The sight of undulating rows of vines stretching into the Sussex countryside holds both beauty and the promise of glass or two of something special.
Add in a wine tour, stylish rooms and a Michelin green star restaurant and you’ve bagged yourself a wonderful wine-focused stay at Tillingham winery near Rye in East Sussex.
Our stay at Tillingham Vineyard was complimentary for the purpose of this review. However, all views, opinions and love of a room with a vineyard view are entirely my own.
About Tillingham
Tillingham is an organic vineyard and rural working farm established by Ben Walgate in 2018.
As well as 40,000 vines the estate includes 70 acres of woodland, grazing land and stunning views across the High Weald. The winery sits in the beautiful Tillingham Valley with the Cinque Port town of Rye just 4 miles away.
The 13th century red-brick farm setting with oast houses blends seamlessly with the winery, tasting room and huge Dutch barn which serves freshly baked pizzas. Upstairs you’ll find the restaurant and private dining room.
The old hop barn has been beautifully renovated and converted accommodating 11 stylish guest rooms. For glampers and outdoor lovers there are two luxury bell tents.
Sheep graze in the meadows and curly-coated Mangalitsa pigs snuffle around their pen near the raised beds of the herb garden.
Tillingham wine tour
I’m rather partial to a wine tour in a Sussex winery. A walk through the vines sampling the fruits of the terroir you’re actually standing on is a wonderful experience.
We took the Tillingham wine tour with Seb tasting four different wines as we moved through the vineyard and winery. I’ve been on a few wine tours but learnt some new things on this tour, especially about how a bio-dynamic vineyard like Tillingham works and the different ways that the whites, reds, rosé and sparkling wines are made.
As well as state-of-the-art equipment, old terracotta qvevri are used in Tillingham’s wine-making. This ancient, low intervention winemaking technique uses huge terracotta amphorae, partly buried, to allow the wine to mature at a constant temperature.
After the tour we couldn’t tear ourselves away from the ambient tasting room vibes and we stayed for a happy hour glass of col.
Wine tours run every day lasting around 90 minutes and cost £35 per person. Advanced booking is essential.
A Tillingham wine tour is a great date idea. If you’re looking for more date inspiration check out our post Sussex date ideas designed to impress.
Staying at Tillingham Hotel
Tillingham’s eleven rooms are located in the beautifully renovated old hop barn, some overlooking the vines and terrace.
Styled by Rye-based art and interiors partnership McCully and Crane they’re a mix of mid-century, mis-matched furniture, textures and tones.
Some rooms come with free-standing bath tubs and all have Robert’s radios. In an effort to promote a tranquil stay, rooms do not have TVs.
We slept soundly in the incredibly comfortable bed with high quality, crisp bed linen.
There are also two bell tents for glampers with their own terrace and fire pits.
Eating at Tillingham
The Restaurant
A farmhouse breakfast is included in the room rate and enjoyed in the restaurant upstairs from the bar with views overlooking the vineyard.
Tillingham’s Green Michelin star restaurant is open daily for dinner.
The Garden menu offers a five-course tasting menu featuring home grown produce from Tillingham’s walled garden and meat reared in its meadows and surrounding farms. Farm to fork with minimal footprint. Fresh fish comes from daily catches at Rye Harbour.
If you’re visiting on a Sunday then a Tillingham roast is on the menu too. Two or three-course lunches are served on Fridays and Saturdays.
The menu is made up of local, seasonal food and complements Tillingham’s wines beautifully. It makes sense that what grows together goes together. I haven’t eaten dinner at Tillingham so I can’t share photos but I can assure you I’ll share here when I do!
The Pizza Barn
If you’re looking for something a bit more casual then I can recommend a wood-fired pizza eaten alfresco in the Dutch barn or on the terrace. They’re spot on!
The Bar at Tillingham
I love the bar with its reclaimed furniture, hip vibe and laid back ambiance. Fresh wild flowers in huge jugs give a homely feel and floor to ceiling windows let in the light and endless views of vine-covered slopes.
It’s a great place to meet friends for lunch or coffee. Lunch, small plates and charcuterie are served daily.
The Verdict
I love the relaxed vibe and rustic ambiance at Tillingham Vineyard paired with wonderful wines and good food.
The staff were all friendly and attentive but not overly so and Tillingham’s sustainability ethic is more than agreeable.
I’ve been for coffee and lunch, stayed overnight, sipped Tillingham wines and enjoyed the fabulous pizza. Next on the menu is to head back for a meal in their restaurant. I’ll report back when I do.
What to do nearby
Tillingham has some fabulous countryside hikes right from the doorstep. Be sure to take the walk through the vineyard to the viewing platform which will reward you of sweeping views of the vines reaching deep into the Sussex countryside.
You can also pay a visit to Tillinghams walled garden where they grow their produce and flowers for cutting. Just ask at reception – they also have a range of colourful Hunter wellington which you can borrow for your walk if you need to.
You’ll find plenty of things to do in nearby Rye with Camber Sands and Rye Harbour Nature Reserve within five miles.
Getting to Tillingham
By Train:
High-speed trains run from London to Ashford International with a journey time of 38 minutes. A further train to Rye takes 21 minutes. From the station take a taxi to Tillingham which currently costs around £15. Check train times on the Trainline.
If you’re up for a hike then it’s just over 60-minutes on foot going cross-country. Check out this map with directions to Tillingham from Rye station.
If you’re coming by car there’s on-site parking. Sat Nav postcode is TN31 6XD
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Need to know
All rooms include a farmhouse breakfast next morning. B&B rates start at £205 per night. Dog-friendly rooms are available (extra charge incurred).
Address:
Dew Farm, Dew Lane, Peasmarsh, East Sussex, TN31 6XD
Opening Hours
Restaurant:
Daily 18:00-20:00 Dinner
Fri-Sun 12:00-15:00 Lunch
Bar:
Daily 11:00-10:30pm
Happy Hour Mon-Fri 5-6pm
I hope you’ve found our Tillingham winery stay review helpful. If you have any questions please feel free to get in touch.
Suzanne Jones is owner and editor at Hello Sussex which was founded in 2017. When she’s not exploring Sussex or writing about it you’ll most likely find her, camera in hand, enjoying coastal and countryside hikes across the county.
Suzanne is also travel writer and content creator at top travel blog The Travelbunny which she founded in 2011.