Looking for the best pubs in Brockenhurst, New Forest? This village lies at the centre of the forest, and also has a train station. So it’s ideal whether want to eat, drop in for a drink, or meet up with friends.
Fortunately, there are several really good pubs in Brockenhurst. The options range from ale houses near the train station, the local hotels, or even a vineyard, to the original Pig in the Forest. I think this relaxed restaurant with rooms is worthy of inclusion as it feels like a real retreat. Not to mention being treated to a 25-mile menu when dining there.
Whether you’ll be staying at a hotel close by, plan to visit for the day, or even want to find pub accommodation in Brockenhurst, look no further.
From the best pub food in Brockenhurst to dog friendly pubs in Brockenhurst, a popular cyclists’ stop, or pubs in Brockenhurst with accommodation, find five of the finest watering holes in this New Forest village right here!
5 of the Best Brockenhurst Pubs
The Forester’s Arms
Best for cyclists
- Where: 10 Brookley Road, Brockenhurst SO42 7RR
- When: Monday to Saturday 11am to 11pm; Sunday 11.30am to 10.30pm
- Why: A dog-friendly cyclists’ haunt by the train station with a mixed clientele and a friendly atmosphere
- Stay over: No
I always get together with a friend of mine at the Forester’s Arms in Brockenhurst. She lives in Southampton and I reside in Christchurch, so we both get the train and meet halfway between our homes. It’s a proper pub with a large beer garden and cosy, convivial spaces inside.
Both the staff and punters have always been unfailingly welcoming. And if you want to to find pubs in Brockenhurst that are dog friendly, there’s always several pooches to be found, both inside and out.
The Forester’s Arms is really close to the train station. It’s also really popular with those cycling in the Brockenhurst area. We usually meet on a Saturday afternoon and stay until the evening, and there’s always a constant stream of riders coming and going.
I can rarely resist their “famous dirty fries,” which come topped with chilli and cheese, and are served with sour cream and guacamole. My friend, meanwhile, always has a burger. The homemade steak and Guinness pie is also highly recommended.
The Huntsman
Best for breakfast
- Where: Lyndhurst Road, Brockenhurst SO42 7RH
- When: 8am to 11pm daily
- Why: Perfectly positioned, 13th century inn with a contemporary interior, 13 bedrooms, and good food
- Stay over: Yes
The Huntsman in Brockenhurst is also a very dog-friendly pub. Staff will even provide treats, bowls and a dog bed for your furry family member. The Huntsman is situated between the train station and Carey’s Manor hotel, with the Balmer Lawn a little further along. Both of these nearby hotels have spas.
You can stay over at the Huntsman Inn, Brockenhurst if you like. There are 13 comfortable en-suite bedrooms, ranging from cosy in size to more spacious suites and family rooms. If you want to have breakfast in Brock this is also a good bet, as it’s open from 8am daily.
The historic inn dates back to the 13th century, but the interior has had a thoroughly modern makeover in recent years. I love the style, which combines plush fabrics and rich shades with luxe elements and geometric shapes.
Pop in for avocado on sourdough, a full English or French toast in the morning, hunker down for a satisfying Sunday roast (with a meatless Wellington for the veggies), or dine on grills and pub classics later in the day.
The Filly Inn
Best for rural relaxation
- Where: Lymington Road, Brockenhurst SO42 7UF
- When: 11am to 11pm Monday to Saturday; 11am to 10pm Sunday
- Why: A pub in a pretty rural position offering helpful staff, lovely rooms, and yummy food
- Stay over: Yes
When you want to find the best pubs near Brockenhurst, rather than in the village centre, the Filly Inn is just a little way out. It’s close to Setley Ridge Vineyard, on the road leading to coastal Lymington.
The Filly Inn in Brockenhurst also offers accommodation, in the form of seven fully refreshed bedrooms. One has garden views, while the others have clever, star-gazing Velux windows that close automatically when it’s wet outside.
Natural woods, leather and velvet, and pops of pattern and colour are used throughout the interior, which includes a snug, lounge, and dining room. Outside, there are spacious gardens with an olive tree, a pergola and a fire pit. Ponies and even deer are often spotted here.
Menus are very tempting – think handmade pies, succulent steaks, a plant-based Wellington, chicken schnitzel, Scottish trout with garlic prawns, an Asian-style beef salad, shepherd’s pie made with slow-cooked lamb, and more. The dessert menu also features mini puddings and a cheese platter.
The Snakecatcher
Best for a family-friendly welcome
- Where: Lyndhurst Road, Brockenhurst SO42 7RL
- When: Midday to 10.30pm Sunday to Wednesday; Midday to 11.30pm Thursday to Saturday
- Why: A very family-friendly pub with a play area, pool table, and cook-your-own sizzling hot rocks meals
- Stay over: No
The Snakecatcher pub in Brockenhurst is also very convenient for anyone arriving by train, as it’s only a couple of minutes’ walk from the station. This is a very family and pet friendly place. It has a pool table, games, sports on the TV, and a kids’ play area.
The Snakecatcher was once called the Railway Inn. It’s now named after a local character and pub regular who’s thought to have caught around 30,000 grass snakes and adders during his lifetime.
Today, you can cook your own meal on the sizzling hot stones at the Snakecatcher. Options include steaks, sausages, seafood, flat mushrooms and more, each of which comes with two sides.
Alternatively, order from the regular menu for pub classics such as fish and chips, pie of the week, or ham, egg and chips. There are some more adventurous choices here too, like wild boar sausages or burgers, hasselback potatoes with various toppings, a Thai green curry, or a Mediterranean skewer.
The Pig
Best for a proper getaway
- Where: Beaulieu Road, Brockenhurst, SO42 7QL
- When: Midday to 2.15 and 6.30 to 9.30pm daily
- Why: The original Pig in the Forest with a kitchen garden, 25-mile menu, and rooms in the main building and grounds
- Stay over: Yes
The Pig in Brockenhurst is the original from the popular country house hotel stable. It’s more of a relaxed, yet upmarket, restaurant with rooms than a pub. Of all the places to eat in Brockenhurst, though, this has much more of a get-away-from-it-all feel than the average local hostelry.
But if you want to sample the Pig brand and food from the kitchen garden, a 25-mile radius, and the wood-fired oven, this is the place to be. Good value, multi-course midweek lunch deals are often available.
The Pig is just up the road from the Balmer Lawn, outside the village on the road between Brock and Beaulieu. You can dine in the greenhouse restaurant here, before or after taking a walk in the forest or a wander around the sprawling grounds.
Menus change up to twice per day according to what seasonal produce is available. There is a kids’ menu, but breakfast is only offered to resident guests. If you want to settle in for the evening, the bar has a huge range of drinks to choose from.
Which pubs in Brockenhurst will you dine, drink, or sleep at?
With a train station, a choice of hotels and a clutch of great pubs, this compact village couldn’t be more convenient for those visiting the New Forest. Brockenhurst is also close to plenty of walking and cycling trails.
Whether you want to savour a long-anticipated dinner date, call in for a drink while out cycling, unwind in the beer garden or seek refuge during a rainy day, Brockenhurst is sure to offer the ideal laid-back bolthole for you.
For more New Forest pubs, check out my guides to the top picks in Lymington, Fordingbridge, Milford on Sea, Lyndhurst, Burley, and New Milton and Barton-on-Sea. You can also discover how to get to Brockenhurst from London, or find Brockenhurst accommodation.