Pelham House blog

Late Night Shopping at Pelham House

2011-11-23T22:21:00.000-08:00

Late Night Shopping at Pelham House
Thursday 1st December 2012
5.30pm – 8.30pm

ART AND CRAFT FAIR

Come and find unique and original gifts for your loved ones at Pelham House. Enjoy a glass of mulled wine, a mince pie & Carol Singing from Paddock Singers, browse our stalls and soak up the festive atmosphere.

Original art works by Flo Snook, Etchings, linocuts and woodcuts from bip-Art Printmakers, Jewelry and gifts from local artists, Gracie Collins and Beatrice Von Preussen, Fine Bone China by Belen Gomez, Cards and linocuts from Teresa Winchester and original Paper-cuts form Sylvie Howitt

Something for everyone and the perfect way to start the Yuletide Season!
Free Entry

PECKSNIFFS PERFUME EVENING

You are warmly invited to a fragrant trail through the world of perfumery by
trained nose and fragrance expert, Nancy Meiland. Nancy will present a vignette into both the history of perfumery and our often underused sense of scent. Festive fizz, mulled wine and canapés will welcome you in out of the frosty air to this illuminating evening. Discover simple, home spun ideas to fragrance your home this Christmas. Plus an opportunity to browse through a range of products from the Sussex based perfume house, Pecksniff's all at a 15% discount.
£10.00 per person please book your session, first is at 6pm and second is at 7.30pm.
Book your tickets with reception 01273 488600

New Art Exhibitions at Pelham House

2011-11-09T08:20:00.000-08:00

John Armstrong and Teresa Winchester
17th November 2011- 3rd January 2012

Private View 6-8pm 20th November 2011 for invited guests

John Armstrong
Four lines have evolved in John Armstrong’s work - landscapes, abstracts, biblical narratives and pictorial church sign-boards. Showing at Pelham House are his landscapes and abstracts. The landscapes are mostly based on the South Downs, bringing out their underlying abstract shapes. The Abstract pieces also on show, start from New Testament passages that express a value or an incidental meaning. They are designed to allow colour, geometry and symbols to speak for the subject. He wants to show that this kind of religious painting can show a better understanding, that a colour field for meditation seems more useful than an illustration.

John Armstrong (b. 1937) studied at Swindon, Walthamstow and Brighton Colleges of Art. He taught art and craft in schools, worked in museums and at the Exhibitions Unit, University of Brighton. Work can be seen locally and nationally. Paintings are in the Royal Collection, private collections in England, Belgium, Singapore, Australia, the collections of East Sussex County Council, Nuffield Foundation and Brighton Museum collection. He has twice had one-man shows at Hove Museum, the Grange Gallery Rottingdean, and St Raphael Gallery, London. As well as group shows in Britain, he has also participated in exhibitions in Spain, Italy, Poland, Germany, and Austria.

Teresa Winchester
Teresa Winchester is a painter and printmaker and perhaps foremost a storyteller, as she explains “As a child I loved to curl up in a chair with a book and read of magical worlds, brave deeds and princesses. The only pastime I enjoyed more was to draw the pictures these stories suggested. And I still love doing this.” Stories continue to inspire her work. Some of the images emerge from the well known tales such as the Red Shoes, but others drift into the artists mind quite unexpectedly, often as she’s falling asleep!

Teresa Winchester lives and works in Sussex and participates in the Brighton Open House every May during the Brighton Festival as part of the Fiveways group. The relief prints are produced on a wonderful old Columbian press in the bip-Art printmaking studio in Brighton. Apart from being an accomplished printmaker, Teresa also paints in oils and acrylics

NEW Restaurant menu.. yummy!

2011-08-15T11:25:00.000-07:00

Pelham House's restaurant menu focuses on simple and delicious food, using locally-sourced produce, and is priced to give the customer extreme value for money. The menu is constantly changing to keep up with the current seasons fruits and vegetables and we're pleased to announce a completely new menu has just been introduced.

Diners can choose between 2 courses, priced at £17.95pp, or the full 3 courses priced at £22.95pp. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner and booking is advisable.

