The Royal Oak Pub in New Forest

First time eating here today for Sunday lunch after visiting for drinks a few times. We were hopeful that the food would be good and we were not disappointed! Easily the best pub Sunday lunch we have ever had. Fantastic food and service from Julie. What an asset she is to the business. We will be back!!

Nice welcome, good food, great for gluten free.

Had an amazingly delicious meal here. Ended up going for the calves liver which was perfectly cooked, with a mouthwatering port and onion jus. Our other meals were faultless, and very well presented. We were also very impressed with the level of service, as the staff were extremely welcoming, and even provided our pup with his own bowl of water and a cosy spot by the fireplace. One of our guests also has special dietary requirements, which the chef had very kindly accommodated…and, not to mention the pleasant greeting from the horses and donkeys outside this pretty thatched pub. Would highly recommend a visit

Friends treated us to lunch here, having been before. Two of us chose Chicken Pies, one had Chick Pea Tagine and the other had Roasted Duck Leg. All were delicious. One enjoyed a Baked Alaska for dessert - with one spoon! Service was friendly and efficient. We’ll happily return.

Lovely food, great service thank you 👏

Came here for a birthday meal & we weren’t disappointed. We both had 3 courses and they were all delicious and of a very high standard. I’m sure we’ll be back again soon.

5 of us visited today. Good food excellent service very friendly

I have eaten here before and found the food very good, but on this occasion I ordered Lamb Shank and it was very dry, and definitely not worth the £24.95 that it cost. Hopefully it will be better on another occasion!

Fantastic food, good service and a lovely pub. We ate early so it was quite quiet but it was lovely, we will def return

We enjoyed a nice lunch, service was good, atmosphere pleasant and staff very friendly. My fish was very tasty, served with well cooked veg, and my husband enjoyed a huge burger and chips

A very pretty pub. Fantastic food, loved the doggy menu, welcoming and cozy atmosphere. Quick service. Highly recommend

Lovely little pub on the forest, which retains the country feel and atmosphere. Have always had good experiences here, and the food has always knocked it out of the ball park.

Stopped here for an impromptu lunch had small adults roast excellent could have been a little hottest bit ill take that all in all ill go have. Good choice of real ale

5 of us lunched here today, the service and food was outstanding, fish cakes full of fish, not mash potato, great sized portions and homemade. Thank you, we will be back.

Randomly picked The Royal Oak for a Sunday lunch. The star of the show is undoubtably Julie (hope I got ur name right). Her manner and service is just what we like. She gave us extra veg no bother. Not a lot of places do that without charging, so a big ole thanks for that. We had lamb, my son had pasta for the mains, and a couple of puds at the end. A great afternoon of it. The atmosphere is fab. We spent £90 for the three of us, which was drinks, dinner, and x2 puds, so very reasonable prices.

Amazing staff and excellent food

Yorkshire’s were a bit stodgy and burnt, and staff were a bit rude/ couldn’t be bothered

Simply a beautiful country pub set in the New Forest serving traditional fayre and ales. Will and his team look after you impeccably and Sebastien tge Head Chef produces some of the best food you could want. If ever yours in the New Forest be sure to book tere

Update, visited March 2025 Still Our Favourite – Even Better Than Before! We recently returned to the area for a week visit and couldn’t wait to stop by our old favourite pub - we returned probably 4 nights during our visit. After hearing it had a refit, we were a little nervous—sometimes changes can take away the charm—but we’re happy to say it’s even better than before! The new look is fresh and stylish while still keeping that cozy, welcoming feel we always loved. It was great to see that Will was still at the helm with a fantastic and improved team, offering the same friendly service that made this place feel like home. The food was just as delicious as we remembered—fresh, well-cooked, and full of flavour. And of course, no visit would be complete without a greeting from Guinness, the pub dog, who is as friendly and loveable as ever! It’s always special coming back to a place that holds good memories, and this pub didn’t disappoint. If anything, it’s only improved with time. Special shout out to Bar Manager for serving up some awesome cocktails! Can’t wait to return on our next visit! Excellent food and service. We live in the area and this is our favourite pub in the area. They have improved their menu this year since reopening and the chef has a great selection of chooses. Friendly and pleasant staff. Would highly reccommend and booking is advised as alwasy very busy when we visit. Top marks!!

Excellent meal and very friendly staff.

We have just had a fabulous lunch at The Royal Oak. The food was delicious, the staff could not have been more attentive and we all loved the fact that they have a separate dog menu. Definitely recommend and we will be back.

