Ockenden Manor in Mid Sussex

We have known and stayed at Ockenden Manor since 1975. Staff are superb. The catering, however, has now moved into the pretentious category with a menu that is specialised, limited in range and depth and wine list which is a tad removed from normality. Ockenden Manor is lovely but no longer a reasonable restaurant experience.

I don't know how they made my vegan plate of just straight up veggies taste so good, but they did. You know it's a proper chef when they can do that. Highly impressed with the depth of flavour!

The decor in the restaurant is a bit formal/stuffy but the glass doors opening out to the garden view is lovely. We were sadly all a little disappointed with the food. Slices of pork on top of a pile of sweetcorn and a piece of scorched cabbage did not justify the £100 a head that we paid (including wine but not excessive amounts). However, we were wowed with the service. The Manager on duty was Russell and he was an absolute joy. He was fun and charming and he set the tone for the other waiting staff who were also excellent. Well done Russell and team.

Faultless experience, very friendly team who went above and beyond for a birthday lunch. We arrived 30 minutes early which was no problem. Food was great, will definitely be back.

Hopefully this will be seen as constructive criticism as potentially, it could be good. This review is only as a vegan, as my non-vegan friends liked the food. But vegan opinions meant one selection for starter and one for main, so no choice. What there was, showed no thought or imagination in my opinion, as it was just some vegetables on a plate, certainly no good protein sources for example. Definitely wouldn’t recommend to people that follow a plant based/vegan diet.

The decor's pleasant enough and the service was only average. We had to rescue the champagne bottle to refill our glasses. I did have high expectations when I saw the prices. Anyway, I plumped for pickled beetroot starter and then a burger as it said Sussex Angus beef and Sussex cheddar. I have had burgers throughout the US and to a lesser extent in Canada so I was expecting something very special for 22 pounds. Very disappointing. The overcooked patty lacked beefy succulence and the very thin white, membrane-like coating, did not taste cheesy enough for me. The bun, described as brioche, was not to my liking. The other person, also having a burger, left much of the bun. The chips were adequate. There wasn't time for pudding as friends had to leave early.

My twin sister and I celebrated our 80th Birthday in the Burrell Room for Sunday lunch. The food was outstanding and the service was impeccable. We received a very warm welcome from Russell and all the staff. It was certainly a celebration to remember. Thank you.

I went for a birthday lunch with friends, having been here many times before I was very disappointed on this occasion. I am dairy intolerant and this had been explained at booking and on the day. The starter and main course were great and I was offered a fruit salad with vegan cream for dessert. Shortly after eating I began to feel unwell, and then commenced to display all the unpleasant symptoms of having ingested dairy. We paid the bill and I discreetly explained the situation to the waitress as we left. I was confronted with denial of anything possibly being wrong with process. As anyone who is dairy intolerant will know, it doesn’t take very long after eating to show symptoms. I emailed when i got home, no response whatsoever, so if you happen to have food allergies or intolerances or are vegan, I would recommend avoiding as if an establishment is unwilling to recognise an error they will not learn the lessons required to avoid being repeated.

We had a wonderful lunch at Ockenden Manor on Saturday. The food was extremely well prepared, the service we received from Louisa and Elisha was absolutely spot on. We finished our meal with coffee on the terrace enjoying the beautiful surroundings and view of the South Downs. The lunch was to celebrate a special event and having read some reviews, I was a little anxious. Yes, the wine is expensive, but wine is expensive in a good restaurant. The lunch menu is limited, but with two vegetarians and two meat-eaters, there was something delicious for everyone. Wholeheartedly recommend and will be back again.

Lovely dining room, on a sunny evening the large doors were open and we looked out on beautiful gardens and scenery. Service was excellent, professional but still very friendly. Food was absolutely excellent: delicious, fresh and a little bit special. Sommelier helped us with wine and it was great. All in all a lovely experience and we’d travel to eat here again. And it was really good value for the quality .

3 ladies of a certain age enjoying a long awaited get together. Ordered drinks in the lounge and given menus. Within 2 minutes we were asked to move to the table having just sat down! We asked why we needed to be rushed? “We’re on a tight schedule “ says the waitress “ I’ll give you 5 more minutes” Duly she came back and told us to move - no one else in the lounge btw. At the table Maitre d’ took our order of no starters but bread and olives please to share, then 3 main courses all the same. Sharing pieces arrived very quickly followed almost immediately by main courses! When asked why we were given no time to enjoy the olives etc Maitre d’ stated that the chef was ready for the dishes to come to the table. Clearly making your guests feel relaxed and comfortable is not in the training package. The restaurant was not over busy but guessing the chef wanted to get home. Certainly disappointed and won’t bother to go again. Food was average and menu not particularly inspiring.

