Luxury Overnight Stays this Autumn with Michelin Star Dining at Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens

The iconic Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens estate in West Sussex offers guests an autumn getaway that combines a stay in its boutique bedrooms with dinner at Michelin-starred Restaurant Interlude, and an extensive choice of relaxing walks within the 240-acre estate.

The Grade II listed mansion at Leonardslee, built in 1855, provides an intimate venue complete with ten individually designed en-suite rooms. Guests can immerse themselves in quintessential British interior design style, with each room showcasing a leading UK designer house's aesthetic. Drawing inspiration from the surrounding Grade I Listed woodland gardens, the accommodation focuses on artisan details and sustainable furnishings.

By day, the legendary gardens blaze with autumnal colour. Wander oak-lined paths, flame-hued Japanese maple groves and ponds reflecting rich russets. Seek out exotic specimen trees, from hickories to ginkgo, and spot diverse maple varieties amongst rhododendrons.

As dusk falls, the lake mists create an ethereal stage. Then it's time to indulge in Executive Chef Jean Delport's seasonal tasting menu at Restaurant Interlude. Honouring the estate's 'hunter-gatherer concept', dishes feature foraged flavours, ingredients cultivated on-site and local farm produce. Menus might include estate rabbit, fallow deer venison or oysters with foraged juniper. Award-winning wines come from the owner's award-winning vineyard, Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate in South Africa.

Chef Jean Delport, formerly based in Cape Town, combines South African flair with classical French and English foundations. His passion for local sourcing and constant evolution creates a singular Leonardslee dining experience. As he notes: "Every dish connects our guests to the spirit of this special place."

Restaurant Interlude also offers a celebrated afternoon tea, overlooking sweeping lawns and the South Downs beyond, with freshly baked scones and cakes, plus savoury treats. Guests on arrival at Leonardslee House are greeted by a self-playing piano in the sunlit atrium and can also enjoy wine tastings, sculpture park tours, on-site vineyard visits and an exciting events programme.

Leonardslee owner Penny Streeter OBE says: "The bedrooms let visitors fully embrace Leonardslee's magic, from the Michelin-starred meal to the majestic gardens. Guests can immerse themselves in this quintessential English countryside retreat."

The autumn overnight packages at Leonardslee promise a getaway blending natural beauty, creative flourish and culinary artistry. Whether a peaceful midweek escape or an indulgent weekend, Leonardslee offers an authentic taste of the English countryside, now with luxury accommodation amidst its storied gardens.

Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens offers Sunday stay and dine, two-night midweek and other packages, from £650. www.leonardsleegardens.co.uk/leonardslee-house 

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Editors notes

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.

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. They can then enjoy a classic afternoon tea in the mansion house, making for a great family day out. It is one of the top places to visit in Sussex and is open all year round except Christmas Day.

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.

Vineyards –

Leonardslee Estate: Acquired 2018 - 3.1 Acres - 2018 First vines planted - 4,000 Estimated bottles Experimental planting of Pinotage - 2022 First estate Pinotage

Mannings Estate: Acquired 2017 - 34 Acres - 2017 First vines planted - 70,000 Estimated bottles Sparkling wine cultivars 60% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Meunier - 2024 First release of wine