A care home might be the last place you’d expect to find carefully planned dishes and a jubilant atmosphere in the dining room – but Tarring Manor in Worthing is full of surprises.

The town’s newest care home is a breath of fresh. Set back from the roadside and accessed via a winding driveway under a canopy of trees, it’s a peaceful and enchanting setting for lunch.

I was given a tour of the grounds and shown the impressive array of care facilities and entertainment features inside Tarring Manor, but that’s a separate story. Let’s talk food.

The Argus: Tarring Manor, WorthingTarring Manor, Worthing (Image: The Argus)

Residents will enjoy a three-course set menu each lunchtime with a choice of two starters, three main courses, dessert and cheese.

We went for the goat’s cheese and vegetable tart. Light yet packed full of flavour, a perfect way to begin.

The ground floor dining room is one of three across Tarring Manor, all light and airy spaces with views of the trees, with attentive waiters on hand to top up water and refill drinks.

There is also a private dining room for when residents want to celebrate special occasions with family and friends. A nice touch.

The Argus: Chicken and tarragon dishChicken and tarragon dish (Image: The Argus)

For the main I tried the creamy tarragon chicken with potatoes and Mediterranean vegetables. It’s true, this is food designed for people of a certain age but that doesn’t mean it’s soft, mushy, and dull.

In fact, the chicken was delicious. The cream sauce balanced beautifully and seasoned perfectly. A lot of effort goes into making sure residents enjoy their lunches, rather than making meals a formality.

The Argus: Fruit compote dessertFruit compote dessert (Image: The Argus)

After a break, we were served dessert of fruit compote, Chantilly cream and shortbread.

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The Chantilly was not over-sweet and worked well with the tartness of the fruit. The shortbread was buttery and a great way to finish – but not before we sampled a dazzling selection of cheeses.

The chefs at Tarring Manor have designed a menu for residents that is healthy, tasty and enjoyable to eat.

This is a brilliant example of good food, done well. And what more could we ask for?

Tarring Manor is set to open later this year.