Limited lunch menu, quite expensive . Had soup and had to pay extra for bread!!! Food was ok Staff attentive..

I bought us a voucher at Xmas for us to use for lunch here and I was pleased my husband had quoted the number when booked as it was lost in the meantime. there was no problem when we arrived, using the voucher even though we couldn't produce it. There were four or five other tables and service was good, matching the food. The choices on the menu for the voucher offer was limited, but nice enough, and my pheasant main course was splendid, cooked as I had requested, and incredibly succulent and tender, a very good job indeed. My husband enjoyed his burger very much, though they had run out of mayo, he was happy with it anyway. We ordered from a choice of desserts and enjoyed our syrup tarts, a mite overcooked but generous portions and nice enough. We had coffee in the lounge, a pleasant and elegantly furnished room overlooking the garden, and service was good there as well. Extra to our voucher cost, (about £66) we ordered wine, two generous and excellent glasses of red wine, and the hot drinks for about £31. The ambience and the charm of the ancient building as well as the food and service made it something we would repeat. We used to live nearby and had many lunches here which were always pretty good, so I was pleased it had not disappointed this time.... restaurants these days are struggling to survive, post pandemic, post Brexit etc., and I would like to see this, as well as it's sister hotels, the spread eagle at Midhurst and the Bailiffscourt at Climping, both with spas, survive and thrive.

I selected coffee with petit four as a dessert, for a stated £6.00, I asked that the coffee be made "Irish" ie: with a single shot of Jamesons in it. I was very surprised when the bill came and I had been charged £19.00 for the Irish coffee which was £6.00 for the petit four and £13.00 for the Irish Coffee which was apparently a "cocktail" and they cost £13.00. When I balked at the outrageous price they reluctantly dropped the £6.00 but insisted on the full price for the "cocktail" I was not impressed with either their pricing policy or their attitude.

We had Sunday lunch here as a birthday treat for eight of us. The dining room reasonable and the service prompt and unobtrusive. The food was really good and everyone enjoyed what they chose. Downside is that the drinks are extremely expensive so best stay off the booze if you want to keep the price down.

Finding Ockenden Manor isn’t easy with a lack of signage from the main road. Once down the right lane though it is directly ahead of you with a carpark right infront of the entrance. The atmosphere is cosy rather than grand with small dark rooms in the entrance area and staff welcome was mixed on arrival. The restaurant lacked atmosphere and unless you have a table by the window there aren’t really any views, just a few trees and the Sussex downs at a distance ,but the focus is definitely on the tables around you. There were several customers who had clearly come straight from their day spa treatments to the restaurant. It gave the restaurant a much more casual feeling than anticipated. Service was inconsistent with some friendly, professional staff and some really inexperienced ones too. My roast beef was raw rather than roasted in the middle but other than that the food was OK. Overall the restaurant certainly didn’t live up to the excellent reputation it used to have and the overall experience could have been a lot better.

This is a warning to future customers of Ockendon Manor intending use vouchers in their restaurant. I have an ongoing issue with Ockendon Manor concerning incorrect information given by a member of their staff which led to vouchers I had purchased to use here which they say were not valid and I ended up having to pay the full bill. This matter is the subject of a complaint to the venue which as at today, so far as I am concerned, remains unresolved. The venue has taken over 6 weeks to reply to my first letter of complaint, stating a reply was lost in the post. As regards the afternoon tea we had this was fine.

I was fortunate to enjoy a 2 course lunch as part of the Sunrise Spa package with my mother (celebrating her 80th birthday with lunch after a morning spent at the spa). The menu is very different and everything we had was utterly delicious. At the end we were surprised with a lovely dessert of macarons with a plate piped with 'Happy 80th Birthday' - such a beautiful way to finish the morning at the spa. Staff were super friendly and very efficient and I can highly recommend and look forward to returning in the not too distant future.

We had lunch here as part of our spa package. It’s good value, great quality food. The options for lunch tend to me simpler than dinner / years ago when this was Michelin but they are still delicious and we throughly enjoyed it. The service is ok - there are some great, very experienced hosts and some less experienced staff. I was a bit surprised when one guest turned up in their swimmers with a coverup on - but seemed to be accepted by the restaurant 🤷‍♀️ Overall a really nice experience and I’d recommend it, just a bit more casual than it used to be.

