A HOTEL restaurant has been named as one of best in the UK for fine dining.

Gravetye Manor Restaurant in West Hoathly has been listed as number eight in the top fine dining restaurants in the Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best awards for 2020 on TripAdvisor.

Every year the travel review site puts together all the ratings and reviews its users share from across the world to highlight the top scoring destinations, from attractions and beaches to hotels, restaurants and airlines.

The restaurant at Gravetye Manor was built in 2018 with floor to ceiling glass walls so guests can look out on to the manor’s stunning gardens.

Managing director Andrew Thomason said: “We’re absolutely thrilled with the news.

“Gravetye has been a hotel for 60 years and has always been a fantastic dining experience.

“What we have done is build up a very strong local clientele. A lot of country houses have empty restaurants during the day because their guests are out, but we can deliver this fantastic dining experience within our beautiful gardens – looking out there is just lovely, especially at this time of year.

“It’s the whole package here.”

Executive chef George Blogg uses all ingredients from the kitchen garden or from other local suppliers, and achieved a Michelin star five years ago.

Mr Thomason said: “We start off with what the local area has to offer for the core part of the dish.

“Our head gardener meets up with our head chef every day and tells him what is going to be harvested next.

“It’s a contemporary style of cuisine but we like to keep it relatively simple and let the ingredients speak for themselves.

“At the moment we’ve got peaches growing here as well as all the berries and tomatoes which are going on the menu. It’s bountiful.”

Dishes served at Gravetye Manor are led by the seasons, but the menu is changed every week to showcase the best ingredients on offer.

The restaurant reopened to hotel residents only earlier this month but is now opening up to members of the public again.

Mr Thomason added: “From today we have more staff coming back and we’re opening up for lunches.

“However, we’re currently fully booked for all of August and September as we’re operating at half our normal capacity of guests.

“At Gravetye we are still insisting on two-metre social distancing. We’re very serious about it and have a loyal clientele who trust us to do the right thing.”

Gravetye Manor Restaurant is taking bookings for October. To book, visit gravetyemanor.co.uk/dining.