Orangery Restaurant in Rother

Food was ok. Deep fried Camembert was delicious but to only get 5 pieces of calamari for £12 was deeply disappointing. Will take me a long time to get over that.

We really enjoyed our dinner with 6 friends on Saturday night. Our waitress Patricia was excellent, friendly and professional. There was a good selection of dishes and vegetarian in our group could also choose what they wanted. Wine list had good options from less expensive wines for £26 going up. My burger was very tasty with good quality meat!

Here is an example of a dining room punching well above its weight and with charges to match (£55 for 3 course meal). The basic food choice on the menu is good and varied (3 meats, 2 fish and a couple of vegetarian dishes) but the subtext reveals it is to be doctored with other incongruous ingredients by a clever chef perhaps to justify its boast of "fine dining to the highest standard" or its 2 rosettes. English good quality food, well prepared should not need to be embellished or "enhanced". Service was slow. Delivered almost entirely by a young waitress who could only manage one speed, a Caesar salad took over an hour to serve. She had not been taught table service and admitted knowing nothing of wine. Earlier promise by Ray (or Roy) to "host our experience" evaporated, he was seen only fleetingly. Had he been more in evidence things might have been better. And, to add to the dismal experience 12.5% was added to the bill (for service?) Breakfast was good and nicely presented except that the fruit salad on the menu was absent. Although the ingredients were all there on the buffet, it seems no-one had been bothered to prepare it. So, if you go here to eat, I wish you a better experience. I shall not return.

A really good varied menu and everything we had was excellent especially the desserts which were amazing.

The restaurant has a small but select menu with something delicious for everyone. Food is freshly cooked for each person.

This has to be the worst service and portion size I’ve ever experienced. To start with we were told they only had one Chef so they couldn’t do any food till 8:30pm as he was working at a wedding they had at the hotel, not great but fair enough, then at 9pm they final took our order, we couldn’t have the starter we wanted as they were out, so straight to mains, my wife ordered the lamb and when it came out it was 4cm square and was hidden behind a potato ( for £32) when we complained we were told the chef has turned off the ovens !! He’s only been in the kitchen for 30mins, then comes my steak and chips, the plate came out with no garnish no presentation and was warm at best. It’s spoilt our weekend which was going so well as the hotel is beautiful. This was a gift from our daughter for our anniversary and she is so upset so I have to complain as this is not good enough and food is a big part of staying away.

My dad and I went during the Bank Holiday weekend. Firstly, being on the site of a hotel the whole area is rather beautiful. The outside area has some really nice lakes and there was even a resident peacock and a heron which was nice to walk around and view. We had our meal and the food was very well cooked. I had the scallops followed by the lamb shoulder and the cheese board. The Scallops we very sweet and not at all tough, the parma ham gave a really nice texture difference and the extra salt worked really well. The lamb melted in the mouth and had a nice char on the outside. The stuffing was delicate and lightly spiced, it was very tasty and my only issue is that I wanted more of it, that was until I had the cheeseboard. Firstly there was a lot of cheese, which is a really good thing.There were 6 different cheeses, including a blue, a sheep's cheese, a goats cheese and a couple of others to. We then had cocktails at the bar. Jake was great. Really knowledgeable and friendly which brought the evening to a close really nicely. I'd definitely come back again, although the food is quite expensive, give the quality and the way it is cooked it was well worth the money.

Ate here whilst staying at the hotel. Reasonably priced for beautifully prepared & presented food. They are quite happy to serve just a starter & dessert. Reasonably priced for the quality of the dishes. Only quibble is the menu remains unchanged each day. Waiting staff are efficient but also very friendly.

We attended a wedding and the meal was in the orangery, the food was very good, as was the service. The room is very nice with a large floral center-piece, the room is a good size for 70-80 wedding guests. Very nice atmosphere.

The food was very average and expensive. I can cook better myself! Staff were attentive, but a bit scruffy. For that price I would expect coffee after the meal to come out on a tray with a coffee jug or similar. Instead 2 cups were brought out already poured, with coffee all over the saucers. The place (restaurant and hotel) seems to be "posh", but REALLY isn't. I have had far better tasting food at a fraction of the price from a local garden centre on the A22!! And it ISN'T an old orangery, no matter what they say. It's a large room with a big skylight. Nice peacock outside, though.