Staff very friendly and helpful especially the gentleman on front of house. The atmosphere, views and dining area are beautiful. The food and wine delicious. We had an amazing evening. Thank you x

Superb food. Quality above average, superb execution and flavours. We had mains and desserts. Excellent refined champagne and tasty cocktails. Beautiful setting, excellent cleanliness all round in classy heritage surroundings. Calm relaxing atmosphere. My friends thoroughly enjoyed the morning Spa. Someone mentioned a 3 star hotel rating but it felt more like a 5 star if comparing to, for example, other 4 star venues. Overall air of exclusivity with discreet customers. Friendly discreet service and beautiful tea served in arty China.

Ockenden Manor is very much a favourite of ours, with excellent and beautifully-presented food, a "country manor" atmosphere which we have found that foreign visitors in particular find charming, and with such friendly service that we could give them nothing short of five stars for the way in which they so well balance the friendly with the impeccable. We have visited there many times, including for an overnight stay at the hotel itself, and are already looking forward to doing so again. Our only constructive point is that prior to the lockdowns they used to offer an impressive a la carte menu, plus a tasting menu which was simply to die for! The food is still superb anyway, but if they should ever reinstate these former delights we will be among the first to make a booking - and as another fine dining restaurant nearby has recently closed down I am sure that there any many such customers out there just waiting to be fed.t

Haven’t been here for a while and it didn’t disappoint. The atmosphere was very quiet to begin with but soon improved as more people arrived. The menu choice is very good with either a ‘lite bite’ option or full a la carte. Portion sizes are quite small but it is fine dining and the experience is very good. Cost was £80 ph including service for 3 courses but that included a nice bottle of wine at £45

I detest this place, avoid! They first ruined an anniversary and now twice ruined lunch. I will never go again and broken silence so you are spared the overpriced, bland food and the poor, POOR waiting service. See my other reviews, they're rarely this negative. Firstly, the check-in desk is a dark and dismal cubby hole with barely a sideboard to rest an arm. The ceilings are so low, maybe this represents an oppressive atmosphere the staff suffer. There is always some smug person at front desk with an ugly, garish shirt bearing down on the uniformed team. Do they employ them young or foreign so they don't have to pay them very well? The Kitchen appear to actively victimise anyone with an intolerance. Yes, they list every single allergen on the photocopied menu but make no effort to find an alternative for you, merely pointing out that you can't eat it. I asked for crackers once, instead of bread, and was told, "we have party poppers?!" This time I was told I could have (from a paultry selection) a Naked burger, which sounded great, but actually meant it arrived without any bun - charging me the same price. The worst part, and this has never changed, they regularly interrupt your conversation mid-sentence, clearly they think the waiter's time or the food is more important! This time he tried to warble his way through the menu but did it standing right in front of the sun so both my business guest and I were blinded asking him to move. Overall £80 for a burger and chips with a couple of cokes was laughable. Save your money and go to the Talbot in the village or even better the Gingerman in Brighton - at least they value their customers and don't sneer down their noses because they once had a Michelin star....I wonder why Ockenden lost it??!!!t

This restaurant is like an evening gown paired with flip flops Beautifully presented and perfectly cooked food. Really thoughtfully designed dishes. I am not vegetarian but chose the braised leek - so nice the veggie option wasn’t an afterthought, my husband had the venison. Outstanding! Also the service was exemplary. So, with all that fabulousness I hear you asking “what is with the ‘flip flops’”. I’m actually writing this review because I’m so sad that this could so easily be the perfect venue. I really, REALLY do not want to share the eating experience of my neighbouring table. I understand some people eat with their mouths open and chow down like it was their last meal for 2 weeks, but I was not at dinner with that person. However, sadly due to the lack of ambient sound I had no choice but to suffer this ‘feeding time at the zoo’. There was a point early in to our dinner when I had to ask my husband to repeat himself as he was whispering to compensate. A very informative evening actually. I learned that one girl (on a different table) was having trouble deciding between studying art history or psychology at university next year, and another table were dog trainers who showed each other YouTube clips at full tinny volume of their competing dogs and discussed the quality of their dogs’ faeces whilst ‘effing and ‘geffing as a fluid vernacular. The only reason I am writing this review is because when I spoke to the waiter who appeared to be in charge, I asked him if there was any chance of background music (I think this would have solved the whole issue). He replied that at Ockenden Manor they choose to prioritise ‘peace and tranquility’ Missed that by a mile ….