Starter
* Soup of the Day

Wild mushroom, globe artichoke fricassee, fresh peas,
ver yus, soft herbs (v)

* Pan-fried scallops, sweetcorn puree, black pudding, creamed truffled potato

Twice baked Westcombe cheddar souffle, cheese & pickle sandwich, crispy onions, confit garlic (v)

Crispy plaice goujons, tartare sauce

Rabbit terrine, raisin puree, broad beans, radish

* Seared pigeon with poached pears, pickled shallot, game jus

Main
*Home cured pork "Petit Sale", puy lentils, onion marmalade

* Bouillabaisse of fresh market fish, saffron aioli, fennel bread

Potato gnocchi gratin, griddled peppers, chicory, sage (v)

* Seared cumin scented monkfish, coconut & lime dressing, tamarind jelly, coriander mojo, onion bhaji

* Grilled Rib-eye steak, fat chips, Chasseur sauce (£5.95 supplement)

Braised shoulder of lamb, potato terrine, aubergine puree, crispy broccoli, olive gremolata

"Corned beef" brisket, bacon, beetroot, braised potato

On the Side - all £4.25
Garden leaf salad
Braised baby gem, peas and mint
Green beans, anchovies and samphire
Skinny fries
Roast carrots, rosemary and horseradish
Mangetout, sugar snap peas
Buttered new potatoes

Dessert
Raspberry & Champagne trifle

Pecan pie, praline ice cream

* Lemon posset, deep fired mustard fruits & marzipan

Caramlised ginger & chilli chocolate delice, coffee, whisky bitter dark chocolate mouse

* Selection of cheeses, homemade chutney, oakcake biscuits (£3.00 supplement)

* Selection of ice cream or sorbets

West Sussex strawberries, Cornish clotted cream, shortbread

* can be prepared gluten-free
(v) vegetarian

Celebrating an established one and also one to begin soon!

2011-07-23T17:29:00.000-07:00

Pelham House has just closed down from another busy Saturday of events.

Keith & Kate held their 10year wedding anniversay at the hotel today with a large family gathering full of laughter and cheer. Guests arrived from mid afternoon and took in the sunshine on the terrace before tucking into a hearty bbq buffet. Brillo the clown entertained the children before everyone moved inside to The Terrace Room to take part in a quiz looking back over the last 10years of wedded bliss and then to be entertained by a live 4 piece band. 11pm saw the band perform their closing number and the merry guests then started to depart. Congratulations to Kate and Keith on their 10yr anniversary and we wish you many more years of happiness to come.

Imogen on the otherhand chose Pelham House to host her hen-party, to celebrate her forthcoming nuptials. The party started early on for the girls with Afternoon Tea in the Panelled Room and on the Garden Terrace. The odd bottle of champagne was poured to accompany the sandwiches, cakes and homemade scones, oh and we think there were a few cups of tea drunk just to keep on the straight and narrow that is officially Afternoon TEA!! The party then moved inside later on and took a private meal upstairs in the library. After a sumptuous 3 course dinner the girls played a game of "Mr & Mrs" via a special dvd that the groom-to-be had created especially for them. With a little bit of singing and dancing afterwards we think it could be said that Imogen and her girls enjoyed their day. We'd like to wish Imogen a most enjoyable time at her forth-coming marriage day.

Minerva Early Music Ensemble

2011-07-03T11:42:00.000-07:00

Pelham House is proud to host an afternoon of classical music performed by local musicians Sophie Willis- Cello, Harriet Wiltshire- Cello, Karen Glen-Harpsichord

Emmerse yourself in music by Bach, Giminiani and Boismortier, sip away on a glass of wine and gaze out of the window in the Terrace Room and take in the beautiful views of the hotel gardens and enter into a world of your own dreams.

Sunday 17th July 2011
3.30pm

Tickets- £15.00 including a glass of wine
Children under 12- £5.00 including a soft drink
Tickets available in advance from Reception
Tel. 01273 488600

Lottery Win Celebrated

2011-06-16T11:36:00.000-07:00

There was an air of excitement in the hotel this morning as a cheque for over £1.1million was delivered by courier to reception and champagne was put on ice in the restaurant.

This was all destined for hotels library where Robert Hutchinson and his wife Carol were about to have their life changed for ever……following the impressive win on the National Lottery (draw Sat 11^th June 2011).

