As the nights draw in and the weather turns wet and wild, there’s nothing better than sitting around a table with family and friends enjoying a hearty roast dinner. The New Forest is peppered with traditional thatched pubs and restaurants who serve up delicious cuts of meat, roasted veg and huge Yorkshire puddings every Sunday.
Whether you’d prefer to work up an appetite with a pub walk, need somewhere dog-friendly, or are celebrating a special occasion, here’s our roundup of the best places for Sunday lunch in the New Forest…
Where to walk it off…
The White Buck, Burley
Go for classic roasts done really well, with dishes adorned with all the trimmings and seasonal veg. The White Buck has a super beer garden for the warm summer months and when it’s nippy, dine inside and sip a toddy in front of the big open fire. If you can heave yourself out of their comfy chairs, there are plenty of walks from the front door.
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The Red Lion, Boldre
This good-looking pub is surrounded by forest and countryside with a great walk featured on their website. The kitchen produce excellent Sunday lunches which are well received by faithful locals and visitors to the area. Hearty portions of succulent meat followed by scrumptious puddings are a just reward for those seeking a traditional Sunday Lunch along with great ales and a fine wine selection.
Gastro pubs…
The Oak Inn, Bank
The Oak kitchen sends out yummy feasts that don’t try to be clever – it’s just heavenly good food. Our advice is to forget the calories, enjoy a really good Sunday Lunch and go for a lovely walk to make yourself feel better.
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The Three Tuns, Bransgore
This place offers a stellar selection of exceptionally good dishes which wins plenty of rave reviews. Overflowing plates of scrumptious roasts are consistently reliable, often served with deliciously creative twists to the traditional meat and two veg.
Doggie friendly…
The Empress of Blandings, Copythorne
The New Forest is one of most dog friendly locations in the UK, and the Empress of Blandings welcomes your pooches with open arms. Expect hearty home-cooked roasts with richly-flavoured meat, puffy Yorkshire puds and lashings of gravy.
The Trusty Servant, Minstead
Overlooking the village green where ponies and donkeys congregate, this quintessential pub serves mighty portions of big-flavour meat, seasonal vegetables cooked ‘properly’, piles of golden crisp roasties and glorious gravy. Booking a table is advisable.
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Push the budget…
Limewood Hotel, Near Lyndhurst
Reputed to be one of the New Forest’s finest Sunday lunch venues for taste as well as surroundings. For roasts with the most, Limewood offer fun, inventive cooking with the occasional nod to an Italian approach. Expect tender, succulent meats, creative sides and sauces. It’s not cheap, but it’s good!
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The Mill at Gordleton, Hordle
Sunday roast is a sacred affair at this adored hotel restaurant. Come hungry and you won’t leave disappointed. It’s hard to beat a classic roast, but they do have other delicious options too.
Take a look at our holiday cottages throughout the New Forest.