Cool Hotels around Sussex
West Stoke House - With medieval origins dating back to the Norman Conquest, West Stoke House certainly has a lot of history. Lovingly restored three years ago the stunning bedrooms with amazing views over the Sussex countryside offer nothing but the best. The hotel has a marvelous restaurant serving contemporary British Food with a French twist. For breakfast your eggs will be freshly laid by the resident chickens! West Stoke House also has an art space, providing an excellent showcase for local artists.

The reason West Stoke works is because it's not a conversion, or the result of a face-lift, but a real house. There isn't the remotest sense of hotel anonymity; rather. Rowland and Mary have created a home for their guests. We'd noticed earlier on that the area below the stairs, where the staff mix G& T's and whatever else you fancy, reminded us of a real countyr house; somewhere we might see wellies, dog leads and gymkhana rosettes. But we didn't bother indulging in lord of the manor fantasies or delusions of grandeur; we were far too busy enjoying ourselves.

West Stoke House is more Restaurant with rooms than hotel, and you eat well here; there's a French twist to the fresh local fish and meat, tables are neatly laid with fresh flowers and large windows pull in the light. To the gorgeous French antiques and stunning oak floors are added abstract impressionisitic paintings by local artists, modern lighting and pale, contemporary colours.

West Stoke House , a restaurant with rooms is no ordinary B&B; with nosh attachment. This effortessly elegant Georgian house once the residence of Lord George Lennox and formerly owned by the Goodwood Estate is a gem in the village of West Stoke, near Chichester. His four sisters visited often and inspired a book The Aristocrats, the TV series.

Quote from Michael Ball
What is the best hotel you have stayed in?
"The hotel that impresses me most is Merrion in Dublin. I also have another favourite place to stay, it's a friendly, family run, bed & breakfast guest house with a licensed restaurant, called West Stoke House in West Stoke, West Sussex."

Restaurant with Rooms of the year - Cesar Winners this year, West Stoke House is the most complete package: not just a restaurant with rooms, but a lovely place to stay, even if you don't do dinner and a great base from which to explore Chichester and the lush countryside beyond. Even the fancy taps brigade will love it. The room was called French Grey, it was made up with an eclectic and interesting mix of antiques, lush modern fabrics and a high tech TV. It was vast, too - and there's no greater luxury in a hotel room than space 9/10. Dinner was a great success. I thought my Gressingham Duck with buttery savoy cabbage was the highlight. Until the pear souffle came along. 9/10 and it would have been 10/10 if they'd spoilt me with some amuse-bouches in between. The service was confident and charming 9/10. Value for money 9/10. Does it deserve a Cesar? yes certainly

West Stoke House, situated in the peaceful countryside near Chichester, you'll only have to wait long enough for the owner to greet you at the door and take your bags. Rowland Leach - rotund, wild-haired. bandy legged and dressed in baggy shorts and Chelsea boots all year round- is definately the funkiest thing about West Stoke House.
A few years ago, Rowland found West Stoke House in a sorry state, personally renovated it and opened it with his wife, Mary as a b&b.; Soon, however, they added a Restaurant, installing Darren Brown, formerly of the Lanesborough Hotel, as chef. On a Saturday night, it was packed with young and old, all enjoying the laid back atmosphere and glamourous setting. In the large hall, (for drinks): poster red walls, red leather bucket chairs, yellow curtains across a wall of windows, an eclectic assortment of tables and lamps: in the lovely ballroom (for dinner) : stripped wood floor, vast, colourful paintings and candlelight; in the dining room (for breakfast): panelled walls painted duck-egg blue and starched, white tablecloths.
The bedrooms are calmer: elegant spaces decorated with French antiques and unframed paintings by local artisits. There are also fresh country flowers, plasma TV's, DVD's and Huge beds dressed in Egyptian cotton. Ours overlooked the carefully tended garden, and had a large bathroom with a tub so deep that I had to be winched out. When we arrived, Rowland had whisked us up to it, merrily carrying our bags. In the morning, there he was again, still in his shorts, a cheery wave for all.