We stayed here for a couple of days so were able to savour quite a few meals. Good, various choices, cooked well! Tables spaced as per guidelines with tasteful decor surrounding. Even a resident peacock strolling in the grounds outside.

We booked to eat here at the end of our holiday. The food was fabulous both in taste and presentation. service was excellent and friendly and Covid secure. The setting was very pretty and would definitely recommend this for a special occasion.

Sadly disappointing, maybe taking a while to get things going after Covid, as Ive eaten here previously and it was very good. We ate from the Sunday lunch menu. The only roast offered was beef and apart from being slightly under cooked, was extremely tough and the dish is served with only potatoes and a Yorkshire pudding, no other vegetables... perhaps Im old fashioned. Puddings were limited to 3 options, which is fine but only 1 was available, the rest had sold out we were told. We ate at 1.30pm so not late, and two tables were empty so not a full house either. On a positive note the staff are good and the location is lovely. Price wise its £30 for three courses which is more than reasonable given the surroundings, but no use if the food is not up to scratch or indeed available.

Lovely place to have a meal, nice distance between tables. The food was delicious, not cheap but we'll worth it, good choice of wine, excellent staff.

We had dinner here last night. The building was nice, but that was where the positives end. The food was a disgrace! £12 for a scallop starter which had 3 scallops barely the size of a 10p piece, my husbands pigeon must have flown away, cause I couldn’t find it. Of the 4 steaks, at £26 each, 3 had to be sent back because the meat was not cooked as ordered, the medium rare one came blue, & the accompaniments were then like warm. The truffled mash was a smear on the plate, hardly appropriate for the size of the piece of meat. I chose the chocolate tart for desert; the pastry was so thick & over worked it was like cutting through brick, the chocolate filling tasteless rather than rich & decadent, & the ice cream was melted & running off the plate (flat plate on a table with a serious warp to the Center). The rest of the party chose ice cream, which had clearly been left under the lights of the pass for too long based on how melted it was. The presumably cocky chef; when asked the ice cream flavours, claimed chicken nugget as an option, when this was ordered it obviously didn’t exist, & was brushed under the carpet. I left a very expensive meal thoroughly unsatisfied & disappointed.

Fantastic service. Staff could not have been more welcoming and accommodating. Nothing was too much trouble. Lovely atmosphere, quick and efficient service and value for money in our opinion.

Well the food does not stand up to the grand appearance of this building. It is just average, food is not cooked by a quality chef with pride, far from it. It's a nice place to take friends to eat but is let down by the food. It should not be so. Obviously the manager is not paying attention to the quality of food being served here.

Excellent food and service. Good range of vegetarian and vegan options. Would definitely recommend.

We had lunch with friends and really We had lunch with friends and really enjoyed the experience. Good food and attentive polite service in a lovely setting. I Highly recommend

Absolutely the best restaurant I have in for a long time. The service, food and ambiance is excellent. I was celebrating my marriage and all my guest enjoyed the meal. <br />The deco is amazing I just can’t say enough about this place. Highly recommend

Food excellent.staff friendly and efficient. Very enjoyable evening.

There appears to be two parallel reviews for this establishment. One as this: Orangery Restaurant and one listed as 'Orangery', Powder Mills. I am not sure which is the official one but opted for this one have had more recent reviews. We attended a family lunch in the private dining room rather than the Orangery Restaurant. The service was personal and impeccable and the setting fantastic. The lunch was served promptly with a plentiful serving size. There is a great menu with something for everyone. This historic building is set amongst lakes to the rear and ponds to the front, a photographers delight.

Beautiful location, lovely restaurant, quality food and friendly staff, highly recommend

Beautiful hotel and grounds. Delicious food but expected a Sunday lunch menu. The bread and butter was not as good as previously.<br />Good place to take Granma.

Absolutely stunning setting, friendly staff and good clean country food. The location, within the beautiful country grounds, with lovely lakes and greenery, is unbeatable. Lots of easy parking and the perfect place to have a wonder after a great meal.

