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Denmans Garden

Denmans Garden

Denmans Garden
4
Speciality & Gift ShopsGardens
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Under new management since 2018, award-winning Denmans Garden is the former home and garden of internationally reknowned landscape designer, John Brookes and features unusual plants, ponds, a walled garden, and conservatory. It also features many forms of gravel gardens which were started by Joyce Robinson, the garden's founder, in 1970 and developed further by John. A peaceful and stunning 4 acre garden, nestled at the foot of the Sussex South Downs, that has been greatly restored with restoration efforts underway. The garden won Gold in the 2021 South and Southeast East in Bloom Competition, and was named a Finalist in the RHS Partner Garden of the Year 2021 competition. Denmans is open Thursdays for free to card-carrying RHS members.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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  • Dave
    Whitley Bay, United Kingdom2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great few hours.
    Apart from the weather, being warm and dry and sunny, gardens are a joy to wander round, a lot to keep you interested. Extremely helpful staff on reception, even to the point of finding a plant (which was going to be dug up anyway...wee bit invasive) in the garden that was not available for sale...but we needed up with one. Brilliant service and great couple of hours.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 8 October 2023
  • Hampshire24
    208 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Well worth a visit
    It has been over ten years since I last visited and the garden has been transformed! It's a lovely, tranquil spot with much to see and plenty of places to sit, considering its relatively modest size. It's nice to see a more modern garden design and the planting is interesting. There is a good cafe, a gift shop and a nursery with a good selection of vintage pots and bird baths etc for sale.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 31 March 2024
  • Becky H
    Hastings, United Kingdom366 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful gardens
    Very beautiful gardens with plenty to see even in the early spring. The customer service was excellent too with the woman working in the shop really lovely and happy to share the history of the gardens and site in general with us. Will definitely be visiting again during the different seasons to see how the garden changes.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 3 April 2024
  • Cindy S
    Chichester, United Kingdom119 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Don't miss this gem of a garden.
    How have I missed this gem of a garden? Several of us took a guided two hour tour today and although I am not much of a gardener I love gardens and this one is small in comparison to some but beautifully structured and maintained. The passion and dedication of Gwendolyn, our guide, who describes herself as the Custodian of Denmans is obvious and she knows the history of the garden and its previous owners in some detail. Fascinating Lunch in the cafe subsequently made the whole visit perfect. I too shall be returning to see how the colours and plants change over the seasons and I won't make the mistake of overlooking Denmans again.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 26 April 2024
  • Sandy H
    Barnham, United Kingdom45 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful setting Delicious Caesar Salad
    Beautiful setting Delicious Caesar Salad This café is just off the A27. Heading West take the first turn on the left after Fontwell Park Racecourse. I went just before 1.00pm on the Tuesday after the first May Bank Holiday Monday. Lovely alfresco dining (there is a conservatory too). The garden setting is very interesting. To explore the garden in detail would require an entry fee. A very good balance of cos lettuce chicken bacon and Parmesan with just enough Caesar dressing. Two very friendly and efficient waitresses. Find a table ( note the number) Look at the menu and choose Go to the counter and order and pay A short wait A delicious meal I definitely recommend this cafe
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 7 May 2024
  • Peter J
    Chichester, United Kingdom465 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    super garden
    Visited with my wife after a gap in time of around 15 years. It is much improved over the state it was in before, it's obvious that a lot of care has gone into it. The plant shop too is in much better state. We had tea in the cafe which was nice too. I will come again
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 14 May 2024
  • Sian Wilson
    Southampton, United Kingdom999 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great gardens with lots of variety.
    Came here last week as we had a day off work We really enjoyed the gardens. It’s not bad £9.00 each and there’s a lot of variety of plants and trees. I especially liked the tropical green house, pond and rose garden. You can tell that this garden is looked after and cared for. I would come back again. The staff are informative and friendly.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 17 June 2024
  • Nigel H
    Wrexham County, United Kingdom21 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Interesting garden in strange location!
    Nice, informal garden. Lots of interesting plants but no name tags on anything so it was all guesswork as to what you were looking at! Access road a bit weird - you have to drive through a rather scruffy run-down mini industrial estate to the car park. We thought we could have lunch at the cafe but it had been virtually taken over by a large party so we set off for somewhere else! Plenty of outdoor tables available but as the weather was either very sunny or hammering down with rain, we thought better.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 8 July 2024
  • JOHNSUE M
    16 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Do not drive past.
    Even the unpredictable summer weather could not dampen the beauty and serenity of Denmans Garden. It is not a large garden but for what it lacks in size it makes up for in atmosphere. We have driven past this place for over 40 years and this was our first visit. We will now go for each season. The owners are very hands on and are charming people.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 16 July 2024
  • Charles W
    16 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A very pleasant way to spend a day out
    A haven of peace just off the race track that is the A27. The gardens are beautifully laid out and well supplied with seats so you can sit and enjoy the design and planting. There is a very good cafe serving good food, and an excellent little shop with a range of eclectic stuff. The volunteers are very helpful. It is on the flat which helps the seniors
    Visited September 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 19 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles210 reviews
Excellent
90
Very good
48
Average
29
Poor
31
Terrible
12

