the team at SPACE + THYME for the outstanding job they did on catering our private event – I cannot rate them highly enough. The food was amazing, drinks were delicious, and everyone had a brilliant time. A big shout out to the catering and bar staff on the day who really know what they're doing when it comes to serving a crowd and helped to make our event a success!

Thanks so much Amy! Everyone at ORM was so friendly and this was a really fun event for us to work on! We were thrilled to be a part of your special day and delighted that everyone enjoyed themselves (and the food!) so much!

Claire and Dani's big day!

Thu, 22 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT

We first met Claire and Dani more than a year ago… and it’s amazing how time has flown! We can’t quite believe that after all this time planning and discussing their big day that they are now finally Mrs and Mrs!

For their wedding celebration at Coombes Farm , we provided bite-sized canapés when guests arrived, followed by a gourmet BBQ lunch and a street food style service in the evening once all the formalities of the day were over and the party was in full swing!

CANAPÉS

Brighton Gin-cured salmon on a dill blini

Gorgonzola + fig scone

FROM THE BBQ

Herb marinated lemon chicken breast

BBQ pulled pork

Vegetable + paprika dusted halloumi skewers

Moroccan cous cous

New potato + spring onion salad

Mint, sun-dried tomato + baby herb leaf salad

EVENING STREET FOOD
(served in tortilla wrap, Asian slaw + orange dressing)

Spiced chicken in plum marinade

Sweet potato + coriander falafel (vg)

We also organized the entertainment for the event getting the extremely talented singer and guitarist Evan Walsh to perform songs that the couple had requested while guests enjoyed the tranquil setting of the farm. Later that evening, our very own Chris (aka Disco Chris) took to the decks to spin a great selection of vinyl that got everybody on the dance floor until the clock struck midnight and the days events had drawn to a close.

The girls followed up and said, “SPACE + THYME were awesome at our wedding. Everyone loved the food, we had so many comments on how amazing it was. The music was ace, thanks Chris - we loved all the songs you played. Thank you for everything else you did on the day too behind the scenes. Thank you so much!”

We loved being a part of your special day and we wish you every happiness in your life together!

From everyone at SPACE + THYME xx

Aaaaand Chill... but just a Little!

PAR002_123@heg.com — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 10:49:16 GMT

The recent festival season meant our mobile bars and catering units enjoyed a series of outings bringing top quality street food and drinks to festival goers, one of which took place in an idyllic field in Laughton, just outside Lewes where a gathering of 500 revellers came to enjoy a brand new festival called The Little Chill .

Brought to you by the same organisers who set up the well-known Big Chill festival that started way back in 1995, The Little Chill, as the name suggests, was a much smaller and a lot more chilled affair but still offered everything you would expect from an established festival.

The main stage hosted an incredible line-up of live acts and DJ’s including the legendary Norman Jay and there was also a dance tent, a healing tent, a campfire space that became the setting for discussions and activities including yoga and meditation... and a carbon negative biomass energy rig called Terrence The Terra Preta Trailer !

We catered a breakfast, lunch and dinner menu from our large catering unit ensuring the festival goers were well fed and had plenty of choice available, including options for those with special diets and food allergies:

BREAKFAST

Outdoor-reared bacon bap

Bacon and egg bap

Vegan sausage bap (vg)

Banana and Strawberry smoothie (v)

Granola, yoghurt & berry pots (v)

Selection of pastries

LUNCH

A range of hot and cold salad boxes and naan wraps with

salad options of Asian slaw, apple and celeriac salad, pearl couscous, mixed leaves and

home-made sauces served with a choice of:

Home made falafel (vg)

Spiced pulled chicken

BBQ pulled pork

Roasted cauliflower and smoked carrot salad (vg)

DINNER

Slow-cooked beef shin with steamed rice

Three bean chilli with steamed rice (vg)

Vegetable moussaka with mixed leaf salad (v)

Vegetable tagine with couscous (vg)

BBQ pulled pork bap with apple ketchup, gherkin, slaw and fries

Our mobile Air Stream alongside served everything from draught beers and ciders, to Prosecco, Aperol Spritz and Pimms and even expertly mixed cocktails if you preferred yours shaken, not stirred!

Andie Brazewell, one of the main festival organisers said, "SPACE + THYME was a perfect match for our Little Chill festival in terms of ethics, variety of food that was offered, and their professionalism. I highly recommend them as a festival catering provider and would not hesitate to book them again. Great team!"

We loved being a part of the first ever Little Chill festival Andie! We'll drink to that! Cheers!

CleverGreen Festival comes to Brighton!

PAR002_123@heg.com — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 15:46:19 GMT

On Saturday 20th July, The Level was transformed into an environmentalist’s dream; an entire festival dedicated to helping people live more sustainable lives!

More than 1,500 people attended the day-long CleverGreen Festival which was free to attend and that brought together more than 50 ethical retailers, a series of interactive workshops and inspiring guest speakers, a wellbeing area, children’s area, huge clothes swap arena as well as food and drink stands.

Live music was provided throughout the day by a host of bands and artists on the main stage sponsored by SPACE + THYME.

As well as sponsoring the festival, we also ran the bars during the festival so our silver Airstream mobile bar was gleaming in the glorious sunshine, and we also had our Horse Box bar out on show selling beer. We reduced our carbon footprint significantly by only selling beers from local brewing companies located within a 2.5 mile radius of the event, including Laine Brew Co , Two Tribes , Cloak and Dagger and Brighton Bier . If anybody was after a refreshing water instead, we stocked a zero-plastic alternative in the form of Life Water Cans.

The big announcement at Glastonbury this year was that they went plastic-free and we were no exception, ditching single-use plastics in favour of reusable cups sponsored by Laine Pub Co. that were available from all the bars for a refundable £1 deposit. A much greener and more environmentally friendly policy that was a successful addition to the festival!

Jo Child, organiser of the CleverGreen Festival said, “We knew that an event like this was needed to show people that zero waste living can be learned and can be easy. Our festival encapsulated and showcased so many inspiring and groundbreaking changes that are striving for the good of people, planet and purpose. It was a truly incredible, positive and uplifting day and one which we believe people will not only fondly remember, but will benefit from for a long time”.

Photos: by Klara Koudelkova Photography

SPACE + THYME proud to sponsor CleverGreen Festival

PAR002_123@heg.com — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 13:11:34 GMT

We like to do as much as possible to show a little love to our planet and minimize any negative effects our events may have on her. From using local suppliers to reduce our carbon footprint and implementing a nose-to-tail policy on all our food produce to ditching plastics in favour of recyclable and compostable food packaging, we want to show we care !

But being green can sometimes be challenging. We get it! Don’t worry, the brilliantly eco-minded folks at CleverGreen are championing these causes and a whole lot more and want to help you with every step of the way to a more sustainable lifestyle.

So, on Saturday 20th July 2019, they’re bringing the CleverGreen Festival to Brighton! And SPACE + THYME is proud to announce we are the headline sponsor for this event!

Taking place on The Level, this all day FREE event wants to speak to you, entertain you and inspire you with their amazing guest speakers, interactive workshops, information and demonstration points and ethical retailers as well as a well-being area, kids area, clothes swap tent and of course the SPACE + THYME Main Stage!

We will be there supporting the festival as well as running the bars - look out for our silver Air Stream and our adorable horse box bar! So put Saturday 20th July in your diary now!

For more information , please visit https://www.clevergreengroup.com/clevergreen-festival

The green revolution is happening – see you there!

Donut get these o-fish-al days mixed up!