This was our favourite place to go but new staff made the meals well below par. It has fallen so far down in my books. outdated and lost now. we will find a new favourite i’m sure. my pegion dish had little substance, trying so hard to look pretty and fell short. raw sprout leaf isnt fun. beef short rib was dry, and lacked taste and seasoning. the ju lacked a punch. the mash was just plain and ugly. the fish was not the most visually pleasing dish with a horrible “crust” but tasted a bit better than average. The Soufflé had “run” out ! the other option was a dessert that was too lemony and sweet again had some style but lacked quality. missed the mark. overall a solid disappointment. We need good strong english chefs who can recover this amazing venue.

2nd Time we&#039;ve been, won&#039;t be the last, really stands out from the crowd in all areas.

This is the fourth time this year that I have visited The Orangery. The first occasion was for my husband&#039;s &#039;wake&#039;, followed by a dinner for 8 (just a year ago); later in June I enjoyed a dinner with 11 guests; and, most recently, a dinner for 6. We have not been able to fault the quality of the food or the service. I have no doubt we will return again. It is good to be able to talk without having to raise one&#039;s voice!

Apart from one other couple we were the only people in the restaurant for lunch but the service was impeccable and the food excellent.

We had lunch with friends and really enjoyed the experience. Good food and attentive polite service in a lovely setting. I Highly recommend

When we saw that there was a Christmas menu our hearts sank as we envisaged loud parties spoiling a quiet family lunch. In the event the restaurant was quiet, the staff charmingly attentive and the Christmas lunch much better than average. <br />A lovely hotel with fine grounds.

My guest my husband and I had a very pleasant lunch. A very good menu and the food was beautifully cooked and served. I would love to have my 80th birthday celebrations with my family in the Orangery <br />The Christmas decorations were very discreet but wonderful <br />Congratulations to staff and thank you <br />Bada Van Moppe

We enjoyed a delicious lunch where the food, service and ambiance were all equally delightful. Friends who joined us from London thought the roast beef amongst the best they had ever experienced.

We have been coming here for years as a place for family celebrations. It is always good, but this visit was fantastic. The food was amazing.

I had not been to this restaurant for several years but , for a "thank you" dinner I opted for the Orangery. I made the right choice ! The setting is very attractive. Tables are circular, napery and silver of high quality and the service excellent but unobtrusive.There were 5/6 choices for each course beautifully presented and appetising. My party of 5 made different choices and all enjoyed their meals. The petit fours were different flavours of chocolate truffles - perfect for ending a most enjoyable dining experience. The menu

We were met and taken to our table in a friendly fashion and all questions well answered. Food was lovely and came at reasonable intervals. All in all, a very good experience. I would definitely recommend this to someone who wanted to done out on a special occasion.

It was our first visit to the Powder Mills Orangery and we couldn&#039;t be more pleased with the food and service. My only comment would be for the restaurant to consider more vegetarian options other than mushrooms!

The lighting in the hotel was dismal especially in the bar area. We were looking forward to good fish being reasonably near to Hastings. The cod was tasteless and dry , the chips were reconstituted and the fresh peas were out of a tin. All very disappointing.

Not impressed. Visited on a Thursday evening - only 3 customers in total. Food was good but not excellent. Had a Brie Pannacotta - no taste of Brie at all! Service was good and excellent grounds. George the resident peacock was the highlight! Service charge was added. Do not recall mention of this in menus.

Fantastic food. Service only dropped while the manager had to deal with an issue for which he apologised.

We ate in the Orangey Restaurant to celebrate our 20th Wedding Anniversary. <br /><br />Upon arrival we were greeted warmly &amp; shown to our table, which was next to a window as I had requested. <br />We found the whole dining experience from the food to the wine &amp; to the attentive staff to be excellent, they couldn’t do enough!<br /><br />We would certainly recommend the restaurant to any of our family/friends without hesitation.<br /><br />If you’ve read some of the recent reviews, we’d say ignore them, as we were very pleasantly surprised &amp; can’t understand how anyone can fault it!<br /><br />Enjoy!!

