Inside South Lodge’s New Eco Lodges

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The famed Sussex hotel has a new accommodation offering

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Award-winning spa hotel South Lodge has unveiled eight super swanky lakeside eco lodges, with private terraces, outdoor bathtubs and stunning views. It’s the perfect place for a winter weekend escape, says Kirsty Nutkins.

Hotel Review: The Reeds at South Lodge, Sussex

STAY

Set amid 92 acres of tranquil countryside, South Lodge first opened its doors in 1985. Part of Exclusive Collection – a B Corp certified independent group which includes Fanhams Hall and Pennyhill Park – it’s something of a Sussex institution. But that doesn’t mean it rests on its laurels. The Pass, its celebrated gourmet restaurant, was awarded a Michelin star and 3 AA Rosettes in 2023 under head chef Ben Wilkinson, and in 2019 a state-of-the-art £15 million spa was opened at the property.

Its latest addition, The Reeds, comprises eight lodges, six of which sit on the perimeter of the hotel’s new wild swimming lake, and two spa lodges set slightly set back from the water. Each one is accessed via a short woodland walk or electric buggy ride from the hotel, and lodge number three is wheelchair accessible, featuring a wet room shower, pull cords and downstairs bedroom.

We checked into Dragonfly, one of the lakefront lodges, with our two-year-old daughter, and can attest that these are the perfect base for families. Split over two levels, the accommodation includes an open-plan kitchen/living area with double-height ceilings and windows, and an electric fire for cosy evenings in. There are two bedrooms and an expansive bathroom with walk-in shower and toiletries by sustainable skincare brand Pelegrims, while outside there’s a private terrace with a dining area, sun loungers and a copper whirlpool bath.

Compared to the 84 rooms in the main hotel – a handsome stone manor house that dates from 1883 – which have a historic feel, with panelling and four-posters, here the ambience is light and bright, with neutral fabrics, naturally-derived materials (there’s plenty of gorgeous pale wood) and indoor plants.

But what will really make your shoulders drop is the breathtaking view. Each morning, the remote-controlled curtains drew back to unveil the mist-shrouded lake, birds dipping and diving across its surface (and the heads of a few swimmers bobbing past, braving a bracing pre-breakfast dip).

On arrival, we were delighted to find a plate of homemade macarons and a pre-prepared cocktail shaker in an ice bucket, ready to pour two perfect cosmopolitans (a lovely treat after our daughter was tucked up in bed).

EAT

The hotel offers three restaurants: the 2 AA Rosette Camellia, which uses produce from the walled kitchen garden and the finest local Sussex ingredients. It’s set in a traditional wood-panelled room with thick carpets, starchy white tablecloths and views over the grounds, and in the summer months there are tables arranged outside on the terrace.

For something slightly less formal, there’s the Mediterranean-inspired spa restaurant, Botanica, overseen by head chef Jonathan Spiers, featuring dishes such as the ‘wasted’ burger, a nod to the restaurant’s minimal waste philosophy and made from surplus vegetables. There is a focus on local and plant based foods, and the all-day brunch menu has some tempting dishes such as English chorizo, house baked beans, sourdough toast and eggs from South Lodge’s own hens.

But the crowning glory in terms of food offerings is Michelin-starred restaurant, The Pass, which is only open for dinner. Head chef Ben Wilkinson, who moved to the hotel after winning a Michelin star at Lake District restaurant The Cottage in the Wood, has devised a concept very similar to a chef’s table for just 28 diners. One side of the restaurant is entirely constructed of glass, to give diners a peek into the kitchen, watching as the chefs finish seasonal dishes with microscopic attention to detail.

As it’s an adults-only affair, we booked a babysitter (the hotel can connect you to a local agency), and enjoyed the most indulgent seven-course tasting menu and wine pairing. Highlights included wild fallow deer loin with red wine spiced sausage and slow-cooked beef cheek, shoestring fried celeriac and truffle, followed by a delicious chocolate délice.

If you’re looking for a more relaxed dining option while staying at The Reeds, the hotel will also deliver breakfast and charcuterie lunch hampers to your door.

DO

One of the biggest draws for South Lodge guests is the spa, a 44,000 square-foot haven featuring a state-of-the-art gym and spin studio, indoor pool, outdoor hydrotherapy pool and swim pond, a thermal suite and 14 treatment rooms, where you can enjoy everything from soothing bamboo and hot stone massages to luxurious facials. The spa also offers treatments that incorporate extracts from the hotel’s newly-planted six hectare vineyard (it was planted in collaboration with local vineyard Ridgeview and is anticipated to produce 30,000 bottles of English sparkling wine a year).

Set into the natural contours of the land, the spa complements the landscape with a grass and sedum roof and green oak cladding, and is a beautiful, airy and bright space, much like The Reeds.

If you’re feeling particularly brave, take a guided wild swim in the lake, or enjoy a game of tennis on one of the courts. You’re perfectly placed to explore the Sussex South Downs, too, and there are maps of local walking routes available at reception via a QR code (you can even borrow wellies).

THE FINAL WORD

The Reeds at South Lodge is a peaceful, private haven for those looking to completely switch off and unwind, but with the benefit of luxury hotel amenities. We had an utterly magical stay.