PAR002_123@heg.com — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 14:51:36 GMT

Friday 7th June was a double celebration for two of our favourite foods… National Fish & Chip Day for the quintessentially British classic and National Donut Day to commemorate the all round American favourite!

The lovely people at Travel Up agency in partnership with British Airways and American Airlines , ran a cleverly thought out campaign combining these two national days whilst simultaneously celebrating the strong partnership they have with the USA.

Now I know what you are thinking… the campaign obviously involved fish & chips as well as donuts! Right?

WRONG! (Though in your defence, that’s exactly what we thought when we first spoke to Lucy Watts, Senior Marketing Executive at Travel Up, who got in touch to enquire about hiring our Air Stream and donut machine for this campaign).

In fact, their “O-fish-al Donut” campaign saw them handing out free donuts with fish & chip shaped sprinkles to members of the public who could also stand a chance of winning return flights to New York City! The mini doughnuts not only tasted great, but they looked adorable too with the tiny sugared fish & chip shaped decorations!

We travelled up from Brighton early in the morning with our donut machine and silver Air Stream in tow to get to London’s South Bank and set up for the day. Despite the grey weather, there was soon a queue of people eager to try the tasty treats and by the end of the day more than 1,000 bags of donuts were handed out resulting in noticeable spikes in traffic to the Travel Up website as well as hundreds of viewers reacting to stories and photos on their social media platforms.

Lucy went on to say, “Everyone at SPACE + THYME is so friendly and helpful. Nothing was too big or too small for them! I couldn’t have organised my first ever event without them. Without a doubt we will be using them again at any other outdoor catering events we do! Thank you so much!”

Thanks Lucy! We can o-fish-ally say that we really enjoyed working on this event with you and the rest of the team at Travel Up! We hope we donut have to wait too long until we work with you again! :)

To view a short video of the #TUdonuts campaign, click on the link below:

Hunker down in The Beer Bunker

PAR002_123@heg.com — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Our central Brighton venue, The Mesmerist , in partnership with Laine Pub Company , have opened a brand new bottle shop and café on the ground floor called 'The Beer Bunker'.

The shop sells an impressive range of beers, ales, stouts, porters and sours from far and wide including a decent selection from locally produced Brighton and Sussex breweries, London and UK based breweries as well as a few notable international brands for good measure.

You'll also find a few low ABV bottles and if you prefer yours served on tap, they have a selection of speciality draught beers for you to choose from. Resident beer experts Jimmy and Ralphy also carefully select a 'beer of the week' for your enjoyment!

The shop opens every day at 10am serving teas, coffees and pastries to get your morning started off right, and later in the day if you're hungry and looking for a lunchtime fix, try one of the delicious homemade sandwiches created by SPACE + THYME to enjoy with your drinks (sandwiches served daily between 12pm and 3pm):

The shop also sells a range of Laine merchandise including t-shirts, caps, beanies, pint glasses, lighters, bottle openers, hoodies, mobile phone covers, badgers and bar blades.

Find The Beer Bunker at:
The Ground Floor of The Mesmerist
1-3 Prince Albert Street
Brighton
BN1 1HE

OPENING HOURS:
Sunday to Thursday 10am to 10pm
Friday and Saturday 10am to late

Spotify Artist’s Lounge

Wed, 22 May 2019 16:38:39 GMT

The 14th annual Great Escape music festival that showcases up-and-coming artists from a variety of musical genres rolled into Brighton once again from the 9th to the 11th May, welcoming more than 300 bands across 30 venues.

Spotify hosted an artist’s lounge in a contemporary New York-style loft apartment in the centre of town where musicians could find some respite from the buzz of activity taking place across the whole of Brighton to network and hang out with fellow musicians, enjoy a relaxing massage and sharpen up their look with a complimentary haircut.

They could also tuck into some delicious homemade SPACE + THYME cooking and enjoy a cool cocktail or two. We catered a brunch, lunch and late afternoon food service each day using compostable food packaging, cutlery and napkins produced from sustainable materials while the bar offered a variety of drinks including cocktails ranging from Bloody Mary’s and Rhubarb Tom Collins that were also served in compostable cups.

The lounge welcomed around 300 musicians each day with a separate cocktail and canapé reception held on the Friday evening for movers and shakers in the music industry where we served:

Pork Rilette with Sage Chutney on a Dried Apple Disc

Juniper + Lemon Cured Salmon on Blini

Cucumber + Pine Nut High Tea

Josh Connolly from Convex Productions who was the main organiser of the event and managed the lounge said, “It was a pleasure working with SPACE + THYME. The team gelled with our crew immediately and the Spotify clients were impressed by their professionalism throughout the four days. Not to mention AMAZING food and cocktails. The menu was excellent and our guests did not stop complimenting what was on offer. Great estimates on portions too. Looking forward to working with the team again in 2020!“

Thanks Josh! We had a brilliant time working with you and the rest of the team on this event! See you again next year!

Chamber of Commerce Pop-up Breakfast

PAR002_123@heg.com — Wed, 15 May 2019 14:46:41 GMT

The Brighton and Hove Chamber of Commerce hold regular pop-up breakfast events throughout the year for their members to network at. Their May pop-up event took place in the Brighton Spiegeltent , a popular venue during the Brighton Festival and Fringe, and offered us the opportunity to cater at it.

The breakfast was attended by more than 100 of their members who’s efforts to attend to this early morning networking session were rewarded with a choice of:

Bacon Buns

Veggie Sausage Buns (v)

Scrambled Tofu Buns (vg)

(all served with homemade ketchup, brown sauce or blueberry BBQ sauce)

Teas + Coffees

After breakfast and networking, guests enjoyed some high-flying entertainment from CircoPitanga – a vintage and glamorous circus show in a surreal world of fleas, flakes, acrobatics and surprises.

This was definitely a Chamber breakfast with a difference, but then again, anything goes during the Brighton Festival and Fringe!

Photography by: Maria Scard
www.mariascard.com

A Marathon weekend for Brighton!

PAR002_123@heg.com — Fri, 03 May 2019 11:16:25 GMT

Temperatures may have dropped down to single digits, but the Brighton Marathon was another hugely successful weekend in the Brighton events calendar with around 10,500 runners completing the 26.2 mile course.

SPACE + THYME were one of the caterers in the Event Village located on the beach near the finish line where runners can attend seminars, buy official marathon merchandise or sign up for the following year on the Friday and Saturday and where more than 100,000 people gather over the three-day event to show their support to the runners, to soak up the atmosphere, and of course to tuck into some delicious SPACE + THYME cooking!

We catered a menu that was not only packed with flavour, but also full of protein and carbs making it an ideal meal to have pre- or post-run:

Homemade flatbreads served with:

BBQ pulled pork OR
pulled chicken OR
sweet potato falafel (vg)

with a choice of fresh and colourful salads:

cous cous
mixed baby leaf
Asian slaw

and finished with homemade veganaisse (vegan mayo) or BBQ blueberry sauce

Protein salad boxes consisted of all the above, without the flatbread.

Fries were served plain or loaded with:

BBQ pulled pork OR
pulled chicken OR
veggie chilli (vg) OR
sweet potato falafel (vg)

We also ran busy bars from our silver Air Stream and horse box that were both perched on the beach making striking features when the sun came out, and also managed the even busier bar in the main tent which were all serving a specially brewed Brighton Marathon Weekend beer by the team at Two Tribes , our brewing partner.

