Gravetye Manor Hotel

Our Inspector's view

Built in the 1590s, Gravetye Manor set in acres of grounds, with some of England’s most important historic gardens surrounding the sumptuous Tudor country house hotel with all the period details you could wish for, from the mullioned windows to the plasterwork ceilings and panelled walls. The stunning dining room is rather more modern, with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the beautiful gardens and create a wonderful setting for the dynamic, contemporary British cooking that makes the most of the produce from the huge kitchen gardens. The daily-changing set menus (three course lunch, four course dinner) are seasonal, and dishes are pretty as a picture, as well as offering exceptional levels of skill and depths of flavour. Dishes are complex without being fussy or convoluted, be assured this is some of the best food in the country. Begin with a luscious mousse of Dorset crab with apple and coriander, or an immaculately seared hand-dived scallop with delicate, crisp-skinned chicken wing and an intense cauliflower purée. Ryeland hogget with spring greens, onion and wild leek is a fabulous main, the loin pink and tender, the shoulder rich and gamey, the whole dish offering clear, deep flavours and great balance. Pre-dessert might be sesame crisp with intensely lemony sorbet, light and cleansing, with a great nutty crunch in cracker and little bits of brittle. A top class forced rhubarb soufflé, risen to perfection, is light as air and beautifully pink, and comes with deeply flavoured stem ginger ice cream. As you might expect, everything from bread – maybe black malted barley or seeded onion – to deliciously flavoured butters – chive and lemon, or tomato and paprika – and canapés like a melt-in-the-mouth truffle and Sussex Charmer cheese gougère or a beetroot and citrus gel tart – is exceptional, demonstrating the same high levels of skill and creativity.

Awards, accolades and Welcome Schemes

4 Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence

AA Notable Wine List