The couple, from Seaford, met with Camelot staff in the Reading Room, prior to heading to the press conference being held in the library.

Mr Hutchison told the press he was planning to retire at Christmas but handed in his notice when he discovered his millionaire status having played the game online. Mrs Hutchinson, who is already retired, received an e-mail on Sunday with news about the win. "I was in the garden sorting out my pond when Carol called me in," said Mr Hutchison. "We both expected it to be a tenner and when I logged in a big congratulations popped up. Neither of us could believe it, it was pretty surreal I guess."

The couple already had a holiday booked to Cornwall. They planned to take the 3 hour ferry trip to the Scilly Isle but will now upgrade and make the journey by helicopter! They also plan to buy a new car, a holiday to Italy and a new bathroom, as well as helping out their four children and eight grandchildren but firstly a new pump for their garden fish pond!

To finish off the press conference, Mr & Mrs Hutchinson headed into the hotel garden to pose for photographs and toast their win with the traditional “spraying of the champers”!

Pelham House is proud to have hosted the winning press conference and wish Mr & Mrs Hutchinson all the best for their, now much rosier, future.

Hotel taken over by Paul and Emma......

2011-06-13T03:52:00.000-07:00

.....but just for their wedding!

Sunday 12th June 2011 saw the hotel taken over! Paul and Emma chose Pelham House as their wedding venue, who liked it that much they had it all!

One of the hotels top wedding packages is a totally Exclusive Use option where the entire hotel is made available solely for the Bride & Groom and their guests, and Paul and Emma took full advantage of this.

The Terrace Room was used for 60 guests to watch the happy couple take their vows before then being transformed into a dining room for the wedding breakfast. Tables were decorated with rustic flower decorations, personalised candy rock as name places, and chairs adorned with white satin sashes that had been stamped with the couples initials.

To keep the children entertained and happy "Punch and Judy" performed in the hotel atrium prior to the meal, where there were goodie bags waiting for them at their own special table with sweets and colouring pencils etc.

Both the hotel restaurant rooms were converted into chill-out areas with informal seating so guests always had somewhere to sit and enjoy their drink and conversation as, after the 100 plus evening guests had arrived, the hotel was certainly a bustle of bodies all enjoying themselves.

A live band performed during the evening in The Chamber Room, which had been decorated with similar flower arrangements and some 20 massive 4ft wide helium balloons in bright red, blue and white colours.

A hog roasting company had been arranged by Paul and Emma to come along and roast a whole pig to accompany the main evening buffet prepared by the hotel's chefs. Unfortunately due to the rain guests didn't venture outside into the garden to take in the mouth-watering aroma produced by the hogroast.

Once the band had completed their performance, a personal friend of the happy couple jumped onto his "decks" and mixed a variety of club tunes for all to dance away to. Midnight arrived and for those guests not staying overnight in the hotel it was time to say their goodbyes.

Resident guests then retired to the front restaurant bar and continued their party into the very small hours of Monday morning.

I'm sure everyone had a wonderful time helping Paul and Emma celebrate their marriage and we all wish them many happy years together.

If you're interested in getting married at Pelham House then the hotel offers a vast arrange to packages to suit your needs, whether like Paul and Emma you'd like to take the whole hotel, or if a more intimate occasion is for you with just close friends and family then one of our restaurant rooms or the library can be hired for a private dining occasion. For more information or to arrange a visit to the hotel please contact either Abi or Steve in our sales department on 01273 488600 or email sales@pelhamhouse.com

Pelham House - The History.....

2011-06-06T03:51:00.000-07:00

Pelham House began its story back in the 16th Century when a man named George Goring bought a plot of land with a vision to build a lavish stone mansion decorated to the highest standard of the time. This included magnificent wooden caryatids and panelling. The panelling remains to this day and can be seen in one of the hotel’s restaurant rooms.

The property remained in the Goring family for nearly 100 years before they sold it to Peter Courthorpe. Peter only owned and lived in the house, and its land, for a comparatively short while before dividing the estate it into separate lots and selling them off individually.

One of these lots, the main house, was bought by the Pelham family, who gave the building their family name and “Pelham House” was born. The family began the process of buying back the land and other property thus restoring the estate. In 1725 Thomas Pelham set about a major refurbishment of the house to “bring it up to date” for the period.

