English Wine Week at Artelium, East Sussx

Artelium Wine Estate in East Sussex

English Wine Week at Artelium Wine Estate

English Wine Week (21st - 29th June) is a celebration of this small but mighty region, offering internationally recognised, award-winning wines, championing innovation and excellency.

Enjoy English Wine Week at Artelium, a contemporary wine estate which celebrates English wine and art. Deep in rural East Sussex, but just 20 minutes from Brighton and an hour from London, explore Artelium on a guided vineyard tour, admire original art and sculpture commissioned from Sussex artists, enjoy a tutored wine tasting and finish with an alfresco lunch overlooking the vines created and cooked by resident chef, and fresh from MasterChef: The Professionals, Michael Notman-Watt.

Book a tour

To celebrate English Wine Week, Artelium has curated a special case of three signature sparkling wines, including the estate’s Blanc de Blancs 2018, which won Gold at the 2024 Decanter World Wine Awards. The Sparkling Trio case is available to order online with free UK delivery throughout the whole of June, and is a perfect introduction to Artelium’s winemaking philosophy, or a thoughtful gift for any sparkling wine lover.

Buy The Sparkling Trio

Events during English Wine Week

From London to Lewes, Artelium is ‘out and about’ during English Wine Week with a host of exclusive partner dinners and tastings taking place at Tate Modern, The Goring Hotel which is hosted by wine expert and author Tom Surgey, and Mallow. Closer to home are dinners and events at Dill and No.34 in Lewes, and the Artelium team will be pouring at Charleston Lewes, as part of the Sussex Winelands event on 28 June.

About English Wine

Over the past two decades, English wine has quietly transformed from a niche curiosity into one of the most exciting stories in the global wine industry. With a combination of climate shifts, technological advancements and daring ambition, English winemakers are turning heads and winning awards showcasing that innovation is thriving in the vineyards. 

The sparkling wine scene is where English producers have made a bold mark. Thanks to the chalky soils of southern England - geologically similar to those in Champagne - along with a warming climate, English sparkling wines now rival some of the best from France. Artelium’s Blancs de Blancs 2018 and Curators Cuvee 2018 are two traditional method English wines which have garnered international acclaim, winning gold at the Decanter International Wine Awards in 2024.

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For more information about Artelium, images or to arrange a visit to the estate please contact Hannah Blake at The Dining Room on hannah@thediningroompr.co.uk or 07730 039361

Notes to editors:

Artelium Wine Estate
Streat Lane
Streat
Hassocks
East Sussex, BN6 8SA

Open Thursday to Sunday, 12-5pm, for vineyard tours, wine tastings, restaurant and art exhibitions.
Monday to Wednesday – closed.

Telephone: 01273 569155
Instagram: @arteliumwine
www.artelium.com

About Artelium
Artelium is a contemporary wine estate celebrating English wine and art. Based in the small village of Streat, deep in the East Sussex countryside, Artelium is rooted in art, nature and people and is a destination for culture, conversation and connection.  

Founded by Julie Bretland and Mark Collins, the estate is the realisation of a shared dream: a place where exceptional English wine meets the wider world of ideas and contemporary arts and crafts and celebrates the people and stories behind them. From the beginning, Artelium was about more than winemaking; Julie and Mark set out to build a place where creativity, craftsmanship and collaboration come together, with the brand name blending art and ium - Latin for ‘a place to congregate’ - reflecting the philosophy of crafting a space for people to come together and enjoy wine and art in a beautiful natural setting.

Farming across two vineyard sites, the combined 65-acre estate is home to 125,000 vines growing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris and hybrids focusing on fungus-resistant varietals as part of Artelium’s commitment to innovation and sustainability.

Madehurst Vineyard - Chalk Soils in the South Downs
Artelium’s largest site is the Madehurst Vineyard, located within the South Downs National Park. This 90-acre chalk-rich site is home to more than 85,000 vines, planted in 2019 and 2020. It is also where Artelium’s winery is located, producing its first vintage in 2022. The chalk terroir is ideal for crafting premium sparkling wines.

Streat Vineyard – Clay Soils and Cellar Door Experience
Located between Ditchling and Plumpton, the Streat Vineyards spans 25 acres of clay soil across a 45-acre site and hosts around 40,000 vines. This site mirrors the varietal and clonal diversity of Madehurst, offering contrast in growing conditions. Streat is also home to Artelium’s Cellar Door, open Thursday to Sunday year-round. Visitors can enjoy vineyard tours, wine tastings, and the Artelium Kitchen offering exceptional hospitality overlooking the panoramic views of the South Downs.

Artelium Kitchen
Open Thursday to Sunday, Artelium Kitchen’s menu showcases vibrant, seasonal plates – all rooted in the best of Sussex produce. The menu features shareable dishes such as grilled meats, fresh seafood and vegetables grown in Artelium’s kitchen garden. Taking helm at the is Sussex chef Michael Notman-Watt cooking food that is full of bold, natural flavour and made for communal dining and lively conversation, perfectly paired with a glass of Artelium.

Art amongst the vines
Throughout the year, there is a diverse programme of art exhibitions, expert-led wine talks, craft workshops and creative events that bring together the local and wider community. From guided tastings with winemakers and seasonal feasts featuring local producers, to collaborations with Sussex based artists, each experience is designed to spark curiosity and celebrate craftsmanship in all its forms.

Awards
Artelium won numerous awards for both the Sparkling and Still wines, including Supreme Champion and Best Newcomer at the 2022 Wine GB Awards, and were also the first-ever English still wine served on all public bars at the 2024 RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Artelium’s wines regularly win medals in prestigious wine competitions such as Decanter and IWSC. 

June at The Counter by Robin Read

Robin Read at The Counter, Tunbridge Wells

June at The Counter

www.thecountertw.com | @the_counter_tw | @robin__read
The Counter | 77 Calverley Road | Tunbridge Wells | Kent | TN1 2UY

No 69 Harden’s Top 100 Restaurants
No 97 Square Meal’s Top 100 Restaurants
Michelin Guide 2025

“The Counter is delicious and charming… treating the inner Veruca Salt in all of us with pure imagination.”
Grace Dent reviewing The Counter for The Guardian

“This new venture… is the best news for Tunbridge Wells. It has the makings of a destination – a relaxing neighbourhood restaurant with a big-city attitude” Good Food Guide

The new menu for June at The Counter is a kaleidoscope of colours, textures and flavours all with the promise of the long summer days ahead. Reading like a best in show of the ingredients that we source from the British Isles we have Jersey Royals, Garlic Scapes, Orkney hand-dived scallops, Cornish John Dory, Scottish beef fillet, Lancashire cheese and back down to Kent for new season cherries, plus fig leaves, nasturtiums and herbs from our own little kitchen garden. It’s a delicious month and menu at The Counter.

June’s ten-course menu

First Bites
Bread, Butter & Broth
Jersey royals, Parsley sauce, Garlic Scapes
Orkney hand-dived Scallops, Artichoke Barigoule
Cornish Lobster, Our Garden Nasturtium, Kohlrabi & Mint
Cornish John Dory, Pea & Guanciale
Scottish Beef Fillet, Kentish Beef Tea & Tarragon
Cornish Saddle of Lamb, Courgette, Feta & Oregano
Lancashire Bomb Crumpet, Tare glaze & Chives (optional £12 supplement)
Fig Leaf & Blackberry Ripple Ice Cream 
Rhubarb & Cherry Pavlova
The Sweet Treat Tower

Kappo nights
Kappo nights are back and reservations for The Counter’s next Japanese inspired small plates dinner, on Wednesday 16th July, are now open. If you’ve not been before these evenings are a little different to our usual dining experiences at The Counter. ‘Kappo’ nights, as they’ve quickly been nicknamed, are served with the same passion, craft and expertise and are the chefs’ chance for a little midweek experimentation and fun with small plates such as ‘seaweed and potato rosti, wasabi & shiso leaf’, ‘soy & ginger roast pork belly’, ‘Cornish squid ragu’ or ‘chalk stream trout belly, tare glaze, sansho pepper’. Follow @under_thecounter_tw for more information and menu teasers. Book soon if you fancy it, these kappo night tables don’t hang around long.

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Open days and hours:

Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: Lunch 12:00 – 14:30, Dinner 18:00 – 23:00
Saturday: 12:00 - 23:00 

A Timeless Spectacle: The White Wisteria at Gravetye Manor in Bloom

The white Shiro Nodo wisteria in bloom at Gravetye Manor, West Sussex

A Timeless Spectacle: The White Wisteria AT Gravetye Manor in Bloom

As the golden days of late spring stretch towards summer, a most enchanting transformation takes place at Gravetye Manor, the four-star historic country house hotel in East Grinstead, Sussex.

