Christmas at Water Lane

Christmas at Water Lane

Bloom and Burn x Water Lane
5th, 6th, 7th and 8th December
10.30am-12.30pm
£85 per person

Enjoy these festive morning sessions creating your own Christmas wreath. Using dried flowers, seedheads and other fresh and foraged materials harvested from around Water Lane, you'll create a stunning, naturalistic wreath under the careful guidance of Graeme Corbett, floral stylist at Bloom and Burn, perfectly complemented with a luxury velvet ribbon. Graeme will guide you through the process and help you create your own unique design from the cornucopia of materials made available to you. Tickets include a festive drink and mince pie.

Water Lane Christmas Fair
Make a date for Water Lane’s Christmas Fair on Friday 29th November (evening only) Saturday 30th November and Sunday 1st December, from 10am to 4.30pm. All around the site, and in the glasshouses, will be stalls from craftspeople, makers, creators and artisan food producers. There will be festive food and hot mulled drinks, to keep the chill off, available throughout the day, and the Water Lane Christmas Pantry will be fully stocked in the shop, alongside gifts and potted indoor bulbs.

Festive dining
From 28th November - 22nd December, private events and parties from eight to fifty guests will be offered Water Lane’s new festive menus, to be shared by the table, available for lunch and Friday and Saturday night supper. Plates might include Radicchio, Graceburn, clementine and roast shallots; Sonny’s Smokehouse smoked salmon, horseradish and seeded loaf; Mushroom pithivier and creamed cavolo nero; Porchetta, stuffed with chestnuts and cranberries or Turbot, brown butter sprouts and lemon mayonnaise. Christmas dining at Water Lane.

-ends-

About Water Lane

Water Lane is a walled garden on what was once the Tongswood Estate in Hawkhurst, in the High Weald of Kent. A long-term restoration project, led by custodians Nick Selby and Ian James, there is a restaurant, a large and productive garden growing vegetables, fruits, herbs and cut flowers, a small shop of useful and beautiful pieces for the home and garden, select garden plants for sale and event spaces for workshops and private celebrations.

For more information about Water Lane, interview with Nick Selby and Ian James, high resolution images or to visit the walled garden, please contact Hannah Blake at The Dining Room on hannah@thediningroompr.co.uk | 07730 039361

New dinner service at Water Lane

Dinner is served at Water Lane on Friday and Saturday evenings (credit Becca Fawn)

Dinner is served at Water Lane

Water Lane, the walled garden, restaurant and events space near Hawkhurst in Kent will be serving dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings, starting from 2nd August. Come for a dusk walk and see Water Lane in the golden hour before supper in the Carnation House. Reservations are open now. Dishes from the a la carte menu include flatbread and sorrel gremolata, beetroot borani and paprika crisps, gazpacho, courgette straws and aioli while you wait, before starters of crab, chilli and cucumber salad, sardines in saor, or crispy polenta, burrata, confit garlic and tapenade before main courses of grilled aubergine, houmous and crispy carrots, lamb cutlets, tabbouleh and chermoula or butterflied mackerel, courgettes and broad beans. Puddings are summer in full swing with gooseberry fool, cherry and almond galette and Water Lane soft serve.

Tables can be reserved between 5.30pm to 8.30pm.

-ends-

About Water Lane

Water Lane is an idyllic walled garden with a restaurant, vinery and Victorian glasshouses on the Kent and Sussex borders. A long-term project over many years to come, the site is being sympathetically transformed into a productive walled garden, by custodians Nick Selby and Ian James, with the help of Garden and Landscape designer, Jo Thompson, with vegetable beds, cut flowers, restored vinery, outside spaces and a pavilion for dining and events. The Grade II Victorian glasshouses date back to the 1800s, including a Melon House, Cucumber House, Pelargonium House and Peach Case and a Vinery, on what was once the Tongswood Estate. There is a monthly food market on Saturdays, workshops and events and seasonal fairs in Spring, Autumn, and at Christmas.

For more information, please contact Hannah Blake on hannah@thediningroompr.co.uk or 07730 039361

www.waterlane.net
Water Lane
Walled Garden, Water Lane
Hawkhurst 
Kent, TN18 5DH

The terrace at Water Lane opens for the summer on 5th June

The summer restaurant terrace at Water Lane

The terrace at Water Lane opens for the summer on 5th June

The summer restaurant on the terrace at Water Lane will open for the season on 5th June.  The covered terrace, under a huge stretch awning looks out on to the walled garden in front of the vegetable and cut flower beds. The idyllic setting is the perfect spot for a long lunch and ice-cold aperitifs, taking in the sensory pleasure of the garden in full bloom with the scent of sweet peas and roses in the air, mingled with woodsmoke from the Portuguese wood oven. On Head Chef Jed Wrobel’s sample menu are fresh peas in their pods and aioli; flatbreads lightly charred in the wood oven and topped with crushed peas, mint and goats’ curd; cucumber, brown shrimp and chervil; wood-fired mackerel and gooseberries; slow roast salt marsh lamb in ras el hanout. While there is another month or so for the soft berries and stone fruit to arrive, Jed is filling the seasonal gap with epic Knickerbocker Glories.