Been several times, lovely place, great location, food is very tasty but small portions, slightly limited on choice

The bar service was dreadful. Only one person serving. Additionally the noise level was awful. I was not told that a large wedding party Was also booked. It would have helped (slightly) if we had been seated further away. We are regular visitors to the Hotel, going back a decade. It has (in my opinion) lost its was somewhat.

Breakfasts and dinners are very good here. We recommend the steaks in particular as they are really delicious. Service is attentive and polite.

This was the second time we have lunched here. We especially booked this time to meet up with family members as we wanted them to see the Hotel and eat in the Restaurant.<br /><br />We were not disappointed - the food and the atmosphere were both very good. The staff were very helpful and pleasant and we got to see &quot;George&quot; again - however, sadly not his lovely display this time.<br /><br />We will definitely return again.

My husband and I had dinner here yesterday, the Food and Service could just not be faulted, beef was cooked to perfection and the deserts were stunning.

We found the Power Mills Hotel when out walking one day and decided to return for afternoon tea a few weeks later . The service was very good with the staff looking the part dressed in old style waiter &amp; waitress uniforms , white tablecloths the place was spotlessly clean . The afternoon tea was very good and reasonably priced , scones with clotted cream , cakes , and a selection of sandwiches , all in all a very nice place to visit on a warm summers afternoon

the service was excellent. Attentive but not overwhelming. The food was local and could not have been better.

Food brilliant need to install air conditioning in dining room. Need to have kitchen open till midnight for guests arriving late. Need to open the bar children always want soft dinks. ...don&#039;t want to have to go from the pool to reception to ask and then wait while receptionist finds someone to go to bar easier to go straight to an open bar. Staff deserve a medal for patience...37degrees everyone wanting. Drinks and the bar was closed ...how much revenue did you lose

its ok sunday roast very dry no gravy to speak of the yorkshire pudding was too big and very dry <br />no gravy we can ask for gravy but it is very thick and strong in flavour. the roast potatoes were over cooked.<br /><br />it is a pleasant place and the staff are first rate but some items on the menu are made to sound better than they actually are.

When we arrived no member of staff showed us to our table, therefore no menus were given to us.<br />No water or bread was provided we had to ask. We waited one hour for our starter meal, my partner ordered the scollops, there were two the size of 10 pence pieces. The main courses were beef,duck and pork, you could not taste any difference between them. The vegetables were insufficient for three people, I had one parsnip. No member of staff were to be found at any time. A jazz band was playing in the next room, this was to loud and you could hear to speak. We did not have a pudding.

This is a beautiful, traditional hotel in a wonderful setting. The staff were lovely and couldn’t have been more helpful. When they found it was our friend’s belated birthday treat her dessert came on a plate with Happy Birthday on, which was a thoughtful touch.<br />The food, while presented beautifully, was not cooked particularly well and the main course, despite the restaurant being quiet when we were there, arrived luke warm. Our fiend found the duck tough and the skin was still white. We have eaten here twice and tastier, better cooked food would increase the value for money rating but still an enjoyable experience.

Fine dining in beautiful surroundings. Expensive but worth it.

Had dinner here recently. The food was distinctly average in taste but pretentious in presentation. Staff however excellent with their customer service skills. Service was swift even with a large party of tourists in, it was such a shame that food was so average.

I was staying at the Powdermills Hotel and booked in for dinner. The menu was varied and interesting and the food, when it came, was superb. One of the best meals that I have had for a long time

Lovely setting. Tables beautifully laid. If you preorder your starters and mains, the service is spot-on. The food is excellent and nicely presented. Our table of 10 received excellent service from all staff and there was no feeling that we were being rushed in anyway. This is the third time that we have visited The Orangery for a special event in the last 6 months and that should go a long way towards confirming our preferred restaurant venue!

We decided to eat here as we were staying at the Bannatynes Hotel but were less than impressed with the menu their. So pleased we did. Not a huge menu but certainly didn’t struggle to choose. Food was excellent and could not fault. Service was attentive but not over the top. Setting is beautiful. Would certainly look to stay at the hotel in the future.

