The Gallerist | Luxury Country House | Haywards Heath, West Sussex

The Gallerist

Haywards Heath, West Sussex, UK

Once a Georgian brewery, The Gallerist was reimagined by Jackson Design Studio as a West Sussex country house with a restorative spirit. Its owner – an art collector and devotee of the art of gathering – envisaged a home where conviviality is pride of place; long-table lunches drift from the kitchen to the pergola, afternoons unfold poolside, woodland paths lead to a secluded sauna and cold plunge and evenings conclude in the private cinema.

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Introduction

A rich and layered country house, this West Sussex retreat balances refinement with warmth and ease. Inspired by the openness of loft living in New York's Tribeca, the renovation places celebration, conversation and connection at its heart. The result is a one-of-a-kind layout imbued with a calming energy, in which family and friends can drift between swimming, whipping up meze lunches and private cinema screenings; a space for gathering as much as retreat. Whilst the Georgian façade honours the building's 19th-century origins, a contemporary copper-wrapped extension opens to the landscape, leading to the hot tub patio, pool and seven acres of meadowland and woodland beyond.

 

Inside

From the minute you enter the columned portico, each element seems to have been picked for a purpose. A generous 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 emerging artists converse with Soho Home furnishings and sumptuous textures. At its back, light pools into an open-plan space designed for hosting, where 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 honeyed marigold as the velvet sofa.

 

Outside

With Ashdown Forest (of Winnie-the-Pooh fame) and the South Downs to the east and west, Brighton and London to the south and north, these are sought-after coordinates. Around Haywards Heath are a medley of conservation zones to wander; yet epicureans are well placed to source small plates spiked with preserved lemon and a crisp glass of local Sussex sparkling. In the grounds, beyond the wood-fired hot tub and tennis court, a woodland walkway beckons guests to a private sauna and cold plunge. Languorous summer days are spent poolside – between the al fresco kitchen and cabana striped loungers – whilst the fire pit draws everyone together for sundowners, whatever the season.

 

The Facts

  • SleepsUp to 12 guests
    From £5,495 per week, £4,150 per short break
  • Alternative group optionUp to 6 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, sauna, cold plunge pool, 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
  • FamilyChildren and babies are welcome.
  • 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. Outside the property, low-level road noise may be heard.
  • 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, Hypnos mattresses, 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 cateringWhether you're looking for a fully catered stay or a one-off meal for a special occasion, discover your bespoke catering options.
    Explore private dining
  • 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

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There are gentle references to Art Deco throughout the sleeping spaces
Glass panels blur inside and out
Bedroom four has a freestanding in-room bathtub

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.

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Haywards Heath
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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.”

From the owner

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.

The Fig Tree, Hurstpierpoint

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.

Pooh Bear Woods

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.

Glyndebourne

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.

The Chequers Inn, Horsham

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Whether you're curious about pet policies, the nearest walkable pubs, or wild swimming spots, we have the answers to common property-specific queries here. For everything else, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.

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.

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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.