In a scene reminiscent of an English pastoral painting, the white wisteria Shiro Noda that adorns the manor’s pergola at the back of the flower garden, burst into bloom in a breathtaking display of cascading clusters that can reach up to 20 inches long, offering an immersive experience under the pergola to eagerly awaiting hotel guests and garden enthusiasts alike. These ethereal floral chandeliers, release a sweet, intoxicating scent reminiscent of jasmine and honey, opening gradually from the top of each raceme downwards. As the season progresses, the green foliage deepens, creating a vibrant canopy before slowly fading and dropping away in late autumn, preparing the plant for its winter dormancy.

Native to Japan, this variety of wisteria is known not only for its striking beauty but also for its longevity, with some specimens having lived for over a century. Its twining vines, capable of growing over 30 feet long, symbolising endurance and elegance, making Shiro Noda a cherished feature in traditional and modern gardens alike. Gravetye’s Shiro Noda, was originally planted in 1900 by the estate’s former owner, renowned Victorian horticulturist William Robinson, whose pioneering work shaped the landscape of Gravetye. The pergola was restored in 2012, when more plants were also added.

This wisteria has grown into a living testament to Robinson’s devotion to pioneering naturalistic planting which is as popular as ever with gardeners today.

Hotel residents or lunch guests of Gravetye’s Michelin star restaurant, The Dining Room, that recently saw Roux Scholar Martin Carabott’s appointment as executive chef, can stroll the gardens at their own leisure enjoying a succession of mixed flowers and shrubs on display up to the first frosts. Or experience the gardens via a guided tour by a member of the gardening team, that takes place at 11am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from April to October.

The estate also has a celebrated elliptical kitchen garden that grows fruit and vegetables for the restaurant kitchen as well as meadows and orchards.

Shwen Shwen by Maria Bradford: A New Culinary Destination Opening in Sevenoaks

Maria Bradford (credit Dave Saunders)

Shwen Shwen by Maria Bradford: A New Culinary Destination Opening in Sevenoaks

The highly anticipated independent, female-owned restaurant, Shwen Shwen by Maria Bradford opens its doors on 6th June 2025. 

The debut restaurant from award-winning chef and author Maria Bradford brings the bold and vibrant flavours of Sierra Leone to the historic market town of Sevenoaks, Kent. Maria, known for her cookbook Sweet Salone: Recipes from the Heart of Sierra Leone and her role as a judge for the prestigious Fortnum & Mason Food & Drink Awards, is redefining fine dining with her distinctive take on Afro-fusion cuisine.

Blending authentic Sierra Leonean tradition with contemporary influences, Shwen Shwen offers a truly unique dining experience. The name, derived from the Krio language, means ‘fancy’ - but for Maria, it represents much more than just her food. It embodies a way of life, and an invitation to share in something special.

Tucked away down a charming, cobbled alleyway, Shwen Shwen opens into Maria’s re-branded Cotton Tree Yard – an exclusive outdoor terrace - before welcoming guests into an evocative space designed to feel both elegant and intimate. Inside, rich hues of burnt terracotta and smoky aubergine create a warm, cocooning atmosphere, enhanced by tactile surfaces, bespoke hand-painted fabrics, and wallpaper inspired by vintage West African and Sierra Leonean textiles. Every detail has been carefully chosen to create an inviting atmosphere that encourages guests to relax and feel at home.

A Culinary Journey to Sierra Leone

Maria’s passion for food began in her childhood home in Freetown, Sierra Leone, where she learned to cook alongside her mother and grandmother. Drawing inspiration from the streets of Freetown, rural villages, and the Sierra Leone River, her menu reflects the diverse and rich culinary traditions of her homeland.

Using signature ingredients such as moringa, fonio, tamarind, sesame, egusi, baobab and hibiscus, Maria creates bold, layered flavours that transport diners with every bite.

The launch menu, designed for discovery and sharing, features:

• Lamb Belly, Palm Oil, African Five Spice

• Mackerel, Mango, Cassava Flat Bread

• King Prawns, Salone Fire, Lemongrass Gel

• Beef Short-rib, Groundnut, Coconut

• Hibiscus, Caramelised White Chocolate, Fig Leaf, Pepper

• Moringa Mille-Feuille, Benne Cake, Sheep’s Yoghurt Ice-Cream

• Cheese Board featuring Tamarind Jelly & Jellied Hibiscus Flower

Shwen Shwen is more than a restaurant, it is a celebration of heritage, culture, and storytelling through food.

“Shwen Shwen is the realisation of a long-held dream. I want my food to take guests on a journey to experience the vibrant culinary landscape of Sierra Leone. Though my restaurant is in Sevenoaks, every dish is a love letter to my homeland.” – Maria Bradford

Notes to Editors

Shwen Shwen by Maria Bradford
1-2 Well Court
Bank Street
Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1UN
Website & Reservations: www.shwenshwen.com
Instagram: @shwenshwenbymaria

About Maria Bradford

Maria Bradford is an award-winning chef, author, and influencer. Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, she developed her love for cooking at the age of nine, learning from her mother and grandmother. After moving to Kent as a teenager, Maria trained at Leith’s School of Food and Wine before launching her own catering business, Maria Bradford Kitchen, in 2017, now known as Shwen Shwen.

Maria’s work has been widely recognised for its innovative approach to Sierra Leonean cuisine, and she has become a key advocate for West African culinary heritage. Shwen Shwen by Maria is her debut restaurant, opening in June 2025.

William Robinson Festival at Gravetye Manor

The gardens at Gravetye Manor

William Robinson Festival at Gravetye Manor
Sunday 20th July, 10am - 4.30pm

• £25 per person, for morning or afternoon entry, including tea, coffee and cake

• All ticket proceeds go to Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice

• Gardening talk from RHS award-winning landscape design practice Harris Bugg

• Tickets can be booked at www.gravetyemanor.co.uk/whats-on

Gravetye Manor, the Elizabethan Manor Hotel, Restaurant and Gardens on the West Sussex borders is thrilled to officially announce the date of its annual William Robinson Festival on Sunday 20th July.

Celebrating the pioneering Victorian gardener William Robinson, known as ‘the father of the English Flower Garden’, guests are invited to enjoy a full day of celebrations, garden talks and demonstrations, while enjoying the gardens at Gravetye Manor in spectacular high summer bloom. There will also be plant sales from Pelham Plants and No Name Nursery, plus a local cheese showcase, Nyetimber Vineyard wine tasting, Morris Dancing, and much more.

Alongside the celebrations, the festival is excited to welcome Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg, co-founders of Harris Bugg Studio, a values-driven and award-winning landscape design practice. Together they have won six gold medals, two silver gilts and two best in shows at RHS shows. In their talk, the duo will discuss their design inspirations and how they approach the diverse range of projects they work on including the Kitchen Garden at RHS Bridgewater; as well as a series of experimental garden rooms they designed for a private, rural estate in Oxfordshire. Their talk begins at 11am, followed by a three-course lunch by Gravetye Manor’s new Executive Chef Martin Carabott, in the restaurant’s glass fronted dining room at 12 noon. Tickets are £155 per person and includes the talk, lunch and drinks.

Itinerary on the day

• 10.00am – Festival opens

• 10.30am – Flower Demonstration with Head Florist, Sharon Coote in the Pavilion

• 11.15am – Talk in the Kitchen Garden with Assistant Head Gardener, Helena Lawson

• 12 noon – Garden Talk on the Long Border with Gravetye Head Gardener, Tom Coward

• 12.30pm – Morris Dancing and music in the Flower Garden

• 1.00pm – Join William Robinson’s biographer, Richard Bisgrove, for a fascinating look at ‘the Father of the English Flower Garden’, in the Little Garden

• 2.15pm – Morris Dancing and music in the Flower Garden

• 2.15pm – Talk in the Kitchen Garden with Assistant Head Gardener, Helena Lawson

• 3pm – Garden Talk on the Long Border with Gravetye Head Gardener, Tom Coward

• 3.45pm – Flower Demonstration with Head Florist, Sharon Coote in the Pavilion

• 4.30pm – Festival concludes

Further festivities will be taking place on the Pavilion throughout the day including:

• ·Sussex wine tasting with Nyetimber

• Local cheese showcase with High Weald Dairy

• Plant sale with Pelham Plants & The No Name Nursery

• William Robinson exhibition

• Gravetye gifts and flower bouquets for sale

About William Robinson
Robinson started life in Ireland in the poverty of the potato famine, where at an early age he trained as a garden boy. By the 1860s he had moved to London to work on the new botanic gardens in Regent’s Park, where he started his career as a garden writer. He produced huge amounts of work and set about re-shaping the way we think about gardens. Continuing Robinson’s legacy is Gravetye Manor’s Head Gardener, Tom Coward, ensuring every tree, shrub and flower is lovingly cared for while retaining the spirit of Robinson’s original plan and thinking for the space.