Visitors coming for lunch from further afield will also find Water Lane’s shop with a curated collection of practical and beautiful things for the home and garden, plus chutneys, jams and pickles from the Water Lane Pantry. There is also a small collection of potted herbs and garden plants, freshly cut flowers from the cutting garden and a collection of antique and vintage garden pieces, including time-worn French iron tables and chairs, hand-woven basketry, galvanised planters, and a collection of eastern mediterranean pots and urns, which have been sourced exclusively for Water Lane by Rye-based collectors Soap & Salvation.

“A contender for one of the most charming eateries in Kent, it’s impossible to resist the lure of this restaurant tucked away in a delightful walled garden.” The Good Food Guide

-ends-

About Water Lane

Water Lane is a walled garden on what was once the Tongswood Estate in Hawkhurst, in the High Weald of Kent. A long-term restoration project, led by custodians Nick Selby and Ian James, there is a restaurant, a large and productive garden growing vegetables, fruits, herbs and cut flowers, a small shop of useful and beautiful pieces for the home and garden, select garden plants for sale and event spaces for workshops and private celebrations.

Water Lane Walled Garden | Hawkhurst | Kent | TN18 5DH
www.waterlane.net | @water.lane

Jenny Huddart has been appointed Head Gardener at Water Lane

Jenny Huddart at Water Lane

Jenny Huddart has been appointed Head Gardener at Water Lane

Having previously been Head Gardener at The Small Holding in Flimwell and Sarah Raven’s garden in Perch Hill plus four years with the National Trust, Jenny joins Water Lane with a huge amount of experience in both growing vegetables for kitchen gardens, cut flowers and ornamental gardens.

Jenny joins Water Lane at an exciting time of growth and development of the historic site. The two-acre site is a long-term restoration project, led by custodians Ian James and Nick Selby, who are slowly bringing back the garden to its original purpose of growing fruit and vegetables. With a deep respect for the garden’s roots, Water Lane far from a pastiche of Victorian walled garden; it is a garden that will be accessible to all and have many different functions, where people can gather and learn, and where skilled teachers can share their knowledge around horticulture, floral design and artisan craft and food.

Gardening is a second career for Jenny, who after 10 years in television media research, went part-time to study for a RHS Diploma. Once qualified she started her first professional gardening position at Sissinghurst Castle Gardens, working in the vegetable garden.

Jenny comments, “Gardening has always been part of my life. From a very young age I have always enjoyed the creative element of gardening - working with nature to create something beautiful, evoking all the senses. One of my earliest memories is watching my Taid (Welsh grandfather), who was a market gardener, tend the tomatoes in the old glasshouses.”

About Water Lane

The site of Water Lane with its 13 Grade II Victorian glasshouses dates back to the 1800s, on what was once the Tongswood Estate. Working alongside Jo Thompson Garden Design and RX Architects, the whole site is being sympathetically transformed into a productive garden with 72 no-dig vegetable and cut flower beds for the restaurant and shop, and wholesale to local florists, stock and trial beds, restored vinery, outside spaces and a pavilion for dining and events. There is a weekly Produce Market & Kitchen every Saturday and seasonal fairs in Spring, Autumn, and Christmas.

Tongswoods Gardens

Water Lane was previously known as ‘Tongswood Gardens’. It belonged to the Tongswood estate, its name deriving from the Old English ‘Twang’ or ‘Tang’ meaning ‘fork of water’ in reference to the two streams of the river Rother which ran through the estate. Having passed through many families, the estate was bought by Charles Gunther in 1903. In its heyday the garden employed nine gardeners who tended the 13 Victorian greenhouses, including a vinery, peach house, melon house, fern house, fruit house and carnation house. The garden produced beautiful flowers, fruit and vegetables providing ample for the main house, the house in London and even a van of surplus for the local hospital.

-ends-

For more information about Jenny Huddart’s appointment, interview with Ian James and Nick Selby, images or to arrange a visit to Water Lane, please contact Hannah Blake at The Dining Room on Hannah@thediningroompr.co.uk | 07730 039361

Spring at Water Lane

6000 tulips and bulbs have been planted at Water Lane

Spring at Water Lane

Water Lane Spring Fair 4th and 5th May
All About Tulips and Designing a Border workshops with Jo Thompson
The Cutting Garden, Season by Season workshops with Ian James

Spring at Water Lane sees over 6000 bulbs burst into bloom, along the borders, cutting garden and the incredible Melon House border that runs nearly 30m long and 3m deep. Designed in collaboration with one of the country’s best garden designers and plantswomen, Jo Thompson, the planting scheme with its peach, pink, purple and mauve palette, starts the new season with Fritillaria, Narcissus, Crocus and Alliums, culminating in a show of Tulips including ‘Black Hero’ and ‘Rococo’.

