Buxted Park Hotel

Built 300 years ago on a fortune made from importing port wine, Buxted Park is still in the business of gastronomic indulgence thanks to the kitchen brigade. Heads of state, and a cast of celebs including Marlon Brando and Gregory Peck have all enjoyed the Georgian manor house's 300 acres of grounds and lavish period interiors; today's visitors, however, dine in an altogether more chic modern setting, done out with purple velour banquettes and curvy fairground waltzer-style booths set against cream walls, and tended to by a team of real pros. The kitchen sends out well-tuned modern dishes of vibrant flavours, which might translate as pan-seared scallops with cauliflower purée, crisp apple and baby herb salad, followed by Buxted Park venison with creamed Savoy cabbage, celeriac rösti and redcurrant jus. Desserts deliver the likes of baked white chocolate tart with coffee and white chocolate sorbet.