Our highlight of the weekend was when one of the last couples over the finish line came up to our catering truck just before we started packing up and said the only thing that was motivating them to get around the course and finish was the thought of enjoying one of our delicious slow-cooked meaty meals!

Congratulations to everyone that took part in or was involved in the Brighton Marathon Weekend! We’ll be back again next year serving up more tasty treats!

Brighton Restaurant Awards – the results!

PAR002_123@heg.com — Wed, 17 Apr 2019 13:55:35 GMT

After weeks of voting, and almost 30,000 votes being cast, the results of the 2019 Brighton Restaurant Awards Vote Online ( BRAVO ) are in! We are thrilled to announce two Top 20 positions and a Top 10 for our venues!

Best Gastro Grub - The Black Lion #17

In the category of Best Pub Grub, The Black Lion was voted number 17. Our talented team of chefs that operate and manage the kitchen in this popular Brighton pub, are always updating the menu to ensure the best seasonal produce is being used, and ensuring there are plenty of veggie and vegan dishes available as well as for other special diets like gluten and dairy free.

The menu covers all bases ranging from pub classics (fish and chips, bangers and mash, pie and mash…) and burgers, to salads and sharing platters and also has daily specials if you are looking for something a bit different. The sharing boards are the stars of the show and are a great option if you are out with friends as they offer a wide selection of choice items to enjoy from the main menu, so also offer excellent value for money.

Best Cocktails - The Mesmerist #15

The Mesmerist , that has just completed an extensive refurbishment, ranked 15th in the category of Best Cocktails. Our cocktail menu offers something for everyone, so whether you prefer yours shaken or stirred, served long or short, you’ll be sure to find your perfect drink, and have it expertly mixed by one of our top team of mixologists. That said, the Salted Caramel Espresso Martini is a definite crowd pleaser and is one of our most requested drinks… and after one sip it’s easy to understand why.

And with the addition of our brand new 70's inspired cocktail lounge, The Flipside , located on the first floor of The Mesmerist, there's even more reason to visit The Mes for a cocktail or two! For full details of our cocktail menu and cocktail master classes on offer (a great team activity!), please click here .

Best Sunday Roast - The Black Lion #9

The Black Lion performed well again in another food category, this time securing a Top 10 position being ranked 9th for Best Sunday Roast. We serve up a choice of pressed pork belly with crispy crackling, roast chicken breast, rolled shoulder of Sussex lamb or roast strip loin of British beef with all trimmings, large Yorkshire puds and lashings of homemade gravy. And for our non-meat eating friends, you can tuck into a goats cheese, red onion and mushroom Wellington (v) or a braised leek, roast squash, sweet potato, courgette, spinach and pine nut Wellington (vg).

For full details of the Black Lion’s delicious menu, including Sunday roasts, please click here

Congratulations to our venues, and to all the BRAVO winners!

For full details of all the winners in this year’s awards, please visit Brighton Restaurant Awards

The Mesmerist unveils a mesmerising new look!

Mon, 08 Apr 2019 13:22:35 GMT

After several weeks of closure to undertake an extensive refurbishment, The Mesmerist has opened its doors again to welcome customers to a new-look venue that exudes style and sophistication while still retaining some of the quirks The Mes is known for and charm that is synonymous with Brighton.

Step inside the magical world of The Mesmerist! Some of the main changes we think you’ll be pleased to see are:

- a striking new copper-top bar that not only looks good, but the superior design and improved functionality means shorter queuing times for your drinks

- an improved design and layout of the new DJ booth and stage area creating a more open plan and lighter space overall

- comfortable and stylish banquette seating in the windows and new furniture throughout

- new toilets in the male and female loos as well as an accessible toilet

- new and improved lighting and a fresh new colour scheme throughout

The Mesmerist
1-3 Prince Albert Street
Brighton
BN1 1NH

And there are a few more changes still to come! We will be opening a café and bottle shop on the ground floor around Easter time, so you will be able to pop in and grab a bite to go or enjoy in if you have the time. You will also be able to get your favourite craft beers and ales from the bottle shop – the perfect pit stop when you need a few cans for a day out or on the beach.

So many changes, but a few things remain the same… our super friendly and professional staff and our unwavering commitment to ensure you have the best time when visiting The Mes!

We look forward to seeing you soon!

See you on The Flipside!

PAR002_123@heg.com — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Quit your jive talking and boogie on down to Brighton’s newest and grooviest cocktail lounge housed in the newly refurbished first floor of one of the most well-known and much-loved institutions, The Mesmerist (also newly refurbished).

Taking its inspiration from the era that heralded the Soul Train movement, music at The Flipside is iconically soul and funk with equal measures of Bowie, Blondie, Velvet Underground, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, The Stranglers, The Clash, The Who, James Brown and others thrown in so you’ll be tapping your toes to the rhythm while you enjoy a pre- or post-dinner cocktail. And if you feel the urge to dance, the ground floor of The Mesmerist has DJ’s and bands that perform at the venue regularly, so you wont have far to go to shake your groove thang!

The décor is a blend of modern sophistication and unashamed retro, where kitsch meets cool and at times you may think you’ve stumbled onto the set of a Boogie Nights or Studio 54 reboot. Those with a keen eye will notice the design references and style nods to some of the iconic movies and music the 70’s gave us.

These references carry on over to the cocktail menu featuring our take on classics that were all the rage in the 70’s with a few twists that The Mesmerist is known for, while the food menu serves up tasty small plates and daily specials served tapas-style that are the perfect light bites to go with your expertly mixed drinks.

For table reservations at The Flipside (Thursday evenings to Saturday evenings only), phone 01273 328542. The Flipside is also available to hire exclusively for your own event between Sunday and Wednesday. Email your event enquiry to hello@mesmerist.pub

Can you dig it?

Find us on the first floor at:
The Mesmerist
1-3 Prince Albert Street
Brighton
BN1 1NH

New menus for 2019 – OUT NOW!

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 12:44:48 GMT

At SPACE + THYME, we understand how important the catering is at any event. Our Head Chef updates our menus regularly to ensure we keep offering our clients the very best produce and that we also keep on top of current catering trends to make the food one of the main attractions at your special occasion.

The finishing touches have been added to our latest menus and they are now available to download from our website, featuring:

SET MENUS

CANAPES

BUFFETS

BOWL FOOD

BBQ

CHRISTMAS MENUS - coming soon!

Our set menus have been designed to pair starters, mains and desserts that complement each other beautifully to create well-rounded and balanced dining experiences, but equally that can be tailored to suit your taste and budget if you prefer.

Our canapé, buffet and bowl food menus are split into meat, fish and seafood, vegetarian and plenty of vegan options too so you can create an entirely bespoke menu that caters to your dietary preferences or requirements.

And if you are looking for a brilliant BBQ for your summer party, we have this covered too with a range of options ensuring there is something for everyone, and using our range of ultimate BBQ equipment including our train smoker and Bavarian swing grill!

We will always be able to cater for any special dietary requirements or food allergies and intolerances given at least one weeks notice.

To download our 2019 menus, CLICK HERE , or you can request a copy to be emailed to you by contacting info@spaceandthyme.co.uk or by phoning (01273) 900866.

Vote for us in the Brighton Restaurant Awards 2019!

Thu, 14 Feb 2019 15:00:05 GMT

It’s Valentine’s Day! And what better way of spreading some love and showing you care than by voting for us in the Brighton Restaurant Awards Vote Online (BRAVO)!

The BRAVO’s are Brighton’s only entirely publicly generated food and drink awards in the city, giving people the change to praise their favourite cafés, bars, pubs and restaurants.