Water Lane Spring Fair

The Water Lane Spring Fair is on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th May, for what is sure to be a brilliant weekend of food, flowers, and friends. Taking place all weekend, and across the whole walled garden site, the fair will host stalls from makers and creators for great shopping, food stalls, textiles, and craft. Shop naturally dyed homewares and accessories from Natural Dye Works; lighting and mirrors by Charlotte Packe; wooden chopping boards by Tim Plunket; French tableware and homeware from Norse Vintage; photographic prints by Katya de Grunwald; folk-inspired textiles from Susie Petrou and Turkish home textiles from Luks Linen; Scagliola bowls and vases by Paul Hale; sustainable and recycled jewellery by Alba Jewellery; pressed flower art by JamJar Edit; fresh flower bouquets and accessories by Bloom & Burn and Spring-time flower crowns with Sasha from Amongst Us.

Stallholders from Water Lane’s regular Saturday Produce Market will be at the fair on both days including Halstead Bakery, LAM, Zak's Kombucha, Basil's Funghi Farm, Cold Blow Coffee Roasters, Nightingale Cider and Water Lane’s own produce stands.

All About Tulips
With Jo Thompson & Ian James
Wednesday 24th April 10.30am to 12.30pm
Tickets £55 includes light refreshments and a bunch of tulips

A workshop to celebrate the tulip! Led by Water Lane's flower grower, Ian and garden designer and tulip lover, Jo Thompson, this morning session will look at 'all things' tulip and include a bunch of freshly cut tulips from the garden to take home.

The end of April is peak tulip season at Water Lane and the workshop will start with a guided tour of the cutting garden, with over 4000 tulip bulbs and the Melon House Border with over 2000, before sitting down in the Pelargonium House with Ian and Jo to share their knowledge of growing tulips for cutting; from where to source your bulbs, interesting and unusual varieties to look out for and different options for planting, as well as tips for harvesting. Jo will discuss some of her favourite tulip varieties and planting combinations, how to choose tulips and other spring bulbs for the border, pots, and containers.

Designing a Flower Border with Jo Thompson
Friday 21st June 10.30am to 3.30pm
Tickets £150 for the day including refreshments and a light lunch

If you have ever wondered how to go about designing the planting for a flower border in your own garden, enrol for one-day workshop, where Water Lane’s Garden Designer, Jo Thompson will be taking us on a journey through planting design, explaining methods and offering tips and tricks as well as sharing border designs she has worked on over the years. Jo has created some of RHS Chelsea's most memorable and award-winning show gardens over the last decade. This one-day workshop will use The Melon House border at Water Lane, that Jo designed and planted in 2023, as a resource and point of inspiration throughout the day.

Topics covered will include starting from scratch, reworking an existing border, position, aspect as well as soil conditions. There will be exploration of structure, seasonality, and plant selection, including shrubs, perennials, annuals and bulbs well as one of Jo's favourite topics - the use of colour. 

The Cutting Garden, Season by Season
Early Spring - 15th March 10am to 4pm
Tickets £55 including drinks and light lunch

A series of workshops throughout the year led by Water Lane’s Ian James about growing flowers for cutting, offering a practical guide to what’s to be done in the cutting garden to give you a flower filled garden, using the Water Lane cutting garden as a resource.  The series consists of 5 workshops held throughout the year; Early Spring, Late Spring/Early Summer, Mid-summer, Late Summer/Early Autumn and Winter.

From advice on seed sowing, taking cuttings and looking after your soil to harvesting and seed collection as well hints, tips and resources that give you the tools to create your own cutting garden. 

Each of these sessions (3.5 hours morning tutorial based and 2 hours practical in the afternoon) are intended for those who are new to gardening or new to growing flowers for cutting. Each session will be practically based and allow you to follow the progress of a cut flower garden throughout the year. Those attending are also invited to join a practical gardening session in the afternoon following the morning tutorial.

Subjects covered in the Early Spring session include - Planning for the year ahead, bed preparation and seed sowing, plant types to grow, Spring bulbs, Planting out, Dahlia cuttings.

-ends-

About Water Lane

Water Lane is an idyllic walled garden with a vinery and Victorian glasshouses on the Kent/Sussex borders. A long-term project over many years to come, the site is being sympathetically transformed into a productive walled garden, by custodians Nick Selby and Ian James, with the help of Garden and Landscape designer, Jo Thompson, with vegetable beds, cut flowers, restored vinery, outside spaces and a pavilion for dining and events. The Grade II Victorian glasshouses date back to the 1800s, including a Melon House, Cucumber House, Pelargonium House and Peach Case and a Vinery, on what was once the Tongswood Estate. Water Lane’s restaurant opened in 2021, alongside select garden plants for sale and a small shop. There is a weekly food market on Saturdays, workshops and events and seasonal fairs in Spring, Autumn, and Christmas.

Garden Photography masterclasss with Jason Ingram at Water Lane

Water Lane, the Victorian walled garden in Kent, is hosting a garden photography masterclass with the internationally acclaimed photographer Jason Ingram. Taking place on 20th September, this is a chance to learn from one of the best in the business with the gardens, glasshouses, vegetable, and flower beds of Water Lane as the participants’ studio. Jason has photographed gardens all over the world and his work is regularly published in books and national magazines. This exclusive workshop is full of practical advice and will dramatically improve your garden and plant photography skills.

