Our guide to organising your stay…

Here is our short guide to all the best bits of the area, thing to do, places to eat (and drink), our favourite providers and our tips on how to live like a local during your stay.

For more information, you can visit our blogs for our Insider Guides to specific New Forest areas and interviews with some local legends.

Fine Dining

The New Forest has a huge number of outstanding foodie options, offering the best, locally sourced fair and showcasing some of the finest local talent. Below are our top 3 recommendations, but you can see our full food lovers guide to the New Forest here.

Also have a read of our blog on plant- based eateries, and those offering great vegan and vegetarian menus.

  1. The Pig, Brockenhurst

     www.thepighotel.com | 01590 622 354 |

    Great spot. Smart and beautiful, but low key with great service. You will need to book well in advance for meals but it is well worth it. They offer a 25 mile menu made with all local produce in gorgeous surroundings. Call in for tea and cake, they usually have space.

  2. Hartnett Holder & Co Restaurant at Limewood Hotel, Lyndhurst

    www.limewoodhotel.co.uk/food/hh-and-co | 02380 287 177 |

    Smart, chi chi and styled. The food is broadly Italian themed. They often do lunchtime discounts and as part of Limewood Hotel, it has a fabulous award winning spa to relax and unwind.

     

  3. The Kitchen at Chewton Glen, near Lyndhurst

    www.chewtonglen.com I 01425 275341 I

    Good at using local food. Spoily throughout, and you may even spot a celebs here.

Quality pubs and restaurants

  1. The Haven, Yachthaven Marina, Lymington

    www.havenrestaurant.co.uk | 01590 642 176 |

    The restaurant has amazing views, we prefer the cafe for food, but the restaurant can be good too. Cheaper and less formal the cafe and bar is one of our favourite family stops after a sea wall walk. Come rain or shine, this place is always busy and has a great vibe. Hot choc’s here are legendary for winter warmups. There is a (fairly) wind-free deck for summer Solent viewing.

  2. East End Arms, East End, 3 miles east of Lymington

    www.eastendarms.co.uk | 01590 626 223 |

    Owned by John Ilsley (Dire Straits Bass guitarist). Yes it’s just a pub, but it delivers again and again for a good meal out for sensible money. Dogs are welcome outside.

  3. Verveine, Milford on Sea

    www.verveine.co.uk | 01590 642 176 |

    An innovative, award-winning seafood restaurant, with in-house specialist fishmonger.  It’s well loved by many locals and worth booking early.

  4. The Old Mill at Gordleton, Hordle

    www.theoldmillnewforest.co.uk | 01590 682219 I

    Beautifully renovated, classic English with a quirky vibe.

You can view a more comprehensive guide to pubs in the New Forest here.

Cafes

  1. Coffee and Drift, Lymington

    /coffeeanddrift/

    On the Lymington Cobbles Quay area. Dogs welcome, lots of gluten free options.

  2. Cafe Velo, Ringwood

    /cafeveloringwood/

    A fun cycling themed cafe with a secure kids area. Dogs welcome!

  3. Steph's Kitchen, Beaulieu

    /steffs-kitchen/

    A great cafe and well regarded. You can eat here or do a bit of shopping. Opposite is a beautifully run, educational show garden showcasing interesting fruit and vegetable growing techniques and best practice gardening.

Catering, Drinks and Bakes.

We are lucky to have a great selection of talented individuals locally, who can help make your stay in the New Forest unforgettable. Whether it’s a big celebration, or a little treat, the below will not disappoint.

  1. The Forest Foodie

    /theforestfoodie/

    The multi award winning Forest Foodie – Flora and her team deliver hampers, picnics, and drop in suppers to guests across the New Forest. Utilising some of the finest local ingredients from land and sea, they want to share the opportunity to eat so well, with visitors.

    Every purchase that is made supports a local farmer, grower, baker, cheesemaker or craftsman. Where possible plant based packaging is used, and their picnics are delivered in cardboard boxes with natural wool liners.

