The Oak Inn in New Forest

Quite a basic menu but very well cooked and served hot. Lovely service, friendly and attentive. Limited ale selection.

Lovely traditional country pub with nice beer

Great country pub, lovely staff, fantastic service and great food 👍

Went for lunch as a large family group after a walk nearby. We had a mixture of sandwiches and main meals and all were excellent, particularly the sausage sandwiches and chips. Good drinks selection including excellent Cornish Orchards Cider. Friendly and helpful staff, we would definitely return!

1st visit for me,very nice sunday meal...and very nice friendly staff....

First time we have visited the Oak, lovely atmospheric pub, welcoming staff, food delicious. We will be back and would definitely recommend!

Rustic house or rest,very convenient stop to and from a beautiful energetic part of nature,open forest with a allure for magical!

Really nice pub, was very busy and staff working really hard, service really good and friendly. Recommended

I’ll be honest I’ve never been here, but I feel like it would be a great place to celebrate an unbirthday. I hope to make it there some day! Edit to add it seems from another review that they allow cocker spaniels & I just happen to have 2. Being kind to a cocker spaniel makes you a wonderful establishment, now I don’t have to visit to know that you are. Although I’d still love to visit.

Came here for Mother's Day and the service, surroundings and food were all brilliant. We will definitely be back!

Every time I visit this pub I’m never disappointed. The food is always exceptional, and the service is friendly and professional. You have to book early for important dates (Mother’s Day etc), and forgive me, but toilets say a LOT about a place and theirs are always clean and looked after. I’ve come with family, a small child, friends, for something special or just during a bike ride. I always leave full, and will continue to use this as my go to for special occasions or just a bang up roast!

Outstanding location. A hidden gem With outstanding customer service makes for a perfect night out.

Fantastic food but at typical pub prices for 3 courses and drinks

Loved little pub, very friendly and welcoming, food was very good and service top notch. Will definitely return next time we stay in the forest.

Good pub atmosphere, friendly and efficient service provided a great location for a family get together. All the meals were of a high standard and there was good range of choices.

Awful place to stop off at during a bike ride. I don't usually bother writing negative reviews as it’s not worth it, but I am making an exception as the staff really were aggressive and offensive. Staff rude to both my wife and I separately. Completely unnecessary. The website says “ this traditional inn welcomes visitors with warm hospitality”, but what you receive is the exact opposite. My wife, five year old daughter and I arrived during a fun half term bike ride. Stopped off and got a table outside. My wife went in and very politely asked “can we sit anywhere?” As there were lots of inside tables empty. An older Scottish or Northern woman replied aggressively “have you got a booking?”. When my wife said that she didn’t, the Scottish older woman said “there is no food for those who haven’t reserved a table” and added for no reason “the amount of times a day I have to ask that!” with a huff. Very strange indeed! I was outside and assumed that perhaps there was a misunderstanding when I heard the story. I left it five minutes and then went inside to the bar where I was asked to “wait two minutes” as the same woman was doing something at the till. When she was finally ready I asked whether I could order some food, was asked the same reservation question again and said we were just sitting outside. I was told that there was no food served to those without reservations as they were very busy. I looked around the place and there was hardly anyone in there. They then said, we have “people coming in”. I feel sorry for the people coming in, IF they ever did! I said I don’t want a seven course tasting menu, just two bowls of chips and a kids chicken nuggets and chips. We had only stopped off to get my 5 year old daughter some food anyway as she needed to eat. I was told by another equally miserable, abrasive and marginally younger woman who said “ I can do the chips but not the kids meal”. She said this as if she would be doing me the biggest favour in the world. Absolutely insane conversation with somebody in the service industry. I’ve been to thousands of pubs and restaurants over the years and have never had an experience like this. If the place was rammed full I would have understood, but this was definitely not the case. 1) if you are not resourced properly, don’t open a pub 2) if you are a completely miserable person who takes pleasure in being rude to the general public, then perhaps don’t get a job in the service or food and beverage industry. We obviously left the place without ordering even a drink and cycled further down the road to a lovely pub called The Swan, which was extremely welcoming and the food was great! We had been to The Oak Inn several times over the years on similar bike trips and eaten without a reservation without any issues. There is no mention on their website that you can only eat if you have a reservation. Probably because it would sound crazy. Will never return and advise others not to too. You can’t run a pub only on days when you are in a good mood and actually fancy doing some work! Honestly an insanely bad experience!

