Leonardslee Lates Return for 2024

Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens in Horsham in West Sussex has announced the return of Leonardslee Lates for the 2024 season. Following a sell-out first year, the estate will once again open its doors for late-night festivities on two weekends: 3-5 May and 24-26 May 2024.

Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the historic 240-acre estate during its peak flowering season, as the sun sets and twilight settles across the lakes and gardens. With doors opening at 18:00 and last entry at 20:00, guests can enjoy the enchanting atmosphere of the gardens after hours.

A highlight of Leonardslee Lates is the live music performed by local talents. Jazz and swing bands The Swing Ninjas, Violet Jive, and Muted Affair will entertain guests throughout the evenings, creating a lively and unforgettable ambience.

"We are delighted to bring back Leonardslee Lates for another year," said Adam Streeter, general manager at Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens. "The estate is not normally open after 5pm; with a limited capacity for the evening, it’s a much more exclusive experience than visiting during the day, and at a lower price, with tickets from just £5”. 

In addition to the musical performances, visitors can enjoy the Clocktower Kitchen’s pizza, nachos, and vegan offerings, and the food trucks such as the Leonati Burger Truck, The Village Chippy, and Simply Hog Roast, with a range of tasty options.

Wine enthusiasts will be pleased to discover the Wine Garden, where they can sample the award-winning wine of the month from Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate, Leonardslee's sister estate in South Africa. Leonardslee's own English wine is set to make its debut later this year.

Leonardslee Lates is a 16+ event, with tickets priced at £8 per person and £5 for Leonardslee members. The estate is pleased to announce a price freeze for the 2024 season, ensuring the event remains accessible to all. Free parking is available for Leonardslee members, and tickets will not be sold on the door, so advanced booking is essential.

For more information about Leonardslee Lates and to purchase tickets, please visit the Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens website www.leonardsleegardens.co.uk

Spring Displays

The spring floral displays at Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens are a true spectacle, says Adam Streeter.

Visitors will be enchanted by the vibrant blooms of Camellias, Magnolias, and Daffodils throughout the estate. The historic Camellia collection, featuring specimens over 100 years old, can be found along Camellia Walk and in Camellia Grove, while the Magnolias, including the breathtaking Magnolia campbellii County Champion, are scattered across the gardens.

As spring progresses, the estate's world-famous Rhododendron collection steals the show. The rainbow explosion of colours from the Loderi and Coronation Gardens is a horticultural highlight, with rare and unusual examples of every size and hue waiting to be discovered.

The flowering bulbs add to the dazzling display, with Daffodil Lawn and the lakeside banks carpeted in yellow and white. The newly planted beds opposite the new play area feature a revolving door of bulbs, including three different types of Camassia, creating a stunning visual experience.

The dedicated garden team works tirelessly to maintain and enhance these beautiful displays, ensuring that visitors can enjoy the splendour of Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens' spring blooms during the Leonardslee Lates events and throughout the season. 

Ends

Editors notes

**Please credit James Ratchford when using the images.**

Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens is a family-owned vineyard estate, near Horsham in West Sussex, which features ‘the finest woodland gardens in England’, Grade I Listed, as well as a Michelin Star restaurant and luxury vineyard accommodation.

The 240-acre estate was established by Sir Edmund Loder, the great Victorian plant collector, and now includes a Sussex Wine vineyard, with the first release of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier sparkling wine in 2024.

The estate features outstanding displays all year round. In the spring this includes rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, magnolias and bluebells. The collection is exceptional in its diversity and maturity, with several rare ‘champion’ trees, threatened in their natural habitat.

The gardens offer a protected ecosystem for rare wildlife such as Emperor Dragonflies and Damselflies, White Admiral and Purple Hairstreak butterflies and migratory and native birds - Kites, Great Tits, Tree Creepers, Nuthatches, Woodpeckers and Nightingales.

The estate reopened in April 2019, following acquisition and two years’ intensive work by entrepreneur Penny Streeter OBE to restore the woodland gardens after eight years of closure and neglect under previous ownership. It was the largest garden restoration project in the United Kingdom since Heligan 30 years before.

Since further restoration work in 2021, visitors can also stay in the luxury vineyard hotel after dining at Restaurant Interlude in Leonardslee House, the Grade II Listed Italianate mansion house, to experience the Michelin Star multi-course tasting menu created by chef Jean Delport.

The estate offers a great family day out and is one of the top places to visit in West Sussex. Visitors can view a magical world in miniature at the Beyond the Doll's House exhibition, which depicts the Edwardian estate and neighbouring villages at 1:12 scale. There is also an exciting new 2,500 sq m play park designed to mix recreational play with the natural attractions of the Grade I Listed woodland gardens, and a spectacular winter festival annually when the gardens are illuminated, attracting many thousands of visitors.

For great days out, there is an extensive programme of entertainment that includes winter garden illuminations and light trails, wine and beer festivals, photo and art exhibitions, live music events, cooking and gardening demonstrations, arts and crafts fairs, modelling and toy shows, and children’s events and adventure trails.

Leonardslee Family Vineyards in numbers

· Acquired 2017 · Total Estate 750 acres · 38 Acres of vineyard, 73,000 vines

· 2017 First vines planted · 170 Tonnes of grapes, 2023 harvest · 100,000 bottles annually produced · Sparkling wine cultivars 60% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Meunier · 2024 First release of wine