Elite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 23-24

Welcome to Elite

I write this introduction at a time of reflection and change. The transition from autumn into winter, and the promise of spring beyond, always provides an opportunity to consider what’s been, and anticipate what’s to come.

There’s no doubt that 2023 has been another busy year at Elite Hotels, with the King’s Coronation celebrations back in May, the launch of our own bespoke gin at The Grand Hotel, and the continuation of our rolling refurbishment programme. And then, of course, we have delighted in welcoming many familiar and some brand-new faces to our wonderful properties throughout the course of the year. I am eagerly awaiting more of the same in 2024!

Irrespective of the time of year (and even the weather) a common piece of feedback we receive from our guests is how spectacular our grounds, and how picturesque our locations, are. From the dramatic Eastbourne coastline and South Downs, to the wonders of Ashdown Forest (home of Winnie the Pooh!), and the quaint leafy villages of North Hampshire, there is so much to see on our doorstep, whether you are visiting us for a short break or

looking to walk-off the indulgent excess of one of our famous afternoon teas. Our concierge team are always on hand to recommend the walking trails we’ve curated around each hotel, with inspiration provided on page 14 of this very publication!

Being a proud dog owner myself, I am delighted to direct you to page 24 to explore the work that Hearing Dogs for Deaf People – a proud charity partner of The Rotherwick Foundation – carry out on a daily basis. I hope you find reading about the valuable work they provide as inspirational as I do. There’s lots more to enjoy in this issue, from the exquisite cuisine created by our talented chefs to the exceptional skill of our wine suppliers, with art, music, motoring and more helping to celebrate this wonderful part of England we’re lucky to call home. I hope you enjoy the magazine. If you have any feedback to share, we’d be delighted to hear your thoughts via email at marketing@elitehotels.co.uk. And please do feel free to take the magazine with you when you check out.

In the meantime, I wish you a very pleasant stay, and would like to take this opportunity to wish you a healthy and happy festive season and a prosperous 2024.

Graeme Bateman FIH MI FIoD Managing Director, Elite Hotels

A very warm welcome to issue 3 of Elite Magazine, a window into the unique experiences curated by our hotels of distinction

We are Elite Hotels

From country house opulence to five-star seafront grandeur, Elite's bespoke collection welcomes you to a world of fine hospitality

TYLNEY HALL HOTEL & GARDENS

HAMPSHIRE

Tylney Hall Hotel & Gardens, nestled within 66 acres of the romantic rolling countryside of Hampshire, is a haven of beauty and romance, from its surrounding tree-lined vista, lake and gardens to its exterior and the period features accentuating its palatial interior. Luxury and style greet you throughout this Grade II-listed building, which features 112 bedrooms and suites –some of which contain four-poster beds and spa baths – indoor and outdoor pools, gymnasium and spa treatment rooms. Located in the small town of Hook, Tylney Hall offers unrivalled service combined with an old-world sense of charm, which not only makes every stay an indulgent experience, but also creates a truly impressive venue for the perfect wedding.

T: 01256 764881

E: enquiries@tylneyhall.com

W: tylneyhall.co.uk

THE GRAND HOTEL

EASTBOURNE

Savour stunning views of the sea and the dramatic cliffs of Beachy Head from the only 5-star coastal hotel in the south east. The Grand Hotel, affectionately known as The White Palace, stands majestically along the Eastbourne seafront, its grandeur typified by the breathtaking Great Hall, 152 bedrooms and suites and two award-winning restaurants, as well as 17 private dining and meeting rooms, indoor and outdoor pools, spa treatments and a gym. The Grand’s unique blend of architectural splendour and hospitable charm make it both a favourite with families and an impressive and popular wedding venue.

T: 01323 412345

E: enquiries@grandeastbourne.com

W: grandeastbourne.com

ASHDOWN PARK HOTEL & COUNTRY CLUB

EAST SUSSEX

The delightful and historic Ashdown Park Hotel and Country Club shares its home with Winnie the Pooh, whose tales were woven right here in Ashdown Forest. Sitting proudly in 186 acres of countryside, the hotel offers 106 bedrooms and suites, elegant lounges and award-winning dining, as well as outstanding leisure facilities in the self-contained Country Club, including a pool, gymnasium, spa treatment rooms, outdoor tennis courts and an 18-hole par-3 golf course. The stunning converted chapel also makes it a magical destination for your wedding, civil partnership or blessing.

T: 01342 824988

E: enquiries@ashdownpark.com

W: ashdownpark.com

A wonderful season of events

Alongside our renowned hospitality, cuisine and fine wines, a magical season of music and celebration awaits you at Elite Hotels

MUSIC

ASHDOWN PARK CHAPEL IN THE FOREST MUSICAL WEEKEND

10-13 November

A three-night musical getaway featuring a wonderful collection of arias, ensembles and songs from your favourite musicals, hosted by Nick Bailey, the first voice of Classic FM. Turn to page 30 for further details.

TYLNEY HALL

JAZZ AFTERNOON TEA

29 October, 26 November,

3 & 17 December

Let the soothing sound of live jazz music be the background to a traditional afternoon tea served in the baronial Tylney Suite, with special theme touches at Halloween and Christmas, and further dates in 2024.

THE BEST OF BROADWAY & BEYOND

24 November

The sensational Too Darn Hot (above) perform classics from West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, A Chorus Line, The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables plus current hits from Hamilton, Wicked and Jersey Boys. A fabulous accompaniment to a fabulous three-course black-tie dinner.

THE GRAND

THE PASADENA ROOF ORCHESTRA WEEKEND

24-26 November

Our annual two-night treat featuring the globally renowned orchestra (right) playing music from the 1920s and 30s. A varied programme includes cabaret, a tea dance, a three-course meal on Friday and a black tie gala dinner on Saturday.

APPASSIONATA – AN ENCHANTED EVENING

4-6 March

Opera highlights, including scenes from Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro and opera greats from Puccini, Verdi and Bizet, plus songs from Rodgers and Hammerstein, Gilbert and Sullivan and Andrew Lloyd Webber numbers. Read producer Christopher Morley’s feature on page 30 for more details.

ASHDOWN PARK

THE GRAND

TYLNEY HALL

Festive workshops

ASHDOWN PARK CHRISTMAS DECORATION WORKSHOP & AFTERNOON TEA

22-23 November

Hosted by the Ashdown Park Estate Team, this fantastic creative afternoon

shows you how to make a beautiful festive candle holder using fresh greenery from across the estate. You can create your own design to take home, and also enjoy a wonderful traditional afternoon tea in our luxurious lounge.

THE GRAND BUDS THAT BLOOM CHRISTMAS FLORAL WORKSHOP & FESTIVE LADIES’ LUNCHEON

27 November

Learn how to create a lovely Christmas table arrangement using locally cut fresh flora, and then try your hand at creating your own design to add a wow factor to your family festive table. Our local independent florist, Nicky of Buds That Bloom, is your guide, after which we’ll serve a delicious three-course lunch.

WORTH STEPPING OUT FOR

BRIGHTON CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL

18 November – 24 December Five weeks of markets at St Peter’s Plaza and across the city. brightonchristmasfestival.com

WINTER FAIR 2023

18-19 November

South of England Showground, Ardingly

Dozens of artisan stalls, street food, music, winter workshops and festive fun including a giant snow globe. seas.org.uk/winter-fair

Halloween

ASHDOWN PARK FAMILY PUMPKIN CARVING AND SPOOKY AFTERNOON TEA

29 October

A spooktacular afternoon of creative fun filled with tricks and treats for children of all ages. Let your imagination run wild to create a pumpkin masterpiece, then sink your fangs into a wicked

afternoon tea. Fancy dress optional, but don’t be a scaredy-cat!

