Camellia at South Lodge

British·
££££
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Silver Award
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SquareMeal Review of Camellia at South Lodge

Silver Award

If you’re looking to be treated like royalty, then Camellia is a good place to start. Chairs are pulled out for you as you take a seat, wine is poured before you even realise your glass is empty, and the service is charming with a ‘nothing’s too much’ attitude.

The restaurant itself comes with a lot of soul and a hearty menu to match, with dark wooden interiors, intimate tables for two, and a dimly lit lamp on each of them. It’s easy to get caught up in the romance of it all, particularly while gazing out over the impressive grounds.

The food here is classic French, rich, and exactly the sort of thing we want to tuck into in such a setting. The meal kicks off with warm coffee and rye bread, which is so fresh it’s still steaming as we pull it apart. Starters follow with a sizeable quenelle of chicken liver parfait, crispy chicken skin, sour cherry and orange slices, but the real gem is the chicken fat brioche served alongside. Both crisp and soft, with a slight char, it's the perfect accompaniment to the ultra smooth parfait, and we’ll no longer be accepting brioche in any other format.

Mains are another masterclass in flavour, with various rich elements on the plate like slow-cooked beef cheek, bacon jam and a bone marrow and port jus. Each mouthful packs a punch, and left us feeling giddy.

We end on a suitably luxurious note. A Terre de Sienne chocolate crémeux is paired with mushroom caramel, popcorn crisp and whisky ice cream - it’s a beautiful combination of rich chocolate, crunchy texture, and sharp yet creamy ice cream, and the perfect end to such a comforting meal.

The wine list here is vast, and while we can personally vouch for the Chablis Colombier 2012, there is a sommelier on hand to help with any queries.

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - £50 - £79
Cuisines
British
Ambience
Fine dining, Traditional
Food Occasions
Dinner, Lunch
Alfresco And Views
Outside seating, Terrace
Perfect for
Birthdays, Celebrations, Child friendly, Special occasions

About

Located within the luxurious South Lodge hotel in Horsham, West Sussex, The Camellia is a British restaurant headed up by chef Josh Mann that serves an ever-changing, hyper-seasonal menu. Its commitment to sourcing is second to none, with Josh and his team growing most of the restaurant's fresh fruit and vegetables in the hotel’s walled garden, while sourcing anything it can’t grow in-house from local Sussex suppliers. The restaurant is open for dinner throughout the week, and lunch on Sundays only.

Josh Mann brings a wealth of experience to The Camellia following various roles at Michelin pubs and restaurants across the UK. Now leading a young and aspiring team of chefs, including a number of apprentices and students, his aim is to nurture and inspire a new generation, working with them to create dishes which eventually end up on the menu.

The a la carte menu features a concise selection of starters, main courses and desserts. Examples of starters include lobster ravioli with charred broccoli, lobster bisque and lime, with the option to add Cornish Exmoor caviar if liked, along with a scallop scotch egg with house made black pudding, XO emulsion and sour apple. For main course, you might try roasted cod with potato rosti, housed cured ham, fermented kohlrabi, mustard caviar and Thermidor beurre blanc, or whole partridge with spiced pear, cavolo nero, Sussex honey parkin, duck liver, whisky and elderberry jus. While desserts include a rhubarb and ginger mille-feuille with poached rhubarb, stem ginger crème patisserie and rhubarb ice cream.

The wine list features over 300 bins with varieties from across the globe. An ever-changing sommelier’s selection is available by the glass, along with half size and full bottles. If you’re not sure where to start, the sommelier is on hand to offer recommendations that pair perfectly with your meal.


FAQs

Is there a kids' menu?

Yes, there is a Little Lodgers menu available.

Helpful? 0

This venue also offers

Location

South Lodge, Brighton Road, Lower Beeding, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 6PS

01403 892235 01403 892235

Website

Opening Times

Lunch
Mon Closed
Tue Closed
Wed Closed
Thu Closed
Fri Closed
Sat Closed
Sun 12:30-14:15
Dinner
Mon 19:00-20:15
Tue 19:00-20:15
Wed 19:00-20:15
Thu 19:00-20:15
Fri 18:30-20:30
Sat 18:30-20:30
Sun Closed

Reviews

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1 Review 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

Wendy M

31 August 2010  
Food & Drink 4
Service 4.5
Atmosphere 4.5
Value 4
A sudden change of plan brought us to this stunning part of Sussex. Period buildings naturally occupy beauty spots and this was no exception where we discovered an unpretentious statement of grand with the utmost comfort and warmth. The other surprise was to find ourselves dining at Camellia as The Pass wasn’t open for lunch. Though intricately ornate and heavily oaked décor is not normally my style, I loved the way this place had been restored. Sensitive modern tweaks subtley augmented without tarnishing the period feel. We were first led to a classically styled lounge decked with hand-studded chesterfields and chandeliers, but this wasn’t sufficient to distract me from the sandwich selection being delivered nearby tempting me to ask for ‘a plate of the same please’, but our table was already waiting and we were soon shown through to the comfortably furnished dining room. Quite an array of choices faced us, but I soon decided that it was a fish day. Duck with marmite soldiers was a novel idea, no twist except for presentation in a terracotta egg box; not my choice but apparently it was good, followed by fillet steak, also classified ‘good’. I enjoyed crab croquette with tempura squid and a sticky chilli dipping sauce. But, what came next for me was a refined example of bouillabaisse with cavernous depth of luxurious flavour put with unlikely but fabulous cajan gnocchi, and the obligatory gruyere croutons and rouille weren’t overlooked – I have had fish stews/soups around mainland Europe and closer to home, but this was in a class of its own. Also on offer was chicken chasseur, various cuts of grilled meats, fishcakes, home-smoked haddock or sausage and mash plus a few lighter options. Everything about this place was substantial from the structure, giant heavy crockery and wooden serving boards to the portions served. Service was impeccable whilst relaxed, and our waiter provided some characterful input which made the experience all the more enjoyable. We asked to see The Pass, where two glorious kitchens were flanked on one side by a line of tables to accommodate I’d say about 20 diners and one day I intend to be one of them.
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01403 892235 01403 892235

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