We visited this pub five years ago and it has maintained its high standards. Delicious food, kind staff and lovely atmosphere. A must visit if you’re in the area. So dog friendly… there’s a dog menu.

We stopped in for drinks whilst on a walk in the area. It was so busy and we didn’t expect a seat but a really friendly member of staff cleared a table for us that wasn’t booked for another hour or so and made us very welcome. All the staff we encountered were polite and friendly and the roasts looked incredible so we would love to book and come back when in the area again.

Fabulous impromptu late lunch. One steak sandwich, one Brie, bacon and cranberry sandwich, a few, well poured lagers and some expert aperol spritzers and we had had a brilliant lunch

Just had a very nice roast dinner. Lovely staff and service and reasonable prices. A very comfortable place. I'd happily come back .

A fantastic lunch, restaurant is lovely small and clean, staff were fantastic and so attentive. Food was excellent, great portions and quality, could not fault anything in any way. Will definitely be back.

We had a lovely early dinner. There were 6 adults and 3 children. There was a good selection of food and specials. We all enjoyed our meals. The children enjoyed it also . my little girl tucked into the pasta and ate a lot. The children portions were very generous. The puddings were yummy also. The staff were friendly polite and efficient.

Popped in for a Sunday roast, disappointed with portion sizes, small dry chicken brest along with 3 small under roasted potatoes, and one small bowl of mixed veg to share. Roast chicken £20.95 & vegetarian Wellington £19.95. Never again ripped off big time.

One of the best meals if not best had in the forest. Faultless. Pretty pub and garden. Will be back on a sunny summer afternoon : )

Visited for Sunday lunch, table booked for 12pm for 2. The atmosphere, aesthetic, and waiting staff were incredible. Beautiful pub, parking outside was somewhat limited as the day went on, but easy for a 12pm booking. Wouldn't want to tackle some of the roads in excessive rain, but minor puddles didn't cause too much of an issue! Dog friendly, which for me personally is a nice touch. Waiting staff and welcome was everything you should expect and then some, and you're greeted with a warm, friendly atmosphere. We sat right next to a window on a table for two, and the restaraunt was stunning. Exactly what I wanted for that sort of area. The Roast itself was the best Roast I've had on my travels so far. I was cheeky enough to ask for something that was on their online menu and not on their in house menu, and after a quick word with the kitchen they came back and said it would be no problem. The meat was exceptional, and it's still to this day the only place where I haven't needed to ask for more Gravy half way through. However, the biggest compliment I could give this place, was after my first mouthful of Roast potato, I was transformed back to my childhood and reminded of the way my Grandma used to cook Roast dinners. It was unexpected and slightly emotional to be honest, but they were incredible. I then had a desert although I have no idea how I managed it as the Roast was filling as it was tasty, and the sorbet arrived in a sundae desert glass. Only thing as general feedback was that it was challenging to eat without making a mess due to the limited room in the glass, but again hit just the right spot. My friend had the crumble which was HUGE, and well worth the money. All in all £40 each, for two coffees, massive, perfectly cooked roast dinner, and two desserts. Very reasonable. I would just keep an eye on the "tap water" as charged 2x£4 for bottle water, but after the exceptional meal we just paid with tip. This is without a doubt the best Roast dinner I've tasted in years since my grandma passed away and I will most definitely be visiting again. Beautiful pub, fantastic staff, exceptional food. All round perfection. 5 star.

Visited here for my birthday lunch and to see The New Forrest given we live very close to it. Food was excellent and good value, staff were very friendly and welcoming which made a huge difference. There are wild horses that just roam around outside and we took a walk around after to take in the beautiful scenery. We would definitely visit again.

We called in for a drink one Sunday afternoon after walking in the area. Seeing the Sunday roasts we decided to stay to eat and were not disappointed. The portions of meat were generous and it was delicious. The pub has a lovely ambience and the staff were very friendly and helpful.

Nice enough food and staff but expensive 4.50 for a coke and 9 for a glass of wine. 13 quid for cheese and biscuits and 30 quid for a steak

Lovely pub food in the heart of the new Forrest. Friendly service, I rushed and very pleasant atmosphere. You are made to feel welcome on arrival and who can forget the gorgeous Pub Labrador, Guinness

We didn't eat as we had plans , but wished we had chose here over the George, which was terrible . Food looked & smelled good.

