Joanna Payne

Tillingham

  • Where:
  • Why:An escape from London
  • When:October 2021
  • Who:My boyfriend and I

"A natural wine lover's dream!"

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Tillingham Stood in front of Tillingham’s famous Victorian oast houses — once used for drying hops as part of the beer brewing process — now where Tillingham’s wine is fermented

Stood in front of Tillingham’s famous Victorian oast houses — once used for drying hops as part of the beer brewing process — now where Tillingham’s wine is fermented

Tillingham The best welcome

The best welcome

Tillingham Our cozy room

Our cozy room

Tillingham Our gorgeous bathroom filled with my favourite 100% natural Haeckels products

Our gorgeous bathroom filled with my favourite 100% natural Haeckels products

Tillingham The wonderful Lucy showing us around the vineyards

The wonderful Lucy showing us around the vineyards

Tillingham Almost ready to harvest!

Almost ready to harvest!

Tillingham Behind the scenes!

Behind the scenes!

Tillingham Wine on the viewing platform

Wine on the viewing platform

Tillingham Our kind of shop

Our kind of shop

Tillingham We'll take them all!

We'll take them all!

Tillingham The Dutch Barn which is undergoing a huge renovation next month and will be re-opening in December

The Dutch Barn which is undergoing a huge renovation next month and will be re-opening in December

Tillingham Beautiful floral displays by Tillingham's very own Karen

Beautiful floral displays by Tillingham's very own Karen

Tillingham We'll definitely be back for their pizza nights, hosted at the weekends throughout the summer months

We'll definitely be back for their pizza nights, hosted at the weekends throughout the summer months

Tillingham Let the wine flight commence!

Let the wine flight commence!

Tillingham Just one course of Tillingham’s delicious home made breakfast

Just one course of Tillingham’s delicious home made breakfast

Tillingham Little details

Little details

Tillingham Making friends

Making friends

Tillingham More friends...

More friends...

Tillingham A moment of calm

A moment of calm

Highs & Lows

  • How easy it was to get there. The train takes just an hour from London and there's a handy taxi rank just outside the station for the 10 minute journey to Tillingham.

  • The amazing team. We had great chats with Paul, Lucy and Karen — all of whom were super generous with their time and knowledge.

  • The beautiful, sweeping views from the terrace and restaurant over the vine-covered slopes towards Rye.

  • The wine, of course! Everything we tried (and took home!) was exquisite.

  • The food. They offer deliberately limited set menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner which are seasonal and delicious. We can't wait to return for their weekend pizza nights.

  • Their genuine commitment to producing organic, low-intervention wines and running the farm on biodynamic principles.

  • Honestly, just the fact that we weren't staying for longer.

The Barometer

  • Design
  • Location
  • Future Forward
  • Night's Sleep
  • Service
  • Amenities
  • Takeable Treats
  • Refer a Friend
  • Overall Value
  • Life Changing
Total: 50/50

Important Bits

  • Type

    Biodynamic vineyard

  • Vibe

    Contemporary design meets countryside calm

  • Location

    Blissfully off-grid

  • Rooms

    Eleven rooms and two high spec bell tents

  • Pre-Arrival & Arrival Experience

    Warm and welcoming

  • Future Forward

    Their approach is highly sustainable. They use best scientific and technological knowledge available, while championing ancient traditions and best practice learnt from millennia of farming and winemaking

  • Music

    Cool and ambient

  • Year Opened

    2019

  • Designed By

    RX Architects

  • Health & Wellness

    Yoga classes are available

  • Food

    They offer brilliant set menus and weekend pizza nights. Check their site before you go to see what's being served when!

  • Bar, Events & Nightlife

    There's (unsurprisingly) a great bar — check out their upcoming events on their website.

  • Minibar & Retail

    There's a gorgeous shop full of wine and design pieces

  • Accessibility

    The bar, terrace and some bedrooms are easily accessible on the ground floor

  • Pet Friendly

    Dogs are welcome in the bar and shop and they have one dog friendly bedroom

  • Children

    Children under 10 are not allowed for dinner in the restaurant or in the hotel

  • Price

    Reassuringly expensive

  • Tel.

    Enquiries by email only

  • Website

    Visit website

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