TYLNEY HALL HALLOWEEN THEMED AFTERNOON TEA

21 October – 4 November Indulge in a ghoulishly delicious spread of eerie treats and wicked delights that will send a tingle down your spine!

THE GRAND SPOOKY HALLOWEEN AFTERNOON TEA

21-31 October

Award-winning service with a spooky twist for both adults and children. Grown-ups can enjoy a traditional afternoon tea with themed scones and cakes while kids get stuck into a frightful selection served on their own special cake stand.

GLOW WILD AT WAKEHURST

23 November – 1 January

Sussex’s ultimate festive trail celebrates ten years, with a brand-new family friendly light trail through the 500-acre botanical gardens run by Kew. kew.org/wakehurst/whats-on/ glow-wild-2023

NIGHT SKY LIVE

12 Dec, 11 Jan, 8 Feb, 5 March Winchester Science Centre

A family Astro adventure to discover the stars and planets, including a planetarium show. winchestersciencecentre.org

The spirit of The Grand

Gin-infused canapés, cocktails and the promise of new menu flavours greeted the launch of The Grand Hotel’s very own gin

The great Winston Churchill said, “The gin and tonic has saved more Englishmen’s lives than all the doctors in the Empire.” And although the great man was not among the guests at The Grand Eastbourne on a balmy evening earlier this year, he would certainly have approved of the occasion – the official launch of The Grand’s exclusive bespoke gin.

This unique spirit, created with Hawkridge Distillers, is a smooth London Dry Gin infused with locally foraged botanicals, including honey, wild gorse and hand-picked samphire. Like everything served at The Grand, it will offer a vivid and enriching taste experience that simply cannot be found elsewhere.

Partners and specially invited guests experienced this for themselves at the official launch reception, at which Hawkridge’s

James Gurney (below), with Ben Preston on behalf of GoTo Events, gave a tasting, mixing and serving demonstration, showcasing the spirit’s versatility with a range of cocktails, as well as serving the perfect G&T and – the ultimate test – revealing a smoothness that’s delicious on its own over ice.

The Grand’s Executive Head Chef Hrvoje Loncarevic created a selection of gin-infused canapés for the occasion, including crab cake with gin and grapefruit gel, smoked chicken with Grand Gin, chives and mayonnaise, cured sea trout with Grand Gin, crème fraîche, shallot, lime zest and capers, and gin & tonic lemon curd. Hrvoje told guests to look out for gin as a flavour inspiration on the menu at The Grand’s Bar, with Grand Gin cured sea trout and crab cake with gin and grapefruit gel among the dishes.

ELOPE WITH ELITE

ESCAPE THE FUSS, ENHANCE THE ROMANCE

With couples seeking more intimate options for their happy day, our wedding team have noticed a steep increase in enquiries for elopement style celebrations. There’s something unutterably romantic about escaping the fuss, the squabbling families and the guest-list politics and simply running away together to tie the knot. Luckily, Elite has the answer. We’ve developed a wonderful, intimate elopement package just for you. Available at all three of our hotels, this unforgettable celebration includes two nights’ Luxury Master Suite accommodation, ceremony room hire, witnesses, flowers, photographer, champagne and a three-course wedding dinner for two with wine. A perfect way to say ‘I do’. The elopement package is just one of the many wedding options available. Whether you want an intimate wedding, a winter wedding, a ceremony only, a bespoke package or simply to renew your vows, our wedding specialists can accommodate your every wish. To find out more: weddings@ashdownpark.com

weddings@tylneyhall.com

weddings@grandeastbourne.com

A FRESH START FOR BUDDING CHEF SAM

NEW LIFE FOR YOUNG STAR

A few months ago, 25-year-old Sam Dickinson was a bright young man down on his luck and living at a Crawley homeless shelter. Now, in a remarkable turn of fortune, he’s working as a live-in commis chef in the kitchen at Ashdown Park Hotel.

Sam’s world turned around when Ian Wilkins, house fundraising and relationships manager of the Crawley Open House Hostel, arranged for him to take part in a cooking workshop, which revealed a genuine culinary talent. Ian approached Ashdown Park’s sales and marketing manager, Tina Bricknell (above with Sam) to ask whether Ashdown Park might have a kitchen opportunity for Sam, and executive chef Tony Sanders offered him a trial. Sam immediately impressed, and was offered a job, which he’s been doing for around six months.

“Sam has seamlessly integrated into the team,” says Tina. “We are overjoyed by his progress and sincerely wish him the utmost success. This is how you help to make an impact on homelessness, one life at a time.”

WIN!

DINNER, BED AND BREAKFAST FOR THAT

INSPIRATIONAL PERSON

TELL US YOUR INSPIRING STORIES FOR A CHANCE TO WIN

We aim to make every stay at an Elite Hotel inspiring – and now we’re looking for tales of inspiration! Who inspired you? Whose example, advice, gesture or act of kindness made all the difference? Tell your story in no more than 100 words and nominate someone to be in with a chance to win dinner, bed and breakfast at the Elite Hotel of their choice between January and March 2025. We’ll publish the winner in the spring 2024 issue of Elite Magazine. To enter visit elitehotels.co.uk/inspirational-stories

Some beautiful walks

Each Elite Hotel stands among some of England’s most delightful countryside, and there’s no better way to enjoy it than on a relaxing, inspiring and sometimes challenging walk

Christopher Somerville knows a bit about walking. As The Times’ walking correspondent his ’A Good Walk’ series has been a fixture of The Times Weekend every Saturday for many years, and he has written around 40 books about his travels on foot to various parts of the world. When it comes to unlocking the huge walking potential on offer in the stunning

settings around each of our Elite Hotels, there is nobody better qualified than the acknowledged UK authority on the subject. Christopher has created a collection of walks to be enjoyed from each hotel – eight each from Tylney Hall and The Grand, and nine from Ashdown Park. Here, we’ve picked one from each collection, but you can access the complete set by asking hotel reception for the full walking pack.

FROM ASHDOWN PARK

Whether you favour a gentle stroll in the footsteps of Winnie the Pooh, a yomp through hop country, a castleto-castle odyssey or a nine-mile trek crossing two hemispheres, Ashdown Park is the perfect base. Even its estate, steeped in history, makes for a stirring walk. From both a Walled and Secret Garden, a stunning lake and pond –where you can look for woodpeckers, kingfishers and more – and fields for deer spotting, to wonderful woodland, a grotto, Nuns’ Cemetery and, of course, the glorious former chapel, there are plenty of delights to discover, right on your doorstep.

For those looking for adventure further afield, try the fifth walk in Christopher’s Ashdown Park collection, incorporating two characteristic forest clumps, the restored Nutley Windmill and the Airman’s Grave – a poignant memorial to a wartime tragedy. Friends Clump, one of the ridge-top spinneys so typical of Ashdown Forest, was planted in 1973 by the Friends of Ashdown Forest – a fundraising group enabling conservators to purchase much needed equipment.

