New Forest
Leith's At Beaulieu

Leith's At Beaulieu

Beaulieu National Motor Museum, SO42 7ZN, New Forest, United Kingdom

Cakes • Coffee • British • Breakfast


"I didn't know what to expect when you came. we came mid-februar while on holiday and the weather was not great, so thought it was a day out undercover. I must say I was pleasantly surprised. the website is quite large, we started with the top wheel area, which was really good, it was great near some of the wacky creations that were made in the run of the years. we stopped eating a bite before it had to do, and the prices were not bad, probably on the somewhat higher side, but the cakes were very good. we moved to the main museum and were shocked to see how many cars and bikes they have built into the large building. everywhere you turn around another vehicle inconspicuously clean and many information about it. the range of vehicles is huge from the first cars to modern. we loved the 007 exhibition, where they could get up close to the cars from the last movie, it was nice to get so close without them on sockel meters away. there is an old-timer bus ride and a one-way track that they take around the website that was nice to do. we looked around the abtei and the house (included in price) and made a walk along the river. when they receive gift help they get back to the year to come, but what was not made clear at the time when they come back, they only get entering the motor museum and no other attraction or house that was a little disappointing. the only thing that it really leaves for us, although a fairly quiet day tries to eat between 12 and 2 to midday, leads to a long wait and wait. there are many picnic spots, so on a sunny day I think that would be a great place to go, but also on a wet day it is a good day out if they don't mind getting a little wet as they go between the exponate house and gardens."

Family House Chinese

Family House Chinese

53 Commercial Road, SO40 3AH, New Forest, United Kingdom

Soup • Meat • Pasta • Chinese


"Me and my mum visited this place on a monday when the eat out to help out was going on. And all i can say it was a waste of money. Firstly they have put the price for there buffet up. It has never been over £20pp mon-thu. I would understand if it was a weekend. Second they've changed the buffet, so half the stuff that was on it before isn't anymore. There is no social distance in place. They sit everyone next to one another. They over book and when you get there, they turn round and say sorry but the buffet isnt availble even tho they said on the phone it is. They try to get you to order frlm the la carte menu. We even over heard them saying that they are running out of food, and that they are charging service charge. Even tho the service is appalling. We ordered sesame prawn toast. Omg it was like eating OIL. No prawn, just the taste of oil. Was so disgusting. Duck was okay, nothing exciting about there food one bit. Yhe ribs were like eating bone and nut. No meat on them. Soup was the only decent thing and that was lukewarm. We ordered 1 coke at the start, went to order another. Got ignored, so asked someone else, they brought it over and at the end of the bill they tried to charge us gor 3. Snd the little man who i think owns it, gave us this look like we was trying to play a fast one. It was coke. Which they charge £3:50 for. Rip off!!!!!! Iv never been so disappointed in a chinese buffet before. We only went there because fuchi was fully booked. Fuchi 1 million% better restaurant. Amazing food, if your in totton. Do not go here, go to fuchi. 5 mins away!!"

Fishermans Rest Lymington

Fishermans Rest Lymington

All Saints Rd Lymington, New Forest, United Kingdom

Pub • Steak • Seafood • British


"My mate and I met at the pub for a quiet lunchtime beer and chat..it was great to see him as we had not seen each other for years and need to catch up on news... All we got was pressure and hassle from the...staff. We had our beers..two minutes later one staff member arrived asking if we needed more drinks??..No thank you...Two minutes later another staff member arrived..You gents ok??..Can I get you more drinks??....Our beer was barely touched..No thank you we are fine.. Two minutes later another staff member arrived ...Can I get you more drinks?? Then a young man arrived..Are you gents dining with us??.. we had not planned to eat, just have a beer .. Do you have sandwiches??...No we don't was the answer. Five minutes later another question if we had ordered food??.. Different staff member arrived time after time, every few minutes to ask if we needed more drinks or if we were ordering food... We ordered food we didn't want...It was nothing special..Usual pub food that is quickly forgettable..Not great food..mediocre. Only then did the hassle stop and we were left alone to have a chat. I know there is not much profit in beer...Pubs make their money on food. But the restaurant area was not busy...We were not sat in the restaurant dining area..The table was not made up with cutlery ready for diners..No further customers were sat in our area...The table was NOT required for diners. IT IS A PUB!!...People to go pubs to drink beer and spirits, read a book, chat to other folk, play cards, read a newspaper...It a place of social gathering. All we got was hassle and pressure. I do not often write reviews..Far less write a poor report..I much prefer to give praise and say things were excellent. We shall NOT return.. Incidentally, I do know and like good food..The previous evening I dined in a pub where the chef was a past winner of the TV programme MasterChef ...However, this pub food was mediocre..."

Hartnett Holder Co

Hartnett Holder Co

United Kingdom, SO43 7FZ, New Forest

Wine • Meat • Pasta • Italian


"It is a big operation to run a country house hotel and a restaurant. Lots of staff required: They are there. It costs a lot to do that and do you put it on the hotel bills or spread it over the restaurant too? I...don't know as I am not in the business, but lunch would have been £150 for two without drinks and service if we had had two puddings and 3 courses each (we only had the one pud). These days that is not too out of line with top pricing, but was this up to scratch at that level? I think at £35 for a main you have be prepared to take the criticism, especially when your distant cousin in London (and it is a cousin, not a sibling, on this showing) is charging only a little more and rides the waves robustly. Ms Hartnett is everywhere – on the menus in the foyer. She may need to come and eat some more sample meals then. Bread platter had one slice of some quite nice focaccia, too much not particularly outstanding olive oil and some butter bean puree, a slice of mortadella with a radish for dec. Not sure what the puree is doing in there. Just a bit underwhelming and not a great way to kick off. Firsts were crab tart (pastry too thick and dry, crab pretty much au naturel), and agnolotti. Now in serious pasta dishes it should be all about the pasta not the sauce; Ms H knows that. This had a delicious game sauce but the pasta was, I don't know, slightly overcooked perhaps? It was not the star it should have been. Mains were cod in broth and red mullet. I am sorry to say it, but had I been paying I would have sent that cod back. It was tough and the broth was tasteless with some cockles floating in it. Really not on. The mullet was well cooked but had a strange creamy sauce with it that was over-rich and drowned other things out. Those other things included crab and purple sprouting broccoli. PSB is a tricky dish to get right: it must not be overcooked and ideally to get its unique flavour it should be picked and cooked in a space of 15 minutes. So if you don't grow your own and have runners maybe do something else. This was overdone and may have had flavour but I could not tell as the sauce swamped it out. Needed more acidity – maybe lemon, white wine, something. The pistachio and polenta pud cake coped with the challenge of the dryness here with another creamy sauce (custard). I just think the saucing needs attention all round. This was not a heavy lunch and I may have chosen badly but I did feel quite over creamed by the end. The view and intimate ambience is very lovely and the wine list is also, especially as it has some good half bottles and a good glass selection. We drank well (a half with 2 additional glasses) with good recommendations. Total cost was £300 so 50/50 drinks and food really. Service was willing and efficient but maybe a little brusque at times. Overall it is halfway between good country house hotel cooking and Michelin worth-a-detour land, but definitely inclined more to the former than the latter. I'd suggest a set lunch option and have a good look at the saucing and combos guys. However there may be a useful exchange to be done with Murano over the halves on the wine list. The hotel looks great, passing through."