The Pelham family sold the property in 1806 having lived here for 150 years. Over the next 197 years Pelham House was owned by a variety of people, including the East Sussex County Council, who used it as the administrative headquarters for more than 75 years.

In 2004, Pelham House was purchased jointly by a group of four local families and was converted into the beautiful hotel as you see today. A sympathetic conversion was undertaken to create the 31 romantic Boutique hotel style bedrooms, each of which was individually designed for maximum comfort but ensuring that many original historic features of the building were preserved.

All the bedrooms are fitted with contemporary handmade oak furniture, remote controlled TVs, phones and high speed data points and have en-suite baths or luxury showers. Most of them overlook the pretty south facing garden, with views beyond to the South Downs, which have just been declared a National Park and area of outstanding natural beauty.

New Art Exhibitions at Pelham House

2011-05-25T00:53:00.000-07:00

Rosie Birtwhistle - New Memories
Lucy Owen - Heirlooms

2nd June – 12th July 2011

Rosie Birtwhistle

Rosie Birtwhistle paintings have always been about pattern. Not just pattern as ornament, but because patterns make good symbols for our complex lives: repetition, rhythm, harmonies and balance, and then broken patterns, fragments and connections.

Previously Rosie has explored such ideas as mazes, gardens cityscapes with surreal qualities. Recently Rosie has made abstract developments of these representational pictures, offering the narrative without specific imagery. This is the first showing of the new abstract paintings.

The work is detailed and intimate, inviting the viewer into the pictures to experience them as puzzles or as meditational games.

Rosie Birtwhistle studied at Wimbledon and Brighton Art Colleges and at Sussex and Reading Universities and has widely exhibited internationally for many years. Rosie lives and works in East Grinstead.

Lucy Owen

In her first solo exhibition in Lewes, emerging artist Lucy Owen presents us with the nostalgia of the future. Whilst living in South Africa, Owen was, for the first time, looking at Britain as an outsider - an outsider in a very specific post-colonial context. Alongside this new phenomenon there was South Africa's post-apartheid obsession with nation-building and constructing a new identity - it is intrinsic, it is simply not possible to live there and be a-political. On her return to England, Owen found herself an alien in a familiar yet foreign land, and she was at once fascinated and appalled by the apathy of her English peers.

Remember of bring your slippers!!

2011-05-14T17:26:00.000-07:00

Well it's been another busy week at the hotel, a very busy Tuesday with every conference and function room being used for meetings and/or private parties. We were certainly all kept on our toes.

Thursday saw the fitters move into the Terrace Room who spent all day fitting a marvellous new carpet. As you enter the room your feet now feel like they're "floating" and bouncing along as you walk. So please remember to bring your slippers with you if you want to pop in and have a peek, lol!

The first event to be held in the Terrace Room with the new carpet was on Friday night where the hotel hosted a Spanish Tapas and Wine Dinner. Taking on board the very "social" concept that is tapas, guests were seated all-together across 2 banqueting tables and enjoyed platters of tapa matched to a range of Spanish wines.

The hotel holds wine dinners at various times throughout the year and so keep an eye on the website for details of future events.

April's Ending

2011-05-02T08:49:00.001-07:00

Well here we are now at the begining of May... where has the first quarter of the year gone?

Pelham House ended April with lots of celebrations......

Firstly we had the Royal Wedding on Friday. The hotel entrance was decked out with red, white and blue bunting and union flags flapped away in the breeze. Screening the happy occasion in both the Tom Paine Room and The Chamber Room, guests sat happily cheering on as HRH William and Catherine said their "I Do's". Other guests enjoyed the hotel's "Royal Afternoon Tea" outside on the garden terrace. Later on in the evening The Terrace Room hosted an 80th birthday party where guests partied and danced the night away.

Saturday saw another wedding celebration at the hotel. Having been married in a local church the happy couple arrived with their guests just before 3pm and took drinks on the garden terrace. The Chamber had been deced out with a yellow colour scheme, which picked up the colour of the Chelsea football club away strip. The tables had been named after famous football players, all in keeping with the happy couples love of the sport. After enjoying a sumptuous wedding breakfast which included a Herbed Lamb main course, the wedding party was joined by evening guests who made the most of the evening and energetically danced away until midnight.