Your first stop, signposted after just 200 yards, is Nutley Windmill, a structure with dark weatherboard housing and four white sails. The post that forms the core of the mill dates back some 300 years. The last opentrestle post mill in Sussex, and also one of only five left in the country, Nutley Mill is a fine example of the oldest design of windmill known in the UK –and the last working mill in the county. The next forest clump you’ll come across is Camp Hill. One of the originals, planted in 1825, to provide landscape features in what was then a virtually treeless landscape, the hill took its name from the military camps

ABOVE: Nutley Windmill, now fully restored, has a core post dating back 300 years

LEFT: St Andrew’s in Alfriston, the ‘Cathedral of the Downs’, virtually untouched since the 1360s

once sited here. The conservators have recently reintroduced grazing animals – 1,000 sheep and over 100 cattle – to restore the traditional Ashdown Forest landscape. With its wonderful views, Camp Hill is an idyllic picnic spot. Featuring at the end of your walk is the Airman’s Grave – not actually a grave, but a memorial to the six young men killed when, in the early hours of 31 July 1941, their Wellington Mk2 bomber crashed on this hillside in Ashdown Forest. Honouring them is a little walled terrace – bright with montbretia and heather – which contains a white stone cross with an inscribed plaque.

THE SOUND OF BIRDSONG

Our native birds provide the soundtrack to walking in the English countryside. There are 405 species here, according to the RSPB

FROM TYLNEY HALL

It’s hard to believe that walkers can find so much peace and tranquillity only 45 minutes outside London. Yet Tylney Hall, set in 66 acres of landscaped grounds, lies among some of the best walking areas of Hampshire. Whether birdwatching on the Blackwater Valley Lakes, strolling the Devil’s Highway, alighting on haunted mills or Roman amphitheatres, or enjoying the wild flowers and songbirds of Rotherwick, Tylney Hall is a lovely starting point. You can first take a short stroll around the grounds and gardens, soaking up the splendour on the Italian Terrace and in the Dutch Garden, both planted by eccentric Scottish architect Robert Weir Schultz. Marvel at The Vista, which was part of the extensive formal landscape laid out around Tylney Hall by its original builder, Frederick Tylney, in the early 18th century. Wander through the arch of the Water Garden, designed by the best-known garden designer of the Arts and Crafts movement, Gertrude Jekyll, who was persuaded to draw up

plans for a ‘Wild Water Garden’ laid out by Schultz around 1910. A great further exploration option is Christopher’s fifth Tylney Hall walk, from Greywell, which takes in the entrance to one of the country’s longest canal tunnels, a 13th-century castle and a stretch of the oldest road in Britain. Having driven to the Fox & Goose pub in Greywell, it’s a short walk down Deptford Lane, then up Basingstoke Canal footpath, to cross the canal. Completed in 1974, the 37-mile Basingstoke Canal connects London and North Hampshire – and the most remarkable structure on it by far is the

ABOVE LEFT: The Basingstoke Canal at Greywell, site of one of the UK's longest canal tunnels ABOVE: Sunrise on the water at Tylney Hall, whose 66-acre grounds are a walk in themselves

“Ashdown Park is the perfect base. Even its estate, steeped in history, makes for a stirring walk”

Greywell Tunnel. At 1,125m it is one of the longest in Britain and took four years to excavate. With no towpath, bargemen had to ‘leg through’ their boats by lying on their backs and walking their booted feet along the wall – which could take up to six hours – while their horses were led outside to the far mouth. In 1932, the roof collapsed and the tunnel has since become one of Europe’s largest bat roosts – playing host to some 12,000 bats of five different species. Greywell Tunnel’s imposing eastern portal is now also Grade II listed.

Following the towpath, you’ll soon reach Odiham Castle. Built in the early 13th century by King John, and known locally as ‘King John’s Castle’, this massive fortress is located within a tranquil site adjacent to the canal, playing witness to, and being part of, many historical events – including the signing of the Magna Carta.

The next two sites of significance are Wallace Memorial Reserve and St Mary’s Church – featuring a lovely

HISTORIC CASTLES

This incredible place is Odiham Castle, known as King John's Castle, built in 1207. A Hampshire landmark, this rare and historic surprise awaits walkers from Tylney Hall, but history is never far away when walking in the south of England

Norman north doorway. Etched into the doorway, you can see many crudely scored crosses cut by Crusaders on their way to Palestine. Soon you’ll follow the river to reach Greywell Mill – a stunning former flour mill in a picturesque setting at the springs of the River Whitewater. Heading right up the drive, taking a left

over the stile footpath and following the hedge for 1 km will get you to a trackway – also known as the oldest road in Britain – the Old Way. Running some 200 miles from the Devon coast to its eastern end on the Kentish coast, 1,500 years ago it was named by the Saxons ‘Harroway’ and had probably been in use for at least 4,000 years!

FROM THE GRAND EASTBOURNE

THIS IS ENGLAND

The white chalk cliffs of the south coast, which reach their highest point at the 531ft Beachy Head near Eastbourne, cast a magical, almost mythical spell, and create a backdrop for some dramatic coastal walks

The Grand is the ultimate haven for walkers seeking wonderful on-foot adventures on England’s beautiful south coast. Commanding breathtaking views of the sea and the dramatic cliffs at Beachy Head, the five-star ‘White Palace’ is a gateway for amblers and ramblers alike, whether you prefer to stroll along the promenade past fortresses, pavilions and flower gardens, and of course, the authentic Victorian grandeur and nostalgia of Eastbourne Pier, or strike out further onto the South Downs, the densely forested uplands of The Weald or the dramatic flats of Romney Marsh.

One option is the fifth of Christopher’s Grand walks, starting in the charming village of Alfriston, which is easily

accessible via the 126 bus from Eastbourne. This route provides the perfect opportunity to explore Alfriston’s history as a tremendous centre for smuggling during the 18th century heyday of ‘free traders’, and brick and flint houses sitting along cobbled lanes with a sprinkling of handsome old pubs – notably, The Star, whose cellars are said to be connected by a smuggler’s tunnel to the coast at Cuckmere Haven (four miles south and featuring at the end of the walk). Located under a central, shingled spire, the story of the village’s St Andrew’s Church, the ‘Cathedral of the Downs’, goes that the builders were trying to construct the church in a nearby meadow, but returned each morning to find the foundations had been relocated to the Tye pasture, the village green of medieval Alfriston. There are a number of features to this monument that make it unique, including that, unlike most parish churches, it has remained virtually untouched since the 1360s and is built in the form of a Greek cross (a cross with arms of equal length). There are also six bells placed below the spire, making it one of fewer than 20 churches in the country where bell ringers regularly ring from the centre of the church. In

2017, prolific travel writer Bill Bryson also placed St Andrew’s Alfriston in his top favourite 14 churches in the UK. This fabulous nine-mile trek leads you finally to Cuckmere Haven, which once played a pivotal role in the tumultuous times of the smuggling trade of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, but is now a tranquil bay. A constant throughout were the Coastguard Cottages – built all along the south coast of Britain to try to keep an eye on the activities of smugglers and still an iconic sight to see today.

From these, walk down to Cuckmere Haven beach to admire the fine view of the East Sussex beauty spot of the Seven Sisters Cliffs – a magnificent stretch of coastline between Seaford and Eastbourne, comprising 280 hectares of chalk headlands, meandering river valley and open chalk grassland, which is a corridor for many migratory birds and home to grazing livestock and rare flora and fauna.

A TALE OF HISTORY ON FOOT

WALKING THE BONES OF BRITAIN

Lovers of walking will delight at Christopher Somerville’s new book, published in summer 2023 – the story of a 1,000-mile journey through the British Isles. Unrolling over three billion years, and having taken 40 years to realise, it brings together two national treasures particular to the UK – the country’s unrivalled network of public footpaths and the unique diversity of the geology that shapes its landscapes and history – to unearth the vivid and extraordinary events associated with these islands.

Walking the Bones of Britain by Christopher Somerville is published by Doubleday, priced £25.