After a humble start in life, Robinson became very wealthy from his writing and in 1884 he bought Gravetye Manor. Over time he bought over 1000 acres of the surrounding landscape and used the estate to put his ideas into practice. Much of the land was used for experimental forestry, and the results of his work continue to be managed today by the William Robinson Gravetye Charity.

About Gravetye Manor
Gravetye Manor, an Elizabethan manor house hotel and Michelin starred restaurant in West Sussex looks out over 35 acres of stunning world-renowned gardens, walled kitchen garden, orchard, glasshouses and Peach House set within a further 1000 acres of woodland. Originally created by visionary gardener William Robinson in 1885, Gravetye Manor’s gardens are considered amongst the most influential in horticultural history and one of the most important historic gardens in England. Robinson’s preference for the ‘wild garden’, mixed herbaceous borders and hardy perennial planting broke with the formal Victorian style of the day, and his radical approach remains as popular as ever with gardeners today.

Seafront Terrace opens for Summer at Pearly Cow, Brighton

The Terrace at Pearly Cow Brighton

Seafront Terrace opens for Summer at Pearly Cow, Brighton

Seafood, Wagyu burgers, oysters and sliders will all be part of The Terrace by Pearly Cow, Brighton from Friday, 2nd May.

Bringing a taste of decadence with laid-back seaside charm to the Kings Road stretch of the city’s shoreline, this new menu will also offer zesty tacos, small plates, salads and a selection of pizzettes freshly made in the terrace’s wood-fired oven. Towering sharing platters of Fruits de Mer and Pearls of the Sea will be the menu’s showstoppers. To sip, guests can choose from a curated selection of wines and summer spritzes — including a Berry Spritz with Lillet Rosé and cassis and a Limoncello Spritz. Adding an extra touch of glamour, the terrace will offer an exclusive Magnum Service that will include Whispering Angel Provence Rosé and Sussex’s celebrated Ridgeview Bloomsbury NV.

Head Chef Andrew Mackenzie commented “The Pearly Cow terrace is more than just a place to eat—it’s a celebration of Brighton’s coastal lifestyle. We’ve designed the menu to be playful, shareable and above all, delicious. We hope views of the sea and West Pier, will make the al fresco dining experience even more special.”

Open daily from 12 noon til late.

About Pearly Cow

Pearly Cow is Brighton’s hottest new restaurant, which opened at the end of November 2024. Sat directly on Brighton’s seafront and spread across four Georgian & Regency townhouses, the restaurant is opposite the iconic West Pier and serves an eclectic menu of fantastic dry-aged steaks, fresh fish and seafood from south coast day boats which are cooked simply on open flame or served raw on ice.

Leading the kitchen brigade is Executive Chef Andrew MacKenzie who has worked and travelled in restaurants and hotels all over the world, from Gleneagles to Goodwood Hotel to Soho House, and worked with hospitality greats such as Nico Ladenis and Paul Heathcote.

Andrew is a Brighton-boy through-and-through; he loves the city and being able to cook and work so close to the sea. Over the years Andrew has developed and nurtured closed one-to-one relationships with an amazing roster of Sussex producers, including seafood from Brighton & Newhaven Fisheries, Brighton; wagyu Beef from Trenchmore Farm, Horsham, West Sussex; pork and chicken from Woodhouse Butchery, Haywards Heath, West Sussex; fruit and vegetables from Munneries, East Wittering, West Sussex; eggs from Orchard Farm Sussex, Forest Row, East Sussex and cheese from The Cheese Man, Brighton.

Notes to Editors Breakfast (for hotel residents only) Monday - Friday | 7.30 - 10.30am & Saturday & Sunday | 8 - 10.30am Coffee & Pastries 10.30 - 12 noon Lunch 12 noon - 5pm Oh shucks! 5 - 6pm daily Sundowners 6pm - late

Martin Carabott is the new Executive Chef at Gravetye Manor

Martin Carabott in the dining room at Gravetye Manor

Martin Carabott is the new Executive Chef at Gravetye Manor

Roux scholar Martin Carabott is the new Executive Chef at Gravetye Manor, West Sussex. Joining the two Michelin Key hotel on 1st April, Martin will lead the strong kitchen brigade, which has been recognised with numerous awards including retaining a Michelin Star for ten years and 4 AA Rosettes.

Originally from Malta, Martin won the Roux Scholarship at the age of 29, when he was senior sous-chef at Hide, London. After winning the Roux Scholarship, Martin completed a stage at three Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park in New York.

Martin joins Gravetye Manor from his position as Head of Development at Luca in London. His new executive chef role will see him working closely with Head Gardener Tom Coward who manages the 35-acre estate of world-renowned gardens including the elliptical walled kitchen garden (thought to be the only one of its kind in the country) fruit tree orchard, glasshouses and Peach House, all set within a further 1000 acres of woodland. Everything grown on site is used by the kitchen teams in the restaurant. 

Paul Skinner, Gravetye Manor’s General Manager, comments, “For many years Gravetye Manor Hotel and Restaurant has enjoyed a proud reputation for providing exceptional Michelin star quality dining. I am delighted that Martin Carabott will join the team as Executive Head Chef, ensuring that Gravetye Manor will continue to produce excellent fine dining, utilising the freshest seasonal ingredients from our kitchen garden. Martin brings a wealth of experience, he was a Roux Scholar in 2018 and has broadened his cooking skills in some of the finest restaurant kitchens in the country, I am very excited for the future direction of our dining room.”

Martin Carabott comments, “I am very excited to be joining the talented and passionate team at Gravetye Manor and to bring my culinary vision to this well-established and celebrated hotel and restaurant, with a history of world-class food and hospitality. It is an honour to be given the opportunity, and I cannot wait to be a part of its future.”

Martin replaces Executive Chef George Blogg who left the business in December 2024.

About Gravetye Manor

Gravetye Manor is a hotel and restaurant with four Red Stars, four Rosettes and one Michelin star and two Michelin Keys, in West Sussex on the Kent/Surrey/Sussex borders. The hotel is a member of Relais & Châteaux and Pride of Britain.

The Elizabethan manor house looks over 35 acres of stunning world-renowned gardens, walled kitchen garden, orchard, glasshouses and Peach House set within a further 1000 acres of woodland. The gardens are considered amongst the most influential in English horticultural history, made famous by previous owner and influential gardener William Robinson, whose preference for the ‘wild garden’, mixed herbaceous borders and hardy perennial planting broke with the formal Victorian style of the day, and his radical approach remains as popular as ever with gardeners today.

Elmley Nature Reserve x The Small Holding

Elmley Nature Reserve

Elmley Nature Reserve x The Small Holding

This spring sees a special collaboration between Kent’s Elmley Nature Reserve, and chef patron of Michelin green starred and three AA rosette restaurant The Small Holding, Will Devlin.

Taking place from Friday 9th to Sunday 11th May, Will Devlin and his team will be in the kitchen of Elmley’s Kingshill Farmhouse for the weekend, bringing a taste of the one-acre farm at The Small Holding to the Reserve. The intimate gastronomic experience, featuring a hyper-seasonal tasting menu on the Saturday evening, will be a celebration of spring and its abundance inspired by the Reserve setting, where over forty years of nature restoration has made Elmley one of the UK’s most important sites for wildlife.

Elmley has a restorative effect on all those who visit, and the weekend will be an opportunity to enjoy great food from an acclaimed Kent-based chef, while taking time to slow down, relax and connect with nature.

A small number of guests are invited to join for the weekend in a house party setting, staying in one of Kingshill Farmhouse’s beautifully spacious en-suite bedrooms, designed with a boutique hotel style feel, by interior designer (and BBC One’s The Traitors’ “Faithful Frankie”) Francesca Rowan Plowden. Think big comfy beds, luxurious soft furnishings, bathroom products by natural fragrance brand Verden and expansive views out over the Reserve.

Chef Will Devlin and his team from The Small Holding will be creating and delivering the menus throughout the weekend with dishes inspired by the new season, its bountiful ingredients and Elmley’s unique setting.

Guests will arrive, and a light supper will be served in the Farmhouse dining room on Friday evening at a preferred time for each guest. Breakfast and a picnic-style lunch will be offered on Saturday, when guests will have time to explore the Reserve, enjoy a walk or wild swim, and be taken on a Land Rover tour.

