A great Kent address. Perfect for visiting Vita Sackville-West’s famous garden at Sissinghurst Castle, it’s a brilliant bolthole for Londoners, with superb food, delicious bedrooms, a lovely terrace and garden, as well as prices you can afford. The Milk House recalls Sissinghurst’s former name, Milkhouse Street, which changed after a local 19th-century smuggling gang brought it unwanted notoriety. Owners Sarah and Dane have gone for the dairy angle: paintwork in creamy white and the palest mossy green; bedrooms called Dairy, Churn, Byre and Buttery – and Udderly Private. The all-day dining pub looks cool and sophisticated, with a great buzz, and the menu ranges from imaginative dishes to the best of pub grub. And the terrace and garden for outdoor dining, including a Grazing Menu, is great too, with its Hopper Hut bar. Staff are young and frisky; Sarah and Dane have created a very contented cow. There’s regular live music and even an annual summertime music and food Milk Fest.
Take a stroll around the apple orchards that surround the hotel, and don’t miss the bluebell walk through Sissinghurst’s ancient woodlands that come to life in April.
You’re spoilt for choice at The Milk House, from pizza to pub classics, there is something to suit all tastes. The Dining Room offers an adventurous selection of starters, main courses and puddings, all prepared with local, seasonal ingredients.
Fabulous local products, from seasonal asparagus and apples to sparkling wine.
Nota Bene
There is so much to explore in the garden of England, from ubiquitous National Trust properties, to family friendly beaches, reservoirs and Pinetums.