Dennis T
London, UK102 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
Even in January, Denmans is an intriguing modern garden with an emphasis on exotic plants like palms and euphorbias, though we also saw homelier flowers of the season such as snowdrops and cyclamen. Varied statues, areas of gravel and blue benches surprise the eye here and there. Entry is free for all visitors during January, so hurry along! We had a nice Sunday roast lunch in the tea room, which has a view of the garden, although I must say that the beef was a bit tough. There is also a small nursery selling plants.
Written 26 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jane
18 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Solo
As the sun was glorious I decided to walk to Denman's with Wolfie, my dog and we had a lovely time. I was delighted that this dog friendly tea rooms was now truly dog friendly. Previously, dogs were not allowed into the area where you go to order your food, which was always was problematic when popping in on my own. The staff are charming and very helpful and so we did manage. However, this morning was different, Wolfie was allowed into the ordering area and it made the whole experience more relaxing and enjoyable. I could study the delicious array of scones, cakes and the board explaining the range of coffees and teas and daily specials. There was an interesting and extensive selection of soft drinks too. Had I needed gluten free that was also catered for. I chose my usual mocha and a toasted tea cake - something I hadn't had for years, both were super.

It being January, there was free entry into the garden, so Wolfie and I continued our walk in there, before returning on our homeward journey. I enjoyed taking some photographs of the snowdrops, crocus, hellebores and some of the more sculptural looking plants. It was very relaxing and I also had an interesting chat with the gardeners who gave me some fun insights about the garden. So in conclusion, I had a creative, cultural and tasty morning out and I am planning to return to the cafe with a friend next week and then my 4 stars may become 5, as it is always nicer to have a coffee accompanied with a chat.
Written 28 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How lovely to hear that you and Wolfie had a good visit to the gardens as well as the tea rooms. We changed our policy about dogs in the coffee bar where you order your food just for the reason you outlined -- impossible for someone stops by solo. It's good to know that we did the right thing...and fun to hear that you saw the snow drops etc. There are loads now but only a couple of years ago they were few and far between. With all the work that has been done to cut back overgrown shrubs and put the garden back to rights, light is falling in areas where dark shade used to rule. As a result long-dormant bulbs (and roses, if you can believe it) have been popping up unexpectedly. It is a huge reward to the gardeners for all their hard work. We look forward to your return!
Written 7 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Gillian R
Storrington, UK35 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022
I love going to Denman's - it's such a friendly place and the staff are clearly devoted to its wonderful family heritage and justly very proud of it. Recently it's made improvements, following the sad death of the original founder, extended its plants for sale area, and added a beautiful natural area with bug and bee hotels. Forget the big brash garden centres and nurseries, the staff have made the plant display area so appealing with lovely old urns and containers, beautiful plants and associated paraphernalia. However, the lovely main Denman's gardens look so gorgeous any time of the year, and if you want to while away a blissful afternoon, they are so compact that in 45 minutes you can see all there is to see. Although if you wish to linger for, which is highly recommended then a couple of hours is perfect. You won't be disappointed.
Last week when I visited, we called in for coffee and lunch, followed by tea in the beautifully designed café/restaurant, where I've often previously called into.
Unfortunately, this was disappointing. Not the food or the venue itself, but purely because of the rudeness of (I presume) the Manager. We had already eaten and had coffee there and returned for tea. Yes, it was 3.30pm and yes, we were aware it closed at 4pm. However, the pot of tea I was given was barely lukewarm so I politely mentioned it, and it was kindly replaced by a lovely hot pot. This meant that I needed more milk but when I apologetically asked for a smidgen more, the Manager sighed theatrically and brusquely informed me that they were closing in 3 minutes. Moreover, he chastised me like a small child and said: 'You already knew that because you asked earlier, and then decided to go to the gardens after eating lunch'. With that he walked off. I didn't get my milk, even though technically they were still open, and therefore had to abandon my fresh tea. If the tea had been hot to start with, it wouldn't have delayed us leaving before closing. In my experience, if someone has ordered food and drink within opening hours, you don't deny them the right to consume it.
Bad form. I will not be returning to the restaurant.
Written 13 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ClevelandGolfinggirl
Cleveland35 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
We saw several very historic and well known gardens, but this was my favorite. Although not as large as Sissinghurst or Great Dixter, there was a special quality to this garden that is difficult to capture in words. You feel like you are stepping into someone's personal and private vision. The pathways lead the eye to more intimate areas of beauty and the gravel garden is so unique and well planted. There is a lovely gift store and plant shop with the healthiest specimens! We felt so at home and were treated so warmly. This was an experience that I could not have missed. We drove way out of our way, but it was worth the trip. Even my non gardening husband liked this garden best of all and this was a gardening tour vacation.
Written 30 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lin117
Brighton, UK200 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Couples
A stunningly beautiful garden. Only 4 acres but packed with a fantastic array of plants.
It was lovely to hear the history of the gardens from staff who were very welcoming and obviously passionate about the gardens and the restoration work that has been done.
We really enjoyed our time there and hope to return again to view it in the summer months too.
The garden had a real serenity about it.
The gift shop, plant sake and lovely cafe/ restaurant all added to a very enjoyable morning.
It was great that dogs are also welcome.
We felt the price to get in was reasonable - but thought maybe a yearly membership offer might be nice and a slightly more affordable way to encourage visitors to return more regularly through the months?
Thanks you to staff for being so welcoming.
Written 26 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ted Harnser
Norwich, UK29 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023
Such a delight to wander in a 'proper' garden.