“The Grand is the ultimate haven for walkers seeking on-foot adventures on the south coast”

ABOVE: With adventures in every direction, the South Downs is a treasure trove for walkers

RIGHT: Opened in 1870, Eastbourne’s 1,000ft pier is one of the country’s finest examples

A Sofa for Every Space

Sit back, snuggle up and sink into the extraordinary comfort of Bridgman’s new premium sofa collections. From the softness of each cushion to the finish of every fabric, you'll never find furniture quite like it.

Elite Hotels guests can enjoy an exclusive 10% OFF select furniture and accessories by using code HOTEL10 at checkout when shopping online at bridgman.co.uk, in a showroom or through Bridgman's Live Shopping Service. Call 020 8804 7474, email info@bridgman.co.uk or use the QR code to find out more. See website for full terms & conditions.

OLD AMERSHAM ENFIELD CHELTENHAM ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS

THE TASTE OF TYLNEY HALL

Food writer Catherine Hill catches up with executive chef

Mike Lloyd and his team in the kitchen at Tylney Hall Hotel

Driven by a passion for seasonal British produce and a love of traditional food executed with a light, modern touch, Tylney Hall’s executive chef Mike Lloyd produces an ever-changing menu that is a year-round delight.

Right Seared scallops with a slow-cooked garlic confit, torched Roscoff onions and caviar

Set in 66 acres of luscious, unspoilt Hampshire countryside, this once Victorian mansion is now home to a team of dedicated chefs, kitchen staff and apprentices, all headed up by Mike.

“Fundamentally, what I love is food that is simple and true to its heritage. I love

clean flavours that capture traditional food in a light, modern way,” he says.

Mike was initially drawn to Tylney Hall because it offered him the opportunity to build up his own team, as well as having full control over the menu and how it changes throughout the year. “We’re not a branded, generic hotel. Of course, everything we do here is high quality, but Tylney Hall has its own uniqueness and individuality. The dishes we create are very much guided by the seasons, but the process of changing the menu is essentially driven by the team. We have a constant dialogue about the dishes and what we should change. It may be the case that one of my sous chefs has tried a new ingredient or technique, or it might be that my supplier has a wonderful source of pigeon – it’s then that the process of working a completely new dish into the menu actually begins.”

Key to Mike’s passion for creating great dishes and a wonderfully collaborative effort in the kitchen is his emphasis on nurturing and developing his team. The chefs are positively encouraged to work on all the different units within the kitchen, honing their skills on each section, whether it’s making soups, sauces, desserts or

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TERRY BENSON

ice cream. “It’s important that the chefs move around the kitchen, otherwise you end up with a very one-dimensional team,” says Mike. “But if someone shows a real passion about one particular aspect of cooking, you’ve got to let them run with it. It’s how you get the best out of people to deliver the best results.”

With a fabulous array of local suppliers around him, Mike is proud of his long-standing relationship with them. “Sometimes, things don’t run quite as smoothly as they could, but if we work together with our suppliers, trust them and support them, you get better service and they always go that extra mile.”

Throughout the year, Tylney Hall runs a signature beef dish showcasing locally produced West Country beef. Chateaubriand often takes centre stage, served medium rare with a velvety rich béarnaise sauce. But on the day we visit, Mike and his team preview their fillet of beef, gently cooked in a water bath before being seared in butter with garlic and thyme. This meltingly tender beef is set upon a pea purée and topped with a rich gratin of wild mushrooms flavoured with confit garlic and freshly shaved black truffle. Silky smooth mash is spiked with more black truffle and then the dish is finished at the table

with the pouring of the ‘café au lait’ sauce – a rich veal reduction simmered with double cream.

In keeping with Mike’s love of simplicity and light, modern flavours, his dish of Cornish scallops is just divine. “Fundamentally, what I love most is simplicity, and I think what we do here is true to an English style of cooking. Our scallops are amazing, lightly brined and cooked very simply in a searing-hot pan with foaming butter and a squeeze of fresh lemon. We serve them with a slow-cooked confit of garlic, torched Roscoff onions, seasonal leaves and a spoonful of caviar.”

Tender port figs alongside a luscious vanilla yoghurt sorbet – a true work of art both in terms of presentation and flavour combinations

Chef Mike Lloyd with his team. Together they create a fantastically collaborative vibe in the Tylney Hall kitchen

”IF SOMEONE SHOWS A REAL PASSION ABOUT ONE PARTICULAR ASPECT OF COOKING, YOU’VE GOT TO LET THEM RUN WITH IT. IT’S HOW YOU GET THE BEST OUT OF PEOPLE AND THE BEST RESULTS”

Soups feature year round on the menu, again utilising the best ingredients that the season has to offer, but always served with an interesting touch. Here, Mike’s team prepare an unctuously rich, velvety pea soup that’s poured for the diner at the table. The soup bowl is dotted with seasoned, truffled cream and delicate leaves, which swirls and flavours the soup as it warms and melts.

Pastry chef Samuel Benjamin is part of the small but perfectly formed pastry team that prepares desserts for the restaurants and afternoon teas at Tylney Hall. We were served a boldly designed dish of tender port figs sitting alongside a luscious vanilla yoghurt sorbet, with muscavado set custard. Not only a true work of art but the combinations of flavours in the tangy yoghurt, sweet figs and bitter burnt sugar were out of this world. “You asked me what is the greatest kick I get out of my job,” Mike said at the end of service. “It’s this. You give your team confidence and trust and then let them get on with it and they come back to you with this –pure gold!”

Tylney Hall’s award-winning, two-AA Rosette Oak Room Restaurant is the perfect venue for lunch or dinner, while afternoon tea is served every day of the week in the three very different lounge areas. For lighter dishes, salads and British classics, book the Lounge or Terrace area.

Above left A rich, velvety pea soup that’s poured at the table over seasoned, truffled cream and delicate leaves

Above Fillet of beef seared with garlic and thyme, with pea puree, wild mushrooms, black truffle mash and a ‘café au lait’ sauce

Left The exquisite presentation of every dish creates absolute theatre on the plate

Let’s hear it for the dogs

Elite Hotels’ charitable arm, The Rotherwick Foundation, is proud to support numerous worthy causes – including the fantastic Hearing Dogs for Deaf People

Asense of hearing can be a life-saving ability and play a significant role in forming or building social connections. So for members of the deaf community, everyday occurrences and interactions can pose challenges for which they may require additional assistance. Thanks to the incredible work of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People charity, this support can be provided in the form of a hearing dog.

Unsurprisingly, there are numerous benefits of having a hearing dog for a deaf person. They can provide vital practical help, such as alerting their owner to an alarm. Hearing Dogs for Deaf People trains its dogs to act upon three categories of alert – everyday

sounds, danger alerts and a wake up. However, the charity’s training is bespoke, so if a deaf person has specific requirements – for example, certain sounds they need to be alerted to or needing their hearing dog to be calm around cats – they can teach that, too. “It’s all going towards creating a happy well-adjusted and confident dog that is going to feel comfortable in a range of different situations and environments,” says David Robson, head of marketing at Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.

Just as important as the practical support, hearing dogs also offers emotional support and companionship to their owners – the invisible disability of a hearing impairment can make

them feel lonely and isolated, which negatively impacts their mental health. “Having the constant support of a loving dog who just wants to spend time with you, and gives you a reason to go out and about can be massively transformative for the people that we help,” says David. “And because the dogs wear a burgundy jacket that says ‘Hearing Dogs for Deaf People’ on it, it sort of acts as a visual signifier, which can be very helpful because people might just change the way they interact with deaf people slightly – they might be a bit more considerate of their needs, or the dogs wearing a jacket can act as a talking point. A lot of people say that when they’re out with their dog, people

will come over and ask questions. So it creates that form of connection with others that people may have lacked for months, or even years, because of the barriers they face when they’re deaf.”

