Bolney Wine Estate

About the venue

A family wine estate near Haywards Heath, founded in 1972 and planted with 18 acres of vines. The Eighteen Acre Restaurant seats 120 or holds 200 standing over the vineyard, and three meeting rooms take up to 45.

In 2015, a Bolney Pinot Gris became the first English wine served at Wimbledon. The estate behind it was founded in 1972 by Janet and Rodney Pratt.

They planted their first 1,000 vines a year later, across three acres. At the time it was only the sixth commercial vineyard in England. Their daughter Sam Linter joined in 1995, and Bolney went on to win UK Wine Producer of the Year in 2012.

The estate's events centre on the Eighteen Acre Restaurant, named after the vineyard it overlooks. Full-height windows and a large covered balcony face the vines, and the room seats 120 or holds 200 standing. A separate Private Dining Room takes 40 seated or 50 standing.

Business meetings use three rooms with daylight. The Cork Room and Vine Room each take up to 40 or 45 theatre-style, and TV screens and flipcharts are included.

Every event can be paired with the estate's own sparkling and still wines. Guided vineyard tours run daily and last between 90 minutes and three hours.

Haywards Heath station is ten minutes away by car, and trains from London Victoria take under an hour. Brighton is about 25 minutes' drive and Gatwick 20. Parking and electric car charging are free.

Founded in 1972 by Janet and Rodney Pratt

18-acre vineyard on a south-facing slope

Eighteen Acre Restaurant: 120 seated, 200 standing

Private Dining Room for 40

Three daylit meeting rooms

Estate-made English sparkling wine

Daily vineyard tours and tastings

Under an hour from London Victoria