The day starts with an inspirational illustrated talk by Jason who will demonstrate the many techniques he uses, show you how to select good subjects, frame effectively and make the most of the light conditions. Using your own SLR camera and equipment, Jason will offer advice and guidance and will give informal feedback on your work. This full day workshop includes refreshments and a light lunch.

Jason works with international garden designers and travels widely photographing gardens. His work features regularly in top garden publications. Over the past year, Jason has got to know the garden at Water Lane as he undertook a project with garden designer, Jo Thompson for Garden's Illustrated. He has been awarded Garden Photographer of the Year by The Garden Media Guild six times and Features Photographer of the Year three times.

About Water Lane

Water Lane is a walled garden on what was once the Tongswood Estate in Hawkhurst, in the High Weald of Kent. A long-term restoration project, led by custodians Nick Selby and Ian James, there is a restaurant, a large and productive garden growing vegetables, fruits, herbs and cut flowers, a small shop of useful and beautiful pieces for the home and garden, select garden plants for sale and event spaces, a weekly produce market and quarterly fairs.

For more information about Water Lane, interview with Nick Selby and Ian James, high resolution images or to visit the walled garden, please contact Hannah Blake at The Dining Room on hannah@thediningroompr.co.uk | 07730 039361

Water Lane Harvest Festival Autumn Fair

​​Water Lane Harvest Festival

Celebrate the harvest at Water Lane over the weekend of 16th and 17th September with market stalls selling crafts, vintage, ceramics, candles, and jewellery from independent lifestyle stores for homes and gardens.

Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th September
10am - 4pm
Free entry on foot or bike
£5 per car to park

Water Lane Walled Garden | Hawkhurst | Kent | TN18 5DH

The Water Lane Harvest Festival Autumn Fair will be held over the weekend of Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th September. The fair will bring together independent shops, producers and craftspeople, to sell their wares and will be set out across the site including the Carnation House and under the stretch awning on the terrace. Attending the fair will be The Natural Dyeworks, Raffman & Huckster, Flavell Trading, Norse Vintage, Bloom & Burn and many more. There will be hot food from the Water Lane kitchen team, and food to buy and take home from Water Lane Food Market regulars including Halstead Bakery, LAM and Zak's Kombucha. Bunches and buckets of cut flowers will be for sale, including dahlias and chrysanthemums, in the deep marmalade, russet and raspberry tones of early autumn.

-ends-

About Water Lane

Water Lane is a walled garden with a vinery and Victorian glasshouses on the Kent/Sussex borders, on what was once the Tongswood Estate. A long-term project over many years to come, led by custodians Ian James and Nick Selby, the site is being sympathetically transformed into a productive kitchen garden with vegetable beds, cut flowers, restored vinery, outside spaces and a pavilion for dining and events. The restaurant at Water Lane opened in early July 2021, alongside select garden plants for sale and a small shop. There is a weekly food market on Saturdays, workshops and events and seasonal fairs in Spring, Autumn and Christmas.

June at Water Lane

Elderflower custard, strawberries and madeleines at Water Lane

June in the garden of England at Water Lane, Kent

Sit under the tented awning on the Water Lane terrace overlooking the walled garden with rows and rows of vegetables, roses, delphiniums, cosmos, orchard fruit trees grown espalier against the walls, and scented sweet pea tunnel. Head chef Jed Wrobel’s new June menu captures the beauty of the season with fennel, strawberries, elderflower, tomatoes, hogget, and mackerel.

12.00 pm - 3.00 pm (weekdays)
12.30 - 3.00 (weekends)

Reservations via www.waterlane.net

June menu

Whilst you’re waiting

Water Lane garden pickles
Marcona Almonds
Gordal olives
Ricotta, chilli, almond and shaved asparagus flatbread
A glass of gazpacho

To start

Padron peppers, mangetout, rocket and romesco
Seabass ceviche, fennel, green strawberry, nasturtium 
A little chicken Caesar

Followed by

Asparagus, crushed butter beans and dukkah
Butterflied mackerel, tomatoes, lovage and spring garlic aioli
Spiced hogget skewer, coleslaw, broad bean tapenade  

With

Punched pink fir with hard herbs
Garden leaves with soft herbs  

To finish

Chocolate soft serve with hazelnut crumb
Elderflower custard with madeleines and strawberries
Ragstone, beetroot chutney and polenta crackers

-ends-

About Water Lane

Water Lane is a walled garden on what was once the Tongswood Estate in Hawkhurst, in the High Weald of Kent. A long-term restoration project, led by custodians Nick Selby and Ian James, there is a restaurant, a small shop of useful and beautiful pieces for the home and garden, select garden plants for sale, a calendar of workshops, talks and events, bi-monthly food markets, seasonal fairs in the Spring, Summer and at Christmas, and a large and productive garden growing vegetables, fruits, herbs and cut flowers.