The hearing dogs that wear these burgundy jackets in public are those who have been matched with severely or profoundly deaf owners – though the charity trains dogs that help people with a range of hearing loss levels, all within a home-based environment, thanks to the charity’s network of volunteers. Taking the puppies in from the age of eight weeks, they go through the whole process of training them with the support of a dedicated staff member. “We massively rely on our network of volunteers, as we wouldn’t be able to train as many dogs as we do without these kind people who offer their time – and their homes – to train dogs that they know are going to go on to change deaf people’s lives,” David says.

When it comes to matching a hearing dog to its deaf owner, there’s a lot of work that goes into forming a successful partnership. As the charity trains four specific breeds – Labradors, cocker spaniels, cockapoos and miniature poodles – matches are made based on characteristics including the dog’s size,

temperament, personality and the kind of environments they like being in, and how this could complement a person’s lifestyle and needs.

In addition to the voluntary support, Hearing Dogs for the Deaf also leans on financial contributions for help. One example is the funding The Rotherwick Foundation provides, which makes a significant difference to the charity’s ability to continue its work. This monetary donation goes towards the ongoing support that the organisation supplies after they match a dog to its owner. “Each partnership will have a dedicated Partnership Instructor – a person who is employed by the charity to look after a number of partnerships in their region. Based all across the UK, these people will then make regular visits; they’ll have video calls to provide support and guidance, they’ll do some refresher training with the dogs and the person if that’s needed. And we provide all the equipment that they’ll need – leads, collars and the jackets etc. All of that costs money, so the support

FOR

we’re receiving from Elite Hotels, via the Rotherwick Foundation, will be going towards supporting partnerships in the local area of each of the hotels,” explains David.

Elite Hotels’ Managing Director Graeme Bateman said for, and on behalf of, the Trustees of the Rotherwick Foundation: “We are delighted to offer our support to such a wonderful cause. I am humbled by the energy, enthusiasm and dedication of the team at Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and have seen first-hand the results their tireless efforts have had on those they help. Dogs truly are man’s best friend and never cease to amaze me with the intelligence, loyalty and empathy.”

If you too would like to show your support, Hearing Dogs for the Deaf have a number of fundraising activities to get involved in – including their ‘28 challenge’ during February every year, whereby people choose their own task centred around the number 28. Or you could even sponsor a puppy! Visit hearingdogs.org.uk for information.

WINES FROM THE HEART

Creating award-winning wine in Sussex is all in a life’s work for father and son Kevin and Laurence Sutherland

Named after the beautiful bluebell-strewn woods that surround it, Bluebell Vineyard Estates is a jewel in the Sussex countryside. Located within an area of outstanding natural beauty on the edge of Ashdown Forest, the 100-acre site produces some of the UK’s finest wines, many of which form part of the wine list at Elite Hotels.

Since it was established by the Tay family in 2005, the vineyard has gone

from strength to strength. Its first commercial release in 2007 was a huge success and the range of Hindleap sparkling and Ashdown still wines has since received more than 100 national and international awards. Hindleap Rosé 2016 recently scooped Best Sparkling Rosé at the WineGB Awards 2023.

Nearly all Bluebell wines are vintage wines, made exclusively from grapes grown in a single year, and are crafted

using traditional methods to produce the perfect balance of fruit character, acidity and ageing.

Assistant Winemaker, Laurence Sutherland, son of Head Winemaker, Kevin Sutherland, undertakes many tasks at the vineyard, from pruning and pressing to fermenting and blending. He takes great pride in crafting the finest vintages.

“To create a potential new product, we might try different crushing cycles to get different flavours from the fruit, as well as different yeast types and ways to ferment it,” says Laurence. “We would trial it for a few years beforehand to see what sort of direction we think best for a new style.”

Bluebell Vineyard Estates has almost doubled in size since its first plantings. It is now home to more than 100,000

vines, growing a wide variety of grapes such as Ortega, Bacchus, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris.

“We are quite lucky here,” says Laurence. “We have normal varieties that people have across the UK such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. But we are the only ones in the UK to grow Chasselas, a Swiss variety.

“We also have some Merlot, which isn’t common in the UK at all. I believe we are the only ones that grow it outside of a polytunnel.

“The climate has changed. It’s become a bit warmer, so it’s easier to grow varieties such as Merlot. In the future, in 10, 15 or 20 years’ time, the UK may end up becoming an ideal place to grow other red varieties.”

Visitors are welcome at the vineyard, which offers tours and hosts special

”BLUEBELL VINEYARD ESTATES IS NOW HOME TO MORE THAN 100,000 VINES”

Bluebell wines are crafted to produce the perfect balance of fruit character, acidity and ageing

events such as weddings. Families can enjoy beautiful woodland walks surrounded by an amazing array of wildlife. As the seasons change, there’s always something new to see.

“We will be active around the vineyard all year so visitors will have the opportunity to see us working,” says Laurence. “We spend roughly four months from around December pruning everything by hand.

“In spring we start to get life coming back into the vines, which is quite a nice sight after seeing twigs everywhere. In June and July the vines look immaculate. The canopy is lush and there’s berry development ongoing. In September we begin harvest, which will take about 4-6 weeks.”

Once harvested it takes 9-11 months to produce a still wine and around 16 months for sparkling. Laurence enjoys all stages of the process, from grape to glass.

“Wine is very personal,” he says. “You can change from day to day. I love all of the wines that we produce here but I will tend to ebb and flow between different ones, often depending on the weather.

“On a nice hot sunny day I tend to orientate towards a Bacchus or the still rosé. They’re fruit driven and fresh, which is very refreshing in the summer heat. Towards Christmas time, I prefer Classic Cuvée or Ruby, a sparkling Merlot. They offer more developed characters, more fulfilling on the palate.”

For Laurence and his father Kevin, crafting wine is a labour of love. “Ever since I was young my dad’s been around here,” he says. “I have grown up around the vineyard itself. I’ve got a lot of emotional investment in this place. It feels like a second home.

“It’s great to see where it has come from when I was a child, up until where it is now and also potentially where it can be in the future. It’s got a special place in my heart.”

BLUEBELL VINEYARD ESTATES

Glenmore Farm, Slider’s Lane, Furner’s Green, Uckfield TN22 3RU. The vineyard offers tour and tasting bookings or tasting drop-ins anytime during opening hours, 10am5pm, Monday to Sunday. For more information see bluebellwines.com or call 01825 791 561.

Father and son Kevin and Laurence Sutherland with their award-winning Hindleap Rosé

SOME ENCHANTED EVENINGS

Noted music writer and producer Christopher Morley previews his forthcoming productions at Elite Hotels

Our first visit to Eastbourne’s gracious and welcoming Grand Hotel was in early summer 2021, when I wanted to show my partner, Stephannie, where Debussy had completed his tone-poem La Mer. The composer could not have chosen a more evocative place to spend a month, his suite overlooking the sea opposite, witness to its every mood.

Over dinner in the elegant restaurant, we noticed all the alcoves and entrances and felt it would be an ideal venue for the presentation of a musical entertainment (Stephannie had produced Music Festivals at Sea for P&O Cruises for 35 years). We got quite carried away by the concept and took steps to contact the General Manager.

This led to the pleasure of a return visit, when we met The Grand’s General Manager Jonathan Webley and told him of our idea. He was taken with it, but then pulled the rabbit out of the hat! He led us to the Compton Suite, the hotel ballroom, with a stage, an acoustically friendly wooden floor and a balcony opposite the stage which could have come from Juliet’s house in Verona. This would be perfect for our production.

