Lunch in historic Horsted Place

A family celebration took place this weekend at the striking Horsted Place. Previously a private home, this is what can only be described as a mansion - a Victorian Gothic building where HM the Queen and HRH Prince Philip were regular guests.

None of my family is quite so grand, but the hotel itself is certainly imposing. It sits with a quiet grace close to Uckfield in the countryside south of London and close to Brighton. On the first day of autumn, the grounds were a little disappointing, as the rain cleared and the sun appeared, but I should imagine at the height of summer it's just beautiful.