Gloriette, a summerhouse cafe surrounded by beautiful gardens, opened at Borde Hill in Haywards Heath this spring.
The new cafe forms part of the estate’s Baked by Cordia project, which includes Ginkgo, a coffee shop in the garden’s visitor entrance.
Baked by Cordia is led by Green Michelin-starred chef Chantelle Nicholson and Janine Edwards, who brings with her a wealth of experience from Little Bread Pedlar, Rye by the Water and London’s Toklas Bakery.
Gloriette nestled within the gardens (Image: The Argus) Both venues offer handmade pastries including a curlicue – an enriched dough bake coiled like a fern, topped with delicious flavours.
Homemade focaccia sandwiches are also on the menu.
We visited Gloriette on a recent trip to Borde Hill to try out the delicious bakes on offer.
The cafe itself is surrounded by green, vibrant foliage, creating a peaceful and calming experience.
Two lattes from Gloriette (Image: The Argus) It was a difficult task choosing a baked good, with cinnamon and magnolia curlicue, chocolate and orange flapjack, raspberry and peach bread and butter pudding and plum and custard crumble cake on offer, as well as a range of cookies.
We went for the flapjack and plum and custard crumble cake and chose our table outside.
It was incredibly tranquil in the outside seating area, the ideal spot to enjoy our cake and lattes surrounded by nature and birdsong.
The team also hopes to transform the estate’s 118 year-old Victorian stables building into a new cafe and workshop space as part of The Cordia Collective.
The plum and custard crumble cake (Image: The Argus) There are also plans for a glasshouse restaurant.
Fuelled by our coffee and cake, we embarked on a stroll round the gorgeous estate.
We decided to try the kids’ woodland trail named The Woods of Wonder, which follows Warren the flower fairy and will run until September 7.
A tea party activity on the woodland trail (Image: The Argus) It was a pleasant walk with plenty to keep children entertained, as games and activities were set up along the way, including a tea party.
There is also an activity booklet for children to fill in, with a prize at the end upon completion.
Borde Hill is the perfect option for those looking for an end-of-summer day out with the kids, or a serene stroll around a garden paradise.
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