There are 16 categories to recognise the very best that Brighton has to offer, including Best Restaurant, Best Pub, Best Roast, Best Cocktails, Best Pub Grub and Best Welcome to name just a few.

Our central Brighton venues, The Black Lion, The Mesmerist and The Western are all in the running and we need your votes! Registration to vote is FREE, and best of all, you stand the change of winning £200 to spend at a venue of your choice once the winners are announced on 28th March.

To vote for your favourite venue, click on any of the links below:

The Black Lion

The Mesmerist

The Western

Thank you, and good luck!

Lots of Love, the SPACE + THYME team! xxx

Come watch Six Nations Rugby with us!

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 15:42:36 GMT

Last year the focus was firmly on football with FIFA World Cup fever taking over most of the nation during June and July. Now that's been kicked into touch, this year it’s rugby’s turn in the spotlight with the Guinness Six Nations where England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy will battle it out for glory, with the first match kicking off this Friday 1st February at 8pm (GMT).

Where will you go to watch it? Our central Brighton venues have tackled this head-on and will be screening all the matches so you can watch the games on big screens with all your mates and have quality pub grub and a bar-full of drinks including craft beers and ales on hand. And look out for special Guinness promotions and offers in the venues!

The Western – 11 Cranbourne Street, BN1 2RD

Avoid a scrum at the bar and buy 5 cans of craft beer for just £15.50. And if you’re feeling hungry choose from their delicious special Six Nations Burgers:

England
Pure Beef Burger, Smoked Back Bacon, Artisan Cheddar, Brown Sauce and Salad

Ireland
Pure Beef Burger, Fried Colcannon, Relish and Guinness Caramelised Onions

Scotland
Pure Beef Burger, Scottish Cheese and Relish… all deep fried!

Wales
Minted Lamb Burger, Garlic Yoghurt, Salad and Spicy Relish

Italy
Breaded Chicken, Napoli Sauce, Roasted Peppers, Mozzarella and Salad

France
Pure beef Burger, Camembert, Sweet Onion Jam, Salad and Truffle Mayo

The Black Lion - 14 Black Lion Street, BN1 1ND

Watch the game on a large 2.5m screen indoors or on screens in the beer garden with heated booths. Grab 4 cans of beer for just £15 or enjoy Happy Hour specials on selected drinks from 5pm to 7pm every day except Saturday.

The Mesmerist – 1-3 Prince Albert Street, BN1 1HE (open Saturdays and Sundays only throughout February)

Or try The Mes where all the matches will be shown on a large 2.5m screen on the ground floor as well as on other screens throughout the venue. Please note the venue will be undergoing somewhat of a conversion throughout February and will remain closed during the week (Monday to Friday) while the refurbishment takes place.

For further information about the Guinness Six Nations Rugby, please visit https://www.sixnationsrugby.com

New year, new menu at The Western

Fri, 18 Jan 2019 16:03:04 GMT

The Western’s new years resolution is to continue serving top quality pub food, great craft beers and delivering excellent service. With that in mind, their latest menu has a number of new items and features that is set to get 2019 off to a great start!

Our version of BYOB… Build Your Own Burger, is sure to be a crowd pleasure! Featuring beef, chicken, halloumi or vegan burgers with a tempting selection of add-ons, you’ll be able to pimp your burger while customizing it just the way you like it!

We have also introduced a selection of grilled cheese toasties that are an ideal meal for those needing an express lunch, something lighter or a fun meal for the kids. Pair any toastie with a Kronenburg, Strongbow Cloudy Apple or a pint of Coke for just £10.

And for a bit of fun (and if you are feeling lucky!), why not try our ‘croquette roulette’… half a dozen pulled pork croquettes with one of them being extra spicy. A great plate of fun to try out with your mates.

Giving Veganuary a try? The Western has ensured you will be well looked after with a selection of tasty vegan meals including:

Vegan Mac and Cheese Nuggets

Vegan Nachos
(using vegan cheese and vegan sour cream)

Vegan Sharing Board
(mac and cheese nuggets, three bean chilli, onion rings, veggie sausages, deep-fried pickles, slaw, fries and dips)

Vegan Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Loaded Fries with Three Bean Chilli and Vegan Cheese

Black Bean and Mushroom Burger

Deep Fried Pickles

And as January is the month to grab great deals in most stores, we are no exception! We are continuing to serve a wide range of local craft beers and IPA’s, and our take-away service means you can grab 5 cans of beer for just £15.50. Bargain!

For the full menu go to www.thewestern.pub/food

The Western
11 Cranbourne Street
Brighton
BN1 2RD

Tel - (01273) 725656
hello@thewestern.pub

Catering and cocktails that are out of this world!

Thu, 03 Jan 2019 13:45:41 GMT

At the end of last year, a VIP client wanted canapés and cocktails for their end of year celebration to be held at her home. Having successfully launched two ranges in her high-end beauty, homewares and lifestyle products on a galaxy and botanical theme, we were asked to design the food and drinks menu around these two ideas.

With the party in less than a week and with our busy festive season already underway, we had our work cut out for us. But we love a challenge and designed a bespoke botanical and galaxy themed extravaganza that was out of this world and that the client and all the guests loved!

Our cocktails included:

Cosmos-politan
Our modern take on a classic served with blue Curacao to create a beautiful purple colour resembling the night sky
and a galaxy of swirling stars and decorated with a glitter rim around the glass

SPACE + THYME
Our signature cocktail was the perfect choice for a galaxy and botanical themed event!
Made from thyme infused gin, muddled cucumber and elderflower
topped with Prosecco and served with a sprig of thyme

Ginger Bee
White rum, ginger syrup, lemon juice and honey
served with decorative ginger slices resembling a bee’s wings

Tropical Mocktail
A non-alcoholic version of our SPACE + THYME cocktail topped with sparkling soda water

Our serving platters were decorated with tropical palm leaves and colourful edible flowers and served a selection of the following bite-sized canapés:

Pork Rillette on a Dried Apple Disc with Apple Chutney

Sun-Dried Tomato Polenta with Green Olive Tapenade (v, vg)

Cheese Scone with Fig and Gorgonzola (v)

Marinated Vegetables on Bruschetta with Tapenade (v, vg)

Citrus Cured Salmon Scones with Lemon and Herb Cream Cheese

Even the weather was in keeping with a galactic and botanical theme as the heavens opened up and unleashed a downpour like you would only see in a tropical rainforest! Thankfully it subsided for just long enough for the party to conclude with a spectacular firework display.

Happy 2nd Birthday Platf9rm!

Mon, 26 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Photo credit (above): www.ashlorniephoto.com

Co-working has become a massive trend. One of the trendiest and coolest providers of co-working space and serviced offices in Brighton, Platf9rm , recently celebrated their second birthday – and we were there to ensure the guests at their birthday bash enjoyed tasty canapés and drinks while they partied the night away.

Our chef commandeered one of Platf9rm’s meeting rooms and temporarily converted it into a preparation space to create the following bite-sized beauties:

Pork Rillete on a Dried Apple Disc and Apple Ketchup

Smoked Mackerel P ât é on Toast with Horseradish and Crème Fraiche

Cheese Scone with Gorgonzola and Fig Chutney

Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables on Toast with Tapenade

Victoria Sponge Cupcakes

Chocolate Cupcakes with a White Chocolate Buttercream

Our team also staffed the busy bar serving Prosecco, beer, wine and soft drinks as well as Brighton Gin & tonics and a fruity rum punch that packed a, erm, punch!

