Rathfinny Wine Estate features two distinct dining experiences: The Tasting Room and The Flint Barns Dining Room. The Tasting Room, open Wednesday to Sunday from 12 pm to 6 pm, offers modern British cuisine with seasonal small plates and platters designed for sharing and pairing with their Sussex Sparkling wines, all enjoyed in a bright, airy ambience with panoramic vineyard and South Downs views. This restaurant has been featured in the Michelin Guide and awarded a Michelin Plate in 2020. While children are welcome during the day, dogs are not permitted in the restaurants for hygiene reasons, except for assistance dogs. The Flint Barns Dining Room provides a more relaxed and cosy atmosphere, serving an approachable blend of modern classics with wholesome, seasonal, and produce-led dishes for dinner Wednesday to Saturday evenings and Sunday lunches. Both children and dogs are welcome at The Flint Barns, with dogs incurring an extra charge if staying overnight.
Best Vineyard Restaurants in East Sussex
East Sussex tables often look out straight across the vines, and the food matches the scenery: local game, fresh produce, sometimes catch from the coast. Wine by the glass or bottle comes naturally as part of the table. These menus don’t quietly pair wine and food; they lean into it, making the meal as much a discovery as the wine.
East Sussex tables often look out straight across the vines, and the food matches the scenery: local game, fresh produce, sometimes catch from the coast. Wine by the glass or bottle comes naturally as part of the table. These menus don’t quietly pair wine and food; they lean into it, making the meal as much a discovery as the wine.
Featured vineyards
Downsview Vineyard offers dining facilities primarily during the spring and summer months, opening Fridays from 6 pm to 9 pm and Saturdays from 2 pm to 9 pm, with Saturday wine tastings available from 12 pm to 2 pm by pre-booking. The food style is varied, including casual options like al fresco pizza and charcuterie boards, along with their own wines, ciders, and locally brewed beer. For a more elevated experience, they host seasonal supper clubs and offer fine dining with seasonal produce, including tasting lunches and dinners. The ambience is described as a friendly, relaxed environment in a beautiful and intimate setting, with dining options both in a cosy tasting room for cooler evenings and outdoors among the vines. Children and dogs are both welcome at Downsview Vineyard. No specific awards for the restaurant or cafe facilities were mentioned in the provided information.
The Artelium Kitchen offers a relaxed and welcoming ambience with sweeping views of the vines and South Downs, serving vibrant, seasonal plates rooted in Sussex produce, designed for communal dining with feasting-style dishes, small plates, and sharing platters. Open Thursday to Sunday for food service, with specific lunch and dinner times varying by day, they warmly welcome well-behaved dogs and children. While the restaurant itself is not specifically cited as having won awards, it pairs its seasonal menus with Artelium's award-winning wines.
