The Gallerist
Haywards Heath, West Sussex, UK
Once a Georgian brewery, The Gallerist was reimagined by Sutherland Design Studio as a fittingly outré home for a culturist. Its owner — an art collector and advocate of creative types — envisaged something more offbeat for the 1850s residence: a luxe country house with a rebellious streak, where a private screening room, lawn pool, and kitchen island from the quarries of Carrara call connoisseurs of design-led lifestyle to Haywards Heath in West Sussex.
Introduction
An unorthodox country house of abstract shapes and textures, this West Sussex retreat was created to offer an atypical take on the concept of luxe living. Well-versed in art and design, the owner’s affinity for stately architecture and the simple, open-plan living of New York's Tribeca neighbourhood meant his approach to renovation was a balanced one. The result is a one-of-a-kind layout imbued with a quiet energy, in which family and friends can gather to cook and catch up, swim and swill the good kind of wine; a neuroaesthetic home designed for belonging. Georgian in the front, geometric in the back, the effect is as though some Cubist artist has moved into the classical residence and made it their own.
Inside
Here, there's no such thing as happy accidents. From the minute you enter the columned portico, each element seems to have been picked for a purpose. A dining table made from yoked together tree trunks, a two-tonne hearth stone encrusted with fossilised shells, and a private collection of fine art from the scene's up-and-comers. At its back, The Gallerist’s dramatic copper limb plays with light and volume; a countertop is fashioned from a single piece of violet-veined Calacatta marble from Italy’s Apuan Alps, a stepped ceiling rises to a triangular skylight, and a glass wall frames a mature oak, which sunset turns to the same shade of marigold as the velvet sofa. It's a living space with conviviality at its intentional core.
Outside
With Ashdown Forest (of Winnie-the-Pooh fame) and the South Downs to the east and west, Brighton and The Big Smoke to the south and north, these are sought-after coordinates. Around Haywards Heath are a medley of conservation zones and hamlets; yet its sprightly social scene makes it the kind of county town where city-lovers can still find hors d'oeuvres and plates of Pan-Asian. At home in the grounds of The Gallerist, there’s woodlands carpeted in wild bluebells, a “practically-resident” collective of deer and partridge, plus a private pool, a woodfired hot tub, and a tennis court that give this West Sussex country house a certain kind of pampered clout. Pull up a parasol, this is laissez-faire living on tap.
The Facts
- SleepsUp to 8 guests
From £4,950 per week, £3,750 per short break - Alternative group optionUp to 4 guests
- Bedrooms and bathroomsThere are six first-floor bedrooms, one with an en suite, and five with shared access to a family bathroom or family shower room. There is a ground floor WC.
View bedrooms - FeaturesOutdoor heated swimming pool (available April - October), woodfired hot tub, tennis court, and cinema room
- PetsTwo well-behaved dogs are welcome
Each pet is charged at £60 per week or part thereof - Arrivals and departuresArrival Time: 4pmDeparture Time: 10am
- FamilyBabies and children are very welcome. One cot and one highchair are available.
- PracticalitiesThere is off-road parking for eight cars, and access is via a well-maintained single-track lane with electric gates to the grounds. The kitchen has two ovens, grill, induction hob, microwave, dishwasher, boiling tap, tall fridge and two freezers. The utility room contains two Miele washing machines and tumble dryers, and storage. There is a combination of underfloor heating and radiators throughout. Please note that the pool does have an electric cover, but do exercise due diligence if you are travelling with children or dogs. There is one CCTV camera covering the gates.
- Homestay includesA luxury welcome hamper, iPad, Wi-Fi, Smart TV with Netflix and Prime, Sonos sound system, five Temple bicycles, kayaks, record player with LPs, Sage bean-to-cup coffee machine and cafetières, Somerset Grill Co charcoal barbecue, books and board games, luxury bed linens, towels, bathrobes, Cowshed and Soho Skin toiletries, and logs and kindling to get you started.House book - your property and destination guideDiscover more
- Private cateringSeeking a celebratory dinner or fully catered escape? Our recommended caterers will work with you to create personalised menus for your stay. Details are shared through our house book on confirming your booking.
- RetreatsFrom foraging weekenders to crash courses in cold-water therapy, our bespoke retreats bridge the gap between luxury and back-to-nature philosophies. Create a hand-crafted stay that puts connectivity at the fore.
- Eco-friendlyBiodiverse garden
- RestrictionsThe property is a much-loved family home, and the owner wishes for it to be enjoyed in the same capacity by families. Please note, parties are not permitted at this property.
