Chapel Down

When	Days	Hours
Year-round	Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun	10:00–17:00

Winery estate and shop are open to the public every day, 10am–5pm - walk in for a self-guided vineyard walk, a wine flight at the tasting bar, or to buy from the Winery Shop, no booking required. The Swan restaurant on-site is open for dining (closed Mon & Tue, separate hours - check their website). Guided vineyard/winery tours can be booked separately.

Opening hours can change for private events - it's always worth checking the vineyard's website before you visit.

What's the vibe?

Set in the Kent countryside near Tenterden, Chapel Down is one of England’s most established and visitor-friendly wine destinations. It combines the feel of a working winery with a polished visitor centre, making it equally suited to casual drop-ins, dining, and more structured wine experiences.

Access: The Wine and Fine Food Store, grounds, herb garden, and restaurant are freely accessible. Visitors can explore the vineyard on a self-guided walk using maps available from the shop. The Cellar Door shop, winery, and much of the vineyard are wheelchair accessible; however, The Swan restaurant is currently only reachable via stairs.

EV Charging: There is no charging point on site, but a Pod Point charger is available approximately two miles from the vineyard.

The Hythe: Chapel Down has opened The Hythe, a new premium tasting room at Tenterden. It offers a more intimate tasting experience alongside the estate’s flagship and limited-release wines. Check the Chapel Down website for availability and booking.

Chapel Down is one of England’s largest wine producers, with vineyards across Kent and the wider South East. The estate produces a broad range of sparkling and still wines, alongside spirits, with sparkling wine forming the core of its reputation. Traditional Method sparkling wines are made primarily from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, with Bacchus playing a key role in their still wine range.

The winery has received consistent recognition at major international competitions over many years, particularly for its sparkling wines. Limited releases and flagship cuvées sit alongside more widely available bottlings intended for broader retail and hospitality markets.

Sustainability plays a significant role in vineyard and winery management. Chapel Down is part of the Sustainable Wines of Great Britain scheme and applies practices including reduced herbicide use, soil health management, biodiversity initiatives, and reuse of winemaking by-products. A large, modern winery on site handles winemaking at scale, and visitors can see parts of the production process during tours.

By Car Chapel Down is easily reached by car and offers a large on-site car park with free parking.

By Public Transport The vineyard is around a 20-minute taxi journey from Headcorn station or approximately 35 minutes from Ashford International. Local bus services stop nearby, with connections to Tenterden town centre.

Book train tickets in advance via Trainline.

Notable Restaurants
The West House – A Michelin-starred restaurant in Biddenden, known for refined modern British cooking.

The Ferry Inn – A traditional village pub offering seasonal food and local ales.

Notable Hotels
The Print House – A well-regarded hotel in Tenterden often used by vineyard visitors.

London Beach Country Hotel – A country hotel and spa on the edge of Tenterden.

Notable Attractions
Kent & East Sussex Railway – A heritage steam railway running through the local countryside.

Smallhythe Place – A historic house and garden associated with actress Ellen Terry.