The Pass, in the countryside manor house hotel of South Lodge in West Sussex, has officially opened its doors to guests. 

Ben Wilkinson has permanently taken over the residency at The Pass and brings a wealth of experience to the restaurant following his success at The Cottage in the Wood, a Michelin starred restaurant with rooms in the Lake District.    

Due to the unique design of The Pass, visiting guests will get a truly immersive ‘Chef’s Table’ style dining experience focused on seasonality, clever cooking and thoughtful tasting menus. 

Ben’s seven course tasting menu brings the very best of seasonal and local produce to diners’ plates. The meal starts with a selection of canapés, followed by Wild Sea Trout with oyster and cucumber, topped with roe, tomato essence, nasturtium and prawn. 

For main, guests can choose a local Sussex Downs Venison with fennel, caper, smoke, and rye; Wild Cornish Turbot with leek, oyster mushroom, ossetra and champagne; Herdwick Hogget with turnip, peas, onions, and sweetbread. To finish, a Strawberry Ewes’ Curd with vanilla and elderflower; Hazelnut Coffee with maple and chocolate; and a selection of Petit Fours.

On the drinks menu there is a wide range of wine from all over the world, including a diverse selection of English sparkling wine, and specially curated wines from France, Austria, New Zealand and Croatia.

Diners will have the choice to add on a carefully considered wine flight, pairing the likes of a 2020 Dashwood Pinot Noir from Marlborough, New Zealand, with the seared venison and a 2019 Piquentum Teran from Istria, Croatia, with the Herdwick hogget.

Ben’s partner, Monika Zurawska (previously the Restaurant Manager at The Cottage in the Wood and Rampsbeck Country House Hotel, Ullswater) has also joined the team and is responsible for leading the front of house experience. Both are thrilled to join The Pass and bring a wealth of hospitality experience and culinary talent to the Sussex community. 

The seven-course tasting menu (plus snacks) will be priced at £120 per person. 
The five glass wine flight pairing will be priced at £85 per person.

For reservations, visit: www.exclusive.co.uk/south-lodge/food/the-pass/