Perfect family dinner at The Oak after a (finally dry) afternoon in the forest. Very welcoming, food was excellent - great choices for adults and kids. Pub itself full of charm and presented gorgeously, really lovely evening - lady serving was excellent! Will be back!

On a busy and rainy lunchtime we arrived soaked after walking from near Lyndhurst. The pub was full so it took a while for the food to arrive. It was worth the wait - great sandwiches and chips. All the staff were lovely and the Manager Anita went above and beyond when we couldn't get an Uber for the way back. She insisted on driving us back to town, despite not having any reason to go there herself. Unbelievably kind. She made our day.

Repeated visit to The Oak Inn. Lovely staff and a fantastic beef roast! Thanks to Anna for her 10/10 service, we sat outside with our dog and we received great table service and good recommendations from Anna too! Thanks you 😀

Visited on Friday of half term for lunch. Quaint, pub but a bit cold at the table... kept coat on. Had beetroot soup - it was very tasty and good and hot.

Repeated visit to the Oak, this time for a Sunday lunch. Rapid service but not that impressed with the roasts which were over £20. Small amount of meat which was fatty.

I’ve tried 4 meals on the chef’s specials menu, all of which were delicious. Zoe the young lady serving us was extremely helpful. Great old English pub atmosphere.

Lovely pub with great food & brilliant staff! Very dog friendly too so they earned the 5 stars! Definitely a reason to come back to Lyndhurst!

Took my elderly mother on our 2nd visit to the Oak for Sunday lunch. The food (both mains and desserts) was outstanding. Table service provided by Lolly was friendly and faultless. This is the epitomy of a traditional New Forest Inn in an excellent location with a very warm and welcoming host. Highly recommend and we plan to visit regularly.

I have given The Oak Inn 5 stars, from the moment we arrived we were greeted with a genuine warm welcome. There was a real fire burning and candles lit on every table with fairy lights at the bar, so warm and cosy. The menu was seasonal which was a bonus as you can then tell the food is cooked to order. A good choice for all. I had the slow cooked shepherds pie which was delightful followed by the New Forest ice cream which has to be up there with the best of ice creams. My brother and and sister had the special which they both agreed was exceptional good. Most of all the service was exceptional in every way. I later found out that the couple running the bar and serving the customers were the managers. It is clear to see they are passionate and care about their customers and the surroundings inside and outside. I highly recommend this cosy pub in the heart of the New Forest.

Disappointing lunch here yesterday. The childrens fish has so many bones in that my daughter was unable to eat and the food tasted as thogh the oil needed chaging in the fryer. We had always enjoyed the food here when it was under Fullers.

Lunch for two after a lovely strut in the New Forest. Table booked online ✔️. Quality food, good service very pleasant ‘proper pub Old World’ ambience. Merely a mention… had to ask for lamb dish to be warmed up … and is it me but COLD 🥶 custard with Apple 🍏 crumble 🤔🤔🤔🤔

SUCH a great pub! My mum drove there and the rest of my family walked there from Brockenhurst and we all had a wonderful after Christmas lunch at this charming and characterful pub. They have real candles on the table and a fabulous fire too which gives such a cosy and welcoming feel to the place. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. Can't fault it! I love this New Forest pub! It is my favourite pub in the forest & I know nearly all of them! Definitely 10 out of 10! Thank you all so much!

Always greeted with a smile when we walk in by Anita and the team. Fantastic food and everyone is more than happy to help. A regular stop after walking the dog. Love coming here.

What a cracking pub! A perfect cozy warm olde-worlde atmosphere with low beams and a log fire. We were met with a warm genuine welcome. Staff were attentive and accommodating. The beer was excellent and a country themed menu ensured something for all tastes. We enjoyed a relaxing lazy lunch and all agreed we will definitely return. Thanks

