Nusrat Ghani, MP for Sussex Weald, was delighted to learn that Rushlake Green Village Stores is the 2026 South East of England winner in the Countryside Alliance Awards Village Shop/Post Office category.
The Awards, also known as the Rural Oscars, are the Countryside Alliance’s annual celebration of British food, farming, heritage and community life. The Awards are driven by public nomination, and Sussex Weald has a strong history of participating, with South Brockwells Farm in Little Horsted and Smiles Sensory and Family Farm in Eridge previously being crowned winners of the Rural Enterprise category in 2023 and 2024.
This year, the fantastic Rushlake Green Village Stores scooped up the South East of England Award in the Village Shop/Post Office category, yet again putting the constituency on the map of excellent rural businesses.
The business will now proceed to the UK finals, competing against the champions for the home nations and the other regions of England. The Champions’ Reception will take place in the House of Lords on 8th July, which will celebrate the skills and produce through those who work so hard to keep rural life ticking.
Nusrat Ghani said: “We are incredibly lucky to have so many fantastic rural businesses in Sussex Weald. They are key assets to our local communities and are the cornerstones of our rural life. I am proud that we have a strong history of participating in the Rural Oscars awards, and I am absolutely delighted that following the success of South Brockwells Farm and Smiles Sensory and Family Farm, it has been another successful year for us. Rushlake Green Village Stores make a hugely positive contribution to customers in the area, and I’m pleased their hard work has been rightly recognised and they were crowned South East Regional winners in the Village Shop/Post Office category. Well done to the whole team!”
Pictured above: Nusrat Ghani MP in Rushlake Green on her Summer Surgery Tour 2025