On Saturday evening, a tasting menu with paired wines (or a non-alcoholic option for those who would prefer), featuring ingredients grown and produced on Devlin’s one acre farm, will feature, with wilderness views as a backdrop. A cooked breakfast will see guests on the road on the Sunday morning.

Kingshill Farmhouse sits in the heart of the 3,300-acre private estate and National Nature Reserve surrounded by wildlife. It is usually hired as a whole, for bespoke corporate and private events, and weddings, and this special weekend will offer guests a chance to stay in individual rooms. Each bedroom has its own individual character with spectacular views and are designed as a retreat to make the most of time away, and the restorative power of nature. Downstairs, Kingshill Farmhouse has five beautiful spaces on the ground floor from which to read, relax and enjoy a coffee or aperitif, but there are plenty of reasons to head out onto the Reserve too. There are miles of walking trails, hides for birdwatching, a swimming pond for outdoor swimmers, and weekend guests will be invited to join a wildlife tour with Elmley’s Lead Nature Guide. Wellness treatments can also be arranged.

Elmley director, Georgina Fulton said, “We are delighted that Will and his team will be joining us at Elmley and taking over the Farmhouse kitchen in May for this exclusive and special weekend. We’re so excited for Will to share the Elmley story through his food, and we look forward to welcoming our guests for what is set to be a weekend of fantastic food and wildlife experiences, within the unique nature setting of Elmley.”

Will Devlin said, “Elmley is a wild and inspiring place, immersed in nature and the abundance of wildlife that live on the Reserve. This is a very special collaboration bringing together our innate understanding of wild and seasonal food from nature’s larder and our farm at The Small Holding to a pioneering, 40 year-long nature recovery project, which is a story of hope and inspiration.”

Will Devlin x Elmley weekend (9-11 May 2025) starts from £1376 based on two people sharing a Farmhouse room including accommodation and eight-course seasonal tasting menu and paired drinks.

Editors’ notes:

Elmley National Nature Reserve | Kingshill Farm | Isle of Sheppey | ME12 3RW
01795 664 896; www.elmleynaturereserve.co.uk | @elmleynature

The Small Holding | Ranters Lane | Kilndown | Kent | TN17 2SG
www.smallholdingrestaurant.com | @the_small_holding_

Dates: Friday 9 to Sunday 11 May 2025

Will Devlin x Elmley weekend includes two nights’ accommodation, Friday supper, Saturday and Sunday breakfasts, Saturday picnic lunch, Saturday tasting menu with drinks pairing, and Land Rover / wildlife tour. All extras are chargeable.

Check in from 3pm on Friday 9 May and check out by 10.30am, Sunday 11 May. Guests are welcome to enjoy the Reserve from 10am on the day of arrival and stay until 5pm on the day of checkout.

About Elmley

Elmley is the only family owned and managed farm to be designated a National Nature Reserve in the UK. It is 40 miles from London, in North Kent.

Elmley is renowned for its abundant wildlife and conservation successes, particularly with regards to breeding waders such as Lapwing, Curlew, and other ground nesting birds.

Since 2014, it has been possible to stay overnight on the Reserve, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the landscape and its wildlife - Elmley is the only National Nature Reserve in the UK where this is possible.

Elmley hosts bespoke corporate and private events and weddings, including on an exclusive hire basis, offering an inspiring setting for gatherings of all sizes.

About Will Devlin and The Small Holding

The Small Holding is a kitchen and farm in one acre of land on a country lane in Kilndown on the Kent and East Sussex borders. The restaurant is open for dinner on Wednesday evening and Thursday to Saturday for lunch and dinner costing with an eight-course Full Acre menu costing £95 per person and a five-course Half Acre menu costing £75 per person, with the option of a wine flight. A three-course Garden Menu is available on Thursday, Friday and Sunday lunch time, priced £55 per person. The 34-cover restaurant has a Michelin Green Star for Gastronomy and Sustainability, Three AA Rosettes and Three Circles from the 360 Guide.

The Sun Inn Signature Series lineup announced

The Sun Inn announces lineup for Signature Series

The Sun Inn Signature Series

The Sun Inn in Felmersham, Bedfordshire has announced a series of chef collaboration dinners to take place over the year. Hosted by chef landlord Pete Pestell, The Sun Signature Series includes dinners with the much-respected chef and restaurateur Rowley Leigh who is Pete’s mentor, Ben Marks from Perilla and Morchella, Aaron Potter from Wildflowers and Will Bowlby from Kricket. Each chef has a connection to Pete, having either worked or trained together at the Academy of Culinary Arts.

Taking place in The Sun’s Dining Room, each dinner will be a true collaboration between Pete and the guest chef, bringing a taste of their own restaurant to Felmersham and using produce from The Sun’s own 350-acre Wild Berry Farm.

The Sun Inn is no 75 in Estrella’s Top 50 Gastropubs and in The Times and Sunday Times’ Top 100 Best Places to Stay 2025.

The Sun Inn Signature Series line up

Ben Marks, chef owner at Morchella and Perilla
Saturday 26th April
Tasting menu costing £70 per person
One sitting at 7.30pm
Ben Marks co-founded Morchella just off Exmouth Market in 2024, following the success of Perilla, which he opened in Newington Green in 2016 with Matthew Emmerson. His menu features a modern interpretation of classic Mediterranean dishes all emphasizing the use of highly seasonal produce sourced from artisanal Mediterranean suppliers and small independent British day boats and farmers. This thoughtful approach showcases Ben's commitment to elevating traditional flavours while ensuring sustainability and quality in every dish. perilladining.co.uk

Rowley Leigh, restaurateur and journalist
Saturday 3rd May
Tasting menu costing £70 per person
One sitting at 7.30pm
Rowley Leigh is an acclaimed chef, restaurateur and journalist having worked for the Roux family’s Le Gavroche and Le Poulbot in the 1970s and 1980s before opening Kensington Place in 1987. Rowley is widely credited with helping to kickstart the renaissance of London dining.

Aaron Potter, Executive Chef Wildflowers
Saturday, 19th July
Tasting menu costing £70 per person
One sitting at 7.30pm
Aaron Potter is an executive chef who has worked in Michelin restaurants across London, New York and Sydney. Most notable were his roles at the helm of the kitchen at both Trinity in Clapham under Adam Byatt and Elystan Street in Chelsea under Phil Howard. His food has received acclaim from both critics and peers alike. Most recently Aaron opened his first solo restaurant, Wildflowers, in Pimlico in September 2024.  Inspired by the warm, relaxed dining culture of France, Italy and Spain, it is an expression of Mediterranean cooking with global influences and a focus on seasonality, where elegant yet uncomplicated dishes are paired with European wines in a stylish and laid-back setting. wildflowersrestaurant.co.uk

Will Bowlby, chef owner Kricket
Friday 19th September
Set menu costing £60 per person

Kricket, founded in 2015 by Will Bowlby and Rik Campbell, began as a 20-seat pop-up in a shipping container at Pop Brixton, London and has since evolved into a renowned modern-Indian restaurant group with four permanent locations across the city. The Soho site received a Bib Gourmand from the Michelin Guide the year it opened with dishes such as Recheado Butter Prawns, black pepper & Gondhoraj; Duck Leg Seekah Kebab, peanut chutney & rhubarb thecha and Mangalorean Chicken Gassi, coconut, curry lead & gundu chilli. kricket.co.uk

Reservations are essential and can be booked by emailing bookings@thesunfelmersham.com

Address: The Sun Inn, Grange Road, Felmersham, Bedfordshire, MK43 7EU
Instagram: @thesunfelmersham Website: www.thesunfelmersham.com

About The Sun Inn
The Sun Inn is a quintessentially British Free House in the village of Felmersham, deep in the Bedfordshire countryside, but less than an hour from London Kings Cross. Named by The Times and The Sunday Times as one of the Best 100 Places to Stay 2025, the pub was built in the 17th century and fully refurbished in 2023 including two ensuite bedrooms on the upper floors.  

The pub is part of Wild Berry Farm, a 350- acre estate and traditional mixed livestock farm, producing native and rare-breed, grass-fed Hereford beef, pork, Boer goats and poultry including bronze turkeys and duck. The land boasts lush river meadows, species-rich grassland, woodlands and lakes and is a haven for birds and wildlife. The pub also supports many local businesses, including other farmers and estates, sourcing produce and game such as venison, pheasant and partridge, locally.

