The New Forest Inn, Emery Down, Lyndhurst

Unlike the Swan back on the main road, the New Forest Inn is sited a little off the A35 in the village of Emery Down itself. Inside, it is a large sprawling affair well suited to the throngs of tourists (known locally as grockles) who probably pack in during the summer months. We struggled to find a table that wasn't laid out for food. Mid-afternoon on a Thursday, this all seemed a little off-putting, as the only other customers were a young couple who were also only there for a beer. They had bagged a sofa near the entrance. 3 real ales were on. I wished I'd have taken up the barmaid's offer to sample the beers before buying. The regular beer is Flack Manor Flack's Double Drop. Guests were Island Nipper & Salcombe Gold. I opted for the Nipper, which was easily the worst beer I had all day. It was on the verge of being undrinkable, but with the barmaid taking a phone call and remaining on it for most of our visit, I didn't have the opportunity to return it, apart from leaving a fair amount undrunk when leaving the pub. There was no real cider. Another New Forest pub with a nice setting, but without the beer quality to turn it into a decent drinking hole. Indeed, with the focus on dining, I doubt that I'm in the customer base that they're trying to attract.

Official site of The New Forest Inn - www.thenewforestinn.co.uk

Official site of The New Forest Inn - www.thenewforestinn.co.uk

A splendid and historic old inn, tucked away in the forest, made up of an assortment of buildings which produce a rambling collection of rooms with lots of old wood, decorated with various old bric-a-brac and pictures. Justifiably popular for food, the small car parks to the front and side quickly fill at busy times but the nearby lanes offer space at the side. In the summer there are various outdoor areas, while 4 bedrooms described as "quirky" are available. Some good draught ales from Ringwood and Flacks were available at time of visit and in top notch condition. Worth the detour.