On arrival at the Powder Mill we found our own way into the restaurant and was swept off our feet with the ambiance, the most pleasing sight to what was a very enjoyable evening. the service was good and attentive without being overpowering, the food and the different style dishes was delicious and the wine list not only showing unknown wines to us but some of our old favourites at what we thought were reasonable prices.<br /><br />A delightful evening which we intend to repeat fairly soon. Thank you to everyone for making it so enjoyable.

Lovely setting, beautiful grounds, tranquil and traditional.<br />Staff are helpful, not too formal, top quality tableware, linen, silverware etc.<br />Relaxed atmosphere.<br />Food is out of the ordinary, quite specialised, extremely well presented,

The Orangery really is a lovely setting for a romantic meal. Very spacious, nicely laid out and views over the pretty gardens.<br />Unfortunately the food was a bit of a let down for the price. My husbands lamb was over cooked (not a hint of pink), and the chef had been so keen to get the cracking crisp on my pork loin, the meat was totally dried out and hard.<br />The service was very good.

Can&#039;t fault the staff, they were very friendly and discreetly moved us to a lovely quiet lounge area when we were Sat next to a very loud family group! Food and service was beautiful ... We enjoyed a lovely afternoon tea to celebrate my birthday

Just looked on this website for reviews Very mixed Unusual that management do not acknowledge or address reviews especially the not so good ones? Why?

We visited the restaurant for our anniversary, and it's in a really lovely spot with beautiful grounds.

Stayed at hotel and used the Orangery restaurant,quality food and service in a pleasurable setting.A place to have a special meal.The breakfast was also spot on.

Stayed at Powder Mills Hotel and ate in the restaurant. Not a large menu but the food was fabulous. Wine list was very fair. Waitress had served our lunchtime sandwich but she was still bright and happy.

A very pleasant restaurant in lovely surroundings and service is good. The menu is not huge, which mean they can focus on quality. However, our starters and mains were lacking. Perhaps we didn't make the best of choices or we were unlucky that evening. The scallop starter had a nice crust with precious little scallop beneath - hard to justify the £9.50 price tag. The Pork Wellington wasn't much better - tough meat and a soggy crust. The desserts were very good, as were the breads.

Excellent food, professionally cooked to a high standard. Efficient waiting staff, and best, no hassle settlement of wine bill!

We have stayed at this beautiful hotel a number of times and rented the music room for family get-togethers many times. Last night we rented the Pavilion for an event for 180 people and the hotel staff couldn't have been more helpful. The area is lovely, the grounds and building stunning, and very reasonably priced too. Well done Powdermills!

We had a meal here while staying at the hotel.

Tasty, freshly prepared food. We had halibut and veal sirloin. Both delicious, veal melted in your mouth. Bread and desserts are made on the premises. Good value for money in lovely surroundings with good service.

I have been coming hear for a while to lunch with a family member. The Orangey has always been a vibrant and busy place. However they have for some unknown reason decided to remove the Set Menu for Sunday lunch. They have done this because...

Wonderful food, the beef butter was an inspiration. Food is well thought out and exquisitely presented.

My partner and I booked a meal here when we stayed at the hotel and it was lovely! Great food,...

10/10 for a top knotch experience. Warm and professional staff, good balance between quality,quantity and presentation throughout the meal.

Lovely meal for four of us on the occasion of my wife&#039;s birthday, but as is usual just after Christmas every one has had enough and we were the only table, but that is not the fault of the restaurant. Having overheard that it was my wife&#039;s birthday they adorned her dessert plate with Happy Birthday a nice touch. Good food, good wine, good service, well done to all.

We arrived to a friendly welcome at the bar. The waitress was attentive but not overly so. Food was very well presented and delicious. Not cheap but worth the money for a special occasion.

Attentive and polite staff along with good quality food in a lovely setting. Highly recommend.

