Sussex


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/isca_sq.png" alt="Restaurant Isca, Sussex" class="wp-image-84655" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/isca_sq.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/isca_sq-800x800.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/isca_sq-400x400.png 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/isca_sq-768x768.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/isca_sq-500x500.png 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image credit: Restaurant Isca</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-root-to-tip-dining-it-s-the-new-nose-to-tail"><strong>Root-to-tip dining – it&#8217;s the new nose-to-tail</strong></h2>



<p>Borde Hill&#8217;s <a href="https://iscabordehill.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Restaurant Isca</a> has finally launched and its menu leans in to root-to-tip dining. The setting is stunning: a new, light-filled glasshouse overlooking a two-acre biodynamic Walled Kitchen Garden. Executive Chef Jack Hazell, formerly of Marcus at the Berkeley and Bibendum, has been led by the estate&#8217;s botanical heritage, conjuring dishes like Chalk Stream trout, labneh, and walled garden flowers. Baked cheesecake, pickled magnolia and rhubarb typifies the menu&#8217;s beguiling mix of familiar flavours and haut foodiness, and who could resist the likes of a Pea Pod Martini for quaffable cuteness?&nbsp;</p>



<p>Ingeniously, Borde Hill is running a Treetoppers Kids Club on the first Saturday of each month, so that parents of 4-10 year olds can enjoy an unhurried lunch while their offspring are kept busy at a 2.5 hour forest school session. (This is obviously a great time to book if you’re child-free and like your lunch that way, too.) </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-micro-restaurant-major-flavours"><strong>Micro restaurant, major flavours</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/the_set.png" alt="The Set, Brighton" class="wp-image-84661" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/the_set.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/the_set-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/the_set-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/the_set-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image credit: The Set</figcaption></figure>



<p>Hospitality&#8217;s a tough place to be right now but award-winning Brighton chefs Dan Kenny and Marcin Miasik have cause to celebrate. After 11 years of pop-ups and collabs, they&#8217;ve finally secured a permanent home, thanks in part to crowdfunding. With just 12 covers, <a href="https://www.thesetrestaurant.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Set</a> is a micro restaurant poised to plate up mighty flavours from <strong>27 May</strong>. They&#8217;re intent on pairing serious foodie fun with a laidback atmosphere, and along with a 12-15 course tasting menu, ramen lunches and M.A.D – midweek affordable dinners – will be on offer. The duo&#8217;s also working on a food poverty initiative, Onigiri4all.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tokyo-takeover"><strong>Tokyo takeover</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/SORA.png" alt="SORA pop-up at Malmaison, Brighton Marina" class="wp-image-84657" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/SORA.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/SORA-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/SORA-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/SORA-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image credit: SORA</figcaption></figure>



<p>Brighton Marina is set to become your destination for Japanese-style nightlife and day-to-late noshing this summer thanks to a pop-up at Malmaison. <a href="https://www.malmaison.com/locations/brighton/sora/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SORA</a> will be serving sushi and firing up its robata grill from <strong>20 May-31 Aug</strong>. Whether you&#8217;re after a lunchtime bento box, green dragon and firecracker maki, miso-glazed black cod or a wagyu burger, there&#8217;s something for every appetite. An Asian-inspired afternoon tea is also planned, and there&#8217;ll be sake as well as cocktails to sip while you soak up harbour views. DJs and live music are on the menu at the weekends. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brews-with-views"><strong>Brews with views</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/02/Harveys-Brewery-X.jpg" alt="Harvey's Brewery, Sussex" class="wp-image-62685" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/02/Harveys-Brewery-X.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/02/Harveys-Brewery-X-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/02/Harveys-Brewery-X-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/02/Harveys-Brewery-X-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/02/Harveys-Brewery-X-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Oenophiles are spoilt for choice when it comes to vineyard stays but now beer lovers can check in to a brewery. And not just any brewery, either. Multi-award-winning <a href="https://shop.harveys.org.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Harvey’s</a>, Sussex’s oldest working brewery, has just announced plans to create eight boutique rooms above its historic shop in the heart of picturesque Lewes. The brewery&#8217;s right there on the doorstep (locals are used to the hoppy aroma that fills the air on brewing days), along with antiques shops, cafés, and – naturally – a couple of the town’s most characterful pubs.&nbsp;It&#8217;s the latest innovation from an eight-generation family-owned company that already serves it fans well with popular tours of its brewery and an ever increasing range of gifts including hand-thrown ceramic tankards and organic &#8216;shackets&#8217;. The rooms are expected to open towards the end of this year.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sussex-s-celebrity-traitors-contestant-nbsp"><strong>Sussex&#8217;s <em>Celebrity Traitors</em> contestant&nbsp;</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/Alex_Lake.png" alt="Romesh Ranganathan, credit Alex Lake" class="wp-image-84659" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/Alex_Lake.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/Alex_Lake-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/Alex_Lake-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/Alex_Lake-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Romesh Ranganathan by Alex Lake</figcaption></figure>



<p>Contestants have been announced for the latest series of the spin-off reality game show and Sussex has a shot at bagging a second victory. Following on from Alan Carr&#8217;s success last year (he lived near Horsham before moving to his own Scottish castle), Crawley-born comedian Romesh Ranganathan will join a starry cast including Richard E. Grant, James Blunt and Jerry Hall. Stay tuned! </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-calling-all-south-downs-shutterbugs"><strong>Calling all South Downs shutterbugs!</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/three_giants_richard_murray.png" alt="A South Downs National Park photography competition winner, Three Giants by Richard Murray" class="wp-image-84658" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/three_giants_richard_murray.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/three_giants_richard_murray-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/three_giants_richard_murray-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/sussex/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2026/05/three_giants_richard_murray-768x512.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A 2025 winner, Three Giants by Richard Murray</figcaption></figure>



<p>The South Downs National Park&#8217;s annual photography exhibition returns this week with a theme we can all get behind. &#8216;<a href="https://www.southdowns.gov.uk/care-for/photo-comp/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Serene South Downs: Back to Nature</a>&#8216; is all about slowing down, taking stock, and generally remembering to look around at what really matters. In other words, less hustle and bustle, more basking in natural world wonders! If you&#8217;re up for the challenge of capturing that on camera, now&#8217;s your chance. There&#8217;s also a separate wildlife category, and prizes for under-10s and 11-17 year olds. You have <strong>until 31 Oct</strong> to enter. </p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />



<p><strong><em>In the mood for more? </em></strong></p>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://sussex.muddystilettos.co.uk/gotta-have-it/pass-the-pitta-spread-worthy-picnic-blankets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pass the pitta! Spread-worthy picnic blankets to bag nearby</a></li>



<li><a href="https://sussex.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/15-stunning-circular-walks-sussex/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Celebrate National Walking Month with these local circular strolls</a></li>



<li><a href="https://sussex.muddystilettos.co.uk/home/how-does-your-garden-glow-gorgeous-local-nurseries/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How does your garden glow? Gorgeous Sussex garden centres</a></li>
</ul>


Superflash! Foodie openings, ‘Traitors’ news and South Downs serenity

You may also like