For more news of Water Lane’s calendar of workshops, talks, and events this season, visit www.waterlane.net or sign up to the newsletter to be kept up to date.

Water Lane Walled Garden | Water Lane | Hawkhurst | Kent | TN18 5DH
@water.lane

Summer terrace restaurant opens at Water Lane

Clams with fregola, peas and coriander on the May menu at Water Lane

May menu on Water Lane’s restaurant terrace

The opening of the terrace restaurant heralds the start of summer at Water Lane. Opening the season on Wednesday 24th May, the terrace restaurant has a new menu from Head Chef Jed Wrobel, bringing sunshine and Mediterranean warmth to this corner of Kent.

On the menu is Sussex asparagus with ajo blanco and nasturtium capers; squeaky fresh radishes and their leaves and lovage butter; flatbreads cooked in the wood oven with peas, goats curd and mint; summery crab and sorrel salad; clams served over Sardinian pasta in a spiced light broth with peas; bavette with creamed chard and onion rings; punched potatoes with rosemary, thyme and garlic. While the soft berries and stone fruit from the walled garden are a little way off, there is Jed’s legendary tiramisu, plugging the seasonal gap, and a tart and fruity rhubarb and toasted almond fool.

The full menu:

- Asparagus, ajo blanco and nasturtium capers
- Pea, goats curd and mint flat bread
- Radish and lovage butter
- Chicken livers, rhubarb ketchup and thyme crumbs
- Crab and sorrel salad
- Clams, fregola, peas and coriander
- Farinata, golden beetroots, feta and chickpeas
- Bavette, creamed chard and onion rings
- Rhubarb fool
- Tiramisu

-ends-

Wild About Scented Geraniums at Water Lane

Cath Kidtson at Water Lane

Wild About Scented Geraniums with Cath Kidston Padgham MBE and Jo Fairley

Thursday 8th June
11am - 12.30pm
£25 per person including coffee and cake, or £55 to include a two-course lunch and either a glass of wine or cordial

Buy tickets HERE

Join designer Cath Kidston Padgham MBE, in conversation with fellow entrepreneur and fragrance lover, Jo Fairley in the Carnation Glasshouse at Water Lane, where they'll chat about Cath's passion for pelargoniums, fragrance and the garden, which led to C.Atherley, her new bath and beauty brand. 

C.Atherley is a body care brand which expertly captures the magic and soothing fragrance of scented geraniums. Dreamt up by Cath, the name Atherley, which once belonged to her maternal grandmother, now comes prefixed with a C for Cath and is an homage to their love of gardening and flowers.

Jo Fairley is one of the UK's leading female entrepreneurs. After becoming the UK’s youngest-ever magazine editor, she set out on her entrepreneurial journey in 1991, founded Green & Black’s, The Perfume Society and now edits the Beauty Bible.

The ticket can also include a light lunch and drink in the Water Lane restaurant after the talk at a combined price of £55. This will include two courses and either a glass of wine or a homemade cordial.

Following the talk there will also be the opportunity to take a short, guided tour of the Water Lane Cutting Garden.

For more news of Water Lane’s calendar of workshops, talks, and events this season, visit www.waterlane.net or sign up to the newsletter to be kept up to date.

About Water Lane

Water Lane is a walled garden on what was once the Tongswood Estate in Hawkhurst, in the High Weald of Kent. A long-term restoration project, led by custodians Nick Selby and Ian James, there is a restaurant, a small shop of useful and beautiful pieces for the home and garden, select garden plants for sale, a calendar of workshops, talks and events, bi-monthly food markets, seasonal fairs in the Spring, Summer and at Christmas, and a large and productive garden growing vegetables, fruits, herbs and cut flowers.

Water Lane Walled Garden | Water Lane | Hawkhurst | Kent | TN18 5DH
@water.lane

Menu inspired by Joyce Molyneux at Water Lane

A menu inspired by the writings and recipes of Joyce MolynEUX

A menu inspired by the writings and recipes of Joyce Molyneux is the third instalment of the Menu Series at Water Lane. The third, and final chapter, in the series draws inspiration from British chef Joyce Molyneux, who was born in 1932, and was the first woman to receive a Michelin star at her restaurant The Carved Angel in Dartmouth, Devon, which she ran until her retirement in 1999. In her obituary The Good Food Guide described her as a legendary chef who led the way for women in restaurants; long before it became the norm, she championed local producers, fisherman and farmers. Writing in The Telegraph in 2003, Jan Moir wrote, “Joyce Molyneux was at the forefront of growth in modern British cooking.”

The Menu Series launched in January with recipes inspired by the works of Claudia Roden, followed by Simon Hopkinson.  

The Summer terrace at Water Lane will reopen on 3rd May, weather permitting.