My partner and I visited the restaurant to celebrate an anniversary. The service was great and the team were very friendly however the food was extremely average. I found both my starter and main incredibly salty. The review probably would warrant another start if it was not so overpriced. Would not recommend.

A friendly and warm hotel environment with an amazing menu of spa treatments . will visit again a joy !

Afternoon tea was served in character surroundings but the overall experience was average at best. No choice of the type of tea was offered on arrival and the waiter just assumed we wanted English breakfast tea. This was changed to Darjeeling on request but it...

Because most New Year's Eve parties were cancelled, we decided to book a lunch shortly after. We had been here many years ago when it was definitely a fine dining restaurant. The wood panelled dining room decor and furniture are tired and dismal. The other...

Nice surroundings but that's about it. Small lunch menu which was uninspiring. As a non fish eater. my choices were limited. I had the soup and would have had to pay extra for bread. There was a burger which is not what I'd expect to...

Well it has the right atmosphere and decor. Very elegant surroundings. It is a shame our afternoon tea experience didn't live up to the looks. The tea and sandwiches were ok. We were served what they called a scone but which was more like a...

Restaurant is very elegant, previous visits going back to 1983 to 2016 when all was excellent. unfortunately on this occasion July 2021 nine points which were disappointing. Menu not very exciting which included Burgers and cod in batter which most pubs serve well. nothing inspired...

Food was fine the wine was outrageously priced £50 for a bottle of Sancere which arrived not properly chilled, set menu overpriced in comparison with other higher starred ratings, but the breakfast is brilliant, loved their breakfast bowl

My daughter and I came for a spa morning today. Like last time the spa was great, so after a relaxing morning we headed up to the restaurant for lunch. The last time we were here we had one of the best meals I've ever...

Went for lunch in June 2021 and really enjoyed it. I had the home smoked salmon starter and salmon main, and both were delicious. The grounds and decor are beautiful too.

Funny review from tripadvisor 12/01/2020 WORST EXPERIENCE OF OUR LIVES!!!! Having my extended family visit for the first time, thought we would take them out to a local restaurant for dinner. On arrival we were greeted kindly by staff and shown to our table, ordered...

We were given a Virgin Experience voucher for a meal for two. The whole experience was wonderful. Very efficient booking process with email confirmation sent straight through. Friendly welcome on arrival and shown through to lovely table overlooking the garden. The food was fantastic with...

We had dinner and breakfast which was part of our package. I was at first a bit apprehensive about it as you don’t know if you’ll like the food or if it would be enough. Let’s just say I ate like a pig and there...

Visited with my family and politely asked if we could change one of the sandwiches for an alternative which they declined to do! Considering we are paying £29 for a few sandwiches that were absolutely nothing exciting. Other venues have been more than accommodating! On...

Nice lunch, in pretty dining room. A shame the french windows weren’t open as the vista over the rose garden is lovely. Nice staff. Excellent food, beautifully presented and served. Nice portions for lunch. Only “niggle” was the “petit fours” (= 2 squares of fudge)...

It's different now - the bar was for residents only so we got a drink in the garden, then it started to rain so we rushed in to lunch. The hotel has been improved and extended since our last visit years ago, and it is...

Visited for lunch today to celebrate my husband’s birthday. The dining room was really attractive, but super hot as it is exceptional weather, which we realised was beyond their control, but made it very uncomfortable. The waiting staff were excellent and very attentive. I had a long black hair in my salad starter, which although was handled well, really put me off my meal. We were a little disappointed with the main meal selection, and both selected the pork boulette, which was basically a large minced pork meatball - ok but rather underwhelming. The accompanying mash was so salty it rather killed our taste buds. My overall conclusion is that the venue and service exceed the food quality, which was ok but not quite what we expected. I have tried to be more generous about the food than I really feel, as I aware how difficult the current circumstances are for the hospitality sector.

The restaurant manages to be spacious whilst preserving a sense of intimate dining. A menu which provides for mainstream tastes with enough variety to appeal to the more adventurous. Good and unobtrusive service.

Nice room on the first floor far end, with views over the garden, and convenient for the spa. We had dinner, B&B package. Excellent dinner - the foie gras and the pork were particularly good, and an interesting wine list still offered something yummy and affordable. The Tokaji 6 puttonyos was really special. The spa is great fun, though did get a little crowded first thing, possibly non-residents having an early swim, and the smallish gym was full by 7.30, but we had a lovely time nonetheless. Excellent breakfast - bacon was just right, as were the scrambled eggs. The weather was too bad to venture out much - we will come again when we can enjoy the gardens and more of the village.

