Happy New Year West Sussex and friends

Here's to another fabulous year of events in and around Sussex starting with the Constable exhibition at Petworth House!

Petworth House

The exhibition is from 11th January - 14th March 2014 and will provide an opportunity to admire over 40 outstanding watercolors and drawings created in and around Petworth by the great British landscape artist, John Constable. Many of the works on show were produced during Constable’s visits to the house in 1834 and have never before been exhibited as a group.

Petworth House

We're very excited about the upcoming exhibition given that we visited the Turner exhibition at Petworth House last year where many of the paintings were exhibited in the main house and, as with the Constable exhibition, you get a sneak peak at the houses' historic library (not normally open to the public). It's fantastic to get the opportunity to see this room - reminds me of Miss Haversham's room in Wuthering Heights.

Ionic Rotunder in Petworth House Gardens

Constable is principally famous for his oil painting, though later in life he also produced some wonderful work with watercolor. Highlights of the exhibition include rarely seen views of the house, park and nearby picturesque villages such as Tillington, Fittleworth and Bignor. Constable was also drawn to popular attractions of around West Sussex including Chichester Cathedral, Cowdray House and Arundel Castle.

Alongside the exhibition in Petworth’s modern exhibition room, visitors will see two showrooms in the house - famously described by Constable as ‘that house of art’. I also highly recommend a walk in the gardens when you visit the house (the photos in this blog were taken when I visited the House for the Christmas Fair in December).

Petworth House Gardens

Petworth advises advance booking following the sell out Turner exhibition last year. Call the house on 0844 249 1895 or book online.

Enjoy a wonderful day in Petworth admiring the exhibition and come back to Chequers to cosy up in front of the fire for a glass of wine and Sussex fodder produced by our chef, who like Constable is constantly inspired by what Sussex has on offer to delight our senses... wild venison stew anyone?


Visiting the Constable Exhibition at Petworth House?

Extend your stay at Chequers Hotel to take full advantage of exploring this area of outstanding natural beauty with our special exhibition offer.

Call 01798 872486 to book - ref: Constable Exhibition

A warm welcome awaits...

Lissette x

A day out at SouthDown Gun Club

After having a number of guests to stay who are taking part in clay pigeon shooting events, our daughter invited some friends over to have a bash and see what all the fuss is about...

Southdown gun club corporate stand

South Down gun club is about 20 minutes up the road from chequers and offers a wide range of "targets" (all of which are clay). For those that have never held a gun or have no idea how to shoot one the club offers lessons.

Shooting Lesson at Southdown gun club

For those more experienced, the club offers competitions and for those that are members or attending with members you can go "up the lane" and have a go at some of the more difficult traps.

From what I hear, the lesson went well though I understand my daughter did not take to it like a "duck to water" and spent more time shooting the clouds than clay! What she did say though, as a huge fan of the sussex countryside, is that the setting was beautiful and she can see why people spend their weekends in the south downs enjoying spectacular views whilst revelling in the satisfaction of seeing clay puffing in to the air as they hit on their target!

Southdown Gun Club

After a great day of shooting clay they came back to the hotel for a well deserved bottle of locally sourced red wine from Hemming's in Pulborough and gluten free sausages and mash which John sources from the wonderful Hungry Guest deli in Petworth...delicious!!

Gluten Free Bangers and Mash at Chequers Hotel Pulborough

For anyone interested in spending a weekend at Chequers with their shooting party, contact John and Lissette for details. Also if you have any allergies like our daughter with gluten let us know when you book and we will source requested food for you (just like our daughter with the sausages)!

Lissette x