Name: Tillingham
Item: Tillingham
Rating: 3
Author: Harden's editor

Breaking news

Grace Dent had a puzzling lunch at a large, semi-formal restaurant attached to a natural wine vineyard in “breathtakingly pretty countryside” near the Romney Marshes. Doubts set in early, with “stale focaccia” that had clearly been cooked the previous day and citrus-cured halibut that lacked “zing”, while the “amateur-hour” service made no mention of the wines being made on site.

This was a pity because there was some “great cooking” displayed in the main dishes. “Lobster linguine came topped with half a native lobster, with a good, rich, slightly piquant, glossy tomato sauce, [and was] impossible not to love.” A lamb dish was “complex”, while a “nicely cooked skate wing with brown shrimp sported a delightful beurre noisette.”

“This is a restaurant that seems to be currently working to a fraction of its potential”– a view confirmed by Grace’s dessert, a cheesecake that was clearly pre-made, with a base of digestive biscuits.

Harden's says

A vineyard with restaurant and rooms from ex-Gusbourne CEO Ben Walgate; the chef Tom Ryalls has both Moro and St John on his CV. The restaurant is open Wed-Sat for dinner, and wood-fired pizzas are available Fri-Sun at lunch.

Summary

Price*

£73

£££

Food

3

Good

Service

3

Good

Ambience

4

Very Good

* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

The “delightful dining room” with “friendly service” at former Gusbourne boss Ben Walgate’s biodynamic wine estate is just the place for a “truly memorable special occasion”, whether it’s a “superb relaxed lunch” or a “delicious celebratory dinner” (“we went on my wife’s birthday”) – while you’re there, you can “enjoy an entertaining wine tour” or stay overnight in “a really lovely room”.

Summary

Price*

£68

£££

Food

4

Very Good

Service

4

Very Good

Ambience

4

Very Good

* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

Former Gusbourne CEO Ben Walgate’s impressive farmhouse winery sits on a sweeping 70-acre estate, incorporating casual wood-fired pizza joint the ‘Dutch Barn’ and this “delightful dining room with views back to Rye”, where you pick between a two- or three-course lunch on Friday and Saturday, or tackle a five-course tasting menu by night. Zero-waste pioneer Brendan Eades of Silo fame oversees the Green Michelin Star field-to-fork cooking, which is “not fussy but simply super-tasty” (“wow…eaten with them three times in the last few months” and “every time it’s different”). They also have “very comfortable rooms” on site and you can do a “very enjoyable” wine tour and tasting too.

Summary

Price*

£68

£££

Food

3

Good

Service

3

Good

Ambience

4

Very Good

* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

On a 70-acre estate with views to Rye and the Romney salt marshes, Gusbourne CEO Ben Walgate’s farmhouse winery-with-rooms (and tents in the grounds if preferred) enjoys a “superb setting” and “the space itself is fabulous”. New chef Brendan Eades worked at zero-waste pioneer Silo, so a field-to-fork ethos prevails (already winning them a Green Michelin star); despite limited opening hours (lunch Fri-Sun, a 6-course tasting menu by night) it garners a large volume of positive reports – as does the “perfectly good” sourdough pizzeria in the barn opposite.

Summary

Price*

£68

£££

Food

3

Good

Service

3

Good

Ambience

4

Very Good

* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“Excellent food” and staff who ensure you’re “well looked after” justify a visit to former Gusbourne CEO Ben Walgate’s farmhouse vineyard with “lovely views to the sea”: it’s “not easy to find, but well worth the effort”. The project is “still in development”, but “is a beautiful location with all the right intentions”.

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Restaurant details

Childrens Facilities Highchair

Outside Tables Yes

Private Rooms 14

Dress Code No dress code

Covers 72

Tillingham Restaurant Diner Reviews

Reviews of Tillingham Restaurant in TN31, Peasmarsh by users of Hardens.com. Also see the editors review of Tillingham restaurant.

Nick F

Ate as a part of a B and B/Meal package. Sc...

Reviewed 15 days ago

"Ate as a part of a B and B/Meal package. Scallops with Jerusalem artichokes the best ever. The linguine with 1/2 a lobster stunning. The wines - you need to be an enthusiast! Midweek early winter so the large restaurant almost empty hence the loss of a point for ambience."

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Paul F

Lovely place Booked a visit yesterday (Frid...

Reviewed 6 months, 8 days ago

"Lovely place Booked a visit yesterday (Friday) quiet when we arrived but busy by the time we left. Sat on the nearest table to the kitchen. Chef has quite a large brigade for the size of the venue. Things work well and the presentation is wholly appropriate to the venue, it looks lovely and its well presented without analy attentive fixation. Flavours were very good. The choices are limited but one meat one fish and one veggie per course. As is our want, we had different options so we try a spread. Well worth a visit"

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What the Newspaper Critics are saying

The Guardian

Grace Dent had a puzzling lunch at a large, semi-formal restaurant attached to a natural wine vineyard in “breathtakingly pretty countryside” near the Romney Marshes. Doubts set in early, with “stale focaccia” that had clearly been cooked the previous day and citrus-cured halibut that lacked “zing”, while the “amateur-hour” service made no mention of the wines being made on site.

This was a pity because there was some “great cooking” displayed in the main dishes. “Lobster linguine came topped with half a native lobster, with a good, rich, slightly piquant, glossy tomato sauce, [and was] impossible not to love.” A lamb dish was “complex”, while a “nicely cooked skate wing with brown shrimp sported a delightful beurre noisette.”

“This is a restaurant that seems to be currently working to a fraction of its potential”– a view confirmed by Grace’s dessert, a cheesecake that was clearly pre-made, with a base of digestive biscuits.

Grace Dent - 2025-09-14

Prices

Set Menus
A La Carte

Availability	2 courses	3 courses
Lunch	£36.00	£40.00

Traditional European menu

Starter	Main
£10.50	£32.00

Drinks
Wine per bottle	£25.00
Filter Coffee	£3.00

Extras
Bread	£6.50
Service	12.50%

Monday	CLOSED
Tuesday	CLOSED
Wednesday	6 pm‑8 pm
Thursday	6 pm‑8 pm
Friday	12 pm‑3 pm, 6 pm‑8 pm
Saturday	12 pm‑3 pm, 6 pm‑8 pm
Sunday	12 pm‑3 pm, 6 pm‑8 pm

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Tillingham

Interesting destination for food and wine

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Harden's says

Harden's survey result

Summary

Summary

Summary

Summary

Have you eaten at Tillingham?

Dew Farm, Dew Lane, Peasmarsh, TN31 6XD

Restaurant details

Tillingham Restaurant Diner Reviews

What the Newspaper Critics are saying

The Guardian

Prices

Dew Farm, Dew Lane, Peasmarsh, TN31 6XD

Opening hours

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