Taste the New Forest in November

Be adventurous, cosy and full of tasty delights this November in the New Forest. 

In November comes traditional local treats on and around bonfire night, including toffee apples, bonfire cake and mouth watering hot dogs! Nearly all of our towns and villages in the New Forest put on brilliant firework displays and host great bonfire nights, for residents and visitors. 

Cosy fires can also be enjoyed by spending a relaxing afternoon or evening after a day of exploring the beautiful autumnal New Forest by open fire in one of our cosy country pubs. We are so lucky here in the New Forest, with a huge choice of warm and welcoming inns, that serve unmissable pub classics, lots of which are made with local produce, as well as local ales, ciders, wines, juices and more. We can’t think of a better way to spend a cold autumn day!

Another brilliant way to enjoy lots of delicious local New Forest produce is on an autumn picnic in the New Forest. Pack up your picnic blankets, pop on coats, hats and scarfs, make a basket full of your favourite food and warm drinks and head into the New Forest to find the perfect spot to sit down, tuck in and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of our forest landscapes. Make sure you head to local shops to pick up some New Forest produce to put into your picnic basket - or pre-order a fantastic hamper from a local company, full of moreish picnic necessities. 

One of the biggest and best local food and drink events of the year takes place in November… Eats n Treats! Once again taking place at the amazing Brockenhurst College, on Sunday 28th November. This year, the event will be Christmas themed - kicking off Christmas celebrations in the New Forest! Come and sample luscious local produce, including baked goods, jams & chutneys, savoury treats, local coffees and teas, beer and loads more - there will also be lots of great local crafts there too. 

Let’s start the Christmas celebrations as early as possible this year and get together for festivities in November! Whether it’s Christmas shopping, early Christmas lunches, dinners and parties with friends, family and work colleagues, or getting involved in Christmas events, we’ve got it covered here in the New Forest - and lots of it includes scrumptious food and drink.

The practice of pannage usually comes to an end in November - unless there is an exceptional fall of acorns, meaning pannage season is extended into December - but that means we’re one step closer to getting to enjoy some pannage pork ourselves. During pannage, pigs are released onto the forest to eat up all the acorns, chestnuts and other nuts, that are poisonous to free roaming ponies and cattle, meaning not only are they saving the other animals in the forest, but some commoners choose to fatten up their pigs for eating. 

With the pannage pork and the end of the pannage season this month, our Local Produce Personality of the Month in November is Laurie Mackenzie-Platt from Fordingbridge Farm Shop.  

Our Hospitality Personality of the Month for November is Debbie Lewis from Country Inns. 

Take a look below to find out more about firework night celebrations, pubs and cosy fires, autumn picnics, early Christmas festivities, pannage, Laurie from Fordingbridge Farm Shop and Debbie Lewis from Country Inns, plus loads more foodie ideas and events taking place in November in the New Forest.