We choose the 7 course tasting menu for dinner. At £90 a head we were expecting something special. But sadly each course was rather average at best and certainly not of a quality that could justify the price.The chef's signature dish of mackrel was really disappointing - a tiny portion of basic smoked makerel of supermarket quality and garnish. Really hard to understand why this would be labelled as a signature dish. For us the tastiest dish was the beef and later the lime sorbet but again nothing special and have eaten similar in lots of pub bistros in Sussex for a third of the price. On a positive note the service is genuinely great and we were made to feel very welcome. The venue is also lovely despite the bulging carpet in the dinning room that was an interesting challenge for us and waiting staff walking through.Sadly its difficult to recommend this resturant.

Went for lunch yesterday, food was fine but not exceptional. The sun was shining yet we ate in a dark paneled room; the light aerie dining room was shut. Views of the garden and the South Downs were the highlight of our previous experience.

Birthday - visited on a Friday evening and were sat in the wood panelled room which was lovely and atmospheric if a little cold. The food was excellent, especially the soufflé. Our food did arrive before the wine however. My husband thoroughly enjoyed his birthday here. Christmas - we come here every other year and 2019 was the best Christmas Day food we’ve had here. It was fabulous and well enjoyed by all. The sorbet was refreshing and light. Thank you for a wonderful Christmas Day.

Quality of set menu was disappointing as was the wine. Won't be rushing back! Dairy allergy very well observed.

We used to live in the Village some years back so thought it was worth a try with our friends for a xmas get together. What a bad mistake that was going back here again!. I apologised to our 2 guests. A very bad choice and very very poor value for money. Te La Carte Menu prices are simply ludicrous, the food was ok but nothing sensational, poor portions also, how on nearth these prices can be justified is totally beyond me and we wont be going back again thats for sure. I would warn anyone considering going here to seriously consider their options unless of course they have money to burn. I travel all over Europe and Switzerland is much better value than this place for food, I can assure you. I complained about the Vegie Lasagne at £35 and had this removed from the bill, a disgrace to the Restauarnt trade in my opinion. Be warned ! ...

After struggling to find a Parking space, we were welcomed in the Hotel.We opted to bypass the Bar and go straight through to Lunch. The food was very good, as was the wine and service.There was unfortunately no 'Wow factor'. Everything is good but no particular aspect is impressive. The prices are fair and whilst you will not be disappointed,you won't leave ready to tell your friends that this is a place not to be missed.However, It seems that a few of the 'Gents' had missed the urinal though and the floor could have done with a mopping.I am not sure how often the Toilets are cleaned but on our visit they ought to have been done more frequently.Will we return ? For sure.

Our dinner here was one of the best meals we have ever had (and we are big foodies) highly recommend!

Had a fabulous dinner here... portions were just right. Well cooked and appetising and attractively served. I was persuaded to try the partridge..it was soft and tender and perfectly cooked.The passion fruit soufflé was the food of the gods! Great service and a memorable meal.

Ten of us gathered for a surprise birthday champagne reception and dinner for one of the group. The host had planned the event with the hotel/restaurant and that showed. Every element of the evening was outstanding. The canapés and champagne were perfectly complementary and set the tone for the evening. We were treated to a six course tasting menu and the highlight for me was the second course of grilled scallops with various accompaniments. A passion fruit Eton mess was also outstanding.

When I met my wife nearly 30 years ago this was the venue for our very first date, we returned regularly for the first 10 or so year, but moved away from the area for many years. Having just moved back to the area and it being a birthday celebration we decided to return. Whilst the layout and the setting of the main restaurant has changed it was lovely. Special service and delightful food from the a la carte menu. A shame however that the taster menu must be for the whole table although the choices on the ALC were a pleasure. The wine list was very pricey however the house merlot was a very good choice for the evening. Word of warning you WILL overheat in the lounge with drinks before dinner, it was oppressive and uncomfortable - central heating and large open fire, wholly unnecessary, you are likely to be better off taking pre-dinner drinks in the old restaurant where they serve afternoon tea, so much cooler and more comfortable. We took took coffees in there after dinner. Becasue it caters mainly for the spa crowd now the dining area is not intimate nor is it special, apart from the food, which is a shame if planning a special evening, however it is unlikely to stop us returning.