I recently had the displeasure of experiencing what can only be described as the most shocking roast dinner of my life. Despite assurances that this place was known for its decent roast, my taste buds were left in a state of utter dismay. Let's start with the potatoes – bland, lifeless, and utterly tasteless. It's as if they were boiled in water devoid of any seasoning or salt. A roast dinner's success often hinges on the quality of its potatoes, and this one, unfortunately, failed miserably in that department. Now, let's talk about the beef. Oh, the horror! The supposedly succulent centrepiece of the meal turned out to be a disappointing display of excess fat. It was as if I had ordered a plate of fat with a side of beef rather than the other way around. The chef's apparent disregard for trimming the excess fat resulted in a chewy and unappetising ordeal that left me questioning the integrity of their kitchen. The accompanying vegetables did little to salvage the situation. Overcooked and lacking any semblance of freshness, they seemed to have been prepared long before they graced my plate. The once vibrant colours had faded, leaving behind a sad medley of vegetables that failed to contribute any redeeming qualities to the overall dining experience. To add insult to injury, the gravy, a potential saviour, was nothing short of a salty, thickened mess. It clung desperately to the lifeless components of the dish, attempting to salvage something salvageable, but alas, it was too little too late. In conclusion, my visit to this establishment for a roast dinner was nothing short of a regrettable mistake. I left with a heavy heart and an even heavier stomach, pondering how a place that was rumoured to serve a decent roast could fall so spectacularly short. This culinary catastrophe will remain etched in my memory as a cautionary tale – a stark reminder to trust not in reputation alone, but in the palates of those who have braved the roast dinner before you.

Lovely venue. Staff are very welcoming and friendly and the food was delicious. Great atmosphere and a very good menu. Thoroughly enjoyed our evening.

We arrived with good expectations having been to The Oak 4 years ago and found it to be very good. Sadly not so on this occasion. Fish Pie was drenched in tarragon to the point you couldn’t taste anything else, accompanied by overcooked cabbage. Local gin/tonic £8.75?! Heard that it has been the subject of new ownership 6 weeks ago. Not impressed and will not be returning.

Beautiful food, if a little cold by the window. Fireplace looked very welcoming! Great Sunday Roast stop on the Brockenhurst to Lyndhurst loop, save for the back half! Sunday roast is offered in seating slots 12-2 and 2-4.

I know prices have gone up everywhere but it seemed higher here than anywhere else we've Benn lately, especially as the food was good but not spectacular. Good service though, we will go back, it might just be us being tight!

Very friendly and helpful one of group gf very accommodating great ambience lovely food and wine fun evening

Warm welcoming country pub with lovely staff but very disappointing food..tough over cooked pigeon... Very mediocre chicken pie and cheese board served the end rind of Stilton so inedible sadly. They did say the new chef was settling in thou... So may try again to see if we can improve on this review. For £106 for two bill. Expected far better quality home cooked food.

Fantastic Sunday roast! Tad pricey but absolutely worth every penny! Great attentive service, very cosy country pub. Muddy boots and wet dog also welcome. 10/10 and looking forward to returning on our next trip the new forest. Thank you team!

Wonderful Roast Dinner, after a 2 hour wet walk we ate like royalty, the nut roast was superb. I had the pork the crackling was tops. Will be back soon. You must book ahead, some of negativity in the reviews don’t take pre booking as a given. This pub is loved.

This pub is brilliant Staff are friendly and the food is cooked well

The warm atmosphere and great beer we have enjoyed here for 20 years (visiting by bike) went flat at 10.22pm when the brusque landlady decided she had had enough and said she wanted to close early. No notice, no bell, no last orders. Others ( locals?) sat there with full pints. Such a shame.

Didn't eat but coffee and beer was served to the gallant walkers with a smile on their faces

Awesome meal, had the roast and it was really good. Service was top class as well!

Having booked a table for lunch when we turned up we were told they were fully booked and we could only eat in the outside shed. It was a very wet day and quite honestly it was too cold to have a meal out there. Very disappointed and it spoilt our day as everywhere else we tried to get a table was fully booked. Won’t be going there again in a hurry

Food was really good, cottage pie and Fish and chips were super flavourful. Will be going back as soon as we get a chance. Service was also top notch.

Well I would know more if they had bothered to answer their phone. I needed to check whether they were serving food on a Monday when the website said they were but the booking system seemed to say otherwise. I’ll never know now despite five attempts at calling over two days. Not going to bother again.

Nice pub with friendly staff. Food was generous but a mixed bag, the linguine was over-cooked.

We visited after a lovely New Forest walk. You need to book ahead as it's usually full. Great Sunday roast and service. Lovely pub.

Lovely country pub with a cosy atmosphere. My husband and I enjoyed our food and the service was very friendly. We’ll be back!

