The staff were really attentive to a group of us with mixed allergies and dietary requirements. They got everything absolutely right and the service was impeccable. The classic afternoon tea was delicious!
Update May 2022: we came back for an anniversary meal - intimate setting, attentive and friendly staff once again. Love the local connection for each dish. Unforgettable night. Thank you!
I have been here for afternoon tea several times, and it never disappoints. Always go hungry as there is a lot of food. Great range of tea to choose from, there is also an option to upgrade to have a glass of bubbles.
This intimate, contemporary restaurant has a maximum of 10 tables and is set inside a restored Grade II listed mansion. The mansion, and Grade I listed Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens, are now run by the owner of a South African vineyard, hence the wine list is predominantly South African.
The set tasting menu is based upon produce foraged from the gardens and sourced from local suppliers, and so varies with the seasons. The dishes are works of art, looking as beautiful as they taste. My photographs don’t do them justice. Both the Executive Chef and the Head Chef are also South African and some of the dishes have little twists reflecting their homeland.
Pre-dinner drinks are in the bar from 6pm, with all diners seated around 7pm. Food was excellent and service was friendly and efficient. A lovely experience.
Fantastic tasting menu experience in a beautiful setting. Each course was both delicious and fascinating (the accompanying info cards are a wonderful touch) with unexpected ingredients foraged from the extensive gardens. Service was impeccable and, whilst Michelin thinks it worth a stop, we will happily repeat this special journey again.
A wonderful dinner which we accompanied with some nice South African wines. Every course had a unique flavour and was made with local ingredients sourced on the estate which was great. The staff were extremely friendly and only enhanced the experience. Would strongly recommend booking a room so you can enjoy a relaxed meal here, a good rest and then a lovely breakfast hamper the next day.
My first meal out in 5-months since lock down. The staff were amazing, the food was fantastic. I went for the 19 course tasting menu. All the dishes were beautifully presented in an subtle African theme. I cannot tell you how lovely it was, not just to be out again, but to see how elegantly the dishes were prepared and the effort the chef went to combining smoky wood smells with texture, colour and flavour. I was over the moon. The chef didn't disappoint. Please, if you get a chance to get a reservation, just go. The seating is nicely spread out and very few dine together in the room in an evening. The staff are trained to make guests feel comfortable during these difficult times.
Interlude by name, interlude by nature. We were so impressed by the journey of time this restaurant took us on, from the old manor estate with splashes of modern art; to the playlist championing the classics alongside new age songs, that set the mood over the course of the meal; to the traditional fine dining style menu embellished with Afrikaans dishes. Every detail was perfectly considered. Every element was meaningful, beautifully presented and so engaging you are drawn into the complex flavours that every palate can enjoy. A real stand out for us, was that the meat and vegetarian menus were both just as exceptional. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, serving with what seemed to be effortless perfection. Although they don't do a wine pairing, we asked the sommelier to give us his recommendations and we were not disappointed, his taste and pairings were tantalising. Thank you for such a perfect interlude.
Must visit for a well balanced, perfectly executed dining experience. Top 3 tasting menu experiences I’ve ever been to and by far the best in England. I can’t say enough about the staff, menu composition, and overall experience. I would absolutely recommend to anyone traveling to or through Horsham/Sussex and will absolutely be back. Special shout out to Simba for pairing the perfect wine with our meal and taking care of us.
Absolutely outstanding. Just superb. Wow what an experience.
Lovely staff, amazing presentation and food and story-telling. If you can justify the £$ then Go!!
The perfect marriage of two mighty powerhouses - South Africa and West Sussex!
It was amazing.
Only suggestion for future would be to have a little more local (foraged) whites like Bolney or Digby for example. There are so many good ones now, time to feature them a little more heavily alongside the lovely SA ones.
What a great restaurant that gives you a different take on how food is presented. Everything was fresh and came straight from the garden. Staff were friendly and service was excellent.
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