Review: The Spread Eagle Hotel & Spa

The hotel has been around since 1430, and still boasts it’s 15th-centruy lounge with ancient oak beams and leaded-light windows. The Queen’s Suite is even said to have accomodated Elizabeth I!

The historic character
strengthens the appeal of the Spread Eagle Hotel & Spa, with
reminders of its story at every turn. The most charming element was the
Christmas puddings hanging from the ceiling in the dining room, remnants
of an old tradition in which festive guests would be given two
puddings: one for then, one to hang on the ceiling and enjoy next year.

The bedroom, with its four poster bed, hand made biscuits and dark wood furniture, offers the ultimate space to unwind with a good night’s sleep all but guaranteed.

A stay at the Spread Eagle isn’t complete without sampling the delicious menu and delving into the wine list. Executive Chef Martin Hadden works across the three Historic Sussex Hotel sites and is very gifted in crafting a menu that will leave you struggling to choose from.

During a tour of the hotel, Martin suggested we sample all of the game on offer – pheasant, partridge and venison steak – in a tasting menu, an offer we were delighted to take up.

The spread eagle also has spa facilities, but London traffic forced a
late check in and we didn’t have time to enjoy them. But a peep into
the swimming room was enough to convince us to return some time, perhaps
squeezing in a swim before indulging in another long and enjoyable
evening in the dining room.

But it’s the food that you won’t be able to shake from memory. The sample of game dishes was the perfect way to show off the hotel’s established reputation for outstanding food. The pheasant was the best we’d tasted and the wine delicious. The service complemented the chef’s talents with two staff anticipating what you might want before you could ask for it.

You can find more details on the Spread Eagle Hotel & Spa website.