We are lucky to have a great selection of talented individuals locally, who can help make your stay in the New Forest unforgettable. Whether it’s a big celebration, or a little treat, the below will not disappoint.
The multi award winning Forest Foodie – Flora and her team deliver hampers, picnics, and drop in suppers to guests across the New Forest. Utilising some of the finest local ingredients from land and sea, they want to share the opportunity to eat so well, with visitors.
Every purchase that is made supports a local farmer, grower, baker, cheesemaker or craftsman. Where possible plant based packaging is used, and their picnics are delivered in cardboard boxes with natural wool liners.
By supporting The Forest Foodie, you will be helping with the circular economy within the New Forest to make it a better, cleaner, more eco friendly place… plus the food is delicious!
Sophie Bence does private dinner parties, holiday catering, corporate lunches, sailing lunches, shooting lunches, cocktail canapes or beautifully flavoursome platters of food for parties or large gatherings. Sophie was trained at The Bath School of Cookery and did some eleven years of events management.
Sophie does in-house catering, but predominantly offers ‘drop-off’ dishes (including afternoon teas) which are ready for you to serve yourself. The food comes in fully recyclable packaging – so no guilt at all.
07766675910
Dena Saunderson is a Cordon Bleu chef with 35 years cooking for Lord Montagu at Beaulieu’s Palace House. The family were renowned for their love of partying and with the development of the car museum came celebrities, plenty of high-teas and co-ordinating with the growing Beaulieu business.
She uses ingredients from the house kitchen garden, behind her cottage in Beaulieu. She can cook banquet food from any era from Victorian to now, but you might just ask her for wonderful ready-meals which she’s happy to do too.
Food With Lottie provides a personalised private chef experience, crafting seasonal menus that reflect each client’s tastes and the occasion. As a travel and food enthusiast, Lottie is passionate about bringing people together and spreading joy through memorable meals. Growing up in the New Forest means she knows the local area well and loves creating relaxed, restaurant-quality dining experiences at home.
The multi award winning Christian Ørner specialises in bringing the complete restaurant experience to the comfort of your home. Salt Cø. create bespoke 7 course tasting menus and bring them to you to cook, serve AND they even do the washing up.
The Trough New Forest is a creative and charming mobile catering and bar service operating across the New Forest, Hampshire, Dorset, and beyond. They specialise in delivering memorable event experiences. One of their standout features is their mobile bar, set in a beautifully converted horsebox. It offers a quirky, rustic charm and serves quality drinks with staff on hand to make every gathering more enjoyable. Alongside this, their “Amazing Grazing” catering brings delicious homemade food for both public and private events, ensuring guests are well-fed with food that’s as scrumptious as it is memorable.
The Smoking Gunn create intimate, luxe private dining and catering experiences. James Gunn brings together seasonal ingredients from the New Forest and beyond for exceptional tasting menus, cosy Sunday lunches, pop-up street food evenings, and bespoke private feasts.
Luxury and bespoke hampers of flavours from the New Forest, Hampshire & Dorset. Visit them online or in their newly opened store in Sway village. This local company deliver all over the Forest (and nationally).
01590 645722 /thesolentcellar/
The company are specialist, independent wine merchants in Lymington. They will help you choose over the phone if necessary and can deliver wine straight to the house you’ve rented through us. Owners Simon and Heather are always available for tastings and friendly advice. Simon has over ten years of experience in the wine trade and is recognised for his good taste. Heather trained as a chef at Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland and has since worked for Masterchef winner 2009 Mat Follas, also enjoying a brief time with Michel Roux Jnr at Le Gavroche. Their broad experience helps them offer a food and wine matching service.
*Solent Cellar has kindly offered our guests a 10% discount on wine. Tell them you’ve booked through New Forest Escapes and you’ll get the discount. (6+ bottles)