Photo credit (above): www.ashlorniephoto.com

Emilie Lashmar, Creative Director at Platf9rm, followed up after the event with some feedback that was bang ‘on brand’ for SPACE + THYME describing our service as ‘stellar’!

Although a relative newcomer to the industry, the team at Platf9rm are pioneering the way with their entrepreneurial spirit, creative thinking and passion for all things Brighton. They have grown from 6 members to more than 600 in their first two years and have already secured a prime location in Hove for their second site that is well underway and set to open in Spring next year!

Happy Birthday once again, from everyone at SPACE + THYME! xx

Habitat Brighton Launch Party

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 16:06:58 GMT

Since hearing the news that Habitat was opening a new flagship store in Brighton , we have been excitedly waiting for the launch date to arrive! Not just because the opening promised an abundance of chic and stylish décor and home furnishings, but also because we were asked to cater at the official launch party to be held in the store.

The launch event took place on both floors of the store with 3,000 products from the latest Habitat collection providing a rich and colourful backdrop. Around 250 lucky Brightonians who were able to secure a place at this eagerly anticipated event enjoyed Prosecco and canapés from SPACE + THYME whilst DJ’s set a lively and upbeat atmosphere spinning funky tunes and laidback beats.

Here’s what canapés the guests enjoyed to eat:

Pork Rillette with Apple Chutney

Smoked Mackerel Pâté on Toast with Horseradish and Crème Fraiche

Cheese Scones with Fig and Gorgonzola

Finishing off with a nod to being by the seaside with our Raspberry Eton Mess Ice-Cream Cones

Adam Crudgington, Habitat’s PR Manager who organised the event said, “Thank you so much to you and the rest of the SPACE + THYME team for yesterday’s event. A really great set of people, professional at all points and delivered effortlessly. We were thrilled how it all went and we’ve had such great feedback from customers and press about the whole event. Looking forward to working with you in the future.”

To celebrate the creativity of this thriving seaside city, Habitat also collaborated with local Brighton artists to create bespoke designer homewares that feature the artist’s work. To mark the occasion of the new store opening, they are also offering 25% off everything, yes EVERYTHING, until Sunday 18th November (Brighton branch only).

If you have a launch party or event that you need delicious canapes or catering for, contact us on info@spaceandthyme.co.uk or (01273) 900 866.

‘Grease’ is the word – Amanda’s 50th Birthday

Thu, 18 Oct 2018 15:32:28 GMT

Coombes Farm , just outside Brighton, was transformed into a rural Rydell High recently for the lovely Amanda’s ‘Grease’ themed 50th birthday celebration. The main venue was decked out to look like a high school dance hall complete with pink Cadillacs, authentic vinyl LP table centres and iconic images from the movie everywhere you looked! All the guests sported unmistakably Grease inspired costumes ranging from black leather jackets and slicked-back hair to jocks and cheerleaders and several Pink Ladies complete with pink wigs!

SPACE + THYME provided the catering for 270 guests, and being ‘hopelessly devoted’ to being on theme, served a 1950’s American diner inspired menu, that was eaten faster than you could say 'greased lightning':

Prime Beef Burger in Brioche Bun with Cheese & Caramelized Fried Onions

Halloumi & Fire Roasted Red Pepper Burger (v)

Bratwurst Sausage in a Soft Roll with Ketchup and Mustard

Super Crunch Fries

IPA Beer Battered Onion Rings

Herbed Coleslaw and Mixed Leaf Salad served with our selection of dressings

Warm Sugared Doughnuts served with salted caramel and chocolate sauces

Our silver Air Stream, provided an authentic vintage touch and after all the burgers and bangers were eaten, served fresh sugared donuts with sweet sauces. At midnight, a round of bacon sandwiches was served for those that were feeling a bit peckish from dancing right through the night to rock ‘n’ roll classics and hits from the musical including “Summer Nights” , “We Go Together” and “You’re The One That I Want” .

We had a great time catering at this event and were bowled over by the effort that everybody made to look the part!

Happy Birthday Amanda from everyone at SPACE + THYME! xx

Ragnar Relay Race Weekend

Fri, 12 Oct 2018 10:11:22 GMT

A few weeks ago, the UK series of the Ragnar Relay Race (put on by the same organisers of the Brighton Marathon) saw around 1,200 runners taking part in a 176 mile relay race from Maidstone to Brighton. The route takes in some of the most scenic locations along the South East coast including Whitstable, Margate, Dover, Folkestone, Hastings and of course Brighton.

SPACE + THYME provided a welcome hot meal and refreshments to the weary runners, who were not only battling against physical and mental exhaustion, but also against the elements that provided little respite for most of the weekend with the forecasted rain and a dip in temperatures.

Our catering stations were set up in Folkestone which marks the halfway point in the race and also at Black Rock near the Brighton Marina which was where the race finished. In Folkestone, the runners came in a steady stream from 7pm through to 1am the following morning, whilst in Brighton the first runners started crossing the finish line at about 10am. Last across the finish line was the sun that eventually made an appearance towards the end of the day!

Our warming and delicious food included gourmet beef burgers, cheese burgers and loaded burgers, BBQ pulled chicken and beef chilli, and for the vegetarians we had a delicious vegetable tagine with a selection of healthy and colourful salads.

Ragnar Relay returns to the UK in September next year. Congratulations to all the runners that took part in this epic endurance race!

Photo credit: Ragnar Relay Race UK

E2E Networking Event at SPACES Brighton

Sun, 30 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMT

More than 100 entrepreneurs and business owners gathered at SPACES Brighton for a networking event organised by E2Exchange focusing on growth in business. The event included motivational presentations and discussions by inspiring business founders, as well as a keynote speech by Paul Lindley from Ella’s Kitchen, who were all able to share their own experience of starting a business and the challenges they faced when scaling up.

Great minds need great nourishment, so to that end, SPACE + THYME catered a selection of delicious canapés and bowl food as well as some seriously tasty bite-sized sweet treats to finish:

BBQ Pork Belly Bites

Smoked Salmon Mousse Blinis

Polenta and Smoked Aubergine Mousse

Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto

Corned Beef Hash on a Bed of Mash with Beef Jus

Mini Sticky Date Puddings

Salted Caramel Chocolate Brownie Bites

The event kick-started a #ScaleUp2Success series of E2Exchange networking activities across the country and we were delighted to be a part of this inspiring event.

PLANNING A CORPORATE EVENT?

If you are planning a corporate event and need a caterer to deliver delicious food served with a smile, contact us today on (01273) 900 866 or by email on info@spaceandthyme.co.uk

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Thu, 20 Sep 2018 12:23:56 GMT

It may only be September and Christmas still three months away, but we are already starting to prepare for the busy festive season! Our Christmas menus are out and we are now taking end of year group bookings at The Mesmerist, The Western and The Black Lion; three iconic and much-loved central Brighton venues that are the perfect setting to get your Christmas party off to a great start!

Our Christmas menus are available from the 24th November right through to the 31st January. We can cater bountiful buffets that include vegetarian and vegan dishes, or if you are looking for something a bit more formal, choose from two or three course sit down menus (vegetarian and vegan options also available), all served with a festive flourish!

And with all three venues playing host to a jam-packed calendar of events and entertainment ranging from bands and DJs to fun-filled themed nights, your party can carry on until the wee hours.

Our forward planning has all your Crimbo needs covered. You may want to plan ahead yourself and make sure you have the following day off work!

