Royal Oak, Lyndhurst

A lovely 'picture-postcard' country pub, with low thatched roof and roaring fire in the heart of the New Forest. The interior boasts several drinking areas plus simple but excellent food that includes local cheese and home smoked sausage. The ploughmans looked fine indeed. A fair selection of good quality ales lie within, usually sourced from Hop Back, Bowmans and Ringwood, all of which appeared to be dispensed straight from the barrel. One downside was that a couple of the other punters were a bit offish and didn't seem to like having their evening disturbed by people they didn't recognise. Otherwise this is a great place, especially if you can bag a seat next to the fire on a cold winters evening.