After snailing our way through New Forest after dark, avoiding cows, poneys and donkeys on the road, we reached The Royal Oak, beautifully illumined with its Christmas lights. The interior was just as welcoming and we were soon made to feel comfortable in the dining area. The Royal Oak serves many vegetarian friendly dishes, several of which are suitable for vegans too, and it was a pleasure for me as a vegetarian to be able to chose from the menu instead of simply having to select the only available vege option as I so often have to do in other places. The food is delicious and unpretentious. The deserts are very good too! The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, with many returning customers. I would be one of them, if I'm ever in the area again :) Bonus for dog owners : this is a dogfriendly pub

70th birthday celebration for my husband. The ages ranged between 11yrs and 88yrs. There was something on the menu for everyone’s taste, and they all commented on how good their meal was. The staff were very welcoming , helpful and friendly. Would highly recommend this establishment.

The most amazing country pub we’ve been to in years. Very friendly and attentive staff with great food and drink. Doggy friendly with their own dog menu which we tried out 🐶 We were staying locally for the weekend but would happily travel far to visit again!

Wow. Such an amazing pub with a great atmosphere! The service from the minute we walked in the door was just fabulous! And the food!! I would absolutely reccomend the wild mushroom and goats cheese starter and the pork belly for main! They were out of this world! Such amazing service and food, we can’t wait to return next time we are in the new forest! Thank you for such a lovely evening!

Had lunch here recently and it was great!!! A lovely traditional country pub with down to earth friendly staff who were very welcoming. Food and drinks were terrific. We’ll definitely return when in the area again.

Went on a Wednesday evening during half term and what luck it was to have stumbled on this lovely pub. Kids menu was delicious, and the steak and pork belly were both excellent.

I would have gave 5*, but we went there Saturday. We had burgers. Very good food. But what let it down was that we went there today. For Sunday roast. Order a starter olives. And 2 roast beef. They all came out the same time. So I had to ask if I could take home the olives. The roast came out as soon as we ordered. A bottle of water was £4.50 which we was not told.only found out when we got the bill. We felt we were rushed. As soon as we finished our main. The pudding menu was there. No chance to relax. Saturday I give them 10/10 . Today I give them 4/10 .

We had a very tasty supper with good choices to suit all. Sadly we couldn’t hear ourselves speak or enjoy the atmosphere as there was a dog constantly barking/high pitched yelping up at the bar. I’m all for dog friendly pubs and I love dogs but the dog owner should have respected other customers and put the dog in the car and the landlord should have done something. We finished our meal quickly as did everyone else around us.

A lovely thatched pub very traditional. Great selection of beers. Lovely cheesey chips a nice latte too.

Exceptional, 10/10 from the atmosphere to the food. There’s good pubs and then there’s this place, it’s leagues above. And Julie one of the staff was amazing too. Will be back again for sure!

We had a lovely roast dinner and the staff were very friendly and attentive. Only negative for me would be that the veg for all of the adults was in one sharing bowl and not enough for everyone to share. This was immediately resolved by giving us some additional, but going forward, I would recommend providing a portion per couple. Other than that, it is a lovely pub, and we will definitely be returning for a date night.

Booked for our wedding anniversary, what a great find…firstly the pub is beautiful, the staff and service was excellent from start to finish, our waitress was Julie and she was just so lovely and knowledgeable about the dishes & menu. We had 2 sea bream which was stunning followed by the sticky toffee pudding and a creme brûlée both of which were gorgeous…we were made so welcome we decided to stay and we also ordered a liqueur coffee and espresso martini, I love an espresso martini and that was a really good one!! Overall we felt we got excellent value for money and we will certainly be returning…thankyou

Popped in post dog walk! Enjoyed the bread sharing platter and Ham Terrine. Hit the spot perfectly! Friendly staff and would definitely return.

Lovely lunch, friendly staff. Even had china teapot, cups and saucers. We will definitely be back!

We visited here for my mother in laws birthday meal. We were staying at Sandy Balls holiday park so it was a short drive. There was a very warm, friendly feel and the server we had was very attentive and friendly manner. The meals that everyone had were very nice and overall had no complaints. Prices are as expected for the location, portions were very generous. We really enjoyed our visit and would come again thank you!

This pub is really nice. Cozy, quiet and the staff are friendly and welcoming. The pub garden is beautiful and the food was really on point. Its nice when you get quality food that has some care and detail. Dog friendly.

