Sometimes lunches are so good that they need to be immediately blogged about. So this is what I’m doing after lunch at lovely Lime Wood Hotel in the New Forest earlier today.
If you’re relatively au fait with my blog then you’ll recall the familiar sight of Lime Wood on my afternoon tea post – afternoon tea, the current volumes where I gushed about one heck of an afternoon with tea and champagne.
Today, it was all about the lunch on a sunny May day. Cue the blue sky pictures.
So joyous. There is something so special about this place. Relaxed, informal, yet the best of the best. We started off with a drink in the open air courtyard bar, with the sun beating down. A nice selection of nibbles with my bellini was the perfect pre lunch warm up.
After much deliberation as to whether the balmy highs of 17 degrees would hold out for a few hours on a May afternoon, we decided to risk it and couldn’t have been more pleased with the decision.
Cue pictures of our table view.
Dreamy! The Hartnett Holder & Co restaurant is located at the back of the hotel, overlooking the gardens and what a treat it is. The inside is also great with it’s wooden floors and leather seating, but it’s hard not to take advantage of the outside patio when English sunny days can be rare at times!
The restaurant is full of character and the menu is Italian style whilst making the most of seasonal ingredients. We had the set 3 course lunch menu which was just amazing. Cue pictures of refreshingly tasty courgette risotto, followed by a zesty lemon and blueberry posset. I’m no food blogger but this was the perfect lunch in a beautiful country garden setting.
A post lunch stroll allowed us to take in more of the hotel. The lounge areas decorated in their soft pastel shades with inviting furniture and open fires are too good. Everything screams understated luxury that just feels right and not over the top.
There is even a rack of Hunter wellies for hotel guests to use at their leisure. A whole colour spectrum in various sizes, perfect for New Forest walks.
Love. Love. Love. Locals take note. This is the perfect venue for a New Forest day out. Our 3 course lunch was excellent value at £25 per head.
Afternoon tea is around the £28 mark and I can also vouch is well worth it. See my afternoon tea – the current volumes post for further details.
For those looking for a quick bite to eat and a few drinks but don’t fancy driving, they even have their own helipad. Perfect if you’ve got a chopper to spare!
Oh, and don’t even think about leaving without a casual swing on the makeshift one that is attached to the tree out the front. You’ll find it between the huge silver fish statue and the lake.
Next time, I’m checking in for the week!
Peace out hotel lovers.
Sophie
x