And... the hotel is very pleased to announce its own reason to celebrate. John, the restaurant manager, and Lindsey, the events manager, announced their engagement on Friday. John "did the deed" and got down on bended knee on Brighton Beach and asked Lindsey for her hand in marriage. Of course she said yes and so is now sporting a dazzling engagment ring of a solitare diamond set in luxurious white gold. All the staff at the hotel send their best wishes to John and Lindsey. Congraulatons to you both.

What a Weeknd!

2011-04-25T05:15:00.000-07:00

Well, it's Easter Monday and the weather certainly hasn't let us down over the Easter weekend. The hotel has been bustling over the past 3 days. The restaurant has been very busy, with lots of people enjoying themselves, relaxing on the garden terrace and dining on the delights of the restaurants sumptuous menu.

The events team has been kept busy with two weddings. Saturday saw Heidi & James celebrating their union. After the marriage ceremony in The Terrace Room, guests enjoyed the drinks reception on the sun baked terrace. The wedding breakfast took place in The Chamber Room which had been decorated in a beautiful white and purple colour scheme with stunning center table decorations of cream roses and lilies in tall slender clear glass vases. The wedding party was then joined by the evening guests and partied the night away until the early hours. For the children, and adults, or the big kids at heart!, a bouncy castle had been set up in the garden for a little bit of added fun.

Sarah and John chose Pelham House to celebrate their Easter Sunday marriage. After the ceremony at the Brighton Pavilion, the wedding party travelled to Pelham House and were greeted by an ice-cream van serving creamy 99's which went down well in the hot sunshine. The Terrace Room hosted the wedding breakfast before the party moved to The Chamber Room for the evening reception. The guests were then treated to some "blasts from the pasts" as a center sweetie table had been set up for guests to indulge on. Flying saucers, flumps, millions, shrimps and other childhood favourites were included and satisfied everybody's sweet tooth!. A "big brother" style video booth had been set up for guests to record personal messages of congratulations for the happy couple.

We'd like to congratulate both our couples, Heidi & James and Sarah & John and wish them many years of happiness together.

Easter Artist in Residence

2011-04-21T08:19:00.000-07:00

As part of our longstanding commitment to promoting local arts, the hotel invites an artist every year to be our ‘Artist in Residence’ over the Easter weekend. This year the artist is FIONA ROBINSON. She will be making work in and around the hotel over the course of the 3 day bank holiday weekend. There will be a sign on reception with some information about her, and her whereabouts at any given time. So why not pop in and have a look at her work.

Easter Weekend

2011-04-20T01:26:00.000-07:00

Plans are well in place for what is hoped to be a very busy weekend here at Pelham House. The garden is looking very spring like with lots of blossom on the trees, the bulbs have been flowering for some weeks now.

Why not come along over the bank holiday weekend and enjoy coffee on the terrace or indulge yourself in a full Pelham House Afternoon Tea?

Easter Sunday sees our "Childrens Charity Easter Egg Hunt". All children welcome to take part with all donations being made of our chosen charity, Chestnut Tree House.

Latest exhibitions at Pelham House

2010-10-18T02:38:00.000-07:00

Artists Peter Messer and Peter Waller are currently exhibiting their art work at the Pelham House Hotel until November 30th.

Peter Messer's work is currently on show inside the bar area of Pelham House. He works mainly with egg tempera on a traditional gesso ground.

For this exhibition he will be showing prints of his paintings making the pieces affordable and highly collectible.

In the past he has held solo and group shows in the UK, US, Germany and France.

Peter Waller's art work is on show in the main exhibition foyer.

In addition, Kate Brigden has taken over from Lindsey Galpin as the new art curator at the hotel.

She will continue the hotel's long-standing commitment to the promotion of arts and culture in the Lewes area.

She plans to build on what is already an exciting exhibition and events programme, so watch this space.

If you have any art related enquiries, please contact her on: kate@pelhamhouse.com.

Golf Packages at Pelham House

2010-07-15T07:06:00.000-07:00

The beautiful physical landscape of East Sussex has been formed over the years thanks to the underlying chalky ground.

The interesting topography makes the ideal location for the creation of sweeping fairways and interesting golf courses.

