5 of the best pubs in the New Forest
While the New Forest may be among the UK’s smallest national parks, it's certainly one of the most beautiful – with a range of great attractions and plenty of natural wonder to discover. It also boasts fantastic pubs, too.
In-between exploring the stunning scenery and outdoor activities that the New Forest has to offer, you’ll need to stop for refreshments – and no visit to the area is complete without enjoying a drink or a meal at one of the best pubs in the New Forest.
Here are five of the best in the area.
Best pubs in the New Forest
Below are five of the best pubs that the New Forest has to offer – each with delicious fresh food made using locally sourced ingredients, well-stocked bars with award-winning cask ales and beers, faultless, friendly service and wonderful atmospheres – all experienced in characterful buildings steeped in history.
The Alice Lisle, Ringwood
Nestled at the heart of the New Forest, The Alice Lisle is a rural haven that boasts a truly gorgeous location with food to match. Its location in Ringwood makes it the ideal spot for lunch if you're walking or cycling through the New Forest and, with views of several lakes, it’s a scenic spot for a drink or a delicious meal – which you can enjoy in the dining room, outdoor terrace or garden.
With a premium food menu inspired by its beautiful surroundings, the pub’s award-winning chefs produce locally-sourced dishes perfectly accompanied by its wide range of refreshments. The menu is a modern take on classic dishes, with an imaginative and ever-changing specials board and Sunday roasts with all the trimmings. Catering for the younger palate too, the pub’s bespoke children's menu uses the same quality ingredients as the adult version, but with dishes they’ll love.
Website: The Alice Lisle
Tel: 01425 474700
Location: The Alice Lisle, Rockford Green, Ringwood, New Forest, Hampshire, BH24 3NA.
Dog friendly: Yes
Family friendly: Yes, there is a kid's menu and playground.
Carparking: Free carparking is available onsite.
View The Alice Lisle's food menus.
The White Buck Inn, Burley
The White Buck Inn is a charming country house in Burley which is the perfect base for exploring the beauty of the New Forest. The child-friendly pub has a stunning beer garden and an outdoor playground for the kids, and, with its boutique hotel rooms, it’s also the perfect spot for a romantic escape.
With a reputation for outstanding food, The White Buck is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a children's menu and traditional roasts on Sundays. From gourmet sandwiches to sumptuous steaks, everything is home-cooked by its team of talented chefs using fresh, locally-sourced Hampshire produce wherever possible.
The White Buck Inn is also handily located near the best attractions in the New Forest. There's mountain biking, fly fishing, shooting and walking among some of the activities at-hand, making it a great place to eat, drink and stay in the New Forest.
Location: The White Buck, Bisterne Close, Burley, New Forest, Hampshire, BH24 4AZ.
Website: The White Buck, Burley.
Tel: 01425 402264
Dog friendly: Yes
Family friendly: Yes, there is a kid's menu + outdoor playground.
Carparking: Free carparking is available onsite.
View The White Buck's food menus.
The New Forest, Ashurst
True to its name, The New Forest pub and restaurant is nestled in the New Forest. Blessed with gorgeous vistas to feast your eyes on, the pub also serves-up some of the best food in the area, boasting an extensive menu of locally-sourced dishes accompanied by a bar stocked with premium drinks and beer.
Close to the New Forest train station, it’s a popular meeting point for walkers, bikers and tourists that are day-tripping from London or the South Coast. Whether you're interested in a hearty breakfast before a full day of exploring, a pint, or a three-course dinner, you’ll have a great experience at The New Forest.
The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily with traditional roasts on Sundays, and it also has a bespoke kid's menu. Everything is freshly prepared from fine, seasonal ingredients, with Hampshire produce used wherever possible to help bring a little extra local flavour to the table.
Location: The New Forest, Lyndhurst Road, Ashurst, New Forest, Hampshire, SO40 7AA.
Website: The New Forest Pub & Restaurant.
Tel: 02380 292721
Dog friendly: Yes – with free treats and dog beds to use.
Family friendly: Yes – a kid's menu + play area and outdoor playground.
Car parking: Free car parking available onsite.
View The New Forest's food menus.
The Oak Inn, Lyndhurst
Right on the edge of the New Forest National Park and just outside the village of Lyndhurst sits The Oak Inn, a charming traditional family-friendly pub which is a popular stop for walkers, cyclists and explorers in the New Forest.
Steeped in history, the building has been a pub for more than 150 years. During WW2 it was a popular meeting place for foreign and allied servicemen who were based at military sites in the area, and the pub’s low-beamed ceilings, bare floorboards and open fireplace adds to its historic feel.
The Oak Inn’s menus provide a range of traditional British pub food with a modern edge – serving a range of delicious meals made using local New Forest and Hampshire produce. Open for lunch and dinner, the pub also has a bespoke kid's menu as well as locally renowned traditional Sunday roasts.
Location: The Oak Inn, Pinkney Lane, Bank, Lyndhurst, Hampshire, SO43 7FD
Website: The Oak Inn, Lyndhurst.
Tel: 02380 282350
Dog friendly: Yes
Family friendly: Yes – a children’s menu.
Carparking: Yes – free carparking onsite.
View The Oak Inn's food menus.
The Fox & Hounds, Lyndhurst
Your hunt for the perfect pub in the centre of the New Forest ends in Lyndhurst, where The Fox & Hounds serves award-winning cask ales and delicious fresh food from a historic former coaching inn. Sink into a sofa by the fire or bask outside in the sun-soaked terrace, where you can enjoy a tasty pub meal and a drink or two.
The pub makes local produce the hero on its menu, offering a truly local dining experience. Hampshire is home to some of the finest produce in the country, and The Fox & Hounds showcases it as much as possible on its menus. Its meat comes from the award-winning Owton’s Butchers of Southampton, and the eggs are from Fluffett’s Farm just down the road. The Fox & Hounds is open for lunch and dinner with traditional roasts on Sundays. There’s a great children's menu, too.
Location: The Fox & Hounds, 22 High Street, Lyndhurst, Hampshire, SO43 7BG.
Website: The Fox & Hounds Lyndhurst.
Tel: 02380 282098
Dog friendly: Yes
Family friendly: Yes – there is a children’s menu.
Carparking: Paid parking is available nearby.
View The Fox & Hounds food menus.
Visit the New Forest’s best pubs
Don’t settle for second best when planning your refreshment stops in-between exploring the beautiful vistas of the New Forest. Enjoy the best food and drink the New Forest has to offer, by adding a breakfast, lunch, dinner, or drink stop to your itinerary at one of the great pubs mentioned above.
Click here to find a pub near you.