The Joyce Molyneux Menu

Two Courses £27 (starter & main or main & pudding)

Three courses £32 (starter, main & pudding)

Lunch

12.30 pm - 3.00 pm

Nibbles

Garlic and parsley flatbread (VE) £5

Water Lane Garden Pickles (VE) £4

Gordal Olives (VE) £3

Salsify straws and aioli £6 

To start

Violette Artichokes & hazelnut vinaigrette

Mussel, spinach and crispy shallots

Chicken, citrus, salad cream and crumbs 

Followed by

Wild garlic gnocchi, pine nuts and golden raisin

Rolled pork belly, purple sprouting broccoli and tapenade

Mackerel with fennel, mint and chilli salad 

Sides

Pink fir, caramelised onions and Winnie’s Wheel

Garden leaves dressed with garden herb dressing (VE) 

To finish

Saffron and honey creme brûlée

Chocolate mousse with brick wafer

Baked goats’ cheese with Water Lane chutney & polenta crackers

About Water Lane
Water Lane is a walled garden with a vinery and Victorian glasshouses on the Kent and Sussex borders. A long-term project, the site is being sympathetically transformed into a working kitchen garden with vegetable beds, cut flowers, restored vinery, outside spaces and a pavilion for dining and events.

During the Winter months the restaurant is in the heated Carnation glasshouse. In the summer, it moves to the outside terrace, overlooking the vegetable and flower beds. The menu at Water Lane reflects its sense of place in the English countryside with a short and often-changing seasonal menu by head chef Jed Wrobel. Much of the restaurant produce is grown in Water Lane’s vegetable beds or sourced from organic and biodynamic farms. Meat is from pasture raised herds and day boat fish is from nearby Hastings and Rye. 

Water Lane Menu Series Two - Simon Hopkinson

Marmalade sponge pudding and blood orange custard by Jed Wrobel

Water Lane Menu Series Two – Simon Hopkinson

www.waterlane.net

During the early months of 2023, Water Lane’s head chef Jed Wrobel is writing the Carnation House menus by drawing inspiration from some of his favourite cookery writers. The series launched with sunny warmth of Claudia Roden; for the second menu in this series, he looks to the honest, nostalgic and anecdotal words of Simon Hopkinson. ‘A classically trained chef with the heart of a home cook’, his writings transport the reader to the comforting and enlivening experience of food and flavours. Often hailed as the ‘food writer’s writer’, his critically acclaimed books include Roast Chicken and Other Stories and The Prawn Cocktail Years, which demonstrate his natural understanding of ingredients, his practical approach to cooking, and his love of good food. Seasonality is at the core of his recipes, and the Water Lane menu celebrates his influence alongside what the garden has to offer in March. Simple cooking with the best possible ingredients.

2 Courses £27 (starter & main or main & pudding)
3 courses £32 (starter, main & pudding)

To start
Beetroot soup with a horseradish dumpling
Eggs mayonnaise with anchovy and chive
Chicken livers, parsley salad with garlic dressing

Followed by
Risotto Milanese, grilled leeks and almonds
Smoked haddock fishcakes with sauce messine
Mutton shoulder with fennel dressed in plum and Pernod
Plat du jour – Whole plaice, winter greens and three-cornered leek butter (£6 supplement)

With
Carrot, raisin and parsley salad £4.50
Potatoes and Winnie’s Wheel £5.50
Garden leaves with garden herb dressing £4

To finish
Coffee granita with cream
Marmalade sponge with blood orange custard
Stilton, pickled pear and hazelnut crumble

About Water Lane
Water Lane is a walled garden with a vinery and Victorian glasshouses on the Kent and Sussex borders. A long-term project, the site is being sympathetically transformed into a working kitchen garden with vegetable beds, cut flowers, restored vinery, outside spaces and a pavilion for dining and events.

During the Winter months the restaurant is in the heated Carnation glasshouse. In the summer, it moves to the outside terrace, overlooking the vegetable and flower beds. The menu at Water Lane reflects its sense of place in the English countryside with a short and often-changing seasonal menu by head chef Jed Wrobel. Much of the restaurant produce is grown in Water Lane’s vegetable beds or sourced from organic and biodynamic farms. Meat is from pasture raised herds and day boat fish is from nearby Hastings and Rye. 

-ends-

Cookery writer Winter menu series at Water Lane, Kent

Clam, haricot and green garlic at Water Lane, inspired by Claudia Roden

New Winter Series with menus inspired by the writings and recipes of some of Water Lane’s favourite food writers and cooks

Water Lane walled garden, Water Lane Hawkhurst, Kent, TN18 5DH
www.waterlane.net | @water.lane

Water Lane has launched a series of set lunch menus inspired by the writings and recipes of some of Head Chef Jed Wrobel’s favourite food writers and cooks. The series has launched with recipes from Egyptian-born British food writer, Claudia Roden. Best known for her Middle Eastern cookbooks including A Book of Middle Eastern Food and Arabesque - Sumptuous Food from Morocco, Turkey and Lebanon, Claudia’s food is full of warmth, sunshine and flavour. In the heated Carnation House at Water Lane, try Burnt leeks and cobnut tarator and Taramasalata, farinata and radishes before Clams, haricot and green garlic or mutton meatballs, kalettes and orzo. For pudding, blood orange flan and poached rhubarb or spiced rice pudding and butter baked bramley apple.