Everything was rapidly agreed, with dates for a three-day residential event in March 2022. Each evening there would be a post-show gala dinner with complimentary wine, there would be two morning coffee events and,

of course, accommodation and the Grand’s magnificent breakfasts.

Our performers were the vocal quartet Appassionata, a group which had come into being for Stephannie’s final P&O Music Festivals at Sea. She and I were co-producers, mezzo-soprano Maria Jagusz, with her vast experience in opera and dance, was the director, Will Sharma was the brilliant accompanist, and Nick Bailey, first voice of Classic FM, was the genial compere.

Stephannie, Maria and I had great fun compiling the evening programmes, which included A Night at the Opera and From Broadway to Vienna. Baritone Matthew Siveter launched proceedings with his one-man show A Source of Innocent Merriment, Nick Bailey reminisced about his journey from Radio Caroline to Classic FM, and Stephannie and I hosted a Syndicate Music Quiz for teams of up to six guests, none of the questions too difficult, but none of which the ‘silly team’ comprising all the artists was able to answer correctly. Even the Compton Suite played its part, with Tony (tenor Jack Roberts) singing up to soprano Claire Wild’s Maria, aloft in the balcony for Tonight from West Side Story.

And so Enchanted Evenings was born. Audience members, some drawn from the Grand Hotel’s loyal clientele, others from Stephannie’s Friends of Music Festivals at Sea, loved the atmosphere

and that the performers mingled with the guests at dinner and breakfast. Another trio of Enchanted Evenings was held last March, when people were able to pick up on friendships forged a year earlier. The programmes were different from those of the previous year with the exception of a quartet version of Nessun Dorma to round off the operatic evening, it having proved a huge success with the audience in 2022, and Some Enchanted Evening, which had been an equally popular conclusion to the operetta and musicals evening.

The Enchanted Evenings concept has now spread to another Elite hotel, Ashdown Park in Ashdown Forest, thanks to Jonathan Webley whetting our appetite with tales of the converted chapel. Among its many incarnations, this magnificent Victorian Gothic building was a convent for a major part of the last century, and its chapel is a reminder of those special years, with wonderful stained-glass windows and a truly impressive organ whose gallery spans the width of the building.

Stephannie and I, both professionally qualified musicians, needed no bidding to explore further, and after a positive meeting with Ashdown Park general manager Ben Booker, plans were made for a three-day event on November 10, 11 and 12. Naturally, the organ will be a major presence, for example thundering out Phantom of the Opera to accompany baritone Mark Llewelyn Evans and soprano Victoria Joyce. This will come on the concluding evening, which promises a cornucopia of songs and music from favourite operas, operettas and musicals.

Before that, though, these Chapel

“AUDIENCE MEMBERS LOVED THE ATMOSPHERE AND THAT THE PERFORMERS MINGLED WITH THE GUESTS”

in the Forest Music Days open with ‘Across the Borders’ on Friday evening, Jean Kelly’s harp joining the company to bring a Celtic tinge to the programme; another of the famous syndicate music quizzes from Stephannie and I follows on the Saturday morning, while that evening Jean gives us an insight into ‘The Beauty of the Harp’.

Organist James Thomas gives a recital of organ favourites on Sunday morning, including an acknowledgement at 11am

TO RESERVE YOUR PLACE ON THE CHAPEL IN THE FOREST MUSICAL WEEKEND or to find out more, contact

The Ashdown Park reservations team on 01342 824988 or reservations@ashdownpark.co.uk

of the Armistice Remembrance, before the mood lightens on Sunday evening.

As at the Grand Hotel, the package includes gala dinners with wine and accommodation with full English breakfasts – and the opportunity to mingle with the performers.

Plans are also afoot for a third Appassionata presentation at Eastbourne’s Grand Hotel early next March, and prospects are beckoning further ahead for more Enchanted Evenings at Elite Hotels.

TO RESERVE YOUR PLACE ON APPASSIONATA –AN ENCHANTED EVENING PRODUCTION or to find out more, contact

The Grand Eastbourne reservations team on 01323 412345 or reservations@grandeastbourne.com

Nick Bailey, genial compere of the musical weekend, pictured outside the Debussy Room at The Grand

Rhapsody in blue

The stunning and unique stained-glass windows of Ashdown Park’s converted chapel create a magical wedding setting

Nestled in the heart of the Ashdown Forest, Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club is a magical location. What could be more romantic than the neoGothic splendour of the Grade II listed mansion house, with its choice of period rooms, beautifully landscaped grounds and lovingly maintained secret garden?

It is a wonderful place in which to get married, and one room in particular offers a unique provenance. “Our sympathetically converted chapel –with the original organ, vaulted timber ceiling and wedding bells – is one of the most unique and impressive wedding venues in England,” says Tanya Clark, events office manager at Ashdown Park Hotel. “It provides a magnificent setting for your special day.”

In 1924, the Church of Our Lady and St Richard was completed, and its

crowning glories were the spectacular stained-glass windows designed by 19th century Irish stained-glass artist, Harry Clarke of Dublin. This particular room, named in his honour, creates shimmering shafts of light and sets a magnificent scene for your special day. Harry Clarke grew up in Ireland, where he first studied art before going on to attend The Royal College of Art in Kensington. His window designs can be found worldwide, from the USA to Australia, and he was also a well-known illustrator – even illustrating for Edgar Allan Poe. In designing the eight windows for this chapel, Clarke created full size ‘cartoons’ of each, meticulously detailing every aspect of the images and all the coloured pieces of glass required to produce the stunningly intricate finished design. There are thought to

be up to 35 shades of blue alone in the windows – blues and purples were used a lot, as it’s a dedication to Jesus’s mother, Mary, and blue is iconic as the colour used to clothe her, with purple representing royalty/nobility.

There are seven two-light windows depicting scenes from Mary’s life, starting as a child with her own mother, St Anne, and a three-light tower window – The Immaculate Conception – showing Mary being received in heaven by Jesus while surrounded by angels in a deep blue sky. Although designed with a traditional medieval style in mind, there is still a visible stylistic nod to the era in which they were created – the iconic 1920s/30s bob-style haircut can be seen adorning the female characters.

The reds within the windows are also astounding and cannot be truly

“In 1924, the Church of Our Lady and St Richard was completed, and its crowning glories were the spectacular stained-glass windows designed by Harry Clarke”

CECELINA PHOTOGRAPHY

replicated today due to their creation process – many of the acids and chemicals used to make certain colours in days past are now banned. It was said that the doors to the acid room of a stained glass window maker were often eroded down due to the potency of the acid and other chemicals. Though the windows in the Ashdown Park Chapel were made and transported from the much closer town of East Grinstead, this was certainly reported to be the case for Harry Clarke’s workshop in Dublin. Taking on this project when Ashdown Park was a Novitiate and Provincial House (or ‘Mother House’) – where Novices would develop skills and Sister Nuns could visit for a retreat – Harry Clarke said it was one of the most difficult he’d worked on. Sister Bernard – who was co-ordinating the

windows – kept turning down aspects of his designs, including the length of characters’ hands and some designs for faces. They went back and forth relentlessly until the final sign-off was achieved – and even then it was said the sister still wasn’t totally pleased with some elements! However, anyone you ask today will agree that the windows are truly gorgeous. Imagine two centuries of magic and romance, brought to life in the form of a country house hotel in a storybook forest, home to Winnie the Pooh. Acres of velvety lawns visited by grazing deer. A grand vaulted converted chapel with stained-glass windows. A lily lake, wishing bridge and secret garden hidden away for lovers to find. All of this would await you on your wedding day at Ashdown Park.