Pleasant lunch in light aerie surroundings. Had set lunch which was very good value for money. Very popular so best to book in advance

We were at Ockenden Manor for dinner, for the launch of the local literary festival. As per custom, we were served a set menu, no choices, and on the face of it we were entirely happy with what was on offer. The main course of slow roast beef and hot gravy (sorry, jus) served with cold potato salad, cold tomatoes and rocket was a bit peculiar, but hey! It might have worked (on a hot Summer's day...). The pudding was described on our menu card as Lemon Posset with fruits. Sounded lovely. Wasn't. A lemon posset should be firm, not too solid, but firm nonetheless. You should be able to turn the glass in which it is served upside-down, without it moving. This lemon posset was liquid in form and frankly repellent. As all polite patrons do, we whispered to the waiter that it was not quite right (British understatement at its best) and waited for a replacement. The replacement arrived in the same form. We queried it. We were told that "Pastry says this is how it should be". Who the hell is "Pastry"? I know that is the vernacular for the chap in the kitchen who makes the puddings/desserts but I don't work in that kitchen, and I don't know who "Pastry" is but I am now being made to feel as if I should know him/understand his problems/know how tricky it is to make a lemon posset/sympathise with his working conditions. The Restaurant Manager appears and repeats the Pastry excuse. Lots of "it's hot in the kitchen" etc. This is a Michelin starred restaurant, and frankly we felt fobbed off. In June, when the outdoor temperatures reached 40 degrees, I would have felt some sympathy (although would have expected a change of dessert option to align with the weather) but in October with an outdoor ambient temperature of around 10 degrees - less so. We were patient but frankly the continuing excuses, and lack of apology or alternatives, left us feeling a distinct lack of customer service, or care. The correct response would have been: "I'm sorry, we have had a problem, here is a cheese platter for your table, we hope that makes up for the disappointment". In reality, we felt that no-one really cared two hoots - "hey it's a corporate - so what does it matter"? (It mattered, we paid well for a meal we didn't feel was worth it).

Took a friend for lunch and hadn’t visited for many years. The set lunch menu is unbelievable value and whilst only small choice it was fantastic. Service setting and food faultless and I don’t often say that. We had salmon starter with beetroot which was beautifully presented with array of colourful leaves and textures. Main course a salmon fish cake with poached egg and delicate sauce with baby veg. We couldn’t help ourselves and had petit fours and coffee to finish a great lunch.

Had the three course menu and it was excellent. A good choice available for all three courses and the quality of the food was top class. Also the wine list is extensive and priced to suit all tastes and budgets.

Lovely 2 course meal in peaceful surroundings. Staff were quick and attentive, all very friendly. Looking forward to visiting again.

We had a 3 course evening meal included with our spa package. The drinks were expensive but to be expected. The food was superb. Very rich but gorgeous. Canapés and complimentary starters. Thoroughly enjoyed our meal. Lovely attentive staff. Would recommend

Had a fantastic meal from the Sussex menu. Beautifully cooked and presented. Staff friendly and impeccable service. Will certainly go hack

Enjoyed a superb lunch in this beautiful room. The maitre d. made us feel right at home. Food was delicious in every aspect and beautifully presented.

We stayed at the hotel and had food as part of our deal! A very good deal it was! The food was of a high quality and presented well! The staff were attentive but not overwhelming! We had a lovely chilled evening with great food! What else can one want!

We should have abandoned dinner plans when we arrived, because we did not feel welcome by the restaurant manager. And then we had difficulties finding something we liked on the menu.

Wonderful dinner at Ockenden Manor despite other unpleasant diners...

We enjoyed a beautiful lunch here with friends on a recent visit to the UK. Super food and impeccable service. I stopped short of five stars as we were completely taken aback by the price of a pre-meal kir in the bar. Perhaps because we live in france we were shocked by the price of 14 pounds each for an aperitif!

Great food, its a very quiet restaurant on terms of noise no background music which i think it needs. Stunning room, stunning food. Attentive staff who are all lovely. If you are into wine the wine list is insane.

I don’t normally leave reviews unless a restaurant is either excellent or horrific (see previous reviews). Fortunately in this case it falls into the former!!

Lunched here today for my birthday, can highly recommend, the food was outstanding, compliments to the chef. Everything was perfect from staff to ambience. Beautiful restaurant, fantastic food, great choice and very well served and treated, thank you. Will certainly be going again.

We had really been looking forward to celebrating a family 70th birthday and at £29 /head we had expected something a bit special. We were very disappointed- it was badly organised and we’re sure we were missing at least one tea - we didn’t even have enough scones for one each. We had one small pot of tea between 3 people and had to ask for more water so that each could have a cup. The cakes were nothing special. As I say we were really disappointed.