Lovely pub food. Dogs are allowed 🎉

Popped in on a whim for some lunch on a rainy Friday, place busy with a great atmosphere but fit us in with no trouble, only had a starter, but it was fantastic with a crystal clear pint of hophead on the side. Thoroughly recommend

Arrived at lunchtime today whilst out on a walk, so decided to pop in for a pint. Blackboard was set up outside, lights on inside and people sat inside at tables. As it was a lovely sunny day, we decided to sit outside and as we walked into the garden area a chap then walked towards the kitchen entrance and we said hello to him (he ignored us, then came back out again, still ignoring us). We got our rucksacks off, got the dogs all settled and went to go inside to order beer, when the miserable chap came over and finally spoke - ‘can I help you?’ to which we said yes, we just want a beer please. He then proceeded to tell us they were closed till the following day! I mean, did it not occur to him to actually tell us that in the first place?!

Such a shame, this used to be a busy vibrant pub with a great team, we are locals and would travel past other pubs to go there. In the last few years we have stopped visiting because the food, service and atmosphere have deteriorated so much... the staff don't seem to care and it shows

Waitress was incredibly impolite to us when we were asking for a table, although we were one of the first customers there

Bad experience. Staff didnt have a clue. Sat us down, the place was almost empty and they wouldn't serve food without a booking

Nice forest walks, pub has a good garden, no play area for children. Nice atmosphere very busy, beer above average price.

We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch at this bustling country pub. A relaxed atmosphere with great food and great ale. Lots of specials to choose from and a well stocked bar. We chose to eat inside but plenty of people had cycled there and were enjoying the outside area instead. We will definitely be back again.

Lovely little traditional English pub. We took refuge in here as the heavens opened and the low ceilings and warm interior were exactly what we wanted. Very cosy. We ordered the beef burger and the haddock and chips. Staff were all lovely, service was efficient, and the food itself was very good. Thanks Oak Inn team!

What a beautiful place, found it by accident but was pleasantly surprised

Very friendly staff, nice location...only had a lunch time sandwich, lovely

Good pub food in a great location within the New Forest. Would certainly go back. Popular with many.8

Lovely pub after a good bike ride through forest inclosures. Only shame was it was so so busy there were no outdoor seats (everyone else must have had the same idea) so we couldn't have food, but we had a quick drink on the green outside and saw some ponies wander past.

What a lovely pub to arrive at after a 40 or so minute walk from our campsite. Lovely friendly staff, super quick food, water for the dog. They even turned on some amazing weather for us. What's not to like?

The burger was juicy and tasty 😋 It was a perfect place for lunch after cycling around there! The garden was lovely 🌿💚 The inside of the pub has a real old pub vibe, which I love❣️highly recommend it🤩

Found this little place while trying to find another one. Lovely little quiet place. Friendly and some of the most amazing food me and my son have ever had. It's totally outstanding, and I will visit again next time we are back in the new forest.

Came here on a Sunday with my Cocker Spaniel (Casper) at 14:00 Without a reservation, the staff were very accommodating and led me to a great table. Roast dinners were still available so I ordered the Pork Roast. I have to say it was the most exquisite meal I have had in a long while and will remain in my memory for a long time. Perfectly cooked and presented! Up there with some of the finest roast dinners I have ever had! I love coming to this New Forest pub, which probably in my experience at least, comes in at the best value for money in the whole of the New Forest! I will definitely be returning many more times

We stopped there on a cycle loop and enjoyed a break and some good food. Inside looks nice and cozy, but outside is pretty bog standard. Does the job. Service was nice and staff were welcoming.

Beautiful places and food are nice, lots of spaces in and out.

Took the dogs for a walk, and then to the pub for Sunday lunch. First thing was a pint bitter shandy; didn't touch the sides. Sat in the garden before going inside for a great lunch. Food was really good, staff outstanding, all at a price that meant we had enough money for diesel to get home. Seriously, just a really good pub and food right in the heart of the New Forest.

Such a shame its a chain now! Food has gone down and service

Very nice. Unfortunately, now too popular.

Great little pub for a pint and the best chips I’ve ever tasted!!!

Food was terrible. The burger wasn't cooked properly. The service wasn't also great. We had to wait 1 hour to bring our food and make matters worse they were rude.

We have cycled to this pub many times before so we were looking forward to a good lunch. We had checked the menu before and could see that the prices had increased considerably, but were still looking forward to our lunch. We ordered a beef sandwich which wasn’t as flavourful or well filled as it should have been for the price. We also treated ourselves to scallops, which impressively didn’t taste of anything, which is a shame as we ordered them as a treat. The squid was good but we only got about 5 pieces in a portion. Overall, a great location for a pub and good service but overpriced food for what you get

Lovely place, the staff were so nice and the Sunday roast was amazing!