The pub was purchased by JJ and Laura Ibbet in 2019 as part of a shared vision between themselves and childhood and village friends, Peter and Conny, a couple of couples sharing a passion for quality produce, warm hospitality and creating memorable experiences. Restoration work began in 2022, and once the structural work was complete, the team embarked on a full refurbishment, with a focus on using natural and sustainable materials, to provide guests with accommodation and dining fitting for the 21st century traveller, fully reopening the restaurant and rooms in April 2023.

The bar is open Tuesday to Sunday, with bar food served from the hatch Wednesday to Sunday, while the Dining Room for the Farmer’s Table tasting menu is open Thursday to Saturday for dinner and for Sunday lunch.

For more information, images, interviews or to arrange a press visit to The Sun Inn, please contact Hannah Blake at The Dining Room on 07730 039361 or hannah@thediningroompr.co.uk

Address: The Sun Inn, Grange Road, Felmersham, Bedfordshire, MK43 7EU
Instagram: @thesunfelmersham Website: www.thesunfelmersham.com

Dining in Plain Sight

New Nomadic Dining Experience launches in Spring

- Four seasonal pop-up dinner events at different off-grid locations throughout the year
- Chef James Whetlor (Ex-River Cottage and Cabrito) is resident chef

Dining in Plain Sight is a new nomadic food experience hosting outdoor dining events, taking place in remarkable locations all over the country, serving hyper-seasonal, restaurant-style canapés and a three-course menu cooked over fire.

Dates are confirmed for the Spring and Summer editions of Dining in Plain Sight. Launching for the season on 23rd April (St George’s Day) the Spring event will run for eight exclusive evenings by the lake at Quarry Wood on the Fonthill Estate, set within nine thousand acres of outstanding natural beauty in the heart of Wiltshire. Disappearing for several months, Dining in Plain Sight will remerge for the summer edition in June and July, located at Featherstone Flowers, a sustainable British flower farm and florist in the beautiful Test Valley, Hampshire.

New locations will be announced soon for the Autumn and Winter events.

Devon based and ex-River Cottage chef, James Whetlor is Dining in Plain Sight’s resident chef for the duration of pop ups. A regular on the events and festival circuit including River Cottage Food Fair, Abergavenny, Ludlow Food Festival, Wilderness, Food Rocks and Meatopia, James is perhaps best known as the founder of ethical meat company, Cabrito. Sample dishes from his food cooked on fire menu include lamb tartare and wild garlic; scallops cooking in their shells, kefir, tarragon and pangrattato; sirloin, Jersey royals and asparagus and for pudding, grilled rhubarb, honey sabayon and toasted seed crumble. A small and exclusive wine list has been chosen by Dining in Plain Sight’s sommelier including a glass of English sparkling wine with canapés, on arrival.

Tickets are £220 per person and can be reserved by emailing reservations@dininginplainsight.co.uk.

Dining in Plain Sight’s Director Rob Mackay and Designer Lulu Beasley comment, “We are very excited to be launching Dining in Plain Sight this Spring. Curating an exclusive seasonal dining experience by elevating the art of dining into a celebration of food and nature with a menu cooked over fire provides the ultimate antidote to our digitally saturated and over-connected culture. We hope our guests make new friends whilst bonding over food and flames and the joy of cooking and dining in the comfort of our custom-built clear glass marquee designed to immerse our guests into the very fabric of the experience. We look forward to a year of wonderful events with Dining in Plain Sight. No sooner than we have popped up we disappear until the next season, leaving no trace other than memories.”

James Whetlor comments, “I have built my whole career on a love of food and fire; there aren’t many ingredients which aren’t made more delicious after a lick of smoke and time on a grill. Living so local to Fonthill Estate means I have trusted supplier connections built over years cooking and supplying restaurants and the hospitality industry. We will be using ingredients from local farmers, growers, fisherman, cheesemakers and vineyards, ensuring all our ingredients are produced by those who share the same values as us.”

Notes to Editors

·        Dinner is served Wednesday to Saturday only and are limited to 66 places per night and are based on a first come first serve basis

·        Tickets cost £xxx each and include a welcome drink, canapes and three courses. Drinks are available to buy at the event

·        Reservations by email only to reservations@dininginplainsight.co.uk

·        www.dininginplainsight.co.uk

·        @dininginplainsight

Spring Edition hosted at:
Fonthill Estate
Fonthill Bishop
Salisbury
Wiltshire, SP3 5SH

Dates: 23 April - 26 April and 30 April - 3 May
www.fonthill.co.uk

Summer Edition hosted at:
Featherstone Flowers
Tithe Barn
Berry Court Farm
Church Hill
Nether Wallop
Stockbridge
Hampshire, SO20 8EY

Dates: 18 - 21 June and 25 - 28 June, 2 - 5 July and 9 - 12 July
www.featherstoneflowers.co.uk

About Lock5
Dining in Plain Sight is the creation of Hampshire based event production agency, LOCK5, whose client portfolio includes Royal Ascot, RHS Chelsea Flower Show and Goodwood Festival of Speed, delivering projects such as major sporting and social events.

About James Whetlor
A regular on the events and festival circuit including River Cottage Food Fair, Abergavenny, Ludlow Food Festival, Wilderness, Food Rocks and Meatopia, James is perhaps best known as the founder of ethical meat company, Cabrito. Launched with a one-line mission statement to put all billy goats born into the British goat milk industry, which otherwise would be euthanised at birth, into the meat industry, James is a true pioneer, having created both the supply and demand for British goat meat, with fans including Jeremy Lee at Quo Vadis, Fergus Henderson at St John and Mark Hix. James’ first book ‘Goat: Cooking and Eating’ (Quadrille, £20) is widely acclaimed as genre-defining and won the James Beard Foundation Award for best single subject book and the Guild of Food Writers award for best single subject and he is also the author of ‘Cooking on the Big Green Egg: Everything you need to know from set-up to cooking techniques, with 70 recipes’ and ‘The DIY BBQ Cookbook: How to Build You Own BBQ and Cook up a Feast’.

March at The Counter by Robin Read

Aged ikejime Chalk Stream Trout, Pomelo, Spinach & Bitter Leaf

March at The Counter by Robin Read

No 69 Harden’s Top 100 Restaurants
No 97 Square Meal’s Top 100 Restaurants
Michelin Guide 2025

“The Counter is delicious and charming… treating the inner Veruca Salt in all of us with pure imagination.”
Grace Dent reviewing The Counter for The Guardian

“This new venture… is the best news for Tunbridge Wells. It has the makings of a destination – a relaxing neighbourhood restaurant with a big-city attitude” Good Food Guide

March brings new ingredients, a new tasting menu and a noticeable change in energy, which always comes with more sunlight and the first proper signs of Spring. Championing seasonality and British grown ingredients is the foundation of all the menus at The Counter, so chef owner Robin Read will be showcasing bitter leaves, citrus and seafood which are all at their peak this month. Up from the couth coast is stunning Cornish Brill to be stuffed and rolled with scallop and seaweed mousse, steamed, and served with hen of the woods velouté; roast sirloin with caramelised turnip puree, roast onion and madeira; a piece of the superb Perl Las, a creamy and salty blue Welsh cheese and for dessert, a twist on a classic sticky toffee pudding served with a citrus yuzu caramel and whipped double cream, from Chiddingstone Dairy.

Diners have a choice of three-, five-, eight-course menus, costing £40, £60, £95 respectively, which are shorter versions of the £125 ten-course menu, which is reserved exclusively for guests sitting at tup at the counter overlooking the kitchen and gives diners an interactive experience watching Robin and his team of chefs cook and plate up at the pass.

Under the Counter

Under the Counter is a new midweek offering from The Counter, an off-shoot from the monthly seasonal tasting menus, and a chance for the chefs to try something a little different, experiment and have some fun – there are no rules! Under the Counter will return on Wednesday 12th March for a celebration of British seafood with the best the UK’s coastal waters can offer. Dishes include raw aged Ikejime trout, scallop ceviche, herb butter baked plaice, squid ragu, classic fish soup and curried haddock risotto. All served small enough to taste the full menu or just a few dishes.

Mother’s Day

Opening specially on 30th March for Mothering Sunday, treat your mum, granny or yourself (why not?) to lunch and a gift from The Counter, including a glass of house favourite Hoffman & Rathbone Rose Reserve, a bouquet of seasonal British blooms and a bag of chocolate crinkle cookies to take home. Reservations are now open.

