I want to be quite clear, I understand these are challenging times for the hospitality industry…read more However, not allowing people to reschedule non-refundable stays affected by Covid travel restrictions is, to me, unacceptable. I did not want a refund, I had to reschedule because of govt restrictions. Two nights was almost $1,000. That's lost. Be wary of this!!

My husband and I spent one night here as a special treat during our layover from Gatwick. It's…read moredifficult enough to go home after an amazing trip but staying at Alexander House made it even harder! This historic house lives up to its reputation for stellar accommodations. It's pretty remote, about a 20-minute taxi ride (approximately 20 GBP) but we appreciated the quiet atmosphere. We booked a room here last minute and were placed in the Rochester suite -- beautiful accommodations with a king bed, a perfectly romantic bathroom, and all the amenities we could have needed. Access to the spa facilities were included in our stay so we enjoyed the afternoon lounging in the spa and plunge pool. Next time, we'll splurge on a treatment or too. We walked for about 20 minutes to a nearby pub for dinner but there are two restaurants on location that looked divine. We did have breakfast here the next morning (20 GBP per person) and it was a great way to kickstart the day before we headed home on our transatlantic flight. I would highly recommend staying here. It's straight out of a Jane Austen novel and I hope I have a reason to return one day.

Jolly Good Time It's…read morebeen a while since our memorable visit, but I'm writing this review of GRAVETYE MANOR in the memory of my mother who passed away just three months ago. Having her own colorful English-style gardens in suburban America for most of her life---on a much MUCH smaller scale, of course---and being an exceptional cook--- Gravetye was one of the particularly wonderful highlights of our road trip. That, and seeing the Queen. (Later, below.) It was while looking through my photos of England and Scotland, that I came across those that I'd taken of our visit to Gravetye. Wondering if there might be reviews of this country estate from anyone on Yelp, I found not even one. The "press" link on their site showed several accolades from a number of publications, so I decided to write one, too. I'm sure that this magnificent manor is well-known throughout the U.K., but by probably only a handful of visitors from across the pond. Gravetye deserved a least a single Yelp mention from a smitten Yankee. Our schedule that day was to arrive before nightfall at a destination further south, but heading down the M23 I spotted a highway sign reading that the East Grinstead exit was just ahead. That name rang a bell. Quickly scanning my notes, sure enough, it was where Gravetye Manor was located. "Anyone ready to eat?" My husband and my parents were all enthusiastically in favor. "Well, be prepared for one heck of a meal. Turn off here." (I wasn't driving. Yikes, no !) Traveling plans included 4 to 8 points of interest to visit each day on a leisurely, un-rushed day-time road tour. I also noted little side-trips, and only if it might fit into our schedule, would we detour. Gravetye Manor was one of those. (Per Gourmet magazine it was one of the finest country inns/restaurants in Great Britain and Europe. This would be one unforgettable experience. It was.) Taking country roads, we arrived at the entry. Like driving through a park, with lawns, trees and shrubs lining the winding drive, after half of a mile the circa 1598 manor comes into full view. This is one old house. Already decently attired---but for comfortable road touring---we hoped we'd pass inspection. Greeted with approving smiles--whew---we were graciously welcomed and led into a spacious wood-paneled, vaulted-ceiling dining room. Every course was perfectly prepared and perfectly delectable---starters, salads, and entrees of two beef, one chicken, and one rabbit. (Not me. I'll never eat bunnies.) And desserts? Almost too beautiful to eat. But, of course, we did. And the wines were excellent recommendations. Something that we'd never experienced before, however, but one that left a delightfully lasting impression, was the line of probably eight white-shirted and black-slacked or skirted servers standing along the wall near our table. Quiet as church mice, facing straight ahead and about a foot apart with hands behind their backs, at-the-ready and providing anything needed for luncheon guests at the seven or eight white linen-covered tables. I couldn't help but imagine that this is what it must feel like to be an aristocrat or a royal, famished---and ready to dig in---after a morning of polo matches (ah, yes), or a hunt (uh, never). The manor, the food, the gardens, the lush inviting grounds---all spectacular and highly recommended. To stay here is a bit pricey, however, so having had previously arranged and paid for accomodations elsewhere, we saved ourselves a quid or two. (tee-hee) Now, on to the Queen. (And Queen Mum, too.) There we were---like typical tourists doing what typical tourists are obliged to do---waiting to observe the "changing of the guard" at Buckingham Palace. ...wait... Is this part of it? Two 1940-ish shiny tone-on-tone gray luxury motorcars---each one nearly as long as a schoolbus---pulled into the courtyard and drove slowly along the wrought iron fencing, past the crowd of us commoners. Crikey! HRH waving from the window. Mum, too, from the car just behind. Unprepared, I quickly snapped a few pictures. But because this ceremony "bonus" was a total surprise---and I hadn't set my camera for closer shots---I could only hope they'd turn out. Not. All out-of-focus. WE know who these obscured images are, but to anyone else looking at these photos, they could be just two blurry-faced British ladies in big fancy hats. Oh, well . . .

Had a great lunch here in the restaurant today. The gardens are looking beautiful as the spring…read moreweather has finally turned up. I think the quality of the food is getting better and the new owner continues to put his heart into the business.

