Be sure to sample our fresh, local produce in the New Forest! You will be surprised by just how many culinary treats you will find on your travels around the forest. By buying local produce not only will you be helping to reduce your food miles (and help the planet) you will also be helping to support our local economy, helping to make the New Forest as sustainable as possible.
Whether you head to one of our farm shops or taste some tempting treats at our cafes, pubs and restaurants, where local fare is top of the menu, you will be sure to find a wide array of local produce on offer here in the New Forest.
Local food to sample
Whether you are a local yourself, or if you are here on holiday, we would highly recommend you try and buy as much of our local fare as you can. Game, mushrooms, asparagus, strawberries, seafood and alcoholic drinks are just some of the things on offer here.
Try artisan breads, homemade cakes and delicious pastries at other bakeries and cafes in Lyndhurst, including Woods Bikes and Brews.
Hockey's Farm Shop is an independent, family business which supports the local community and local producers. Here you will be able to buy local meat, which is all either from Hockey’s Farm, or produced by Andrew, in St. Ives, just outside Ringwood, freshly baked bread and pastries, local fruit and vegetables and a well-chosen selection of wines and local beers.
Try loads of delicious New Forest food and drink with incredible local hampers, including those from wonderful local business, The Forest Foodie! From traditional afternoon tea and picnic hampers, to amazing seafood hampers, plus their special 'Solent' hamper, which includes lobster, fillet of beef, crevettes and Hampshire sparkling wine. The Forest Foodie work with loads of brilliant local farmers, growers, bakers, cheesemakers and other producers across the New Forest and include their products in their brilliant range of hampers.
Take some sweet treats home with you by stopping by at Burley Fudge Shop, Fordingbridge Fudge or Beaulieu Chocolate Studio. New Forest Shortbread also makes delicious shortbread to order, homemade from Burley Rails Cottage.
Eling Tide Mill has been used for 900 years to grind wheat into flour, and it is still being used to this day! In their shop, you can buy bags of their flour to do some home baking, or you can buy delicious bread made from their flour.
Sample local cheeses from Loosehanger Cheeses, in Redlynch or Lyburn Farmhouse Cheesemakers in Landford.
New Forest Raw Milk offers milk from a self-service vending machine in Milford on Sea as well as butters and cream and in Fordingbridge you can buy milk and eggs from Witt & Son.
If you fancy some fish then look out for the Hampshire Farmers’ Markets where you might find the New Forest Smokery and Trout Farm selling their cold and hot smoked trout from their farm in Fordingbridge. Enjoy local charcuterie and even delicious pannage pork, which can be bought from local farm shops or try it at local pubs, restaurants and cafes.
Locally produced eggs, honey, jams and chutneys are available from many of our local stores.
If you are here when the New Forest & Hampshire County Show takes place in Brockenhurst then we’d highly recommend a visit to the Food Hall. Here, you will find over forty stalls, including stalls from local butchers and bakers.
Locally produced drink
Fancy a tipple? In Burley, New Forest Cider is a popular stopping point for visitors. Try the unpasteurised, real cider straight from the barrels and take some home with you. If you don’t want anything alcoholic then there’s the New Forest apple juice also available here. Locally made apple juice is also available from the Beaulieu’s National Motor Museum shop and is produced on the Beaulieu estate.
A tour of Ringwood Brewery is a must, you’ll even get to sample some of the produce in the Pin Bar as part of the two-hour tour. Or, if time’s an issue, simply pop into the brewery’s shop and pick up a bottle or two of your favourite ale. Ringwood Brewery’s ales are also on offer at many of the area’s pubs and farm shops.
Not only is there a local produce shop at Setley Ridge, you can also take away with you Setley Ridge Vineyard wine, made from vines onsite. This makes a great gift, or of course, a lovely treat for you!
Look out for other locally-produced wines from Brook Hill Vineyard in Bramshaw, Coach House Vineyard in West Wellow and Marlings Vineyard in Sway.
New Forest Marque
Make sure you look out for New Forest Marque whilst you're out in the New Forest. This membership scheme is offered to producers who fall within the boundary of the New Forest and fit certain criteria. New Forest Marque’s aim is to develop and promote the production, processing and distribution of local produce from the New Forest.
Farmers’ markets
A great place to pick up local food and drink that comes directly from the producer is at one of our Farmers’ markets.
Regular Farmers’ markets take place in Ringwood, plus look out for additional markets due to take place around the area by checking out our what’s on pages.
The regular Saturday street market in Lymington has a selection of stalls from local producers as well where you will be able to pick up freshly caught fish, local meats and cheeses. There are also regular markets in Hythe and New Milton, too.
Pubs, restaurants and cafes with a focus on local fare
Look out for pubs in the New Forest and also restaurants in the New Forest that feature local produce on their menus. Lime Wood Hotel, The Pig and Careys Manor are just some of the local restaurants that feature local produce in their dishes. Discover seasonal dishes and tempting treats using the best of New Forest produce.
Many of our cafes will make their cakes on the premises and look out for New Forest Ice Cream which is made in Lymington, it’s available from lots of the ice cream kiosks around the national park. The toughest thing will be deciding which flavour you want to go for!
Farm shops and other retailers
Another great place to get local produce is from one of the New Forest’s farm shops. You’ll find the following farm shops in the New Forest area:
So what’s stopping you? Come and sample the wide range of food and drink available in the New Forest. You can even sample a New Forest breakfast at many of our local B&Bs, hotels and inns or with a welcome pack on arrival in one of our self catering properties.
Take a look at the listings below giving you details of some of the places you can purchase our local fare and why not buy a Go New Forest Card, saving you money off places to eat, shop, visit and much more?!
