The New Forest from the Perspective of the Foodie!
The New Forest has always been a popular tourist spot famous for its lovely woodland walks free-roaming ponies and donkeys and lovely places to have a family picnic.
Within the forest and the surrounding area, there are hidden gems, restaurants, and shops that bring out the best in terms of sustainability and local produce.
Recently, the BBC broadcast a great programme with Fred Sirieix. Fred was taken around some of the marvelous establishments around the forest showcasing the sustainable way that they source their menus and the local produce that they use. These include the Royal Oak pub in Lyndhurst which specialises in the most amazing ploughman's lunches and the Pig in Brockenhurst.
We have been visiting for years and we have eaten in many places and have several recommendations ourselves.
The Lanes of Lymington
Nestled in a side street off of Lymington high street, sits the Lanes restaurant. The lanes are owned by Chef Peter Leyland-Jones and his wife Nicola, once leading luminaries in such renowned establishments as the De Vere Group’s Royal Bath and Belfry Hotels. The Lanes restaurant itself resides in what was formally a church and a school.
Steve and I had dinner at the Lanes for our 25th Wedding Anniversary. Nicola is friendly and is justifiably proud of her establishment. the food is incredible and well worth a visit for a special occasion.
As well as running a restaurant, Nicola and Peter also run a cookery school at the Lanes where you can go and benefit from their culinary wisdom.
If you are staying at Oakdene and would like a restaurant within walking distance, you cannot go far wrong by heading to the Woodsman. This is situated on the other side of the A31 opposite the entrance to the Camp. A footbridge is the safest way to get across.
The Woodman is a Marsden pub serving standard pub fayre.
The quality of the food is excellent and the restaurant is reasonably priced and very popular.
The George is a lovely gastro pub located on the river in Fordingbridge. The food and atmosphere are lovely. A new addition is "gastropods" which allow personal dining for up to six people.
A lovely place to eat both out by the river on a sunny day or cosied up by the fire when it is a little more chilly.
he Fighting Cocks is situated just inside the national park in Fordingbridge which means that you are very likely to be joined in your visit by ponies and donkeys. The donkeys, in particular, are particularly friendly and are always keen for a stroke or a cuddle.
The food at the pub is excellent and varies from burgers and plowman's lunches to pheasant and other game dishes.