Wat n verassing! Tijdens onze wandeling hier gestopt voor de lunch. Heel mooie ambiance. Vriendelijk personeel goed geluncht.

Delightful evening with great company, welcoming to dogs with great food

Expected a lovely idyllic pub, the place was run down. The staff were surly, not at all welcoming. I certainly will not be visiting there again even though the sign on the way out hoped I would.

Great location and pitstop following a beautiful long walk in the New Forest. Very friendly and helpful staff

Beautiful setting, friendly service, superb food; a winning combination! There is a varied menu that has something to suit everyone's taste, you really can't go wrong at this great pub.

Lunched here after a morning walk in the Forest. Beers good as expected. I’m not a lover of Fullers pubs current menus but extras were available here and my sea bream with a cauliflower curry was very tasty. Two crispy skin fillets of sea bream were perfectly cooked.

Lovely pub just popped in for a drink can not wait to try the food

Seemed to be a busy pub, ordered a cheese sandwich, to be honest the bread was too thick... it made it difficult to eat.... but I'm sure others like doorstep bread....

Ordered a ham and a beef sandwich. Came with chips which were the best thing. Beef inedible, more stringy fat than meat and flavourless. Bread was dry for both. Sat outside, in earshot of kitchen staff constantly coughing. Real stomach turner!

Brilliant place. Everyone loved the food from starter to sweets. Great service nothing was too much. My two shih tzu's were welcome to.

Stopped here for lunch during our family cycle ride. Lovely little place and food was good

Très joli pub, parking sur place. Les plats sont succulents et les desserts à tomber

Always call in here every year we holiday in the new forest, always seems to be someone different in charge but always good service and good food.

All I can say is expensive for what we had, which was bowl of soup, fish dish, 1glass of wine 1 glass Pepsi nearly £40 won't be going there again!

Visited on a weekday - Food was as expensive as you would find in a fancy pub in Chelsea, but the execution was poor. Service was OK, nice waitress, but the bar staff were a bit stuffy. overall expensive for what you get and underwhelming. Nice interior.

Friendly staff and excellent food. A cosy and welcoming place with traditional low old beams and a fireplace; we were very pleased to get a table inside when the rain came on after a long cycle ride and we could get warmed up. The cod dish and the pork belly specials were superb and the chips were fab, crispy on the outside and fluffy inside. A great lunch, highly recommended.

Thank you for having gluten free options in your menu! Much appreciated by those with intolerances and coeliac disease.

Welcoming staff in a pleasant setting. Food is a bit hit and miss. British standards are good, but I could not recommend the crispy pork. Dry and uninspiring flavour. Giving it a 4 for front of the house staff and the ambience.

Lovely little country pub to drop in at whilst we were on the circular hiking route. We wanted to grab a second drink but the queue for the bar was too long, mainly because people were ordering food and drinks from the same place.

Lovely country pub. Extremely friendly service.

If you really want a cheeseburger, that doesn’t try to be anything but the perfect cheeseburger then this is the place for you. From just the right amount of toasting on the bun the the fresh crispness of the lettuce and juiciness of the tomato. The delightful texture and mouth feel of the burger itself, perfectly cooked, and topped with Gouda and red onion, to the burger sauce that accompanies the whole thing and rounds out the experience of the perfect burger you can pick up and eat. Worth the time and the cost If you want to start with the perfect starter, please, oh please try the twice baked soufflé with smoked haddock. A delight from the first bite to the last mouthful. If you are in the New Forest, treat yourself. You are worth it.

Stunning little pub, tucked off the beaten track in the New Forest... Would definitely visit again..

DRIVING THROUGH THE NEW FOREST. STOPPED FOR A SANDWICH. TRULY AWFUL SANDWICHES, EXPENSIVE AND REALLY POOR QUALITY. ORDERED THE HOT SMOKED SALMON AND CREAM CHEESE..........WHAT I GOT WAS A SORT OF COLD FISH PASTE, THAT DIDNT TASTE OF SALMON..........HUBBY ORDERED CHEESE SANDWICH...........WHCH HAS A SPRINKLE...

Good helpings of Sunday lunch, but could have been hotter. Parking is a problem, but the pub is great.

Lovely family meal. Very pleasant atmosphere, yummy food and lovely people working there. We had a good time and would recommend this place.