If you are coming to stay with us at Pelham House, why not pack your golf clubs and take advantage of the special weekend golf package.

Combine a two night stay, with dinner included at the beautiful Pelham House, with two rounds of golf at two fantastic local golf courses.

£365.00 for two people includes a Friday and Saturday night stay at Pelham House in a twin room, with a three course dinner each evening and a full English breakfast every morning. Also included is a round of golf per person at Lewes golf course and Piltdown golf course.

£270.00 for one person includes a Friday and Saturday night stay at Pelham House in a double room, with a three course dinner each evening and a full English breakfast every morning.

Also included is a round of golf at Lewes golf course and Piltdown golf course. The package is available from September 2010 till March 2011.

For groups of over six people we will require a 50% non-refundable deposit at the time of booking.

Offer is subject to availability.

Please contact our sales team on 01273 488600 or email sales@pelhamhouse.com to take advantage of this offer.

Piltdown Golf Club

Piltdown Golf Club in East Sussex is close to Uckfield, Hayward’s Heath and Lewes and was founded in 1904. The course was constructed on Piltdown Common near to the Piltdown Pond. It has no sand bunkers and is not particularly long, measuring just over 6000 yards from the medal tees. The terrain is fairly level but the narrow fairways; small greens and an abundance of heather and gorse make for challenging golf.

For guests staying at Pelham House, we are able to offer a fantastic green fee rate of £25.00 per round at Piltdown Golf Club. This is reduced from the usual £40.00. Please ask us to book your round in at the time of making your bedroom reservation. Subject to availability. Payments for green fees are to be made directly with the Pro Shop.

Lewes Golf Course

Lewes Golf Course has spectacular views. Golf has been played in Lewes’ downland course since 1896. Excellent drainage and professional maintenance of the course guarantee play all the year round, always on the main greens, and usually on grass tees.

The elevated location of the course provides panoramic view of the Sussex countryside in all compass directions. The challenge presented by the 6224 yards course is enhanced by the undulating fairways and greens and by the elements. Visitors have access to a five bay driving range and practice chipping and putting greens.

For guests staying at Pelham House, we are able to offer a fantastic green fee rate of £20.00 per round at Lewes Golf Club. This is reduced from the usual £30.00. Please ask us to book your round in at the time of making your bedroom reservation. Subject to availability. Payments for green fees are to be made directly with the Pro Shop.

Recession over as hotel has bumper bank holiday

2010-06-22T04:21:00.000-07:00

A leading Lewes hotel is celebrating after welcoming more than 1,000 people through its doors over its busiest Bank Holiday weekend ever.

The historic 16th century Pelham House Hotel is looking forward to a bumper summer after experiencing a surge in bookings as more and more people decide to stay in Britain for short-breaks and holidays.

Business Development Manager Abi Stevenson said: “We had a fantastic Bank Holiday weekend with an unprecedented number of guests.

“Flying abroad is becoming increasingly difficult what with disruptions caused by industrial disputes and the Icelandic volcano and people are rediscovering how beautiful England is.

“Lewes is a very attractive town with lots of amenities and is close to Brighton and the Downs so it makes an ideal escape destination which is great news for the town’s businesses and for the local economy in general.”

Pelham House which has 31 boutique style bedrooms is famous for its art exhibitions and varied collection of sculptures and paintings, as well as its stunning gardens and views over the Sussex Downs. Over the bank holiday weekend, nearly 600 diners ate in the hotel’s elegant restaurant, with 129 guests booking in to overnight accommodation, and almost 300 people attending events including two hotel weddings and a silver wedding anniversary.

The hotel is also renowned for its conference and meeting facilities. Mrs Stevenson added: “Like all businesses Pelham House was affected by the recession, but we are now experiencing a huge upturn in business which is very exciting.”

For more information, please visit www.pelhamhouse.com

Jane and Janet's Civil Partnership

2010-04-28T14:57:00.000-07:00

We chose Pelham House for a number of reasons. It is located in the beautiful town of Lewes with its historical interest and good transport links.

The prime function of Pelham House is a venue for Civil Partnerships and Weddings. It has been awarded 4 stars for its accommodation and provides en-suite facilities in all rooms.

It also has the space to match our needs for the day, both for those people who will be with us all day and for many more able to join us in the evening.

