Less than an hour from Portsmouth is the New Forest, a special place people visit from all around the world. We found an absolute gem of a pub; perfect for a rainy Sunday. The drive itself was stunning once we reached the forest, with ponies, cows and sheep roaming freely along the roads. At one point, we even had ponies wandering right outside the pub.
The Horse & Groom in Woodgreen, near Fordingbridge, serves up one of the best-value roasts we’ve had in a while. Just £10 for a small plate that came with both lamb and pork belly; a generous portion, perfectly cooked and washed down with a New England IPA on cask. Exactly what a Sunday should be about.
If you fancy a little escape from the city without going too far, this spot is well worth the trip. Portsmouth is so well connected to beautiful areas like this, making it easy to enjoy something different to the urban lifestyle.
Our New Forest tour continued with a stop at Hockey’s Farmyard Cafe & Farm Shop. From the specials board, we picked up a seriously tasty sausage roll, then tucked into a ‘Gorley’ handmade 6oz beef burger, stacked with bacon and organic cheddar in a brioche bun, served with coleslaw, chips and a salad garnish.
What makes Hockey’s special is how much they support local and family businesses, which we all know is something close to my heart. Their butchers make the burgers and sausages using meat from nearby farmers, eggs come from Claytons just a few miles away, bacon and ham from Wessex Country Gammons in Wimborne, bread from Dorset family bakers, and even the chutneys, jams and cakes are sourced locally or baked on site. The best part is you can buy it all from the farm shop right next door.
This place also serves breakfasts, lunches, cream teas and a brilliant afternoon tea which can be booked in advance; the farm is home to rare-breed British Lop pigs, donkeys, llamas, chickens and even a foal called Nemo. The shop also stocks fresh meat, seasonal veg, dairy, local cheese, wine, beer, bread and cakes. Our foodies experience at Hockey’s makes it well worth the trip, it’s a proper family-run Hampshire gem in the heart of the New Forest.
Sadly, our New Forest road trip came to an end with one last day in the area before heading back to Portsmouth. The day started with a great little find near Romsey called Headlands Farm Coffee Shop. It was discovered by my wife Jennifer, and it’s one we’ll definitely be returning to. Their all-day breakfast was excellent value and full of flavour, featuring a Hampshire pork sausage (gluten-free), thick-cut smoked bacon, free-range eggs, hash browns, tomato, mushrooms, beans and toast. It was the perfect fuel for the day ahead.
After breakfast, we explored Romsey’s many charity shops before visiting the award-winning Lemon & Jinja Refill Shop & Cafe. Since opening in 2019, they’ve grown into the UK’s largest refill stores, complete with a vegan cafe that champions sustainable living. This visit had been on our list for a while, and it certainly lived up to our huge expectations. Every product is carefully sourced, and the team’s passion for sustainability shines through in everything they do.
Trips like this remind us why the New Forest is always worth returning to; where Hampshire, Dorset and Isle of Wight farms provide some of the best ingredients you’ll ever taste. If you’re planning a foodie day out, save these recommendations for your next visit to the world-famous forest in Hampshire:
Headlands Farm Coffee Shop in Romsey, Lemon & Jinja Refill Shop & Cafe, Hockey’s Farmyard Cafe & Farm Shop in Fordingbridge, and The Horse & Groom in Woodgreen. Another top stop worth adding to the list is Haven House Inn & Cafe in Mudeford; the perfect way to end a Hampshire road trip en route home back to Pompey!
