Spring Escape / Charleston Festival 2024

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Food & drink

Open to all for lunch, drinks and dinner

The restaurant opens onto a pretty courtyard created for warm weather dining. 

The Inn

Lunch
The Inn opens everyday at 12 noon for coffee and drinks. Lunch is served from 12.30-2.30pm. Walk-ins are very welcome.

Dinner
Our dinner menu is available from 6.30pm until 9pm.

Picnic & Hampers
The Star can provide picnics or full hampers whether you are walking on The Downs or going to Glyndebourne.

Children & dogs
Please let us know if your children (>7) or dog will accompany you when making a reservation. We will be happy to accommodate you in The Inn or Courtyard with the same menu as the Dining Room.

Large party reservations
Please call 01323 870495 to check availability.

Parking
Parking for lunch and dinner guests is available close by at The Dene public car park.

The Dining room

31 Mar

24 April

Film Supper - Ray

The dining room is decorated with a striking black and white Elizabethan design on the floor, painted by Alfriston artist Amanda Lawrence.

Our chefs serve simple, unfussy dishes with a focus on clarity of flavour. The ever-changing highly seasonal menus utilise the abundance of exceptional Sussex produce.

FROM THE TABLE

SCRUMSHUS™

granola vg gf

NORTHIAM DAIRY

natural yoghurt

DEANS BARN

honey

HOUSE-MADE SEVILLE ORANGE MARMALADE

POACHED & FRESH SEASONAL FRUITS

WHOLE NUTS & SEEDS

PASTRIES

CEREALS

Bran flakes | Weetabix | Puffed Rice

JUICE

squeezed in-house

ACV INFUSION

turmeric & ginger

MILK ALTERNATIVES

Oat | Soya | Almond

FROM THE KITCHEN

LOCAL CURED MEATS & SUSSEX CHEESE

grilled sourdough

FREE RANGE PORK SAUSAGE

smoked streaky bacon & local free range eggs

CALCOT FARM BLACK PUDDING

bacon, savoy cabbage & onion hash, fried duck egg & house made spiced ketchup

SLOW COOKED TOMATOES

on grilled sourdough, Court Lodge Farm labneh & dried oregano v

SPRINGS SMOKERY SALMON

scrambled local free range eggs

OAT MILK PORRIDGE

poached prunes & walnuts vg

RIPE AVOCADO

on grilled sourdough with local eggs or feta cheese & chilli

LUNCH

Monday-Saturday 12.30-3pm
Sample menu

STARTERS

all served with sourdough bread

ROASTED PEPPER & TOMATO SOUP

crème fraiche toasted almonds, Fontodi olive oil v gf

£12

ANTIPASTI

bresaola, Parma ham, salame Milano, bocconcini, olives & grilled sourdough

£14

HOT SMOKED SALMON

avocado, pickled cucumber, watercress & creamed horseradish gf

£14

SMOOTH CHICKEN LIVER PARFAIT

spiced tomato chutney, rocket salad & toasted sourdough

£14

MAIN COURSES

SPAGHETTI ALLA PUTTANESCA

anchovies, capers, olives, tomato, chilli, basil & aged parmesan

£22

THE STAR SLOW BRAISED BEEF & ALE PIE

mashed potatoes, broccoli, carrots & onion jus

£22

CHICKEN ‘MILANESE’