A lovely traditional thatched pub in the New Forest. Excellent Sunday lunch. Definitely recommended, but book a table because it gets busy

Booked a table for dinner based on Trip Advisor reviews and weren’t disappointed! Brilliant pub, fantastic food, great service from Will. We had a lovely evening, very enjoyable. Menu was very varied and lots to choose from.

The Sunday Roast was delicious. Beef excellently cooked, vegetables perfect. Thank you for excellent service to Natalie & chef Will.

Absolutely stunning pub with a really lovely atmosphere, but the manager made me feel like I was an imposition for being there. The wait staff and the food were stunning but got a really sour vibe from the manager which was a shame!

Sat outside in the garden for lunch with family. Lovely pub in beautiful setting, have been visiting for over 50 years. Food mediocre and overpriced, in my opinion, but the best dish had to be the Prawn and Smoked Salmon salad. Young friendly staff. Good place to visit and enjoy a drink.

We sat in the garden at The Royal Oak and enjoyed a lovely lunch. The staff were very friendly and efficient and the garden was beautifully kept. Can't wait to go back.

Really good roast dinners. Plenty of everything. The decor is lovely and very clean. Staff very helpful and friendly.

Very good quality food and portions

Love love love this place. Friendly staff and beautiful setting

Lovely New Forest pub with good food and friendly staff. Oh, and they have a gin menu for gin fans! Garden is absolutely stunning and the pub has that traditional cozy feeling. Highly recommended.

This is a lovely pub in a lovely setting in the New Forest but the food was far too expensive for the quantity you received. We went for the Sunday lunch and literally only received three small quarters of roast potatoes and they were hard. The quantity of vegetables was also very small. The portion of chicken was just one small breast. The mixed meat and cheese platter was really bad for the cost of 28 pound. Presented on a wooden board and squashed together to make it look more was terrible value for money. Would go for a drink again but not to eat.

Excellent meal, lovely location and very nice garden.

We called in just for a drink and some nibbles late on a Sunday afternoon. A friendly welcome and efficient service made this a very enjoyable visit. Keen gardeners might have to prepare themselves for pangs of jealousy… Definitely worth making an effort to get here.

Perhaps the best pub in the new Forest? Lovely welcome, food, garden and ambiance… so much better than the typical new Forest pub

Great food and friendly service with a smile. Had to wait a bit as they were very busy on a sunny Saturday afternoon but definitely worth the wait. Honestly couldn’t fault the food - tasty, fresh crispy salads, seafood was yummy and presentation spot on. Will definitely return soon

We have been staying locally so have visited this pub a couple of times. The staff are friendly and the drinks are what you would expect from a pub. The food is nice but not what I would call value for money. I know all the pubs in the area charge a premium, but for the price (IMO) the portions are very small.

We had a lovely family meal most the staff were very friendly. One member of staff seemed cross that my grandchildren where playing near he's flower beds and accused them of touching hes flowers but they where collect something that had dropped into the flower bed. The overall experience was very nice.

Having eaten at the Royal Oak on a number of occasions and enjoyed fantastic food and service I am disappointed to find myself writing this review. Booked in for Sunday roast today and terribly disappointed by the quality and quantity provided. Don’t want to go into forensic details at this stage but my suspicions were raised by the fact that the meals began arriving within 30 seconds of us ordering ? Actually had to have both of them sent back to the kitchen straight away to be warmed up properly. When the plates were returned to us I honestly thought the chicken breast was one of the roast potatoes ! As I said, this was all very strange when taking account of our previous experiences and I hope we can give the pub another go and a chance of ‘redemption’, especially in view of the cost incurred ! Would have gladly given my thoughts had I been asked by someone if everything was ok….. but I suspect the ‘room had been read’ and there was no desire to do so. Not good.

Great location with the food and service excellent. The seating was comfortable and we were welcomed in and made to feel at home.

Lovely pub in the heart of the New Forest. Full of character. We went for Sunday Lunch. The staff were excellent and the food was good. It's maintained it's character whilst being modernised and it's well done. Accessible - great toilets and a beautiful garden to the rear.

Just popped in for a drink and had the lovely back garden to ourselves.

An extremely pleasant visit (for Sunday lunch).

Absolutely wonderful pub for lunch today. Beautiful scenery, gorgeous pub garden and surrounding countryside. Good choice of food, well cooked and presented. Sit and watch ponies and cattle wander by. The place to have lunch.

Good food and a lovely pub. I had the impression that they want to make the most money out of every customer though. Probably wouldn't go back for that reason.