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Open days and hours:

Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: Lunch 12:00 – 14:30, Dinner 18:00 – 23:00
Saturday: 12:00 - 23:00 

The March eight-course menu at The Counter by Robin Read

Mascapone Rosti
Wasabi Leaf

Malted Sourdough & Vegetable Broth
Chiddingstone Dairy Butter

Aged ikejime Chalk Stream Trout
Pomelo, Spinach & Bitter Leaf

Steamed Cornish Brill
Scallop & Seaweed Mousse, Hen of the Woods Veloute

Roast Cornish Sirloin
Caramelised Turnip Puree, Roast Onion & Madeira

Perl Las
Pear & Bitter Leaf Salad
(optional £12 supplement)

Grapefruit & Oregano Tea

Sticky Toffee
Yuzu Cararmel, Chiddingstone Dairy Cream

The Sweet Treat Tower

£95 per person               
Three or five glass wine pairing £36 or £60
Premium pairing three or five glasses £50 or £90          

 About Robin Read

The Counter, which opened in April 2024, is the fruition of the long-held dream of Robin Read to have his own restaurant. Born from a long family history of serving the best produce over a counter, Robin’s maternal grandfather was a Master Butcher in Rugeley, Staffordshire, while on his paternal side, his great-grandfather was a Greengrocer in Lewisham, South London. Together with his wife Greta Boccia, they have taken on a 200-year-old Georgian building in the heart of Royal Tunbridge Wells, which includes the main restaurant with table and counter dining, private dining room, small wine bar and courtyard garden, with raised beds and pots growing herbs, salads, and brassicas.

Previously, Robin was Executive Chef of the Firmdale Hotel Group for 16 years, overseeing six new Firmdale openings, including four hotels, a bakery and training academy, all with great success. He worked with head chefs in eight sites (UK & internationally) with over 200 kitchen staff, to maintain the highest of standards.

Robin began his cooking career at the age of 16 with work experience at the Roux Brothers’ London patisserie, where he trained in 1990. His love and passion of the industry continued to grow, working and training with some of the best chefs this country has produced. He spent two years at Chez Nico under Nico Ladenis as sous chef, which held three Michelin stars, before working with Marco Pierre White at Mirabelle, becoming Head Chef, and retaining their one Michelin star. Robin also spent time in the kitchens at Le Gavroche, The Square and Restaurant Paul Heathcote.

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Three AA Rosettes and Michelin Green Star for The Small Holding, Kent

Will and Matt Devlin

The Small Holding, Kent has been awarded three Rosettes by the AA Guide and retained its Michelin Green Star for the fifth year in a row

The Small Holding in Kent has been awarded three Rosettes by the AA Guide today, 18th February. Given only to outstanding restaurants that achieve standards that demand recognition well beyond their local area, the award is announced alongside The Small Holding retaining its Michelin Green Star for sustainability in gastronomy for the fifth year in a row.

Only 10% of the restaurants and hotels within the AA Restaurant Guide have three Rosettes and above. To achieve this the cooking must be underpinned by the selection and sympathetic treatment of the highest quality ingredients, while timing, seasoning and the judgment of flavour combinations is consistently excellent. The award is also supported by intuitive service and a well-chosen wine list.

The Small Holding was one of the first restaurants in the country to receive a Michelin Green star in 2021. Now with only 35 restaurants in the country who have achieved the award, the star recognises restaurants with a focus on environmental practices and is only awarded to those which hold a Plate, Bib or Star distinction. Many, like Will and Matt Devlin at The Small Holding work directly with growers, farmers and fishermen, forage in hedgerows and woodlands and grow their vegetables and rear animals. Other recipients of the Green Star include Black Swan, York; Coombeshead Farm, Launceston; L’Enclume, Cumbria; Restaurant Sat Bains, Nottingham and Silo, London.

Will Devlin, chef owner of The Small Holding, commented, “What an incredible feeling! Achieving three Rosettes and retaining our Green Star in the same week is a huge boost for our team and a recognition of everything we strive for daily at The Small Holding in our never-ending quest and drive for sustainability. These awards are for everyone on our team, in the kitchen, on the floor and on the farm who all work so hard and really deserve this, I’m so proud.”

www.smallholdingrestaurant.com
@the_small_holding_

Ranters Lane | Kilndown | Kent | TN17 2SG

About The Small Holding

The Small Holding is a Michelin green-starred kitchen and farm on a country lane in the village of Kilndown on the Kent and East Sussex borders. Run by brothers Will and Matt Devlin, as Chef and Head of Operations, respectively, The Small Holding is part of Acre, which also includes Birchwood in Flimwell, East Sussex.

The 36-cover restaurant and farm is set in one acre of land, permitting a unique connection between the land and table. Growing, foraging and cooking the best ingredients is at the core of The Small Holding, with monthly changing tasting menus, using home-reared and home-grown ingredients from the farm, which is less than 10 feet from the kitchen.

The Small Holding is open Wednesday to Sunday with an eight-course Full Acre menu costing £95 per person and a five-course Half Acre menu costing £75 per person, with the option of a wine flight. A three-course set Garden Menu is available on Thursday, Friday and Sunday lunch time, priced £55 per person.

For more information, images, interview or to visit The Small Holding, please contact Hannah Blake hannah@thediningroompr.co.uk | 07730 039361

Springtime events at Gravetye Manor

Garden Designer Jo Thompson will discuss her new book at Gravetye Manor

Floral and creative workshops at Gravetye Manor, West Sussex

Tulip Block Printing Cushion Cover Workshop with Molly Mahon
Tuesday 25th March 2025

Join printmaker Molly Mahon at Gravetye Manor for a one-day workshop.

Use Molly’s newly carved wooden tulip blocks and palette of eco-friendly paints, to experience the joy of block printing, designing and creating a 40 x 30cm cushion cover to take home and cherish. Embellish cushions with Molly’s fabulous array of cotton threads. Adding simple French knots or back stitch, monogramming over the top of designs to add depth, texture and an even more personalised touch. Places are £180.00 per person, that includes tea/coffee and pastries on arrival, a two-course lunch with wine, the workshop and all materials required. The workshop is suitable for all levels with no experience necessary. For more information and to book, please click here.

Jo Thompson, The New Romantic Garden
Thursday 24th April 2025

Gravetye Manor is thrilled to welcome one of the UK’s leading garden designers, Jo Thompson, to talk about her latest book, The New Romantic Garden (Rizzoli, £40). Known for her exquisite, timeless planting, well-proportioned English-style gardens and a deep commitment to biodiversity, Jo will share her love of romantic gardens and provide inspiration to all gardeners who want their garden to feel not merely well planted, but truly alive and atmospheric.

Tickets are £165.00 per person, that includes tea or coffee on arrival, a three-course lunch with drinks, the talk and a signed copy of the book. For more information and to book, please click here.

Bex Partridge, Living Spring Wreath Workshop
Wednesday 7th & Thursday 8th May 2025

To celebrate the launch of her new book Crafting with Flowers, Bex Partridge will be highlighting some of the beautiful projects that fill its pages. During the workshop, Bex will guide you through the art of creating a living wreath full of spring bulbs and pretty living flowers. Spring foliage and dried seedheads will be used to compliment the living plants. The wreaths created will last for four to six weeks. Once the bulb plants begin to fade, they can be planted into the garden.

Places are £170.00 per person, which includes the workshop, tea or coffee and pastries on arrival and a two-course lunch with wine. For more information and to book, please click here.

Flower workshops with Gravetye Manor’s Head Florist
Join Head Florist, Sharon Coote, for Gravetye’s spring and summer flower workshops. Each workshop will use sustainable techniques and repurposed vases guests can take home to reuse for years to come. Places are £160.00 per person, which includes the workshop, pastries and refreshments on arrival and a two-course lunch with wine. Group sizes will be kept small to ensure maximum attention from Sharon.

Wednesday 16th & Thursday 17th April - Easter Tulips
Sharon will expertly demonstrate how to create a stunning vase arrangement using Gravetye Manor’s famous homegrown tulips from the garden.

Tuesday 10th & Wednesday 11th June - Summer Entertaining
Sharon will demonstrate how to create a variety of beautiful table arrangements for summer entertaining.

Wednesday 9th & Thursday 10th July – Meadow Box
Sharon will teach how to create a beautiful garden meadow style arrangement using a mixture of seasonal flowers gathered from our gardens.

For more information and to book, please click here.

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About Gravetye Manor

Gravetye Manor is a hotel and restaurant with four Red Stars, four Rosettes and one Michelin star and two Michelin Keys, in West Sussex on the Kent/Surrey/Sussex borders. The Elizabethan manor house looks over 35 acres of stunning world-renowned gardens, walled kitchen garden, orchard, glasshouses and Peach House set within a further 1000 acres of woodland. The gardens are considered amongst the most influential in English horticultural history, made famous by previous owner and influential gardener William Robinson, whose preference for the ‘wild garden’, mixed herbaceous borders and hardy perennial planting broke with the formal Victorian style of the day, and his radical approach remains as popular as ever with gardeners today.

