Bell Inn, Lyndhurst

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A large former coaching inn on what was once a main road through the New Forest. It still operates primarily as an hotel. There is a large car park behind, some of which belongs to the Bell, the rest to the neighbouring Bramshaw Golf Club. The hotel complex includes a gym. There is a small beer garden on one side, but the traffic noise from the main road makes this less comfortable than it could be. Inside, it's clean and almost clinical, certainly well decorated in a corporate sort of manner. Two long parallel bar rooms are separated by the bar counter and main structural chimney breast, the latter opened out to form inglenooks on both sides. In addition there is a dining room at the far end. These public rooms are reached via the hotel reception desk. The young bar staff were courteous, but functional rather than congenial. The other customers were hotel guests and a couple of ladies who claimed to be gym members, though looking at them, this claim seemed unlikely. One ale on draught, Downton New Forrest Ale, which was in good condition. Also available were Neck Oil, Inch's Cider, Guinness, Amstel, Moretti, Theakstone Pale and two lagers from Heineken. Worth a pitstop, though my inclination would be to prefer the Green Dragon, immediately opposite.

On 2^nd April 2026 - rating: 6
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