Booked for dinner h ad a table near the window so looked on to garden and view just right for an enjoyable dinner.All the ambience of an old country house lounge for a relaxed pre dinner drink,The food was A1 what one would expect of the standard of restaurant .We have been before and shall go again.The staff were very polite and welcoming and you felt confident that they knew their profession.The wine was a tad expensive as my husband always has to order glasses as I do not partake ,so a bottle would have been too much.to manage.

Last minute decision to have a celebration - party of two

We hadn't been to the Ockenden for some time for various reasons and wondered if it ws as good as we remembered - and it was.

Brilliantly presented delicious food. Attentive staff. Wonderful experience which we would highly recommend

Hadn't eaten here for a while but visited for lunch recently and glad we did. We ordered from the daily lunch menu and whist the options were limited (two choices per course) they were equally tempting. The cauliflower soup with truffle oil was superb, as was the terrine. The pheasant sausage roll and fishcake mains were also excellent whilst the white chocolate mousse and ice cream desert was a lovely finish. Washed down with an excellent white. The service was attentive yet unobtrusive throughout and although quiet, the main dining room was very pleasant. There was a deal on at the time so three courses and one of the cheapest bottles of wine (£32) came in at £75. Certainly more than we'd normally pay for lunch (and probably pretty budget by Ockenden standards) but worth every penny.

We did the superb tasting menu , it was delicious with the ideal wine pairings . Staff were great also

Front of house great, food delicious and how they got so many rare beef out hot at the same time defies logic BUT sadly that is were the positives end. Cutlery missing, wine left on the side and no serving staff in dining room. The wait for food was over an hour. It was a shambles and not cheap. Debatable if we would go back.

Really tasty menu and great service, recommend a visit, great for couples. A 3 course meal was included in our stay

Had lunch in the restaurant as part of a spa day, and was glad I was in fairly early (12:30) as it got very busy! Food service was efficient, but by the time I was finishing dessert it was very busy and thus speed of service was affected. The food was excellent and staff are fantastic. The dining room is also a lovely environment, but I can’t help but feel it would benefit from some soft background music too.

The food was nice, but the service didn't match it I'm afraid. Plates were delivered sporadically, including arriving and being left whilst patrons were away from their seat, and staff quickly mumbled what was before scuttling off again. Drinks were equally intermittent; twice they arrived and were consumed before the dish they were supposed to accompany had arrived. Very little information about the wine was given. When I queried specifically where a wine was from in France I was informed it was from 'the South', whilst another patron wanted know the make-up of the red he was drinking he was told it was gamay 'and some others'. For an 'event' dining experience, as a tasting menu generally is, then this simply isn't good enough. Additionally, despite informing the kitchen via email, on the phone and in person when arriving that evening that one of us didn't eat seafood, it was still served to both of us as part of the menu and we then waited another 20 minutes, presumably whilst a replacement dish was concocted. Certainly, when the total cost of the evening is around £800, it is terrible.

Couldn’t fault, presentation, taste, great service and lovely dining room, delicious homemade bread too, I had smoked duck breast with foie grad what a treat, then turbot with squid and a light curry sauce, beautiful cooked and a lovely delicate sauce, followed by a very generous plate of English cheese,very Happy with my choice !

I recommended this hotel to some friends who were over from Canada. They originally wanted to book Alexander House. I wish they had booked Alexander House as they had one of the worst experiences of their lives. The service was appalling, the towels in their room were dirty and when they showed them to the manager he wasn't overly concerned. They couldn't have a cooked breakfast on Christmas morning. Hotel to be avoided at all cost - at £300 a night it is a high price to pay for such an awful place! Some photos of the towels and the floor - disgusting.

Yesterday I had Christmas lunch with my family of 6 at Ockenden Manor Restaurant. We went there last year and had a private wood panelled room shared with a couple of other tables and wanted to repeat the good, if expensive, experience. This year did not go so well. Again it cost 175 GBP per person, including two children and two vegetarians. I checked with the person who took my prepaid booking that it would be the same as last year in the panelled room. We were put in the crowded, unattractive seventies decorated restaurant. And the food seemed much worse than last year. The vegetarian main dishes in particular were appallingly small (A small portion of celeriac and green vegetables). We had to ask multiple times for extra gravy to help with the dry turkey. The Christmas pudding tasted really good, but the portions were tiny and I was so sick of asking for more gravy that I couldn't be bothered to ask for more custard even though we needed it. Next year I think I'll do it myself.