For more information, please contact
Hannah Blake on 07730 039361 or hannah@thediningroompr.co.uk
Sarah Jones on 07775 582497 or sarah@wildernesspr.co.uk

Address:  Gravetye Manor, Vowels Lane, West Hoathly, Sussex, RH19 4LJ
Tel:  01342 810567
Website:  www.gravetyemanor.co.uk
Instagram:  @gravetyemanor

Grow the Seasons at The Small Holding

Grow the Seasons at The Small Holding, Kilndown, Kent

Grow the Seasons

Learn to ‘Grow the Seasons’ in 2025 with new dates announced for chef and farmer Will Devlin’s horticultural courses at his Michelin green-starred restaurant and farm in Kilndown, Kent, The Small Holding.

Led by Head Gardener Alex Cairns, Grow the Seasons is for people of all skills and ages who are interested in gardening, growing and how our food goes from plot to plate, as well as giving a behind-the-scenes experience of the day-to-day running of a Michelin green-starred restaurant.

Each full-day course starts with coffee and pastries on The Small Holding’s one-acre farm, and is a balanced mix of hands-on practical and theory learning, as guests discover and share in the team’s knowledge on seasonal vegetable and fruit growing, ‘No Dig’ principles, soil health and composting, and how to take sustainable practices home to their own gardens, plots and allotments.

Each quarterly course is in tune with the growing season, including ‘Fresh Start’ on 12th and 26th February looking at no-dig beds and planning for the growing year ahead; ‘Planting Out’ on 14th and 28th May looking at sowing, planting, support structures, companion and succession planting; ‘Summer Abundance’ on 9th and 23rd July is about to successionally sow and plant to ensure continual harvest and also how best to manage pest control, while ‘Harvest Time’ on 10th and 24th September is about reaping the rewards of a successful growing season and looking at the best and easiest ways to harvest crops and what to sow in the Autumn for for Winter and Spring harvests. Each full-day course costs £195 per person and includes coffee and pastries, lunch at The Small Holding, learning sheets and a practical gift bag to take home.

Shorter courses include ‘Farm Mornings’ which are a focussed two-hour deep dive into a specific seasonal aspect of gardening, such as ‘no dig’ or ‘orchard pruning’.

Find out more and book for February, May, August and November 2025

www.growtheseasons.com

Sunday roast at Pearly Cow, Brighton

Sunday roast at Pearly Cow, Brighton (credit Lateef Photography)

New Sunday lunch menu launches at Pearly Cow, Brighton

Launching on 12th January is the new Sunday lunch menu at Pearly Cow Brighton from Head Chef Andrew MacKenzie. Serving a choice of roast meats, including Sussex Wagyu Beef Topside from Trenchmore Farm and Rolled Porchetta with roast apples and fennel from Woodhouse Butchery, with a Nut Roast option for vegetarians and vegans, the Pearly Cow roast is traditional with modern touches and served with all the classic trimmings, including Yorkshire pudding, cauliflower cheese, red cabbage, roast potatoes, greens and gravy.

Step in from a bracing walk straight from the seafront in front of the iconic Brighton West Pier and start with an enlivening Sussex sparkling wine aperitif or a classic or twisted cocktail at the bar, created by mixologist maestro Josh Williams.

For starters, choose Pearly Cow’s signature tacos such as lobster, apple and fennel or opt for a plate of Lindisfarne, Jersey or Whitstable oysters and freshly baked bread with salted beef dripping butter.

Finish with difficult decision of which dessert to choose, from the mascarpone crème brûlée and sour cherry sorbet; raspberry trifle, pistachio and white chocolate; British cheese with walnut and raisin bread crackers or a rhubarb and apple crumble to share served with custard & milk ice cream.

Served every Sunday from 12:30 - 7:30pm
Two courses: £34 | Three Courses: £40

For more information or to book, please visit www.pearlycow.co.uk/pearly-cow-brighton

About Pearly Cow

Pearly Cow is Brighton's hottest new restaurant. Sat directly on Brighton’s seafront and spread across four Georgian & Regency townhouses, the restaurant is opposite the iconic West Pier and serves an eclectic menu of fantastic dry-aged steaks, fresh fish and seafood from south coast day boats which are cooked simply on open-flame or served raw on ice.

Leading the kitchen brigade is Executive Chef Andrew MacKenzie who has worked and travelled in restaurants and hotels all over the world, from Gleneagles to Goodwood Hotel to Soho House, and worked with hospitality greats such as Nico Ladenis and Paul Heathcote. Andrew is a Brighton-boy through-and-through; he loves the city and being able to cook and work so close to the sea. Over the years Andrew has developed and nurtured closed one-to-one relationships with an amazing roster of Sussex producers, including seafood from Brighton & Newhaven Fisheries, Brighton; wagyu Beef from Trenchmore Farm, Horsham, West Sussex; pork and chicken from Woodhouse Butchery, Haywards Heath, West Sussex; fruit and vegetables from Munneries, East Wittering, West Sussex; eggs from Orchard Farm Sussex, Forest Row, East Sussex and cheese from The Cheese Man, Brighton.

December at The Counter by Robin Read

December at The Counter

December is a time for celebration and reflection and what a first six months of operation at The Counter by Robin Read in Tunbridge Wells it’s been. This is the first festive season and Christmas at The Counter, and the restaurant is looking beautiful with twinkling decorations, candles, good food and wine and of course, time with friends and family.

December is a month for great produce from the land and sea of the British Isles to the warmer climate of Italy for citrus, radicchio and other bitter leaves. On the menu this month is stunning trout from the crystal-clear chalk streams in Hampshire which is lightly cured and served with finely sliced red moon radish, bitter leaves and Scots pine oil; Dover Sole from Cornwall is simply poached with a white wine and tarragon velouté, while local venison from the Eridge Park Estate and aged Sussex rump cap take the menu to a whole new level of richness and umami. A new offering each month is a palate cleanser made this month with fragrant and aromatic Sicilian pink grapefruit and Buddhas Hand Lemon in a refreshing thyme tea, before heading back to the comfort of an oozing chocolate fondant and Chiddingstone Dairy cream.

Diners have a choice of three-, five-, eight-course menus, costing £40, £60, £96 respectively, which are shorter versions of the ten-course menu. Three or six-glass wine pairing is £36 or £70, while the eight-glass pairing is £96 per guest and a three-glass non-alcoholic pairing is £32. The ten-course tasting menu is reserved exclusively for guests sitting at the pass overlooking the kitchen and gives diners an interactive experience watching Robin and his team of chefs cook and plate up at the pass; the menu is more experimental, taste-testing dishes that are in development for the next month’s menu.

Open days and hours:

Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: Lunch 12:00 – 14:30, Dinner 18:00 – 23:00
Saturday: 12:00 - 23:00 

A new chapter for Birchwood

Will Devlin (l) and Matt Devlin (r)

A NEW CHAPTER FOR BIRCHWOOD

Birchwood, Matt and Will Devlin’s East Sussex restaurant is relocating in 2025 from its current home at Flimwell Park.

The current lease at Flimwell Park had a break clause and if not activated it would mean staying for the foreseeable future.

In a joint statement Matt and Will Devlin comment, “Birchwood was born out of excitement and innovation, and we have a responsibility to constantly build upon this. Our aim is to build a bigger, bolder and better Birchwood, with our new location in the works. We will grow our events, build our hub for food and drink and grow and retail our own produce. As ever at Acre we don’t like to sit still, we are constantly dreaming of ways to improve and push ourselves and increase our impact. Relocation is a hugely exciting step and an opportunity to take Birchwood to the next level.”

The last day of service at Birchwood Flimwell will be on 23 March 2025.

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About Acre Group

Will Devlin is the founder of Acre, a family of restaurants and hospitality event spaces in Kent and Sussex including The Small Holding which has a Michelin green star. He runs the business with his brother, Matt Devlin, who is Head of Operations.

For more information and images for Matt & Will Devlin and Acre Group, please contact Hannah Blake at The Dining Room 07730 039361 | hannah@thediningroompr.co.uk

Anthony Raffo joins The Small Holding as Sous Chef

Anthony Raffo in the kitchen at The Small Holding (credit Ashleigh Britten)

Anthony Raffo has joined The Small Holding in Kilndown, Kent, as Sous Chef. Having worked in the hospitality industry for over 20 years, after spending time in France and the Channel Islands and working in some of the best Michelin starred restaurants in London, including Pied a Terre and Texture, Anthony is perhaps best known as the creative force behind Anglo in Farringdon. Under Anthony, Anglo achieved 3 AA rosettes, ranked 21 in the Harden’s Guide, had a Michelin plate and was one of the first in the country to be awarded Two Green Circles in the 360 Guide.