Food and ambience absolutely divine, myself and my partner came for a show round as a potential venue for our wedding and stayed for lunch, the orangery and grounds were beautiful as was the food, highly recommend and cant wait to return.<br />Stuart davis

Lovely hotel in a beautiful setting. 3 courses was a set price of £30 plus 10% service. I had scollops to start with which did have an extra £3.50 charge then Lamb for main and nougatine with mousse as pudding and I can honestly say it was the best 3 courses I have ever eaten. It was a Saturday in November and restaurant was half full. Service was prompt and very good. There is a nice bar for pre dinner drinks

Visited the Orangery Room after staying locally. Beautiful surroundings; Good Service, plain scone with clotted cream & jam absolutely yummy...

Unexpectedly surprised. A beautiful setting with very attentive staff and great food. <br />We thoroughly recommend this restaurant.

Beautiful setting and fabulous meal

Beautiful and comfortable restaurant with a lovely atmosphere although the lighting is so ambient some people used little torches to read the menu. The staff are attentive and friendly without being intrusive. The food is delicious beautifully cooked and seasoned and the presentation actually caused a wow from several diners. Perfect scallops with crisp bacon pieces and smoked monkfish starters, halibut and the pork wellington mains and for dessert the apple tart. The food is quality above quantity there was no waste on our table and we left feeling comfortably full. There is a good choice of wines and we enjoyed the Malbec. This is a treat for us and the £100 bill was as expected for the two of us. A wonderful birthday treat we have already discussed another visit for afternoon tea.

Fabulous meal 🍽 Presented beautifully by attentive staff

Delicious, well presented food. Friendly, attentive staff.

A lovely meal, nice surroundings and excellent service.

It was a little sad that there was only one other table occupied. We expected more on a Friday night. The food was good overall but the pudding, apple, was a contrived muddle. Service was good but so it should have been as only two covers were there that night.

This was our second visit to The Powdermills House Hotel. We had asked for the same room in the cloisters...we...

We had a lovely anniversary meal. Food was outstanding! Lovely friendly staff. Definitely would go back. :)

Lovely building and surroundings. Good food - but a sharp knife and better lighting would have been nice so we could see what we were eating. Insufficient and inadequately trained - but pleasant - staff. Recommend with caution.

Orangery at Powder Mills Hotel is a classy setting for any occasion and any meal. Staff are very friendly although not always attentive. The menu was excellent and the chef went out of their way to create gluten free, dairy free options.

The Table d'hote menu has every taste covered and is only half the price you would pay in London. The...

Mientras en el Powdermills comimos en la paredes y fue genial. Teníamos panini y sándwiches con lado de patatas fritas El servicio es estupendo, muy servicial y hablador. Había mucha comida con patatas fritas y ensalada en el lateral. Precioso lugar para comer.

Organizamos un almuerzo para un grupo familiar de 15, para el que se requiere un depósito. Al llegar, nos llevaron a una habitación separada al lado del Restaurante orangery. La habitación era agradable, y como era un día cálido, las puertas exteriores eran afortunadamente abierto....

We&#039;ve been here lots of times and I love the fact that there are unusual and creative vegetarian options as well as something a little different for the carnivores! The only comment I would make is that portion sizes vary significantly depending on which dish you choose and it might be useful to offer side dishes if you choose something which comes up smaller. We anticipated this and asked if they could have some new potatoes with the turbot. Although the fish was delicious, our hungry men did need the potatoes as well!

We had lunch with friends and really enjoyed the experience. Good food and attentive polite service in a lovely setting. I Highly recommend

Went for my wife&#039;s birthday I would recommend it, the service was excellent the staff was very helpful can&#039;t what to go again? Value for money at 24.50 per head

Only downside to the meal was that there was a cover charge of 10% added to the bill. As far as I could see there was no mention of this on the menu. I expect to give a tip, but at my discretion.

We have been to the Orangery on many occasions but this visit was extremely disappointing.<br />The food was certainly not worthy of 2 AA Rosettes. All three courses left a lot to be desired. The soup was not as described, the Sea Bass was overcooked and very salty whilst the Risotto was stodgy and tasteless. The deconstructed desserts have no place in a restaurant of this so called standard.<br />The Malbec wine was not &quot; Nortons &quot; as described on the wine list.<br />The waitress was very concerned at our lack of enjoyment of the meal and referred us to the manager.

Excellent location and superb food. Staff lovely, I would recommend!