Information about this scheme

The Wiston Estate Winery redevelopment expands the Winery’s offering as a tourist destination. New visitor attractions include a restaurant and kitchen within a sensitive restoration of two historic flint walled barns. Opportunities for direct sales are now possible within a new build shop and wine tour, taking visitors on a journey into the heart of the Winery through the barrel hall, viewing gallery and seminar room, finishing with a tasting experience within another historic barn restoration. Remodelled production & storage facilities also expand the Winery’s production capability. The restoration of the historic barns maintains a visual reference to the site’s former farm use, where the existing buildings have been retained. The demolition of an existing dilapidated storage building made space for a new courtyard at the heart of the site, breathing life into the historic barns. A new acoustic bund, gabion wall and wine storage facility provide acoustic and visual screening from the adjacent A24. Consultation with the South Downs National Park was crucial throughout. The landscape masterplan focussed on enhancing the historic farmstead arrangement - primarily hard landscaping alongside pockets of planting, chosen for their suitability for the sites existing fauna. An existing public right of way also runs through the site, which was upgraded and re-routed, requiring a carefully planned phasing to ensure it remained accessible. Local craftspeople have also been involved in the scheme, where they have been commissioned to design and provide several important features in and around the buildings. This includes water features, paintings & murals, the tasting room table, and the restaurant furniture. Since completion, the site has attracted many visitors, with excellent reviews of the restaurant and spaces created because of the project. Locally sourced and seasonal produce has formed an important part of the restaurants offering.

Judges’ Comments:

“A prime example of regenerative agriculture, keeping wider community inclusion in mind.”