chicory, fennel, watercress, fries & garlic aioli

£22

THE STAR HARVEY’S BEER BATTERED COD & CHIPS

slow cooked peas, tartare sauce, pickles & lemon

£22

DESSERTS

RHUBARB & ALMOND FRANGIPANE TART

crème fraîche v

£10

THE STAR CHOCOLATE FONDANT

vanilla ice cream v

£10

SELECTION OF LOCALLY MADE ICE CREAMS & SORBETS v

per socop

£3

SUSSEX CHEESE

Ouse Valley chutney & crackers v

£12/3 £17/5

SUNDAY LUNCH

Sunday 12.30-3pm
Sample menu

CREAMY ROASTED ONIONS SQUASH SOUP

caramelized onions, nutmeg & crème fraiche v gf

£12

BUFFALO BURRATA CHEESE SALAD

marinated beetroot, chicory, watercress & balsamic dressing v

£12

ANTIPASTO ITALIANO

parma-ham, salame Milano, bresaola, rocket & toasted sourdough df

£14

GRILLED LOCAL MACKEREL

fennel salad, rocket & salsa verde gf df

£14

RISOTTO WILD MUSHROOMS

taleggio cheese & aged parmesan v

£24

SPAGHETTI ALLA CHITARRA

South Coast clams, mussel, tomato & basil

£14/22

ROASTED WILD FILLET OF SALMON

marinated tomato, caper, black olive & braised spinach gf df

£32

SUSSEX RED BEEF SIRLOIN

roasted potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, savoy cabbage & horseradish

£30

SIDES

MIXED LEAF SALAD aged balsamic
SEASONAL GREENS lemon & olive oil
ROASTED POTATOES

all £6

PLUM FRANGIPAN TART

rum & raisin ice cream v

£9

BAKED DARK CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

crème fraiche v gf

£9

HOLY COW! MILK ICE CREAM ‘AFFOGATO’

Groovy Goat espresso v gf

£8

SELECTION OF LOCAL BRITISH & ITALIAN CHEESES

Ouse Valley chutney & sourdough crackers

£12

STARTERS

Sample menu

CANNELLINI BEAN & CAVOLO NERO SOUP

aged parmesan & Farchione olive oil v

£12

BEETROOT, DILL & VODKA SALMON GRAVADLAX

pickled cucumber, fennel, honey mustard dressing df

£14

CHICKEN LIVER PARFAIT

Madeira jelly, apple & cider chutney, watercress, focaccia crisp df

£14

SEARED LOCAL SCALLOPS

roasted onion squash, fresh chilli, marjoram, rocket, pomegranate gf v

£14

MILLEFEUILLE TERRINE OF VEGETABLES

tomato agrodolce, basil-infused olive oil vg

£12

HOUSE-MADE RAVIOLI

butternut squash & Golden Cross goat cheese, toasted hazlenuts, sage butter sauce v

£14/£21

MAIN COURSES

AGED SUSSEX RED BEEF FILLET

fondant potato, wild mushrooms, Chianti jus, celeriac confit, spinach gf

£36

OVEN-ROASTED SUSSEX LAMB RACK

Dauphinoise potato, garlic & rosemary jus, broccoli, parsnip purée gf

£34

SEARED CALF’S LIVER

mashed potato, Marsala wine jus, red onion & crispy pancetta gf df

£32

PAN ROASTED WILD TURBOT

potato pressé, braised cavolo nero, sauce gribiche gf

£36

GRIDDLED WILD STONE BASS

new potato, Scottish rope-grown mussels, fennel & saffron broth gf

£32

SIDES

all £6

SEASONAL GREENS

lemon and olive oil

FRIES

MIXED LEAF SALAD

aged balsamic

DESSERTS

PLUM & FRANGIPANE TART

vanilla crème v

£9

TRADITIONAL APPLE TARTE TATIN

cinnamon, vanilla ice cream v

£9

PANETTONE TIRAMISÚ

Amaretto, hazelnut praline, bitter cocoa v

£9

AFFOGATO

Holy Cow! vanilla ice cream, Groovy Goat espresso v gf

£8

LOCAL CHEESE

Ouse Valley chutney & sourdough crackers v

£12 for three, £17 for five

Please note that vegan desserts can be made available upon request, please ask for details

There is a discretionary 12.5% service charge added to your bill

The china used in the restaurant has been designed and decorated in England by Gabriella Shaw, and features leaves from native English trees.

The 15th century front of the hotel, known as The Inn, opens onto the High Street, and provides relaxed dining from 12.30pm until 3pm Monday to Friday, with local beers, open fires and oak beams. The library is a sanctuary for guests to enjoy a drink or a cup of tea, or play one of the board games. Its bookshelves are packed with poetry, short stories and novels by British authors, and there is a section dedicated to local history, flora and fauna. The library has a secret door that opens onto the restaurant.