insideKENT Magazine Issue 32 - November 2014 | Page 117

A selection of finger sandwiches, freshly baked
scones, and pastries – including some delectable
mini jam doughnuts that were added to the menu
that day – plus a slice of Haley's homemade
cake, made for a spectacular food-fuelled affair.
To accompany, a pick from an extensive tea and
coffee menu that, designed by the in-house tea
sommelier, included hand-blended recipes
courtesy of London-based artisan company,
Camellia's Tea House. While I opted for Japan
Sencha, an uplifting green tea, my guest went
for the signature South Lodge Tea Blend.
The ideal way to spend any afternoon – let alone
a Tuesday – we could of stayed all day, if it wasn't
for the sobering fact that we'd already consumed
our body weight in food, and yet had a dinner
reservation in a few hours time. Considering an
afternoon nap, but resigned to the idea that a
brisk stroll would be most effective, we set off to
explore the parkland. While the glistening lakes
made for a striking backdrop, the discovery of
the hotel's amazing tree-swing-come-pod took
up a good hour of our time.
An afternoon vino on the terrace rounded off the
perfect day, and took us full circle to our evening
dinner at The Camellia. An elegant dining room
overlooking the lawns, this award-winning
restaurant offers mouth-watering dishes that use
fresh vegetables from the hotel's walled kitchen
garden and the finest local Sussex ingredients.
Unique in style, The Camellia, fronted by
MasterChef: The Professionals 2013 winner and
head chef, Steven Edwards, offers guests
balanced, contemporary interpretations of
traditional seasonal dishes.
Fancy yourself as a bit of a drinks connoisseur?
The hotel's expert sommelier, Dominic Roberts,
has handpicked 200 plus wines to compliment
Edwards' creations, and better still, guests are
invited to sample their wine choices pre-dinner
in the newly restored cellar. Don't mind if I do!
Two glasses of Tulbagh Winery Merlot, South
Africa, and a novel selection of fresh, homebaked breads later, we were ready to start.

Picking from the à la carte menu, my guest
enjoyed a flavoursome and meticulously
presented starter of crab cannelloni, paired with
tomato and a delicious celery sorbet, while I
opted for a meltingly rich confit duck leg, served
with pak choi and cucumber.
In the way of mains, a beef fillet accompanied
by creamy dauphinoise potatoes and charcoal,
took my fancy. Cooked with precision, the prized
cut of beef made for a showstopper of a course,
served with colour-pop heritage carrots.
Meanwhile, my guest went for a Greek-inspired
dish of succulent lamb saddle, red pepper,
courgette and feta, that certainly tasted as good
as it looked.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that however
full you are, there’s always room for pudding.
Therefore, in honour of the earth's thinking, I
went all out and ordered what I can only describe
as the epitome of my dream dessert. A chocolate
and gin concoction, this culinary masterpiece
was a force to be reckoned with, teamed with a
tangy-sweet plum compote, ginger crumb and
pear ice cream.

king (or queen), it certainly set us up for the day
ahead.
For those that have more time to enjoy the hotel's
facilities, there's a croquet lawn, mountain bikes,
all-weather tennis courts, and golf available for
guests at the hotel’s nearby sister property,
Mannings Heath Golf Club. Many also favour
South Lodge for meetings, weddings, banqueting
and corporate purposes, with a range of 12
flexible meeting and event spaces for up to 130
people.
From glorious grounds to Michelin-star dining,
lavish guest rooms, and a flawless service, South
Lodge Hotel's definitive aim is to offer a home
from home to many a discerning visitor – an
ambition it maintains and exceeds by the bucket
load.
One of all my all-time favourite getaways, this
country house hotel denotes luxury in every sense
of the word. The ultim FRW66RF