The Ashdown Park Hotel exceeded my expectations in terms of customer service. I traveled with a…read moredisabled friend, and the concierges went out of their way to ensure she was able to travel the grounds as needed. We were given a beautiful ground floor suite that included a large jacuzzi bathtub. The dinner restaurant was a bit fancy so we opted for room service, ordering the hamburger option. Our meals were wonderful, and they included perfectly crisp French fries. The price was reasonable. For relaxation, we made our way over to the calming spa area and swam in the indoor pool. We met lovely guests and had a fantastic day. The jacuzzi was small though, only holding four to six comfortably. Early morning I strolled through the stunning property and located the secret garden. Making my way through the black and golden gate, I was greeted with a rainbow arching over the mossy fountain. I sat for a few minutes of solitude. Vibrant, interesting stained glass windows and arches can be found all over the property. We were told the property was a converted convent. Downside, the rooms are old and the one we stayed in did not have air conditioning. Perhaps some rooms do have it. They did provide a fan and with our open windows, we were comfortable. I would definitely recommend this hotel and would stay here again. Special thanks to Paul and Paul, our concierges.

A well presented hotel in a stunning location. We were…read morestaying for 2 nights due my sister getting married there. On the first night I was dissapointed when the head waiter had a hissy fit when we turned up for dinner without a dinner jacket. Considering the price we were paying I felt this was slightly unreasonable.

Stayed here for a week. There is a lot of positive to say and virtually nothing negative. I was on…read morethe bottom floor in a room with a double bed. Good size room with, I believe, a 32" flat screen TV. The room has a desk with plugs within arms reach to power a laptop or other device. Also, there is a set of plugs near the bed, if needed. The bathroom is good size and the shower hot water flows fairly quickly, where the faucet seems a tad bit slower. Closet and drawer space were adequate for me and should be fine for two people. Even in December, I did not need to have the radiator on and the room stayed at a comfortable temp for me. However, if you need it, there is an extra comforter in the closet. All of the staff here are quite friendly and accommodating, and there are equally nice locals who come by for a drink or dinner. The hotel offers free wi-fi with a nice strong signal, free breakfast and, if needed, free parking around back. The breakfasts offered range from cereals to omelettes to a good ole traditional Full English Breakfast, which I had all but one day. It was filling and quite tasty! Poached egg, hash browns, mushrooms, beans, tomatoes, ham and sausage. There is a restaurant and bar for the evenings. I highly recommend the centre cut fillet steak served with pepper sauce, chips (steak fries) (or onion rings), tomatoes, portobello mushroom and a few other veggies. The steak is 8 oz and was cooked to perfection for me - just slightly pink inside. The chips were great - a bit crispy outside and soft inside. Mushroom and tomatoes equally good. Oh, and the Layered Chocolate Cake with strawberries and raspberries is extra yummy! Also offered and delicious are the sorbets. One night I did two scoops -- one raspberry and the other black currant. For the money spent this is worth 5 stars. Overall, if you want to feel at home in a very friendly atmosphere, I highly recommend the Brambletye.

Stayed here some 50 years ago and wondered if it had changed. Reception was swift and friendly…read more While booking in I looked around, it hadn't changed other than, I noticed, a long bar had gone. However there was the original bar in the lounge area. The room too, hadn't changed. Everything you would need including hair dryer, ironing board and iron (my partner loved that LOL), flat screen TV, telephone, tea/coffee making. Comfy bed with plenty of pillows. Bathroom a decent size with shower over the bath. Breakfast was brilliant. Again, everything you could want. From cold continental breakfast to a full range of cooked repast. Most of the staff are Eastern European and extremely hard working and very friendly. For its price this hotel was a good deal. OK, downside. It needs a makeover. Very old and tired. As I said, I remember it from half a century ago and it hadn't changed. Light in the room not working so quite dark. Toilet difficult to flush. But, repeat, a good deal.

For our first night in the UK, this was quite the nice spot to get beer and a traditional English…read moredinner. The steak and ale pie with English mustard was delicious. The draft beers were very tasty. The servers were nice and quick. I love that the UK has laws regarding allergies as one member of our party needed that information. The staff were quite accommodating.

I've been frequenting this place for years and it used to be a popular destination for heavy…read moremetalers (me included) as the dukebox had some great tunes available. Its gone all posh now but has still retained a certain amount of charm. Its a beautiful old building and there's so much space inside so ideal for large groups. They serve Dark Star beer which is a lovely bitter indeed. Its got an absolutely huge garden which is great for whiling away the summer weekends.

James Cluskey, events coordinator for Hadlow College…read moreSouthern Events provide a professional service throughout and have delivered an excellent experience, from consultation and support to explore ideas, to delivery of a 'Top Notch' event. Our guests leave fantastic feedback which is why, when I am planning an event my first call is to Tom at Southern Events

From the owner: Southern Events are the party people, anything from birthdays to a festival, we have done them…read morebefore and we will do them again! We can offer you the full package from marquees through to furniture hire, venue decoration and even bar/ catering options. Have your own supplier for something.... no problem we are happy to work along side other suppliers as well as offering the full package. Talk to us today about how we can assist you with your event.