Denmans Gardens isn't one of these over tidy, highly manicured and immaculate 'gardens' that are so pristine you wonder that people are even allowed to walk its hallowed footpaths lest they spoil the view.

No. It's a garden as it should be. Full of nooks and crannies, secret places, light and shadow-and as many plants that you'll end up exclaiming' '...what is this?' as you'll find anywhere.

And a garden for wildlife. Which is crucial-because without the wildlife, or, to be more exact, bees, we won't have any more gardens like this-unless you prefer the concrete and rubble urban 'themed' monstrosities that are championed at RHS shows these days, cold and characterless with no form, no function and no point.

Dig some soil over. Plant things. Let them grow. And let people enjoy what you are trying to do.

That's what they do here. Which is as it should be.

Nice café too....
Written 12 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rob W
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
My partner arranged this as part of a birthday surtprise. Upon arrival a table by the window had been reserved for us with a greeting card which allows free access to the gardens, for both of us, for a year. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Everything was served on delicate, lovely bone china, with good, well filled sandwiches, fresh scones with obligatory cream and jam and a good selection of cakes. Having had a large breakfast, we were unable to eat everything but this was no problem either... they packed them so we could bring them home..... they even provided treats for the dog who was with us at all times. Exceptionally happy with everything
Written 5 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Clare B
Chichester, UK27 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2020 • Couples
Having lived locally for the past few years, Denmans Garden was not somewhere I had thought to visit. However, I had done it sooner. I’m not a gardening buff or a garden designer, I just love wonderful gardens and this is one of those. Lots of different types of plants you don’t typically see around this area, and also laid out in a really inviting, calming and informal way.
Something different to see all year round. Good notes provided before you start your meander round to learn the history of the garden.
Interesting design, with use of natural materials to create different spaces. Definitely worth a visit and really recommend it for a stroll round. We spent about an hour perusing, time is easily lost here.
Accessibility also seems pretty good as no awkward steps or bridges so perfect for a very gentle off road wheelchair experience or someone without great balance.
The team are very welcoming and work hard looking after the many varieties of plants and trees around the place.
Written 10 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, 794clareb -- thank you so much for your lovely words. We love welcoming people to the garden who are not experts in horticulture and design as well as those who are -- it's always wonderful to be able to see the garden through our visitor's eyes and to be able to spend time with those who have questions or comments. I hope you will come back in different seasons -- winter is one of my favourite times, especially as the camelias and winter aconomites start to appear!
Written 9 October 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Cindy S
Chichester, UK119 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Friends
How have I missed this gem of a garden? Several of us took a guided two hour tour today and although I am not much of a gardener I love gardens and this one is small in comparison to some but beautifully structured and maintained. The passion and dedication of Gwendolyn, our guide, who describes herself as the Custodian of Denmans is obvious and she knows the history of the garden and its previous owners in some detail. Fascinating
Lunch in the cafe subsequently made the whole visit perfect. I too shall be returning to see how the colours and plants change over the seasons and I won't make the mistake of overlooking Denmans again.
Written 26 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Vacation830692
2 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021 • Couples
We had a free afternoon so popped over to Denman Gardens which was open to the public again. Everything was Covid complient, and due to it being out doors it felt safe and not over crowded. We were able to wonder around the gardens and admire the booming flowers and plants. The staff there were very helpful and friendly.
Written 4 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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DENMANS GARDEN (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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