The real plus for this venue is that the Head Chef was previously employed at Terre a Terre; Brighton's award winning vegetarian restaurant!

We had our first get together at the potential venue on Saturday. We met the Wedding and Civil Partnership Planner (Liza). And as easy as pie, that was it……… we said yes we like this place, lets do it here.

Fairly easy really, no driving around to numerous places checking them out or scoring them, (as if I would!). Liza’s been very polite and offered us a ‘think it over’ period until early January. Probably worried we were seduced by all the fun and festivities of Winter-val or Christmas and just wanted to throw money away on this event.

Or maybe it was that she detected we’d had an argument before we left the house to get to the hotel!

We had a look around the rooms, the garden and bedrooms. They were preparing for a wedding (the traditional variety) when we were there so we could get a sense of what the place could look like and also what we wouldn’t want.

To find out more about Jane and Janet's Civil Partnership, click here.

Pelham House hosts future of fishing debate

2010-03-23T10:40:00.000-07:00

Diners in Lewes have been encouraged to develop a responsible attitude towards the seas after participating in a sustainable fishing event at Pelham House hotel and restaurant.

The 4-star 16th Century hotel, formerly Sussex Council’s headquarters, hosted a two course sustainable fish meal followed by a screening of ‘The End of the Line’ with an after dinner debate on the subject of environmentally responsible fishing on behalf of Slow Food Brighton and Lewes and the Transition Town Lewes Food Group.

Paul Morgan, General Manager at Pelham House said: “Our hotel is extremely supportive of any events that encourage local food in and around Lewes. Rather than just buying a product with a bottom line profit in mind, our idea is to try to source our food and drink sensibly. We use local beef, lamb, fish, as well as dairy products, sausages eggs, and English sparkling wine. The event encouraged people to think about where their food comes from and to make the most of tasty and environmentally-friendly food.”

Pelham House served a range of fish dishes originating from sustainable sources including smoked mackerel fillet and bouillabaisse.

Dr. Ursula Hudson, Chair of Slow Food Brighton and Lewes said: “The event was not about abstaining from eating fish, or indeed fishing, but encouraged a responsible attitude towards how people buy and consume fish. Both Slow Food Brighton and Lewes and Transition Town Lewes Food Group have similar principles in that food should taste good, be environmentally friendly and fair in terms of paying suppliers and workers. We have such fantastic food in our part of the world, which local residents can really make the most of it – if they want to.”

Wine expert gives top marks to Lewes variety at Pelham House

2010-02-12T03:14:00.000-08:00

A local sparkling wine has passed the taste test after a leading expert gave it top marks during a recent visit to Pelham House hotel and restaurant in Lewes.

Author and journalist Jonathan Ray, who contributes regular articles to the Daily Telegraph, the Spectator, the Mail on Sunday, GQ and the Saturday Telegraph, sampled the award-winning Breaky Bottom at the hotel alongside general manager Paul Morgan and winemaker Peter Hall.

Mr. Ray, a regular visitor to the 4-star 16th Century hotel, said: “Breaky Bottom is a great example of English sparkling wine. It is important to support local wine as long as it tastes good – and the Seyval Blanc grape it as good as it gets.”

Breaky Bottom, which comes from a vineyard in the South Downs five miles from Lewes, was the chosen wine of the G8 summit at Gleneagles and its Seyval Blanc 1990 won a gold medal in the International Wine Challenge in 1993.

Paul Morgan, General Manager at Pelham House said: “Last year we re-launched our new bar and restaurant in order to focus on simple and delicious food, using locally-sourced produce at a fair price. It is a great to now have regular connoisseurs such as Jonathan Ray through our doors. Lewes has a fantastic offering in terms of quality food and drink and our commitment to supporting local produce such as Breaky Bottom has ensured people come back to the hotel time and time again.”

Pelham House hotel and restaurant invests in high-quality locally produced ingredients. It recently collaborated with Slow Food Brighton and Lewes and the Transition Town Lewes Food Group to host a sustainable fish event and uses local beef, lamb, fish, dairy products, sausages, eggs and English sparkling wine in its menus.

Book early for best wedding deals

2010-01-20T03:17:00.000-08:00

Brides and grooms to be in East Sussex are being advised to book early for the best deals according to Pelham House hotel and restaurant.