The Black Lion

14 Black Lion Street, Brighton BN1 1ND

To enquire about availability or to make a booking, please email hello@blacklion.pub

The Mesmerist

1-3 Prince Albert Street, Brighton BN1 1HE

To enquire about availability or to make a booking, please email hello@mesmerist.pub

The Western

11 Cranbourne Street, Brighton BN1 2RD

To enquire about availability or to make a booking, please email hello@thewestern.pub

We Western you a Mesmerist Christmas and a Black Lion New Year! ;)

The Mesmerist has a mini-makeover

Wed, 05 Sep 2018 13:30:50 GMT

The Mesmerist (or The Mes as it is referred to by locals and those in the know) is a bit of an institution in Brighton. Patrons love it for its weird and wonderful assortment of Victorian and antiquarian collectables, its bottled trinkets, hidden rooms through secret doorways, and of course its quality food offering and sensational cocktails !

Over the past few weeks we have been giving this popular pub and restaurant a mini-makeover. But fear not, we have made sure to keep all of the things you love about it and have added some new features that we think you will love too!

In The Speakeasy, the addition of bold wallpaper featuring bright and colourful forest creatures such as butterflies, lizards, frogs, snakes and birds of paradise has transformed this room into a magical space. We have also ditched the red and re-upholstered the seating using a bright palette of rich blues and greens that contrast beautifully against the dark wooden floor. The Speakeasy now exudes an elegance while still retaining a certain quirkiness and charm that The Mes is known and loved for.

The Bordello has been given a new lease of life and is now totally unrecognisable from its former self. The room now houses many of the vintage collectables and curiosities that were used around the venue including antique framed portraits, wall-mounted antlers, cast iron planters and oversized mirrors creating a fanciful Aladdin’s cave effect where there are interesting things to see wherever you look! This room will undoubtedly provide a fun and whimsical setting for any event or party.

The Mesmerist offers extremely competitive room hire rates for wedding receptions, birthday parties and other celebrations. Both rooms have their own private bars so we can guarantee exclusivity for your groups and catering options start from as little as £9 per person for buffets. Drinks packages can also be tailored to suit your taste, style and budget.

To enquire about availability or to make a private booking at The Mesmerist, please telephone 01273 328 542 or email your details to hello@mesmerist.pub

The Western launches new menu

Thu, 30 Aug 2018 11:48:14 GMT

Our chefs have been working hard behind the scenes to create a new menu for one of our venues in central Brighton, The Western .

Overlooking Churchill Square and featuring industrial interiors, Eastern European Pop Art and colourful neon signs, this pub now has an improved food offering to complement the craft beers and ales they are well known for serving.

New additions to the menu include:

Tap House Sausages and Mash – a trio of pork sausages made using a different craft ale each week on a bed of creamy mash and served with a rich onion gravy

Halloumi and Red Pepper Burger – pan-seared halloumi in a spiced cornflour blend with roasted red pepper, crispy lettuce, tomato sauce and sliced pickles (v)

Avocado Wrap – flour tortilla wrap filled with avocado, roasted red pepper, sun-dried tomato and salsa (vg)

Chicken Caesar Salad – a hearty salad piled with grilled chicken pieces, crispy bacon and parmesan shavings and topped with a decorative crouton twirl

Homemade Waffles and Ice Cream – fluffy golden waffles topped with a scoop of your favourite ice cream and drizzled with a delicious toffee sauce

PLANNING AN EVENT AND NEED A VENUE?

The Western has a first floor that can be hired exclusively for private events and parties for up to 60 people. For details of the space and to make an enquiry, please CLICK HERE .

All photos taken by Restaurants Brighton

Competition Time!

Wed, 22 Aug 2018 12:37:20 GMT

Our fleet of mobile catering trailers is expanding! We’ve recently added a small but perfectly formed converted horse box that dressed with some flags or bunting would make an ideal mobile bar or food trailer at any outdoor event or garden party.

She joins our large catering trailer ‘ Denise ’, and smaller catering trailer ‘ Babs ’, but as yet, we are still to name her. That’s where you come in!

To mark the occasion, we are giving you the opportunity to win a fantastic Sunday roast for two people plus dessert and a bottle of house wine at The Mesmerist in central Brighton… and all you have to do is to think of a suitable name for her.

To enter, all you have to do is:

1) Like and follow us on Facebook (@spaceandthymebrighton), Instagram (@spaceandthymebrighton) or Twitter (@spacethymebtn)

2) Leave a comment telling us what you would name our horse box on any of our social media accounts

3) Tag a friend that you would take with you to The Mesmerist for the meal

Competition closes on Monday 24thSeptember 2018. The winner will be notified on Tuesday 25th September. Meal voucher will be valid for 6 months from date of issue.

Good luck!

Delicious Sunday roast served at The Mesmerist... just look at the size of those Yorkshire puds!

Planning a wedding, private or corporate event?

Thu, 02 Aug 2018 12:47:00 GMT

Summer is here and what a summer it has been so far… the hottest summer on record since 1976 in fact! We have really been enjoying the sunshine as we catered at some large outdoor events recently including the T20 cricket matches at the Sussex CCC and the Lionel Richie and Little Mix concerts in Hove, which have given us plenty of opportunities to demonstrate our skill and experience at outdoor catering delivering gourmet barbecues and scrumptious street food to large crowds of hungry fans and spectators.

Our repertoire also extends to catering and helping to organise private events including dinner parties, wedding receptions and other celebrations as well as catering at corporate events ranging from business meetings and conferences to team away days. Whether at a venue of your choice (indoor or outdoor venue) or at one of our three venues in central Brighton , our chefs can create bespoke menus to suit any taste, occasion, theme and budget and we can serve these as formal or as relaxed as you like.

For events requiring fine dining, our dedicated team will deliver exceptional service and we can also dress your table to suit. Our buffets and canapes offer a wide choice from savoury to sweet and we can cater for any food allergies and special dietary requirements including vegetarian, vegan, dairy free and gluten free.

With years of experience at organising events and parties of all kinds on many different locations, we can also source entertainment from bands and DJ’s to burlesque performers and even photo booths. And if you need a celebration cake to mark the occasion, we have that covered too!

If you are planning a private event and need a caterer to design a bespoke menu and deliver it with flair, speak to us today and find out how we can help to make your event amazing! Drop a line to info@spaceandthyme.co.uk with your event details or phone (01273) 900 866. For further information on some of the private events and weddings we have catered at, please have a look at the blog on our website.

Green is the new black

Fri, 27 Jul 2018 12:22:50 GMT

Brighton has a reputation of being full of eco-warriors, hippies (we prefer to call them 'happies') and tree huggers… and we are no different! We care about cooking delicious food, delivering great service and creating lasting memories for you and your loved ones… and we also care deeply about the environment and do as much as we can to try and minimise the impact on it when delivering our catering and events services.

Good planets are hard to find, so here’s an overview of what we like to do, to keep it green:

PACKAGING:

We have adopted sustainable and compostable packaging solutions to serve our food in, especially at large outdoor events like at the Sussex County Cricket Club and the Brighton Marathon Weekend. The compostable packaging is defined by nature and developed by science to deteriorate much quicker than biodegradable packaging.

Our food trays and burger boxes are made using plant fibres from waste streams including sugar cane and palm while our hot food boxes are made from board derived from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) approved sources and are unbleached which ensures minimal chemical processing. We’ve also ditched the plastic in favour of wooden cutlery which can be easily composted and our napkins made from 100% recycled paper.