Next in the series is British food writer and chef Simon Hopkinson. Hailed as the ‘food writer’s food food writer’, Simon led the kitchen of Terence Conran’s Bibendum in the late 1980s, before leaving the restaurant trade to concentrate on cookery writing, notably Roast Chicken and Other Stories, which was declared ‘the most useful cookbook of all time’ by Waitrose magazine. Jed’s take on Hopkinson’s classic Southern French cooking includes dishes such as Beetroot dumplings with horseradish cream, Grilled pork belly and chicory gratin, Seabass and fennel a la Grecque and Junket pudding with rhubarb and vanilla. 

Two courses for £27
Three courses for £32
Lunch is served Wednesday to Sunday, 12-3pm.

About Water Lane
Water Lane is a walled garden with a vinery and Victorian glasshouses on the Kent and Sussex borders. A long-term project, the site is being sympathetically transformed into a working kitchen garden with vegetable beds, cut flowers, restored vinery, outside spaces and a pavilion for dining and events.

During the Winter months the restaurant is in the heated Carnation glasshouse. In the summer, it moves to the outside terrace, overlooking the vegetable and flower beds. The menu at Water Lane reflects its sense of place in the English countryside with a short and often-changing seasonal menu by head chef Jed Wrobel. Much of the restaurant produce is grown in Water Lane’s vegetable beds or sourced from organic and biodynamic farms. Meat is from pasture raised herds and day boat fish is from nearby Hastings and Rye. 

-ends-

Meet the Makers at Water Lane Christmas Market

Meet the makers at the Water Lane Christmas Market

Saturday 3rd December and Sunday 4th December
10am - 4.30pm
Water Lane Walled Garden, Water Lane, Hawkhurst, Kent, TN18 5DH
Free entry on foot or bike, or £5 per car

@water.lane | www.waterlane.net

The Water Lane Christmas Market is on the first weekend of December and will showcase a diverse and eclectic range of items for the house, garden and kitchen that are original, handmade or vintage, including ceramics, clothing, jewellery, wooden and willow crafts, bread, cheese and wine. The stalls have been carefully curated valuing quality over quantity, function and beauty, with a slower paced and small production ethos.

In addition to the home and garden stalls are some of Water Lane’s favourite food producers selling artisan breads, cheese, eggs, charcuterie and handmade chocolates, natural wines and Water Lane’s own produce table laden with local vegetables, honey, jams, chutneys and preserves, olive oil and sauces, shrubs and cordials, apple juice, Pump Street Chocolate and Christmas puddings. Christmas trees from Hole Park will also be on sale at the Market, which go on sale from Saturday 26th November.

The stalls

Norse Vintage | Rae Lifestyle | Torsten van Elten | Jumping Mouse Goods | Bloom & Burn | Sughanda | Melanie Ostler | Bear and Born | Phoebe Connolly | Josephine Doolan |
Running Stitches | Glass House | Havelock Studios | Common Clay | Sussex Willow | Craft Basketry | Kitty Clogs | Evie May Adams

Food stalls

Tillingham | Blackwood Cheese | L.A.M | Indi Farmer
To the Rise Bakery | Rowdy and Fancy Chocolate

@water.lane | www.waterlane.net

Meet the makers

The Water Lane Christmas Market will showcase a diverse and eclectic range of items for the house and garden that are original, handmade or vintage. Visitors will be able to browse and buy from stalls offering ceramics, clothing, artisan food and wine and vintage homeware. Read on to find out more about some of the stall holders.

LAM Food & Fibre will be bringing their eggs, meat and sheep skin rugs to the Market. LAM is a project established by a farmer and fashion designer to create a regenerative food, fibre and fashion system on their small-scale, mixed farm in the AONB North Downs of Kent, rearing native breeds of cows, sheep, pigs and chickens. They are making the link between farming and fashion, utilising the whole animal to produce meat and eggs, as well as wool fibre for that is yarn dyed with flower pigments.

To the Rise Bakery is an artisan and European style bakery in Eastbourne. Founded by three sisters they specialise in 100% sourdough bread using carefully sourced, organic and local ingredients. Get to the market early because these baked goods, such as sourdough loaves, sausage rolls, focaccia, almond croissants, stollen and pear and frangipane tarts, will sell out fast!

Rowdy and Fancy handmade chocolates are our new favourite treat. Based in their Forest Row workshop, the team are passionate about top quality ingredients, unique and delicious flavours – and keeping our planet green. The chocolates are hand-tempered and hand-wrapped in Rowdy and Fancy’s unique Adam and Eve packaging.

Rae Lifestyle is a bricks and mortar store in our favourite town of Rye. Alexa has curated a beautiful collection of homewares sourced in the UK and Europe, for the home and daily life. At the heart of Rae’s collection are rustic vintage interior pieces, complemented by a selection of modern independent maker collections, as well as Rae's own in-house label. All brands are carefully selected with Rae’s focus on ethical and sustainable products as well as loving what they do. 

Jumping Mouse Goods is a maker of bespoke leather goods and will be coming all the way from Devon to the Market. Designed and made by Adam Kelsake these everyday use leather goods, such as satchels and day bags, are simple yet beautiful.

