A restaurant has retained its Michelin star for the seventh year in a row.
Restaurant Interlude is based on the 240-acre grounds of Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens in West Sussex.
The restaurant is headed up by executive chef Jean Delport who serves an immersive, multi-course woodland tasting menu.
It has also retained its Michelin Green Star in the 2026 Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland.
Mr Delport said: “Retaining our Michelin star and Green star is a huge honour, and to see that recognition echoed across so many awards in 2025 is incredibly meaningful.
“It reflects the dedication of the entire team, from the kitchen to the dining room, the gardens and vineyards.
“Everything we do is rooted in respect for the land and telling the story of Leonardslee through food, and we’re excited to continue evolving that story.”
Restaurant Interlude was named AA Restaurant with Rooms of the Year, Overall for 2025/2026, and was awarded four AA Rosettes.
It was ranked 49th in the National Restaurant Awards Top 100 and placed 52nd in Square Meal’s UK Top 100 Restaurants.
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Mr Delport, originally from Cape Town, is just the second South African chef to earn a Michelin star.
His tasting menus, which change regularly, feature between 11–12 courses at lunch and 15–19 courses at dinner, using ingredients sourced directly from the surrounding estate.
The restaurant’s wine and cocktail list features over 175 wines, with a strong focus on New World producers, including selections from Leonardslee Family Vineyards and South Africa’s Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate, owned by Penny Streeter.
Leonardslee Family Vineyards was ranked 56th in The World’s Best Vineyards 2025, and its 2021 Brut Reserve received Gold at the WineGB Awards.
Restaurant Interlude is located in the Grade II-listed Leonardslee House and offers seating for 26 guests.
Dinner is served Thursday to Sunday, with seating at 6.45pm and arrivals from 6pm.
The experience lasts three to four hours.
Lunch is available Friday to Sunday, with seating at 1pm and arrivals from 12.30pm, lasting two to two-and-a-half hours.
For more information or to book, visit their website, email info@restaurant-interlude.co.uk, or call 0330 123 5894.
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