Once a 19th century country manor, with all the Neo-Jacobean accents you’d expect, the property has transcended into five-star luxury and is now the multi-award-winning South Lodge hotel. This is largely thanks to its incredible spa (with not one, but two outdoor pools and a spa of the year accolade) and fine dining restaurant Ben Wilkinson at The Pass which has landed 4 AA Rosettes and a Michelin star.

There are 96 rooms each with their own distinct personality and look that have been individually designed and furnished – from rooms that honour British tradition and views over the terraced gardens to the South Downs to garden suites with their very own hot tubs to relax in while surrounded by the sounds of nature.

When it comes to food, The Camellia offers traditional British dining in an elegant setting while the main event is the seven-course tasting menu at The Pass from head chef Ben Wilkinson – a beautifully unique experience where you sit in the heart of things, seeing in action chefs who deliver each dish to you and explain all the delicious elements. Over at the (simply stunning) spa, you can dine at Botanica restaurant, with its terrace overlooking the pools and countryside beyond. The menu here has a plethora of plant-based dishes, is completely dairy free, and prides itself on being zero waste. During the summer months, Botanica is open later so you can enjoy the sunset views.

Life being all about balance, you can walk off the calories with a stroll around the hotel’s 93 acres of Sussex countryside including woodlands, manicured gardens, and kitchen gardens filled with fruit and veg, or enjoy a game of tennis or croquet on the lawn. Wild swimmers can lap up luxury in the natural outdoor pool and enjoy a refreshing dip before taking advantage of the al fresco hydrotherapy pool. There’s now a new wild swimming lake where you can book sessions supervised by a lifeguard and be given wetsuits, dry robes and a cup of hot chocolate afterwards.

There’s also an indoor pool, infused sauna, marble-lined salt steam and jasmine herbal steam room, state-of-the-art gym and fitness classes, and 14 treatments rooms. A line of all-natural treatments launched with British skincare brand Pelegrims uses grape extracts from the hotel’s vineyard (more on that shortly). In the Ridgeview nail bar, meanwhile, you’ll find Margaret Dabb manicures and pedicures – complete with red and green LED light therapy mitts.

Looking for the wedding venue of dreams? Allow nature to provide the backdrop to your big day in South Lodge’s expansive grounds, with the summertime option of marrying at the outdoor wedding pavilion, complete with panoramic views of the Downs. During cooler seasons you can enjoy candlelit ceremonies and roaring log fires. How’s that for romantic?

For corporate days, events, meetings and conferences with that extra level of professionalism and splendour you can book one of the specially designed meeting rooms which do everything you need them to and some. While you focus on business there will be service with a smile as well as great food and impressive vistas, all just an hour’s drive from London.

South Lodge recently added to its allure with The Reeds. These luxury lakeside lodges, eight in all, combine gold-star sustainability credentials and architecture to ensure full immersion in nature. Along with an abundance of subtly changing natural light thanks to double-height windows, you can enjoy a decked private terrace outside and soothing neutrals within. Two are designated spa lodges, meaning they’re also kitted out with steam showers, a restorative infrared halo therapy sauna, and an al fresco whirlpool bath.

Sussex is of course fast becoming vineyard country, and this is a hotel passionate about promoting English wine. In partnership with laureled local producer Ridgeview, it’s planted almost 20,000 vines across south-facing slopes on the property, yielding an inaugural harvest in 2025. The aim is to craft Exclusive Collection’s first bespoke wine, but the grapes are finding their way into a new South Lodge candle and vinotherapy products, too. Muddy’s particularly taken with Pelegrims’ Rewards of Patience facial serum, featuring sap collected during pruning. It’s known poetically as ‘tears of the vine’, which in a location like this can only mean tears of joy.

South Lodge, Brighton Rd, Lower Beeding, Horsham, Sussex RH13 6PS. Tel 01403 891711

 

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