A la Colthard/Gravetye Manor

This was my second visit to Gravetye Manor, a former baronial-style hall near East Grinstead, with exquisite gardens that was converted into a hotel in 2005.

It’s more of a summer place to enjoy the formal walled garden and the expansive grounds by a lake.

The dining room is set in a conservatory overlooking the grounds.

I invited an old friend for a belated celebration of his 70th.

It has a three-course fixed menu at £60. Each dish carries a full description amplified by explanation from the waitering staff.  I found all of this too intrusive as on more than one occasion our conversation was interrupted.

I had a langoustine and white beetroot salad  and duck.  My friend the same entree and partridge.

The portions, whilst delicate and prettily assembled, were on the small side. As the only wine we had was my glass of Trochen Riesling the bill came to £170 and would have been considerably more with wine.The clientele was elderly and, I guess, drawn from the gin and Jaguar enclaves of Oxted, Cobham and upmarket commuter-land.

Summing up , good for a special occasion otherwise have their tea and enjoy the grounds.