Making a Day of It
Visiting Our Summer Garden Gathering? Here Are Our Favourite Places for Coffee, Lunch & Exploring Nearby.
If you're making a day of it, I thought it might be helpful to share a few favourite local recommendations. These are all places I return to throughout the year - for coffee, lunch, inspiration, flowers, walks and browsing. Whether you're arriving early, staying on afterwards or turning your visit into a day out in East Sussex, I hope you'll discover somewhere new to enjoy.
Places to Eat & Drink
Gun Brewery & Taproom
A glorious place to be in the middle of the East Sussex countryside in summertime. The Gun Brewery serve 12 keg and 4 cask lines of beer brewed using spring water sourced from below their organically farmed land. You can eat at the Taproom too. On Saturday 27th Andre will be there serving delicious Caribbean food from his Bajan Jerk Box van.
https://www.gunbrewery.co.uk/
The Pink Cabbage Co.
Not only do The Pink Cabbage serve delightful cakes and a delicious brunch but, almost as importantly, you’ll always be greeted with a smile and a friendly welcome. They do regular supper clubs and tapas evenings too. It’s my go-to place for a relaxed catch up over coffee or dinner with my girlfriends.
https://www.thepinkcabbage.co/
The Star Inn, Waldron
The Star is a grade II listed pub in the heart of the beautiful village of Waldron. One of our favourite places for lunch in the garden in summer, their menu centres around local produce that reflects the seasons. Regular events include live music performances, and Saturday afternoon BBQs with a guest DJ. It’s best to book ahead before you go.
https://www.thestarinnwaldron.co.uk/
gardens
Bateman’s
In nearby Burwash, Rudyard Kipling’s Jacobean home has gardens that were made for whiling away an afternoon in summertime. Part of the appeal for me is the diversity of the landscape. The 12-acre garden includes a lily pond, wildflower meadows, watermill, orchard and formal rose garden. A highlight in summer are the Mulberry Garden borders, which are filled with beautifully-hued perennials and edibles.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/sussex/batemans
Sarah Raven’s Perch Hill
Also in Burwash, you can pre-book open garden days at Perch Hill, the home of Sarah Raven. The farmhouse garden houses a range of roses, and annuals, perennials and shrubs chosen for a wide range of pollinators. While the Oast garden is an extravagant mix of colour and structur,e with salvias, cardoons, artichokes and brilliantly coloured dahlias and zinnias.
https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Pashley Manor Gardens
Rose lovers will delight at the display in June at Pashley Manor. Colour themed throughout the garden , they’re planted with foxgloves, lavender and delphiniums. The views over the East Sussex countryside at this time of year are a joy, too.
https://www.pashleymanorgardens.com/
nurseries & plant Centres
Cade Street Nursery
For many years this place was referred to as the “friendly nursery” in our house. It still more than lives up to its name. It’s run by two generations of the Honeysett family, who are lovely. I come here all year round (we get our Christmas tree here too), but late-spring is my favourite time. They have a gorgeous selection of shrubs and perennials and there are good deals to be had if you buy a few of each. The friendly and knowledgeable staff are always on hand to answer questions and offer tips on growing.
https://www.cadestreetnursery.co.uk/
King John’s Nursery
Tucked down a sleepy country lane near Etchingham, King John's nursery and garden is a hidden gem full of character. There’s a rustic cafe, an eclectic little shop, a wildlife shed, as well as a gravel, rose, and little pond garden. A pretty meadow - once part of the orchard of King John’s Lodge - has been planted with thousands of fritillaries and primroses with old apple trees, roses and orchids.
https://www.kingjohnsnursery.co.uk/
River Mead Nursery
Similarly rustic and plentiful is River Mead in Vine’s Cross. As well as shrubs, bedding plants and perennials, they also sell homegrown fruit and veg, eggs and local produce. I like to go and spend some time marvelling at rows of their many and varied succulent collection.
http://www.rivermeadnursery.co.uk/
a little exploring
Farleys House & Gallery
Lee Millers and Roland Penrose’s Sussex home was a meeting place or some of the giants of 20th century modern art world. Spot works by the likes of Joan Miró and Leonora Carrington of the walls of their eclectic and colourful house, and then explore Farley’s Sculpture Garden.
https://www.farleyshouseandgallery.co.uk/
The Old Haberdashery
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve popped in here for one thing only to emerge an our and a half later with bags crammed with exciting treasures. In the pretty village of Ticehurst, you’ll discover the the world of Sonia Boriczewski - a former textile designer who curates a beautiful and ever-changing selection of vintage homeware, textiles and haberdashery notions. It’s worth going just to gawp in awe at her window.
http://theoldhaberdashery.com/
Wilderness Wood
A great place to take the kids, Wilderness Wood is a 6o-acre woodland with stands of beech, scots pine and giant sequoia. It has grassy paddocks, a kitchen garden, a Christmas tree field and a cafe with fresh cakes and biscuits made by local bakers . A trail runs around its perimeter of the wood and takes around 45 minutes to walk. Along the way are play structures, art works and some amazing woodland architecture.
https://www.wildernesswood.org/