A Major Win for Restaurant Interlude at The Hotel Cateys 2025

The win sits alongside an extraordinary set of milestones achieved by the Restaurant Interlude team over the last 12 months, including: 

• Retaining its Michelin Star 

• Retaining the Michelin Green Star for sustainability 

• Awarded AA Restaurant with Rooms of the Year – Overall for 2025/2026 

• Awarded 4 AA Rosettes 

• Ranked 49th on the National Restaurant Awards Top 100 

• Michelin Key bestowed on Leonardslee House

• Leonardslee Family Vineyards debuted at no.56 in The World’s Best Vineyards 

• Leonardslee Family Vineyards’ 2021 Brut Reserve awarded Gold at WineGB and Best Sustainable Wine Trophy

These achievements collectively reinforce Interlude’s position as one of the UK’s most distinctive and progressive destination restaurants. 
 
Led by Executive Chef Jean Delport and Restaurant Manager Anya Vorster, Restaurant Interlude offers a multi-course tasting-menu format inspired by the 240-acre private estate that surrounds it. Ingredients are foraged, grown, or sourced hyper-locally. Wines include bottles from the adjoining Leonardslee Family Vineyards which continue to gain critical and competitive acclaim. 
 
Restaurant Interlude’s approach has been described by Forbes as “like walking through the seasons with friends guiding you… with a relentless pursuit of greatness.” 

A team defined by passion, training, and innovation 

The Hotel Cateys judging panel recognised Restaurant Interlude for its uniquely integrated team model, where culinary and front-of-house staff train together learning the story of every ingredient, wine pairing, and preparation technique. 

Team members undertake ongoing vineyard and estate immersion, foraging walks, product education, and supplier visits ensuring that every interaction with a guest is informed, authentic, and deeply connected to place. 

This year’s entry highlighted: “The estate, the vineyard, the kitchen, they don’t exist in isolation. They’re all pulling in the same direction with the same obsessive focus.” 

Executive Chef Jean Delport said: 
“This award represents the heart of what Interlude stands for: teamwork, constant learning, respect for the land, and an unwavering commitment to the guest experience. I am,incredibly proud of every person who makes Interlude what it is.” 

Restaurant Manager Anya Vorster added: 
“We care deeply about every guest who steps into Leonardslee House and the Hotel Cateys award is recognition of the thoughtful service, shared knowledge, and hospitality culture we’ve built together.” 

Owner Penny Streeter OBE commented: 
“This is a brilliant achievement for the team and a proud moment for Sussex. Interlude continues to showcase that true excellence isn’t just on the plate, it’s in the people, the training, the innovation and the hospitality woven into every moment of the dining experience.”