Further details about the range of packaging we use can be found at Compost Me and Go Pak (Edenware range)

KEEPING IT LOCAL:

We use Brighton-based food suppliers as much as possible to reduce our carbon footprint and to support local businesses, and only those that produce food in a sustainable way. We source our cooking oils from green supplier Edible Oil Direct slightly further in neighbouring county Kent, because once used, the oil is returned back to Edible Oil Direct who turn this into other products including animal feeds or cosmetics and more recently, biodiesel fuel which is a cheaper, greener alternative to everyday diesel.

NOSE TO TAIL FOOD POLICY:

Waste is, well, so wasteful! To that end, our chefs have adopted a ‘nose to tail’ policy when preparing and cooking their food items meaning they endeavour to use every bit of the vegetable or piece of meat, putting off-cuts and scraps to good use to flavour soups, stocks and sauces.

We welcome any suggestions or feedback about anything else you think we could be doing to act in a green and sustainable way. Show you care – go green!

Our venue's summer menus are out!

Fri, 20 Jul 2018 11:09:27 GMT

SPACE + THYME are proud to manage three of the most well known and loved pubs and bars in central Brighton. Our experience and expertise at managing events extends to the successful running of these popular establishments, which differ in size and style, that remain firm favourites among the Brighton set.

As we welcome the glorious summer sunshine to the south coast, the team of resident chefs in these venues have given a seasonal update to the menus to ensure the very best quality ingredients are used, while still reflecting the personality and unique character of the venues.

The Black Lion - 14 Black Lion Street, BN1 1ND

This pub with a history dating back almost 500 years and just a block from the beach, serves up pub classics, salads and burgers that offer excellent choice and value for money. But the real stars of the show are the sharing boards ideal for two or more people that serve up Deep South-style flavours (think sticky chicken wings, pulled pork and smoky ribs… make sure you have plenty of napkins to hand!); a Seafood Platter brimming with ‘fruit de mer’ served in a variety of ways including deep-fried and as a pate; a rainbow-coloured vegetarian feast served with fresh breads and dipping sauces and everyone’s favourite… crispy Nachos piled high and loaded with all the usual toppings.

The Western - 11 Cranbourne Street, BN1 2RD

The Western’s menu has an abundance of smaller plates and pub bites to choose from that are ideal for sharing and feature flavours that range from hot and spicy, cheesy or smoky to sweet and minty. The selection of mains also offer a wide variety of flavours and colours with the stand-out dishes on the menu being the garlic chicken kiev, the lemon and thyme marinated panzanella salad and the smoked salmon and caper salad with pickled cucumber. The chefs are also currently working on a brunch menu that will be launching soon and will be a great reason to get together with your friends and family for some top quality grub!

The Mesmerist - 1-3 Prince Albert Street, BN1 1HE

The Mes (as it is affectionately known to locals and those in the know) is a great place to meet friends and family for some brilliantly creative cocktails with ingredients including salted caramel, chilli and popcorn. Its menu featuring small plates and buns bursting with brilliant combinations of ingredients from Jamaica to the Mediterannean will be sure to satisfy the fiercest hunger cravings, but for a truly mighty plate of food, head to The Mes on a Sunday for their spectacular roasts where you can choose from beef, lamb, pork and chicken. And we have the vegetarians covered here too with a choice of mushroom and goats cheese wellington or miso, butternut squash and hazelnut loaf.

Feeling hungry yet? For full details of all the new seasonal menus in these venues, as well as the classic menus, please visit http://www.spaceandthyme.co.uk/pubs-venues

We welcome two new additions to our fleet!

Wed, 11 Jul 2018 13:39:48 GMT

Our SPACE + THYME fleet of catering vehicles is expanding! As well our fully fitted out and fully branded catering food trucks, Denise and Babs , we now have two more vehicles that are fun, versatile and ideal for private hire on a dry-hire basis. Both vehicles can add a special touch to your events requiring outdoor catering.

Our silver vintage Air Stream “Land Yacht” is a striking vehicle that stands out for all the right reasons! At 7.3m in length and just over 2m wide, its spacious interior provides ample room to set up as a large mobile bar or catering unit with the serving hatch down one side measuring approximately 5m in length providing plenty of space to serve your guests.

As well as being versatile as to its many uses, it is also adaptable in adding either a touch of retro 60’s flair or space age modernity to an event. It is also very handy for checking your hair and make-up when you don’t have a mirror!

If you need a mobile catering unit that is smaller (but perfectly formed), then our converted horse box will have you chomping at the bit! This unit has a serving hatch at one end and a separate door to the side that can be used to access the trailer when in use. The interior has been fitted out with oak panelling and melamine work surfaces, shelves, cupboards, a sink and a fridge and can be used to serve drinks, food or sweet treats.

The exterior of the trailer is a neutral mid-grey, and dressed with some colourful bunting or flags, will create a big impact despite its size. We will be naming these two units very soon... watch out for the announcement to find out what we call them!

Our vehicles are available to hire for a one-off event or for longer periods of time. If you have an event that you would like to hire either of these vehicles for, drop us a line on info@spaceandthyme.co.uk or give us a call on 01273 900 866.

SPACE + THYME adds a little mix of black magic to their catering

Mon, 09 Jul 2018 16:14:30 GMT

On Friday the Sussex CCC opened their gates to 19,000 fans who turned up to see Little Mix perform part of their Summer Hits Tour. Temperatures reached a glorious 27 degrees, and things got even hotter when the girls took to the stage after their support act Rak-Su, last year’s winner of the X Factor, were done warming the crowd up.

Our food offering included wraps filled with Moroccan lamb, pulled BBQ chicken or sweet potato falafel, colourful salads, stir-fried noodles, gourmet burgers, sizzling bratwurst in buns, loaded fries and succulent smoked ribs.

Our new food trailer made its first appearance serving mini sugar-coated donuts with sauces. This trailer, as well as our shiny silver Air Stream are available for hire as well as some great pieces of catering equipment including a donut machine and popcorn maker. Have a look at the equipment hire pages on our website for more details.

The noise from the screaming fans made it difficult to hear the food orders properly at times, but days of preparation meant that we kept the queues moving and were churning out delicious street food while Little Mix sang their hits including “Shout Out To My Ex”, Touch”, “Black Magic”, “No More Sad Songs” and their latest single “Secret Love Song”.

As well as outdoor catering and brilliant BBQ’s, we also offer a fine dining catering service, canapes and bowl food, we can supply entertainment including bands and DJs and can also manage your event from start to finish. If you are planning an event and need a caterer to add that little mix of seriously good food with something a bit special, drop us a line to see how we can make your event amazing!

SPACE + THYME is back catering at the Sussex County Cricket Club on Friday 13 July for the next in the T20 series of cricket matches.

Donut be fooled by these Lionel Richie lookalikes!

Mon, 25 Jun 2018 15:27:03 GMT

On Saturday 23rdJune, SPACE + THYME provided the outdoor catering at Sussex County Cricket Club (SCCC) in Hove, but this time there was not a cricket ball in sight.

The ground was the setting for the Lionel Richie concert which was the penultimate performance of his month-long UK Summer Tour throughout June.

The sell-out event saw 16,000 fans dancing all night long to his hits including ‘Endless Love’, ‘Say You Say Me’, ‘Lady’ and ‘Hello’.

Our brilliant BBQ and street food went down a treat and event goers were also queuing up for our delicious donuts being freshly made by "Mama G" in our beautiful shiny Air Stream.

SPACE + THYME will be back catering at the SCCC on Friday 6thJuly when Little Mix take to the stage to perform their hits.

