Markets & Events

If food and drink is one of your things then you will love to get hands-on with some of our fantastic food events and browse our regular markets for tasty treats.

Our what’s on pages will give you more information on upcoming events, however the following will give you some inspiration to get your taste buds running wild…

Top food and drink events
 

Keep your diary free for the annual Hampshire Food Festival during July which features events within The New Forest as well as further afield. Look out for cookery demonstrations, tours and talks at various locations within the National Park, including at some of our luxury hotels such as the Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa and Lime Wood as well as at the popular Mill at Gordleton. There are opportunities to meet some of the local producers that work so hard to offer the best local produce including local cheesemakers, wine producers, pork pie makers and brewers.

Be sure to check out the food and drink stands and the big marquee at the New Forest and Hampshire County Show which takes places annually for three days in July in Brockenhurst. Many of the stands feature local producers so it’s a great opportunity to pick up local meats, cheeses, cakes and sweet treats.

The Lymington Seafood Festival has become a popular addition to the calendar. Taking place on a weekend in August, this festival brings with it cookery demonstrations, live music and the opportunity to sample some of the area’s seafood delights. Plus don’t fear if you are a vegetarian or a meat eater, there are many other types of food and drink also on offer.

Some of our local hotels offer themed evenings where you can sample particular types of food or drink or can sit back and relax whilst watching some music or entertainment. Events like this regularly take place at Burley Manor, Careys Manor Hotel and Montagu Arms Hotel.

Cookery schools
 

Perfect for those wishing to improve their cookery skills or simply to start out on a culinary journey, our cookery schools offer you relaxed and informal ways to explore the world of food.

There are a handful of cookery schools within The New Forest including one in the luxurious surroundings of Chewton Glen Hotel, which features regular cookery workshops and demonstrations from celebrity chef, James Martin.

There is also a cookery school at the uber-foodie hotel, Lime Wood which is headed up by Iain Longhorn. Look out for seafood courses as well as ones for the children during the school holidays. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro, there are a wide-range of cookery courses available.

The New Forest Cookery School is located in Brockenhurst College, in the heart of the National Park. Here, courses include things like afternoon tea, fabulous fish and knife skills, all part of the adult learning programme that is on offer to both local residents and visitors alike.

Near Lymington, The Granary Kitchen Cookery School and private dining is run by chef, Christian Rivron. The granary setting provides a relaxed setting for learning new cookery skills in order to help mimic recreating them in your own home. Courses vary from fish and shellfish to Christmas made easy workshops.

Food Markets
 

You’ll find regular weekly markets featuring fresh produce at Lymington, New Milton, Hythe and Ringwood where you can pick up fruit and vegetables, meat and dairy produce as well as cakes, bread and more.

Ringwood is also home to regular Hampshire farmers’ markets where you can buy fresh produce direct from the producer. A great place to pick up your meat, fish, fruit and vegetables.

Look out for other themed markets which head to Hythe, such as the French market, where you can pick up cheeses, patisserie and other treats from the continent.

Other food events
 

Look out for seasonal menus, tasting evenings, small food markets and special events nights at some of our restaurants and pubs as well as other food and drink events occurring in and around the New Forest.

Take a Walking Picnic whereby you are taken on a guided walk of the New Forest before stopping for some of our finest local produce and be sure to stop by at the Burley Fudge Shop for their changing fudge flavour of the month.

Keep an eye on our what’s on pages for forthcoming events or take a look at our listings below for some more inspiration on what’s happening over the next few months. Keep checking back as events are regularly added. Plus if you are organising a food and drink event and would like it to be featured you can submit details of it here.

Also, don’t forget to purchase your Go New Forest Card in advance of your visit for just £10. The card gives you money-saving discounts of many of our attraction, places to stay and restaurants and cafes in and around The New Forest.