
Discover more at Scotney Castle
Find out when Scotney Castle is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
Take a moment out of your visit to relax in the tea-room with a tasty home-cooked lunch, cream tea, or seasonal treat, baked on the premises.
The tea-room serves fresh, seasonal, locally-sourced food, as well as a selection of hot and cold drinks and children's lunch box options. There’s a range of delicious hot lunches or lighter options including freshly made sandwiches, salads, soups, cakes and cream teas. Gluten-free options are also available. In season we use as much produce from our walled garden as possible.
Well-behaved dogs are allowed inside the tea-room as well in the outdoor areas. All dogs must be kept on a lead.
The tea-room is open 10am-5pm in summer and 10am-4pm in winter. The kitchen hours for full food service are 12.00–2.30pm.
As all our food and hot drinks are made to order, there can be queues at peak times. If you want to avoid the queues, we do recommend you consider either an earlier or later sitting. Outside these hours you'll still be able to purchase snacks, sandwiches, pasties and patries, scones, cakes and biscuits, and hot and cold drinks. We don't take bookings for meals nor can we reserve seating.
Our seasonal scones are back, with delights such as the rhubarb and rosemary scone, made using rhubarb from the Scotney kitchen garden, and the raspberry and ginger beer scone - moist and delicious either enjoyed neat or with a smattering of raspberry jam.
If you're more of a savoury scone person, why not try the new Red Dragon - a spicy twist on the classic cheese scone made with smoked cheddar, paprika and chilli. Or, if you're feeling creative, why not try baking it yourself?
Why not celebrate the season with family and friends by booking one of Scotney's very popular Christmas lunches? They're available weekdays in the Coach House tea-room from Monday 27 November to Friday 15 December. Take a look at the delicious festive menu and then make your reservation.
Booking is essential and please make sure that the person making the reservation knows each party member's meal choices as they will be asked to add this information at the time of booking. A £10 deposit will be taken to secure your reservation; the balance is payable by cash or card on the day.
Do remember to book your car parking too to guarantee entry to the site - you can do this up to four weeks in advance of your visit Book my car parking.
On busier days the kiosk in the Courtyard is open. The range on offer here is more limited, but if you just want to grab a quick takeaway cup of tea or Americano, or some snacks, ready-made sandwiches or ice-cream (tub or cone), this can be a good option. You can use any of the tables in the courtyard or lawn area, or you could wander into the garden to enjoy your refreshments with a view. (Please note there are no dustbins in the garden and we don't allow consumables inside the mansion house or old castle.)
An autumn or winter picnic can be great fun - think hot soup, crusty bread, chocolate brownies, and crisp fresh air to build up an appetitie. Bring lunch with you or pick up food-to-go from the kiosk or tea-room. Here's a list of our top picks of places to picnic at Scotney:
Most of the food and drink served is prepared on site in our kitchen, using a wide range of ingredients. As a result, we can’t guarantee that any of our food and drink products are completely allergen free.
If you have an allergy or intolerance and would like ingredient information about the food and drink served, please ask the staff, who will be happy to help.
Visited before? We sometimes change our recipes to improve quality and flavour, including the ingredients. When you visit, please speak to one of our team to check the current allergen information for your favourite dish.
Every cuppa or tasty treat you buy helps us to continue looking after places for everyone to enjoy.
Find out when Scotney Castle is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
From secret doors to ornate furniture and amazing collections of art, costume, books and silverware, find out about the house at Scotney Castle and how the Hussey family made it a home.
Explore the picturesque garden and wider estate at Scotney Castle, from walled garden to woodland and year-round colour.
Pick up your Pooch Passport and start collecting stamps towards a tasty treat. Take a walk through the estate together or soak up the beauty of the formal garden. Here's everything you need to know about bringing your dog to Scotney Castle, a 3 paw print National Trust place.
The days may be shorter and colder, but you can embrace the beauty of the season with clothing and home accessories in beautiful earthy ochres, soothing sea greens and smoky blues, as well as bright and cheery Christmas decorations, and delicious chocolates, chutneys and locally-produced tipples. Pop into the second-hand bookshop and discover some perfect bargain reads for winter evenings - you can even pick up pre-wrapped 'Secret Santa' mystery titles for £2.
Find out the benefits of group visits to Scotney Castle, from dedicated coach parking to guaranteed house admission and personalised garden tours.
Pick up a book from a second-hand bookshop to keep or share. Every purchase will raise funds for conservation projects at the places in our care.
Looking for the perfect gift or perhaps you're in need of some retail therapy? You can browse our full range via our online shop.