Robert's review of Gravetye Manor

A friend of mine comes here regularly for Sunday lunch which he says is excellent and I can believe it, what a great venue for Sunday lunch! the longest drive way I have ever been down leading you to a manor house built, I was told, for the most part at the turn of the last century in fabulous grounds.
Inside you get lots of wood panelling, all of which came apparently from the estate, the staff in case you think I conducted some in depth research, are the font of all knowledge.
I was there in the evening for a farewell diner for a colleague. The log fires were burning bright and the only thing missing were fellow guests. The sitting room and bar are places you could happily spend hours on your won just soaking up the atmostphere and the heat. The dining room on the other hand is a room that needs people.
The menu, both set menu and a la carte, are the kind that get your pulse racing, its fare that you get in only a handful of places, very imaginative with a wonderful local and seasonal feel to it. The food is beautifully presented and is as good as any I have had, wonderful. The wine list is, like many, too French, and its tough to find value under £40 a bottle. Setting aside the misunderstanding on the Rully – I asked for the white not the red which they didn't have – was very good.
It's not cheap but you will be hard pressed to eat better food anywhere and I suspect my good friend Mr Jones is right, a very good place to come and have a leisurely Sunday lunch.