"Helloooo! Is it donuts you're looking for?"

It’s cricket season again!

Mon, 25 Jun 2018 12:42:54 GMT

Let me start straight off the bat by saying how excited we are that cricket season is upon us once again! After a great season last year feeding thousands of cricket fans and supporting our home team, the Sussex Sharks, SPACE + THYME is looking forward to another great summer with improved menus and a greater food offering than last year.

We kick-started the season off two weeks ago by providing the outdoor catering at the one-day test match between the Sussex Sharks and Australia. Although our home team were defeated by the touring side, it was still a great day of cricket!

Our food offering on the day included delicious wraps filled with Moroccan lamb, BBQ pulled chicken or falafel with a choice of three salads including Asian slaw, giant pearl couscous and green leaf. Our train smoker made its test match debut serving up beautifully smoked pork spare ribs and we had gourmet burgers and sausages from our swing grill.

And if you were feeling a little stumped as to what to have, we were also selling freshly made donuts and popcorn from our shiny silver Air Stream, also making its first appearance at the cricket. “How’s that” for choice?

SPACE + THYME will be providing the outdoor catering at all the upcoming T20 matches on 13th and 29th July and the 1st, 5th, 10th, 14th, 17th and 27th August.

Kate and Hannah's 40th at Pekes Manor

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 11:44:41 GMT

Two awesome girls and a group of 80 friends took over the beautiful Pekes Manor House in Hailsham, Sussex for a late Autumn Weekend to celebrate a joint 40th birthday! We were asked to provide an al-fresco evening meal for the Friday night to match the stunning surroundings.

A selection of meats were slow-cooked overnight in our ovens and transported to the event and finished off on our 6-foot Cinders BBQ. Here's a selection of the food that was on offer for the evening:

A selection of canapés and vodka gazpacho starter

Harissa marinated lamb leg

BBQ beef brisket

Marinated squid with lemon crème fraiche and coriander

Thai style rice noodle salad with prawns and squid

Grilled stuffed mushroom caps with salsa verdi

Aubergine with rosemary oil & feta

BBQ corn

Herb roasted new potatoes

Cous cous salad with pumpkin and beetroot

Heirloom tomato & mozzarella salad

Mixed baby leaves salad

Breads, dips and dressings

Yum!!

Alan & Mariana's Wedding

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 11:20:26 GMT

One of the British music industry's movers and shakers tied the knot with the stunning Brazilian Mariana on a sunny September afternoon in Brighton. With the groom and his rather well-known best man being immensely keen foodies - the stag do took in the numerous Michelen-Starred restaurants of Spain's St Sebastien - our chefs had their work cut out for them.

Added to that, Mariana's family were travelling from Brazil to the UK for the occasion. The food had to be something special! SPACE + THYME were commissioned to create the day's feast to span land & sea. The Autumnal wedding menu went a little something like this:

Lobster with pan-fried king scallops, seared squid, smoked fish marshmallow and lobster & Jerusalem artichoke purée

***

Slow-braised beef cheeks with Muscat pumpkin risotto, toasted pumpkin seeds & coriander and roasted Heritage carrots

***

Dessert duties were handed over to a very impressive piece of art masquerading as a huge wedding cake for which we can take no credit.

Drinks-wise, Caipirinhas were the order of the day and our bar team stepped up to the plate with a selection of various concoctions to match the Cachaca with classic lime flavours and Autumnal British Fruits.

We wish Alan and Mariana all the best as husband and wife!

A Birthday on the Manor Out West

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 09:59:40 GMT

We were thrilled to cater at this two-day event and a bit of a do for Chris Martin's (not that one) 60th birthday.

The celebration was held at his, quite frankly, incredible manor house in Dorset and guests were asked to follow the Studio Ghibli theme (Japanese animation film studio based in Tokyo and known for their anime feature films).

Bell tents were pitched around the stunning grounds to accommodate the 120 friends and family who were all enthusiastically kitted out as characters from the classic film Spirited Away.

For the evening meal we created a selection of Japanese canapés and a 3-course meal followed by fish & chips and fruits at midnight from our pop-up kitchen in the garage.

The guests partied the night away as some of us got a few hours' sleep before serving bacon sandwiches in the morning and getting the BBQ on for a further wave of guests for the Sunday Pool Party.

Introducing the SPACE + THYME Cocktail!

Thu, 16 Jun 2016 14:44:12 GMT

What better way to introduce you all to SPACE + THYME than with a cocktail?! Serving as a staple of the Black Lion cocktail list, the SPACE + THYME is a light, refreshing, and most of all simple cocktail, perfect for an early evening drink or cheeky lunchtime treat.

RECIPE:
25ml Brighton Gin
75ml Prosecco
1x lemon wedge
4x slices of cucumber
2x sprigs of thyme
small splash of sugar syrup

1. Add one sprig of thyme and three slices of cucumber to boston class and muddle with a small splash of sugar syrup (add more if you prefer drinks a little sweeter)

2. Add 25ml Brighton Gin and the juice of one lemon wedge

3. Add ice to boston tin, shake.

4. Fine strain into a chilled flute

5. Add 75ml Prosecco

6. Garnish with remaining slice of cucumber and sprig of thyme. Enjoy!

Be sure to tag us and let us know how you’re getting along with your SPACE + THYME cocktails!

xxx

SPACE + THYME at the Cricket!

Thu, 16 Jun 2016 12:55:00 GMT

Last Friday saw the launch of our brand new SPACE + THYME food truck at Sussex County Cricket Ground in Hove! The night not only proved a great success for the Sussex Sharks, beating Kent by 4 wickets, but also for the SPACE + THYME team, who all did an absolutely fantastic job of keeping the fans well fed with our signature burritos!

We offered a selection of flavours including cajun and cola beef brisket, BBQ pulled pork, piri piri chicken with mango raita (a personal favourite!) in addition to a vegan option and the incredibly popular, deep fried Cajun halloumi vegetarian option. All of our burritos were served with rice, refried beans, guacamole and salad in addition to a selection of homemade salsas and sauces.

This was our first event with the truck and we could not have all been more pleased! The overwhelmingly positive response from customers made all prior stressing seem a far distant memory, we can’t wait for the summer ahead!

We will be following the cricket and ensuring we keep you all well fed throughout the summer; our next event will be in Arundel on the 26th July for Sussex Martlets v Aldridge Cricket Academy and then back to Sussex County Cricket Ground on the 1st July for Sussex v Middlesex.

See you all there!

SPACE + THYME Team xx

SPACE + THYME Spring Supper Club

Fri, 17 Apr 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Our first event at Norman "Fat Boy Slim" Cook's Big Beach Café by Hove Lagoon was a 5-course molecular tasting menu.
Using the finest of the season's ingredients, the 40 guests were given a mix of flavours and textures from subtle and smooth to (literally) explosive - see the whole menu on the event flyer.

Guests were welcomed with our signature cocktail, the SPACE + THYME (thyme-infused gin, Prosecco, vanilla gomme, crushed cucumber and fresh thyme) and a selection of other cocktails that were created to fit with the evening's menu and the season:

Rhubarb Mash Sour
Bourbon, rhubarb syrup (from the 3rd course), sugar & lemon

***

Chilli & Elderflower Martini
Vodka, Cointreau, Tuaca, fresh green chilli, cucumber, 1⁄2 lemon freshly squeezed, gomme, elderflower cordial

***

Watermelon, Vanilla or Classic Daiquiris
Classic Rum cocktail with a twist

***

Espresso Martini
Vodka, Kahlua, espresso