Cowdray is a stunning Sussex estate boasting a historic manor house surrounded by 16,000 acres of woodland, as well as a farm shop, cafe and holiday cottages, where you can come and stay, enjoy experiences such as foraging and soak up the peace and quiet.
If, however, you're looking for quite the opposite, the Walled Garden is a fantastic place to throw a party, and this year, the team are enthusiastically welcoming Christmas event bookings. Often used for corporate events and weddings, the Walled Garden features two events spaces and, of course, the garden itself which is beautiful all year round.
Both the Courtyard Room and the Castle Room are available for exclusive hire and are already decked out with seasonal foliage, but the team can help you reconfigure the space to suit the gathering you had imagined. Whether that be a sit-down dinner or drinks reception, you can host up to 80 people or a much smaller number for an intimate feel.
On arrival, each of your guests will be treated to a welcome drink and there'll be time for mingling before a three-course meal is served. All catering is provided in-house by The Yellow Kitchen team. In terms of what to expect, the website gives an example of the sample menu with options like duck liver pate on toasted ciabatta with orange and fennel to start, and then stuffed turkey ballotine with pigs in blankets, roast potatoes, honey roast parsnips and greens for mains.
For dessert, enjoy the likes of mulled wine poached pear, alongside traditional tiramisu or Christmas pudding with brandy cream, and then after dinner, a cash bar is opened so that you can enjoy a few tipples and dance the night away.
For those who would rather curl up by the fire with a mug of hot chocolate, this is also on the cards, and if you think your gang are on more of wreath workshop, rather than a dancing all night kind of vibe, take advantage of the creative classes, too.