Findon Manor Hotel

As it was time for the workplace Christmas meal, this year one of my colleagues suggested Findon Manor as it was central to most of us. Even though I was furthest out (at an hour's drive away), it was well worth the effort. Before we booked, I contacted the venue and they were very helpful with suggesting the vegan options for the 3 main courses so I was on board with that and voiced my approval for this choice for our meal. The venue itself is in the quiet village of Findon, not too far from Worthing, and is a charming building with a refined interior design. The staff were very attentive and friendly, and we really felt luxuriously attended to. The whole place is clean and tidy, with fireside seating and various corners to recline and relax in. Now on to the food, which was also a 5 star experience! The starter (pumpkin veloute with wild mushrooms and truffle) was delicious and very filling, so when it came to the main course (nut roast Wellington for me), I should probably have held back from the extra portion of festive veg but the Brussel sprouts were too moreish so I ended up eating more than I should, because it was so nice! Other options included locally caught sea bass, Sussex raised turkey, and venison steak. The kitchen make an effort to promote local suppliers and farmers, and it pays off in the taste and of course the skills of the head chef and his team. Dessert was thankfully a lot smaller (poached pear for the vegans) because I was struggling to eat any more. Then the coffees came out and I was grateful for those, especially given the imminent drive back. But then the cheeseboard came out! I thought I'd escaped having to delight my taste buds and strain my belly even further but I was thoughtfully provided with a vegan board of my own, with a greek style slab and a few slices of cheddar alternative, together with a locally made onion chutney and crackers/biscuits. So of course I made the effort and it was well worth taking that chance. In all, a very satisfying evening and I'll certainly be tempted to come back with the family to try the regular menu after the festive season is over. It's a bit of a trek for us though, so we might take advantage of the fact that this is a hotel as well. Especially if we can relax in the lounge with a nightcap after a meal as delicious as this one. With a total of £35 per person plus 12.5% service charge, this was very good value for money given the quality and quantity of food included. So much so that I willingly contributed a cash tip on top, as I enjoyed the experience that much! Well done to everyone at the Findon Manor restaurant for making us all feel welcome and for the very satisfied bellies we all rolled out with.

Freezing cold room with cobwebs and un vacuumed floor, ensuite had a mastic repaired sink , a hand painted mess in the bath due to a broken bath, the shower trickled freezing cold or boiling hot. The breakfast was less than appealing with forgetful staff messing up the order, not returning to ask if all was OK, no hot drinks refilled. We were locked out at night as the staff forgot to tell us there was a night code for the door. The main areas were cold, smelly unloved messy and dirty

We stopped off with our horses after a long ride on a very hot sunny day, and what an oasis we found. We were welcomed into the garden and made to feel very welcome which was so nice as our ponies have very large feet and were delighted to start eating your immaculate lawn! Thankfully we didn’t cause any noticeable damage. The beer was the coldest most refreshing beer ever. The ponies were treated to plate of carrots which was also very much appreciated. Thank you for spoiling us we will be back.