Anthony joins a strong team at The Small Holding, which has a Michelin green star and Three Green Circles in the 360 Guide, working with Head Chef James Chatfield and Chef and Founder of The Small Holding and Acre, Will Devlin.

Will Devlin comments, “Anthony has a real passion for British seasonal produce ​and to create interesting and unique dishes using ancient and modern techniques, which reinforces the work we do on the farm at the restaurant​, and introducing new and varied fermentation and preserving techniques to the team and our guests.”

About The Small Holding

The Small Holding is a Michelin green-starred kitchen and farm on a country lane in the village of Kilndown on the Kent and East Sussex borders. Run by brothers Will and Matt Devlin, as Chef and Head of Operations, respectively, The Small Holding is part of Acre, which also includes Birchwood in Flimwell, East Sussex. 

The 36-cover restaurant and farm is set in one acre of land, permitting a unique connection between the land and table. Growing, foraging and cooking the best ingredients is at the core of The Small Holding, with monthly changing tasting menus, using home-reared and home-grown ingredients from the farm, which is less than 10 feet from the kitchen.

The menu is defined by the farm’s own produce. Vegetables and fruits are harvested within hours of guests arriving; while charcuterie, sourdough and cultured butter and zero waste animal cookery from the farm’s own livestock, are made on site. The kitchen team works directly with growers, farmers and fishermen who share the same core values, and the team forage in the nearby hedgerows and woodland.

The Small Holding is open Wednesday to Sunday with an eight-course Full Acre menu costing £95 per person and a five-course Half Acre menu costing £75 per person, with the option of a wine flight. A three-course set menu (from the full acre menu) is available on Thursday and Friday lunch time, priced £55 per person. The drinks list also includes housemade soft drinks, kombucha and non-nlcoholic wine, beer and spirits.

December at The Small Holding, Kent

A snowy Decmber day at The Small Holing, Kent

December at The Small Holding

Green Michelin Star 2021/22/23
360 Guide Three Green Circles 2024
Number 69, Harden’s Top 100 Restaurants
Number 89, Square Meal’s Top 100 Restaurants
Good Food Guide 2024 and shortlisted for best Farm to Table restaurant

December

The December menu at The Small Holding, Kent finds partnership in the soft, earthy and comforting flavours of root vegetables, brassicas, mushrooms, cream and fat tempered by the tartness of ferments, vinegars and pickles. Now is the time for the larder to shine, stacked high with Kilner jars, to brighten these cold, thin days providing a burst of invigorating colour, taste and texture for the plate and palette.

The Small Holding

As winter tightens his grip, The Small Holding’s December menu moves from ‘just picked on the farm’ to the preserves of the pantry, where the most important ingredient is ‘time’. Barbecued Orkney scallops are dressed with yuzu vinaigrette, preserved wild garlic and smoked scallop roes; beef sirloin is paired with black garlic purée, nasturtium flower vinegar gel and dried calendula and finished with a beef sauce made with smoked bone marrow, while one of the two desserts this month is Douglas Fir, Plum, Yoghurt Whey where plums are fermented with plum brandy and served with toasted buckwheat and a foraged Douglas Fir sorbet.

Book a Table at The Small Holding

The December Full Acre menu at The Small Holding

Snacks, Sourdough and Hinxden Butter

Brassicas, cheese, tomato
Jerusalem artichoke, walnut, gherkin

Scallop, squash, wild garlic
Bass, celeriac, mushroom

Turkey, bread, sprouts
Beef, potato, cabbage

Douglas Fir, plum, yoghurt whey
Chocolate, chestnut, chicory root

Cheese (optional)
Sweet Treats

The Small Holding is open Wednesday to Sunday with an eight-course Full Acre menu costing £95 per person and a five-course Half Acre menu costing £75 per person, with the option of a wine flight. A three-course set menu (from the full acre menu) is available on Thursday and Friday lunch time, priced £55 per person. The drinks list also includes housemade soft drinks, kombucha and non-alcoholic wine, beer and spirits.

About The Small Holding

The Small Holding is a Michelin green-starred kitchen and farm on a country lane in the village of Kilndown on the Kent and East Sussex borders. Run by brothers Will and Matt Devlin, as Chef and Head of Operations, respectively, The Small Holding is part of Acre, which also includes Birchwood in Flimwell, East Sussex. 

The 36-cover restaurant and farm is set in one acre of land, permitting a unique connection between the land and table. Growing, foraging and cooking the best ingredients is at the core of The Small Holding, with monthly changing tasting menus, using home-reared and home-grown ingredients from the farm, which is less than 10 feet from the kitchen.

The menu is defined by the farm’s own produce. Vegetables and fruits are harvested within hours of guests arriving; while charcuterie, sourdough and cultured butter and zero waste animal cookery from the farm’s own livestock, are made on site. The kitchen team works directly with growers, farmers and fishermen who share the same core values, and the team forage in the nearby hedgerows and woodland.

“Growing our own produce on the farm brings an understanding and honesty back to the kitchen, and vital freshness. Making the most of our harvests when the ingredients are at their prime - whilst also preserving and conserving them to use throughout the year, keeps us concentrated on the natural cycle of the land and helps us to create full flavoured and imaginative dishes.” Will Devlin 

For more information and images for The Small Holding, Will Devlin and Acre, please contact Hannah Blake at The Dining Room 07730 039361 | hannah@thediningroompr.co.uk

November at The Small Holding

Brasscias coming in from the farm at The Small Holding, Kentthe

November at The Small Holding

In some ways November offers a little respite before the busy festive season at The Small Holding, Kent begins in earnest. The wet, warm weather with bursts of sunlight filtering down through the woodland canopy, is a winning combination for the winter chanterelles and trompette wild mushrooms the kitchen team forages for the new month’s menus. While on the one-acre kitchen garden, where the days grow shorter and the air chills, the farm’s team thoughts turn to repair and restore, adding layers of nutrient rich mulch and organic matter all over the farm’s no dig beds. This black gold will feed the soil and rebuild its health and biodiversity after the impact of a full-on growing season. The farm team will be covering all this and more in the ‘Winter Planning’ Grow the Seasons course on 13th November, led by Head Gardener Alex with a few spaces left available. Soil health is crucial to a successful growing year, so this hands-on course is essential to understanding more about biodiversity and the microorganisms which feed the ground.

In the fields and woods, game season is in full swing with local shoots every weekend, keeping the restaurant larder stocked with wild duck, pheasant, and partridge. Wild game birds are one of the only truly sustainable meats and having had only a wild and natural diet, it’s a true taste of the season and the land. On the November Full Acre menu there are two game dishes starting with a Game Faggot glazed with preserved berries and served with a game broth finished with fermented elderberry balsamic, madeira and herb infused rapeseed oil, before a larger plate of Partridge, Parsnip and Mushroom, an earthy and deeply satisfying taste of Autumn.

Book a Table at The Small Holding

About The Small Holding

The Small Holding is a Michelin green-starred kitchen and farm on a country lane in the village of Kilndown on the Kent and East Sussex borders. Run by brothers Will and Matt Devlin, as Chef and Head of Operations, respectively, The Small Holding is part of Acre, which also includes Birchwood in Flimwell, East Sussex. 

The 36-cover restaurant and farm is set in one acre of land, permitting a unique connection between the land and table. Growing, foraging and cooking the best ingredients is at the core of The Small Holding, with monthly changing tasting menus, using home-reared and home-grown ingredients from the farm, which is less than 10 feet from the kitchen.

The menu is defined by the farm’s own produce. Vegetables and fruits are harvested within hours of guests arriving; while charcuterie, sourdough and cultured butter and zero waste animal cookery from the farm’s own livestock, are made on site. The kitchen team works directly with growers, farmers and fishermen who share the same core values, and the team forage in the nearby hedgerows and woodland.

“Growing our own produce on the farm brings an understanding and honesty back to the kitchen, and vital freshness. Making the most of our harvests when the ingredients are at their prime - whilst also preserving and conserving them to use throughout the year, keeps us concentrated on the natural cycle of the land and helps us to create full flavoured and imaginative dishes.” Will Devlin 

For more information and images for The Small Holding, Will Devlin and Acre, please contact Hannah Blake at The Dining Room 07730 039361 | hannah@thediningroompr.co.uk