Lovely pub, lovely to sit amongst the beautiful horses and view..Food great portions, and tasty ..We ordered for one potion of chips and battered cod sandwich with salad generous amount thankyou

Fabulous lunch, lovely pub inside and out, good selection of beer and wine. Would definitely come back. Staff really lovely. Thanks

Love little place. Service was great. Food was great, staff friendly, sat outside. And had the best view.

Absolute gem of a find. Will be back when in the area. Food was amazing. Staff attentive and friendly. Thank you

Lovely food, freshly home cooked. We had a pie and a chicken burger. Very picturesque spot.

Lovely pub, great food, friendly staff and great atmosphere

Visited Sunday Bank Holiday after recent refurbishment. Only stopped for quick drink will definitely return. The Sunday Roasts looked appetising and fairly priced. Good selection of drinks. Dog friendly areas. Outside seating.

This pub is amazing. Nice atmosphere, friendly staff, pretty and clean. The food is presented very professionally and tastes delicious. We’ll definitely visit again.

Great food and beer, good walks in the area, sometimes too busy to accommodate us, advise to book well in advance!

Beautiful spot in the forest for such a great pub. The beer was brilliant and this was only exceeded by the level of the food. Delicious, affordable and felt like fine dining. The portions were generous and the service was excellent. A really friendly place that we have returned to many a time.

Never disappoints, great food that’s very flavourful and hot, best pub food in the Forest!

Food was really good. Had salmon, was perfectly cooked. Beautifully crispy pork belly with melt in your mouth meat. Apparently the sausages were very tasty too, but Dad didn't give me a taste!

We visited the Royal Oak on Mother’s Day and the whole experience was great. Despite being busy the staff were friendly and attentive. The wait time was short for food. We ordered Sunday roasts which were very tasty, good portion size and variety of veg. Definitely will be returning. The location is also beautiful in the forest with animals grazing outside. (Good for gluten free - I am coeliac and the roast / main and dessert options were good)

I had a family get together on Mothers Day, 10 of us and 2 dogs. Our meal was absolutely fantastic and the service was amazing. A wonderful experience, we are always made to feel so welcome, can’t wait for another excuse.

Every single aspect of our visit was 10/10. From the warm welcome to the unbelievably good service - we were blown away. The lunch was honestly some of the best food we have ever had in a pub! The team made our dog very welcome and even had a menu of dog treats. The Royal Oak should be very proud - an absolute gem in the New Forest.

We live locally and this is our go to for a meal out with family, friends and Sunday roasts. It’s also great for a drink especially in the sun. Food is IMO of a higher quality than you find in many forest pubs. It’s still got the trusted pub options but the whole menu is great especially the Sunday roasts. Drink options are good and change regularly especially the real ales. Certainly recommend

Fantastic Sunday lunch. Always great service from Will and his team. Great place for families and dogs.

Yet another great lunch with the family in lovely surroundings. Well looked after, as always by Will and his team. Highly recommend.

Visited The Royal Oak today and had one of the tastiest pub roasts we’ve ever had. Definitely recommend for a family Sunday lunch. Staff were brilliant and the pub dog Guinness is adorable.

Food is always excellent here - from Sunday Roast to Chicken burger, fish and chips to pie. It’s always delicious and excellent portion size, leaving room for the yummy deserts (chocolate brownie is the best!!!) I always enjoy a visit with my family or friends. It’s a really lovely pub to visit.

Absolutely gorgeous pub with stunning surroundings 😍 the pub is beautiful, all of the staff are very friendly, kind and attentive and the food and drinks are amazing! We will definitely be coming back 🥰😋

This is the most magnificent country pub full stop! We booked for dinner on a wet Friday night - Google sent us down a country lane that was flooded- but feeling bold we drove through it… car stalled as it got deeper and deeper - stranded we rung the pub half a mile away - and like something from our distant caring past - Will the supervisor said he would rescue us ! And wading through the river that now surrounded us - climbing up a bank and through a barbed wire fence - he did just that. Once at the pub we were given the table next to the radiator and served gourmet soups and a magnificent meat and cheese platter - everyone including all the regulars came to see if we were ok. The pub even let us leave the car there once recovered - so we could save it ! Sunday lunch was amazing too x

Very nice pub, delicious food, great service

Gorgeous food, cozy environment, friendly and efficient staff! Would recommend and will be returning!!

Spent valentines night with the wife and two friends at this wonderful pub. From the bar service to the delicious food everything was exceptional. I would highly recommend the duck spring rolls. We all enjoyed our food and would highly recommend this establishment to anyone.