Off-peak dates, outside the busy summer months, offer the most attractive rates.

Business development manager of the four-star hotel in Lewes, Abi Stevens explained: “Although we are still in the depths of winter, it is advisable to book now to secure the best deals. The key dates are Saturdays during the summer, from May to September, when most hotels charge premium rates.

“But anyone who prefers to hold their ceremony on a Saturday outside these months – or on a Friday, Sunday, or mid-week – can usually achieve a substantial discount.”

Pelham House is licensed to hold civil ceremonies and is gay and lesbian friendly. Civil ceremonies are held in the Terrace room, with views of the South Downs.

The hotel is hosting a Wedding Fair on March 28, from 11am to 4pm. It will feature everything a couple need for their special day, from dresses, suits and accessories to photographers and video makers. Visitors will be able to enter a prize draw to win a half price wedding at the fair, and will receive a glass of complimentary champagne.

Other key wedding suppliers featured at the event include florists, car hire companies, discos/musicians, wedding cake makers, suppliers of stationery, bunting and decorations.

For more information about the fair, or for bookings, please contact Liza Whiffin, wedding planner at Pelham House on 01273 485629 or weddings@pelhamhouse.com

Sussex hotel Pelham House hosts latest Ben Allen collection

2009-11-30T03:19:00.000-08:00

Tucked behind Lewes High Street lies the hidden gem, Pelham House Hotel - a stylish venue known for its varied collection of sculptures and paintings with a notable historic past.

This 4-star hotel, steeped in rich tradition and formerly used as the local county council chamber, hosts a leading in-house art gallery with a line-up of exhibitions of which many London galleries would be proud.

Currently exhibiting is renowned international modern artist Ben Allen, who is showcasing his vibrant art and fashionable prints, embellishing the bar and foyer areas of the hotel.

These contemporary pieces by Brighton-based Ben Allen, whose client list includes Levis, Virgin, Channel 5, Nokia and The Hoxton Hotel, have fast become a talking-point among visitors and diners at Pelham House.

Speaking about his invitation to show, high-profile artist Ben Allen said: “I’m extremely proud to be associated with such a distinctive art space, dedicated to supporting and displaying work of both local and national artists.

“It is the perfect setting and I relish the thought that when visitors come to the hotel and enjoy their food, they can also feast their eyes on popular artworks, including some of my own.”

Uniquely for a hotel, Pelham House has its own resident art curator, Lindsey Galpin. With a background as a painter and stained glass artist, she has infused her creativity and experience to transform the venue into, literally, a work of art over the past four years.

Blending a mix of interior art and distinctive garden sculptures, Lindsey reveals her inspiration: “We always like to have an eclectic mix of styles so as to appeal to most tastes, but the most important thing is to make it work together visually.

“The building is an amalgamation of old and new and I like to reflect this by selecting a combination of traditional and modern art pieces.

“What makes my job so enjoyable is the refreshing views and support of the hotel directors, who are very keen to promote the arts and have strong links to the industry.”

There is still time for art enthusiasts to admire a selection of Ben’s work at Pelham House over the Christmas period, but with the New Year fast approaching, Lindsey has more delights up her sleeve.

“In January we will be supporting three local artists from Firle and displaying a diverse selection of watercolours by various members of the Sussex Watercolour Society.

“This will be followed in February with the return of Graham Sendall in the foyer and new pieces from Gilly McCadden in the bar.”

A major destination for the arts, Lewes hosts the annual Artwave festival, which celebrates work of local artists and the Glyndebourne festival opera. The town is also famous for its historical Tudor house once resided in and owned by Anne of Cleves, now open to the public.

Styled on elegance and romanticism and nestled in the heart of Lewes, 4-star Pelham House Hotel and restaurant boasts 31 boutique themed bedrooms within its 16th century Sussex townhouse. Overlooking the newly recognised South Downs National Park, it is the perfect rural getaway, situated just 10 minutes away from Brighton.

In addition to its art offering, the hotel is also known for its fine dining, civil ceremonies, weddings, conferences and events. Pelham House has also lined up an exciting package of events for the festive season.

For bookings or further information, please visit www.pelhamhouse.com, email sales@pelhamhouse.com or call 01273 488600.