Running Stitches sells an extensive range of vintage kantha quilts and homewares. Based in mid-Wales, Tanya’s love of fabric started with training in textiles, before travel to India ignited a life-long love affair with Kantha. Each item is unique and responsibly and sustainably sourced, offering the very best in quality and craftsmanship.

Melanie Ostler is a Sussex based jewellery designer. After a career in commercial jewellery buying, Melanie is now settled in the South Downs, where she designs and makes her own pieces. Drawing inspiration from an eclectic mix of ancient jewellery, and textures found in nature and everyday objects, Melanie loves to work with silver and gold, often combining the two in the same piece along with precious and semi-precious stones to create simple yet beautiful jewellery.

Havelock Studios is the design practice in Kent of Jack Havelock Bailey, specialising in high quality furniture, products and objects rooted in concept and purpose. Jack believes that the enjoyment of life can be improved with simple, beautiful and functional design and uses both traditional and modern manufacturing techniques, embracing and developing manual crafts as well as digital. He will be bringing turned wooden pieces, such as bowls, plates, chopping and serving boards to the Market.

Discover Water Lane with Jo Thompson and Ian James

Dahlias and cosmos in the border designed by Jo Thompson at Water Lane, Hawkhurst, Kent (credit Maria Bell)

Discover Water Lane in Hawkhurst, Kent and spend a morning with Jo Thompson and Ian James

Saturday 5 November, 10am-12pm
Tickets are £10 and include a welcome drink and cookie
Book Tickets

On Saturday 5 November, garden and landscape designer Jo Thompson will be in conversation at Water Lane, in Hawkhurst, Kent. Listed by House and Garden and Country Life as one of the country’s top ten garden designers and plantswomen, Jo Thompson is one of the key partners working with the Water Lane team to develop the historic site into a garden for the 21st century.

Jo will be in conversation with Ian James, one of the custodians of Water Lane, as they explore Jo’s plans for the transformation of the two-acre walled garden. Their joint ambition is to create a garden for all, combining recreation, dining, experiences, and education. During the event on 5 November, Jo will share the approach she and her team have taken to the brief of ‘making the garden fit for the 21st century whilst respecting its history of being a productive garden’. She will also lead a tour of the garden, along with Ian James, to highlight how the changes to the garden will take effect over the coming years.

Ian James from Water Lane says, “We are thrilled to be working with Jo Thompson and her team. She brings a sympathetic and holistic vision that marries with our plans for Water Lane, slowly bringing back the garden to its original purpose of growing fruit and vegetables. Water Lane is not a pastiche of a Victorian walled garden. We are respecting its roots, but we want the garden to be accessible to all and have many different functions. Our aim is to create a democratic place where people can come and learn and where skilled teachers can share their knowledge around horticulture, floral design, any kind of artisan craft and food.”

Jo Thompson says, “The extensive and long-term restoration vision for Water Lane, led by Nick Selby and Ian James, is a garden designer’s absolute dream. I am excited to peel back the layers of this historic site and truly understand its history as a horticultural masterpiece.  This is not just any restored walled garden project but a chance to re-imagine Water Lane the ‘place’, respecting its past glory as well as making it an inspirational and welcoming garden for the 21st century and beyond.”

-ends-

Address: Water Lane Walled Garden, Water Lane, Hawkhurst, Kent, TN18 5DH
Instagram: @water.lane
www.waterlane.net

About Water Lane
Water Lane is a two-acre walled garden with a vinery and Victorian glasshouses. A long-term restoration project over many years to come, the site is being managed by custodians Nick Selby and Ian James, who previously created and ran Melrose and Morgan, a grocery store and kitchen in North-West London. The site of Water Lane is a historical horticultural masterpiece with 13 Grade II Victorian glasshouses dating back to the 1800s on what was once the Tongswood Estate. Working alongside Jo Thompson Garden Design and RX Architects, the whole site is being sympathetically transformed into a productive garden with 72 no-dig vegetable and cut flower beds for the restaurant and wholesale to local florists, stock and trial beds, restored vinery, outside spaces and a pavilion for dining and events.

The plans will progress in phases and will include a rose ‘orchard’ with bulb meadow; a quince tree avenue through the green gates of the pedestrian entrance; perennial and stock beds in the south quadrant; follies and wall borders, a fruit cage pergola; children’s natural play; a forest garden and sculpture trail, nuttery and educational spaces.

About Jo Thompson
Jo’s designs are wide ranging - from residential family gardens, historic landscapes, public spaces and country estates to restaurant roof gardens, rooftop terraces and urban boltholes. Other current projects include working with Iford Manor in Wiltshire and the restoration of Highgate Cemetery in London with Gustafson Porter + Bowman. Jo Thompson is a member of the RHS Gardens Committee and Garden Advisor for RHS Rosemoor, an RHS judge, as well as being a member of the RHS Show Gardens Selection Panel. She lectures both nationally and internationally and is a visiting tutor at the London College of Garden Design.