- Other informationProperty terms and conditionsFrequently asked questions
Prices & Availability
Haywards Heath
A rural retreat near London, Haywards Heath in West Sussex blends country charm with a creative spirit. It’s an ideal base for exploring southern England´s landscapes, with trendy Brighton and the South Downs nearby.
Getting there
- On the Map This luxury country house is located outside of Haywards Heath, close to London and Brighton, set between High Weald and the South Downs.
- By Car The Gallerist is around ten minutes from Haywards Heath, half-an-hour from Brighton, and one-and-a-half hours from London by car.
- By Train Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill are ten minutes away by car. There are regular trains from Victoria with a journey time of one hour on Southern Rail. Both stations are on the Gatwick Express route.
- By Air Gatwick Airport is fifteen minutes away, Brighton Airport is half-an-hour away, London Heathrow Airport is one hour away, and Southampton Airport is one-and-a-half hours away by car.
From the owner
“We wanted to create a space where our guests could have fun together — cooking, dining, and just relaxing. The outcome was a creative, immersive space that´s full of life, artistic energy, and vibrancy.”
Welcome to our peaceful home in the countryside. The Gallerist is built on the site of a 19th-century brewery, which made use of the local fresh spring water, and has recently been redeveloped over a two-year period to become the sociable family home it is today. Our intention was to create a place where family and friends can come together and enjoy one another’s company.
No matter the season The Gallerist offers a calm and comfortable place for relaxing, entertaining, playing, and setting off on local adventures. The woodland is filled with bluebells in the spring, the gardens and pool are a dream in the heat of summer, and the hot tub and open fires come into their own in the autumn and winter.
We hope you enjoy staying here as much as we do, and make it your own home-from-home. Look out for deer in Beersop Woods, and make a game of counting the rabbits and pheasant in the garden. Children will find gymnastic rings, a trampoline, and a netball hoop to entertain while the adults are sipping Pimm’s at the poolside.
Owner recommendations
Live like a local, discovering the best hidden gem restaurants, walks and attractions during your holiday in Haywards Heath with an insider’s perspective.
To Eat
The Fig Tree, Hurstpierpoint
Named one of the best restaurants in all of Sussex, The Fig Tree in Hurstpierpoint is an elegant venue with locally-sourced produce, offering the likes of cheesecake macaron and garlic gnocchi.
To Do
Pooh Bear Woods
Nearby Ashdown Woods — a magical heathland and deer habitat once frequented by Henry VIII — is the fictional home to Winnie the Pooh. You can even visit the original "Pooh Sticks" bridge.
To See
Glyndebourne
Established in 1934, Glyndebourne is a world-renowned opera house; between May and August, it hosts an opera festival filled with open-air opera, black tie dress, and high tea picnics.
To Eat
The Chequers Inn, Horsham
A Sussex pub with an outstanding reputation for fine food, excellent wines, and hand-picked local ales. The food is simple but delicious; think burgers, mash, and chocolate mousse.
Unique extras
From private chefs to luxury at-home spa therapists and adrenalin-fuelled retreats, once you’ve booked your stay we’ll introduce you to our owner-recommended suppliers to create a truly bespoke, memorable escape.
Press
Below are a selection of features in which Unique Homestays has appeared. If you would like to feature the property in an editorial capacity, please contact the marketing team on +44 (0)1637 882014.
complete an image bank request
The best underrated trips to take in the UK
Condé Nast Traveller
July 2024The best UK staycation ideas according to Condé Nast editors
Condé Nast Traveller
July 2024The loveliest remote hotels, huts and castles in the UK for a road trip
House & Garden
June 202412 of the best new UK holiday cottages
The Times
June 202420 of the best treehouse stays in the UK
The Times
June 2024The best holiday cottages in the UK
Condé Nast Traveller
May 2024Wealthy Britons are letting their homes — but you won´t find them on Airbnb
The Telegraph
May 2024Plum Sykes´s guide to The Cotswolds
Financial Times
May 2024
Collections > Family-Friendly Self-Catering > UK > West Sussex > Haywards Heath > The Gallerist
Related Collections
Disclaimer: These particulars, whilst believed to be accurate, are set as a guideline so should not be relied upon as a statement of fact. The photographs show aspects of the property at the time they were taken and it should not be assumed that the property remains precisely as displayed. If there are points of particular importance that need clarifying before you book, please contact us.
