insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 12 - February 2016 | Page 74

GETAWAYS

The serene

OCKENDEN MANOR
‘Spa’ and ‘break’ are two words I will never tire of hearing, but add Sussex’s charming
Ockenden Manor into the mix and you’ve got yourself a triple threat. Offering luxury and
comfort – not to mention award-winning dining and facilities – a trip to this tranquil hideout
is all that’s needed to eliminate those pesky winter blues. BY GEMMA DUNN
Tucked away in Cuckfield, a one-time market
hub and one of the prettiest remaining Tudor
villages in England, Ockenden Manor boasts a
rich and colourful history that spans as far back
as the mid-1500s. Playing host to a number of
residential owners – including John Burrell, who
bought the manor in 1658 and extended it to
incorporate the Burrell Room – the property has
acquired various uses, eventually becoming a
guesthouse and restaurant after the Second
World War.
Residing in nine acres of peaceful gardens
with views across the South Downs, Ockenden
provides the perfect go-to for a restful getaway;
and in my case, the perfect spot for a pampering
weekender.
Allocated a spa suite for the occasion, our
open-plan room – complete with spacious lounge
and ensuite bathroom – was merely steps away
from the on-site facilities and offered everything
from a walk-in shower and rolltop bath to a flat
screen TV, Nespresso coffee machine, iPad
docking station and panoramic views from a
private roof terrace. Alternatively, guests can
book one of the hotel’s 28 individually furnished
bedrooms and suites in the heart of the manor
house.
Whilst a nap was a tempting option after
a long week, the notion was trumped by the
promise of acclaimed cuisine in Ockenden’s
Michelin-starred, fine dining restaurant.
Under the guidance of head chef Stephen
Crane, discerning diners can choose between a
gastronomic seven-course tasting menu and
several fixed price options including the selected
Cuckfield menu – all of which are a revelation,
coupled with the inspired wine list.

Seated in view of the rolling parkland
beyond, my guest and I picked the latter (after
plenty of wine, chatting and not much perusing),
opting first for all-seafood starters of fresh, handdived scallops deliciously paired with homesmoked salmon, Savoy cabbage and a tangy
mustard sauce; and an elegant Selsey lobster
risotto, complimented by fresh herbs and winter
tru es.
Our mains continued the theme with a
flavoursome fillet of Newhaven landed cod, served
with braised chicory, onion purée, crispy potato
and a hearty forestaire sauce; plus a perfectly
executed dish of line-caught sea bass on a bed
of parsnip purée, baby spinach and purple
sprouting broccoli, topped with a spattering of
almonds.
Firm believers that sharing is, in fact, caring,
my guest and I agreed to tactically split two
desserts: a textbook, gooey chocolate fondant
matched with salted caramel and a homemade
milk ice cream; and a delectable selection from
the abundant cheese trolley, complete with
homemade piccalilli and quince jelly. A fitting end
to a string of exceptional courses.
Having practically rolled to our suite and
onto my sumptuous bed, a self-inflicted food
coma certainly made for a restful night's sleep,
before you guessed it – breakfast.
Back where it all started, in the dining room,
options included an à la carte menu and
continental buffet; and despite my pledge to go
for the latter (‘something light’), I succumbed to
a tasty plate of scrambled eggs and smoked
salmon...and maybe a few pastries. Perfecto.
Continuing the finesse is the harmonious
spa; a blend of modern design and nature’s

74

inspiration. Purpose built inside a 19th-century
walled garden, the contemporary airy