    By supporting The Forest Foodie, you will be helping with the circular economy within the New Forest to make it a better, cleaner, more eco friendly place… plus the food is delicious!

  2. Sophie the Private Chef, Milford on Sea area.

    /sophietheprivatechef/

    Sophie Bence does private dinner parties, holiday catering, corporate lunches, sailing lunches, shooting lunches, cocktail canapes or beautifully flavoursome platters of food for parties or large gatherings. Sophie was trained at The Bath School of Cookery and did some eleven years of events management.

    Sophie does in-house catering, but predominantly offers ‘drop-off’ dishes (including afternoon teas) which are ready for you to serve yourself. The food comes in fully recyclable packaging – so no guilt at all.

  3. Dena Saunderson, Beaulieu and eastern side of the forest

    07766675910

    Dena Saunderson is a Cordon Bleu chef with 35 years cooking for Lord Montagu at Beaulieu’s Palace House. The family were renowned for their love of partying and with the development of the car museum came celebrities, plenty of high-teas and co-ordinating with the growing Beaulieu business.

    She uses ingredients from the house kitchen garden, behind her cottage in Beaulieu. She can cook banquet food from any era from Victorian to now, but you might just ask her for wonderful ready-meals which she’s happy to do too.

    Read our full interview with her here. 

  4. Jane Pritchard - Private Catering

    /janepritchard-privatecatering/

    Jane has over 15 years of experience, and uses seasonal and local produce to cater to any requirements. Jane is available for dinner party catering, meal delivery and small event catering.

  5. SALT Cø. Private Chef and Chocolatier, Fordingbridge, Burley and Ringwood areas.

    /salt-co/

    The multi award winning Christian Ørner specialises in bringing the complete restaurant experience to the comfort of your home. Salt Cø. create bespoke 7 course tasting menus and bring them to you to cook, serve AND they even do the washing up.

  6. The New Forest Hamper Comany

    /newforesthampercompany/

    Luxury and bespoke hampers of flavours from the New Forest, Hampshire & Dorset. This local company deliver all over the Forest (and nationally).

  7. Solent Cellar, Lymington

    01590 645722 | /thesolentcellar/

    The company are specialist, independent wine merchants in Lymington. They will help you choose over the phone if necessary and can deliver wine straight to the house you’ve rented through us. Owners Simon and Heather are always available for tastings and friendly advice. Simon has over ten years of experience in the wine trade and is recognised for his good taste. Heather trained as a chef at Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland and has since worked for Masterchef winner 2009 Mat Follas, also enjoying a brief time with Michel Roux Jnr at Le Gavroche. Their broad experience helps them offer a food and wine matching service.

    *Solent Cellar has kindly offered our guests a 10% discount on wine. Tell them you’ve booked through New Forest Escapes and you’ll get the discount. (6+ bottles)

  8. The Coastal Bakery, Milford on Sea

    /thecoastalbakery/

    Whether you are looking for a celebration cake, a sweet treat to finish off the family barbecue or the ‘pièce de résistance’ at your picnic, the Coastal Bakery has something to satisfy your sweet tooth!

Childcare help, dog walkers, and doggy daycare

Freedom Childcare Centre – /freedomchildcare/ –  The fully vetted and qualified team at Freedom Childcare offer childcare options all over the New Forest.

Sophie’s Pet Care –  /sophiespetcare/   – Covers most of the Forest.

New Forest Dog Hotel – /thenewforestdoghotel/ – Fordingbridge, Burley and Ringwood areas.

New Forest Dog Sitters (Toy & Small dog) – /newforestdogsitters/ –  Highcliffe, Fordingbridge, Burley & Ringwood

No Time To Paws/newforestnpa/ – Beaulieu & Hythe areas.

We love Pets Salisbury (walker & sitter) –  / welovepets/   – Redlynch/Downton