THE PERFECT PACKAGE

Relax and leave the planning to us

A WEDDING PACKAGE AT ASHDOWN PARK

We have a range of packages which can be made personal to you – from our intimate package for smaller wedding parties, silver and gold offerings, to pure bliss with our platinum package.

TYING THE KNOT AT TYLNEY HALL

Our experienced team are on hand to make your big day bespoke to you, whether you choose an intimate gathering, a lavish affair in our baronial hall or a breathtaking outdoor ceremony.

SAY ‘I DO’ AT THE GRAND

Love is always in the air on the sunshine coast and our team of experienced wedding co-ordinators enjoy nothing more than making couples’ dreams come true.

“Clarke said it was one of the most difficult projects he’d worked on. Sister Bernard kept turning down his designs”

ELECTRIC PERFECTION: MADE IN SUSSEX

The world’s finest car maker was only going to join the EV revolution at a time when it could guarantee to create perfection. That time is now…

In the year 1900, six years before he formed his eponymous partnership with Henry Royce, Charles Rolls prophesied an electric future for the motor car. “The electric car is perfectly noiseless and clean; there is no smell or vibration,” he said. “They should become very useful when fixed charging stations can be arranged.”

Following this prophetic statement, Charles spent the best part of a century perfecting automotive luxury with a range of cars powered by vast 12-cylinder internal combustion engines, each bearing evocative names such

as Ghost, Phantom, Wraith and Silver Cloud. Peerless examples of refinement though they were, there’s only so much serenity you can achieve with all those explosions going on under the bonnet.

So, for luxury car makers, the age of the electric vehicle could not come soon enough. EV pioneers and early adopters leapt in and made their mistakes, and from the lessons learnt, Rolls-Royce has finally embarked on its first battery limousine journey, bringing to bear its greatest engineers and innovators, its most exhaustive proving programme, 2.5m km of testing and years of fine-

tuning to achieve what it believes to be the finest EV yet created: Spectre.

And it’s all happened here in Sussex. Rolls-Royce located to Goodwood in West Sussex in 2003, building a facility as extraordinary as the cars that would be crafted in it. Designed by architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, the factory is described as ‘a meeting place for visionary minds and audacious ideas, where innovation transcends limitation and motor cars metamorphose into dynamic works of art’.

The facility covers 42 acres of the South Downs National Park and sits in

“SPECTRE ANSWERS A CALL FROM THE MOST DISCERNING INDIVIDUALS IN THE WORLD TO ELEVATE THE ELECTRIC CAR EXPERIENCE”

an area of outstanding natural beauty, yet it has been created to minimise its environmental impact. Eden Project architect Grimshaw was commissioned with this in mind, as even 20 years ago, Rolls-Royce envisioned its zeroemissions future (all its cars will be EVs by 2030) and needed a factory to match.

Goodwood’s main building is set 2m below ground to blend with the landscape. Its eight-acre curved ‘living’ roof is camouflaged with hardy sedum plants, which provide insulation and reduce rainwater run-off, while timber louvre panels, activated by a roofmounted weather station, minimise electricity demand by controlling how much light enters the building. Every bit of green waste is composted and 60 per cent of all waste is recycled.

When BMW acquired Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in 1998, it resolved to locate the business in a place that was as ‘quintessentially English’ as the brand itself. West Sussex was chosen, not least because Sir Henry Royce had lived out the final years of his life in nearby West Wittering. Seventy years later it felt like the great man was coming home.

Spectre is a two-door coupe, although forget any notions of a compact, lightweight sports car. Those two doors are each 1.5m wide and hinged

at the rear (don’t worry, they open automatically), the car is 5.4m long and 2m wide, it weighs very nearly three tonnes and, at 23in, the wheels are the biggest on a Rolls for 100 years. No sports car perhaps, but even so, Spectre is a high performer – it has a low drag profile of just 0.23cd, can accelerate to 60mph in 4.4 seconds, its four electric motors develop 577bhp (powered by BMW’s biggest-ever battery pack) and it has a range of 320 miles on one charge. The car is also loaded with digital technology. Its ‘decentralised intelligence’ processing capabilities make it the most connected Rolls-Royce in history.

“Spectre is perfectly in tune with the sensibilities of our time,” says RollsRoyce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös. “It answers a call from the most discerning individuals in the world to elevate the electric car experience, because it is a Rolls-Royce first and an electric car second. It’s the most perfect product that Rolls-Royce has ever made.”

Charles Rolls’ prediction in 1900 was right – he just didn’t imagine it would take 123 years. For now, it seems, the only thing standing in Spectre’s way is the UK’s charging infrastructure. We’re still waiting for those fixed charging stations ‘to be arranged’…

AN ICONIC ROAD TRIP

Whether your ride is a Spectre or something more modest, here’s the perfect road on which to enjoy it

The A272, which wends its way from Winchester to Heathfield, East Sussex, is a relic of an age when driving could be undertaken for pleasure alone. Taking in the South Downs National Park and skirting the High Weald, it covers 86 miles of lovely countryside and has avoided the soul-sapping dualcarriageway treatment.

Such is the allure of the A272 that Dutch author Pieter Boogaart wrote a book about it! Titled A272: An Ode to a Road, this passionate work eulogises a route the author calls ‘the epitome of England’. For EV drivers, there are plenty of charging stations along the route, notably in Winchester, Petersfield, Midhurst, Petworth, Billingshurst and Haywards Heath.

And whatever your route, don’t forget that each of our Elite hotels has dedicated car charging bays fitted with EV chargers to help with your onward journey.

One hundred years of creativity

Eastbourne’s iconic art gallery celebrates its centenary by hosting the Turner Prize

The brightly coloured exterior of Towner Eastbourne is hard to miss. The gallery itself is, quite literally, a work of art – its walls form an architectural canvas for Dance Diagonal (2019), a huge, geometric mural by German artist Lothar Götz. It’s 100 years since Towner first opened in its original location in Eastbourne’s Old Town, relocating to its current, purpose-built home in 2009, just a five-minute walk from The Grand. The gallery is celebrating its centenary in style by bringing a packed programme of events to

Eastbourne, which was recently named best city to visit in the UK by Time Out Towner’s colourful exterior makeover was initiated by director Joe Hill (below), who joined the gallery in 2018. “I wanted to transform the outside of the building so it was a bit less austere and intimidating,” he says. “It was only supposed to be up for a year but it has become so iconic in Eastbourne that it is impossible for us not to keep it. People absolutely love it. It’s probably my proudest project, in terms of the way that it has transformed what people locally think about the gallery.”

Towner has an even greater reason to be proud in 2023 – as the centrepiece of its centenary celebrations, the gallery has the honour of hosting the prestigious Turner Prize. Established in 1984, the prize is awarded to a contemporary British artist for an outstanding exhibition or presentation of their work in the previous 12 months. “Each shortlisted artist has a gallery to themselves in which to display their work,” says Joe. “The four artists are working in very different ways. You’ve got someone who is painting and drawing, there’s a sculptor, there’s

somebody who works in performance and video, and an artist who works very conceptually using found objects. There’s lots of different things for people to get excited about.”

The winner is announced at an awards ceremony on 5 December, but the exhibits remain at Eastbourne into 2024. “The exhibition then carries on through to April so people can come back and either agree or disagree with the judges,” says Joe. “The Turner Prize is often a debate about what art is and the public get involved in it. Controversy and shock is always part of the game.”

Joe and his team are passionate about making art accessible to all. They plan to take the creative feel of the Turner Prize out into the community

in Eastbourne and the surrounding area. There will be big sculptural pieces in public spaces, exhibitions in the shopping centre and performances.

