Leonardslee Family Vineyards

When	Days	Hours
Drop-in tasting, daily from 11am	Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun	See notes

"Drop In, Sip, and Shop" - a non-tutored tasting of their three cuvées is available daily from 11am with no booking required, at either Leonardslee Gardens Shop or the Wine Estate Cellar Door (Wine Flights £15pp). Guided/tutored tastings, vineyard tours and dining experiences are separate and must be booked in advance. Exact daily closing time not confirmed on site - check ahead.

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

What's the vibe?

Nestled within a historic 240-acre Grade I listed estate, Leonardslee Family Vineyards offers a luxurious and immersive experience, blending fine wine with art, nature, and exceptional dining. It's a destination where tradition meets natural beauty, creating a sophisticated retreat.

You might know this as Mannings Heath Wine Estate, its original name. Owner Penny Streeter has since brought the vineyard under the wider Leonardslee brand alongside her restored Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens estate nearby, so today the tours and tastings are marketed simply as Leonardslee Family Vineyards.

Leonardslee Family Vineyards is part of the wider Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens estate, which is generally open year-round, closing only on Christmas Day.

Wine Experiences:

• Sussex Sparkling Wine Flight: Walk-ins are welcome for a self-guided wine flight, perfect for spontaneous visits. No booking required.
• Tutored Tastings: Guided English sparkling wine tastings last approximately 45 minutes, require advance booking, and are available Wednesday to Sunday. Spaces are limited.
• Vineyard Tours: Guided tours, often by golf buggy, last 2–3 hours, offer a behind-the-scenes look at the vineyards and conclude with a tutored tasting. These require booking and run Wednesday to Sunday.

Dining & Accommodation:

• Restaurant Interlude: A fine dining experience with a Michelin Star and Green Star, located in Leonardslee House. Advance booking is essential.
• The Vineyard Kitchen: Offers seasonal all-day dining with views across the Sussex countryside, serving brunch, lunch, and dinner on select days, as well as afternoon tea (pre-booking required for afternoon tea). Special dining events are priced from £55 per person.
• Clocktower Café: A more casual option for refreshments, light lunches, and sparkling wine by the glass, open daily. Dogs are permitted in the semi-outdoor Alpine House.
• Accommodation: Leonardslee House is a nine-room boutique hotel set within the estate, offering vineyard and woodland views with a countryside breakfast. A self-catering cottage is also available. Check the website for availability and rates.

Special Events:
The vineyard hosts a varied calendar of events including wine masterclasses, sabrage experiences, evening dining events, and seasonal celebrations such as fireworks nights. The wider estate also offers year-round events, such as open-air cinema.

Venue Hire:
The estate is available for weddings and private or corporate hire, accommodating up to 110 seated guests and 150 for an evening reception, with full estate takeovers possible.

Family & Pet Friendly:
The estate is family-friendly, with a play area, Dolls' House Museum, wallaby viewing, children's menus, and family-focused workshops available through the wider Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens site. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in the gardens, and dogs are permitted in the semi-outdoor Alpine House at the Clocktower Café. Vineyard tours and tutored tastings are designed for adults.

Leonardslee Family Vineyards specialises in English sparkling wine made from classic Champagne varieties — Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier — grown across 37 acres and some 70,000 vines in the Sussex countryside. The Blanc de Blancs is produced entirely from Chardonnay. The estate also holds the distinction of cultivating the UK's first commercial Pinotage vineyard, a variety with South African heritage. The current range includes a Blanc de Blancs, a Brut Reserve, and a Brut Rosé.

Recent awards have been substantial. At the 2025 WineGB Awards, the Brut Reserve 2021 took Gold and was named Best Sustainable Wine of Great Britain. The same wine scored 94 points at the International Wine Challenge 2025 and 95 points at the Decanter Vintage English Sparkling Panel Tasting in July 2025. The Blanc de Blancs 2020 received 90 points at the IWC and 92 points at the Decanter World Wine Awards, while the Brut Rosé 2021 scored 90 points at both. The estate was ranked 56th in the World's Best Vineyards 2025 and featured in the WineGB Golden Top 50 2025.

Leonardslee holds the Sustainable Wines of Great Britain Trade Mark and takes a regenerative approach to viticulture, including cover cropping, minimal tillage, and planned animal integration to support soil health and biodiversity. All wines are produced on the estate by a dedicated winemaking team.

By Car
From the M23/A23, head South, take the Handcross exit, and follow the B2110. From Horsham, take the A281 South for approximately 10 minutes. The postcode for navigation is RH13 6PP.

By Public Transport
The nearest train station is Horsham. From Horsham station, you can take the Number 17 bus directly to a stop outside Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens, which is a 4-minute walk to the entrance. Please note the bus does not run on Sundays. Alternatively, the nearest bus stop "The Dun Horse, Mannings Heath" is a 2-minute walk, and Horsham station itself is about a 16-minute walk to that bus stop.

Book train tickets in advance via Trainline.

While Leonardslee Family Vineyards offers a wealth of experiences on-site, the surrounding West Sussex area provides additional attractions.

Other Vineyards:

• Bolney Wine Estate

Notable Restaurants:

• Giggling Squid, Horsham – Popular Thai restaurant.
• The Olive Tree, Horsham – A highly-rated Mediterranean restaurant in Horsham town centre.

Notable Hotels:

• Leonardslee House – A boutique hotel offering luxury accommodation directly on the estate.
• South Lodge, Horsham – A grand country house hotel known for its luxury and dining.

Notable Attractions:

• Warnham Local Nature Reserve – A tranquil reserve perfect for wildlife spotting and walks.
• Horsham Museum & Art Gallery – Explore the history and art of Horsham.