We've known this restaurant for 30 years, as my family (still) live in the village. I've since moved away, and was looking forward to a dinner here for a special occasion. Admittedly, my last visit here was about 15 years back, so my expectations were based on this prior experience - and in the meantime, it seems, a lot has changed.

It was a 90th birthday dinner. All I can say is that the food, wine,& service in a lovely place was exceptional Nothing to else to say. Fantastic !!

Ockenden Manor is a beautiful 15 Century Manor House.

My husband and I managed to get a rare evening off together this week and booked a dinner at Ockenden Manor. We are so glad we chose to come here, Flavius the assistant manager greeted us warmly and looked after throughout our evening so well! Our food was delicious and good wine selection too! Definitely recommend!

Excellent, lovely smoked salmon sandwiches followed by lovely cakes and treats. cant recommend highly enough

Booked a table for 3 friends last minute to have lunch and we are so glad we did! Delicious food, good service from friendly waiting staff and very reasonable prices, we will definitely be back!

Nous avons fait notre premier "afternoon tea" traditionnel anglais dans ce charmant manoir ancien à la décoration typiquement anglaise. C'était très bon. Le service très agréable. Un très bon moment dans les sofas dans un très beau salon !

Visited Ockenden Manor for my husbands birthday and had a fantastic evening, from the moment we arrived we were looked after so well and the food was delicious, so much attention to detail and the tasting menu worth every penny! Service was faultless and must give a mention to flavius who was very attentive throughout our meal and knowledgeable about the menu when taking our order. Would highly recommend a visit!

A rare night out to celebrate our anniversary and Ockenden didn’t disappoint. All the staff were very friendly from the moment we arrived, we both enjoyed our food especially the chefs special mackerel starter and chocolate dessert. The service in the restaurant was very smooth and we enjoyed our visit immensely

The old Ockenden. Mr Silla in formal clothes supported by a team of waiters in uniform. Under Sillas watchful gaze the service was impeccable and knowledgeable. At one time the entire team came from Budapest. The food was very good and served in a highly atmospheric Oak panelled dining room. The clientele expecting a dining experience were dressed accordingly.

Without Prejudice. I had a business lunch at Ockenden Manor on Thursday 4th Oct and I am just managing to stabilise after such violent sickness and illness I don’t recall ever having experienced before.

We had dinner when staying in the hotel. If the prices were about 30% lower, it would qualify as an adequate hotel dining room, but in pitching itself as a high end restaurant, they set an expectation that they fail to meet on every level.

We were invited by family to go for Sunday lunch. The hotel appeared stuffy and the furniture in the lounge was shabby. The dining room lacked atmosphere and was occupied with only about 3 tables occupied. The set Sunday lunch is not cheap. The food was frankly disappointing. The starters were poor. The main course was ok but for the price was not outstanding. There is loads of competition in this area. There are pubs with great atmosphere that serve great lunch at a fraction of the price. Try somewhere else. Its just not good enough to justify the money.

We booked a dinner at Ockenden Manor for early August to celebrate our wedding anniversary. The food was good but the overall experience was very disappointing. We arrived early to have a drink in one of the reception areas, and we felt rushed to make an order despite it being half an hour before our table was booked for. No-one came to take our drinks order, the wrong dishes were served to the wrong person for both starter and main, the cheese plate and trio of desserts were served with no explanation, and with a range of breads despite us making it clear when booking that the recipient required a gluten free option. The port that was paired with the cheese dish was served ten minutes before the cheese itself. Trying to attract the attention of the waitors when it came to requesting the bill felt like an effort, and when we tried to settle the bill in part with gift vouchers that our family had treated us to, we were asked to get up and redeem the vouchers by queuing up at the hotel reception. Finally, despite clear guidance from the restaurant that mobile phones were not to be used when dining, the room was awash with the blue light of phone screens, with one couple each staring at their phones for what seemed like most of their meal.

We booked the table for 1.30pm and arrived on time. We chose our menu and waited and waited approximately 3/4 hr before the first course arrived which was soup and duck.

Having booked a three course meal at £65 a head I was looking forward to trying what I had hoped would be some excellent food. The menu was seasonal and had a small but varied selection to choose from.

After reading recent reviews I was a tad worried but had no need, everything was perfect, lovely food, great personal service from all staff, advised upon booking a diner was gluten free and they produced a lovely tray of gluten free options, would highly recommend for special occasion...