“There is a lot of evidence throughout the world that states that if you undertake two hours a week of creative activity – either looking at art or making art – your health and wellbeing improves enormously,” says Joe.

“Art can do lots of things. It can change your perception of a particular place. It can make you think differently. It can be exciting and vibrant but it can also be serious and help us to explore challenging conversations. It deals with lots of issues around race and identity, poverty and all sorts of those big issues that we all deal with

in society. It just takes a different approach to them. It’s got many facets.”

Towner boasts the world’s largest collection of paintings by Eastbourne artist Eric Ravilious, but the venue is about more than art alone. It also doubles as a social hub, featuring a cinema, cafes, library and workshop spaces, and in new top-floor restaurant, ‘Light’, local chefs create dishes using the finest Sussex ingredients.

The Turner Prize exhibition runs from 28 September 2023 to 14 April 2024. Entry is free. For details see townereastbourne.org.uk

TOWNER EASTBOURNE

Devonshire Park, College Rd, Eastbourne BN21 4JJ. 01323 434670

“There is a lot of evidence that states that if you undertake two hours a week of creative activity – either looking at art or making art – your health and wellbeing improves enormously”

THE TURNER PRIZE NOMINEES 2023

JESSE DARLING

The work of Jesse Darling encompasses sculptures and installations which evoke the vulnerability of the human body and the precariousness of power structures, refusing to make oneself appear legible and functioning to others.

GHISLAINE LEUNG

Ghislaine Leung’s work takes the form of ‘scores’ – sets of instructions that test the boundaries of the gallery space. Baby monitors, child safety gates, inflatables, toys and water fountains are used to ask questions about time, leisure and labour.

RORY PILGRIM

Interweaving stories, poems, music and film, created in collaboration with local communities in the borough of Barking and Dagenham, Rory Pilgrim’s work reflects on times of change and struggle during the pandemic.

BARBARA WALKER

Barbara Walker’s presentation explores the impact of the Windrush scandal, underlaying figurative drawn portraits with facsimiles of the documentation these individuals had to produce to prove their right to remain.

GIVE THE GIFT OF AN ELITE EXPERIENCE

Treat family, friends or someone you love to a taste of luxury with an Elite Hotel Gift Experience

Our flexible gift vouchers can cover accommodation, food and drink, spa treatments, or a monetary amount redeemable against any stay, food or service at Elite. All vouchers are valid for 18 months.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND TO PURCHASE A GIFT VOUCHER, VISIT ELITE-HOTELS.SKCHASE.COM/VOUCHERS

Taking the stress away

The wellness benefits of a sumptuous massage treatment make Ashdown Park’s renowned Country Club a go-to destination for those seeking true relaxation

Taking stress away has always been part of the mission for Ashdown Park. The Forest Country Club and Spa share top billing with the hotel for a very good reason – the team want guests and visitors to experience not just a pleasant stay but also a true sense of well-being. There was a time when de-stressing was something of a luxury, but in these difficult times, it has become a necessity. And for Ashdown Park’s team of expert therapists, that’s a challenge to be taken seriously – and also relished.

“The Country Club is a very big part of the hotel – people are coming here

looking for relaxation and a pamper, and primarily, they’re all wanting to be massaged,” says Sharlene Goode, Country Club and Spa manager. “I think that today, it’s not seen as a luxury – it’s seen as more of a necessity because everyone’s life is busier than it was a few years ago and everyone’s stressed!

“We have high-class therapists here who are highly trained and deliver an outstanding experience. The one thing that people do say to us is that our therapists are first class; you get really good treatments here.”

The Spa, which is situated just a short stroll from the main house,

has been recently upgraded to create a contemporary and luxurious environment for guests and members alike. An extensive range of treatments is offered in its six beauty rooms, including facials, body scrubs, detox wraps and K-lifts, featuring exclusive treatments from Swedish skincare legend Kerstin Florian.

Renowned as a pioneer of holistic well-being products, Kerstin has built an eponymous international range of experiential treatments inspired by nature, its energy and its intrinsic connection to wellness. As well as Ashdown Park, she is partnered with

some of the finest luxury spas around the world.

Of all the treatments available, it is the massage range that is by far the most in demand, perhaps not surprisingly as massage has been proven to help alleviate stress and its associated symptoms in many people.

Studies have shown that massage can trigger a relaxation response in the body, the simple act of touch and methodical kneading helping to release the relaxation hormone serotonin, which helps stabilise our mood. The massage action has specific physical effects, too, helping to ease muscular tension and improving circulation to help bring blood pressure down.

There may be positive effects on sleep patterns, too, as direct pressure and manipulation of muscles in the neck, shoulders, back, legs and feet can help release the sleep hormone melatonin. And as important as any of these effects is the positive benefit that massage can have on mental health, by triggering the receptors, nerves and hormones responsible for mood regulation.

“The demand for massage particularly has definitely grown in the last few years,” says Sharlene. “When we started, we really just did aromatherapy

massages and Swedish massages, but now we offer lava shell, hot stones, bamboo – different types of massage to provide a different experience. We try to keep current with the kinds of treatment we offer.

“We like to do a mix of treatments –facials and nails as well. We try to create more varied treatments, so it’s a little bit more interesting for guests – and also for the therapists!”

Aside from spa treatments, there is much more on offer at Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club, including an indoor swimming pool, fully equipped gym, all-weather tennis courts and an 18-hole golf course that meanders through the landscaped grounds.

“The Country Club is a very big part of the hotel,” says Sharlene, who has been with Ashdown for 20 years. “And I think it could become an even bigger part in future. A lot has changed in my 20 years, from being the provider of great spa treatments to offering a whole lifestyle and wellness environment where our guests and members can fully embrace top-to-toe relaxation.”

To book your spa experience at Ashdown Park, visit ashdownpark. co.uk/spa-wellness or email countryclub@ashdownpark.com

TREAT YOURSELF TO AN ELITE

EXPERIENCE

THE HEALTH CLUB AT TYLNEY HALL

From treatments to tennis, pampering to pools, everything you need is available. Indoor and outdoor pools, fully equipped gym, hardcourt tennis and five beauty rooms offering Kerstin Florian treatments. tylneyhall.co.uk/health-club

SEASIDE RELAXATION AT THE GRAND EASTBOURNE

Offering the very best in beauty, fitness, pamper treatments and relaxation. Indoor and outdoor pools, fully equipped gym and eight beauty rooms offering Kerstin Florian treatments. grandeastbourne.com/spa-sussex

The fabulous benefits of Elite Diners

Exceptional privileges await members of Elite’s exclusive members’ club

Enter a finely crafted world of culinary adventures, celebratory gifts, gourmet escapes, restorative spa and wellness days, golf days, member-only invitations and exclusive events by becoming a member of Elite Diners. An annual fee of just £235 secures amazing benefits worth thousands of pounds, including discounts on food and accommodation, spa access and golf passes.*

£235

“I've never looked back since joining. It's such good value every time I visit”

Mr D Munns, Elite Diners member

Opening doors to the Cotswold’s finest homes

Having the most experienced buying agency representing your property interests can make all the difference when searching for your perfect property in a highly competitive market. In most circumstances, we ensure that our clients have access to properties before they reach the open market and that they are making a sound investment that ticks all the right boxes for location, neighbourhood and value for money.

“Nothing could have prepared me for the current property market in the Cotswolds. There is serious competition and a strong possibility of over-paying, particularly if you have fallen in love with a property. I don’t think I would be sitting here today in my home had I not secured Craig’s services as a property finder.” - Sean

H.

Craig Fuller +44 (0)7767 211707

craigfuller@stacks-fuller.co.uk