Lymington pubs offer the best of all worlds. You can dine in town, by the quay or in the countryside at pubs near Lymington, Keyhaven and Milford-on-Sea. This guide to 10 of the best pubs in Lymington, New Forest will ensure you have somewhere to dine, drink or even stay at while visiting this gorgeous coastal town.
There are family and dog friendly pubs in the town centre and surrounding area. Lymington pubs with rooms also mean you can stay over, whether it’s for one night or to use as your New Forest base. The options also include Lymington pubs with a garden for sunny days by the sea.
Here are 10 of the best pubs in Lymington, New Forest. From cheap eats on the high street or a smart quayside gastropub to 16th century country inns or a pub with a microbrewery, read on to find your New Forest favourite.
10 of the Best Pubs in Lymington
1. The Ship Inn
Best for quayside views
- Where: The Quay, Quay Road, Lymington SO41 3AY
- When: Daily 11am to 11pm; closes 10.30pm on Sunday
- Why: Central, family-friendly pub with marina views and several food menus
- Stay over: No
The Ship Inn, Lymington extends a warm welcome to land-lubbers and seafaring types alike. It’s also family-friendly, and occupies a prominent position at the quay. There’s been a pub at Lymington harbour here since 1850, and now the building is home to a modern and upmarket yet relaxed eatery and bar.
Not that many traditional pubs in the New Forest offer views over the water, but the Ship Inn does. Inside, you can expect a balanced mix of old and new, with exposed brickwork, flagstone floors and a panelled, marble-topped bar. Not that you’ll want to enjoy a Sunday roast in Lymington indoors during good weather.
You can enjoy the sunshine during summer in the spacious beer garden, or dine indoors with a crackling log fire in winter. There’s a great choice of food and drinks – including cocktails – and you can order from children’s, all day, vegan, Sunday, lunch and dessert menus.
2. The King’s Head
Best for a traditional British pub
- Where: 1 Quay Hill, Lymington SO41 3AR
- When: Sunday to Thursday midday to 11pm; Friday & Saturday midday to midnight
- Why: A historic, traditional pub in a convenient spot between the high street and quay
- Stay over: No
Walk up cobbled Quay Hill from the harbour towards the High Street and you’ll reach the King’s Arms in Lymington. It’s another of the pubs in the New Forest National Park area located in the smart coastal town. As well as another pick for those seeking a Lymington marina pub.
The history of this Lymington pub dates back around 300 years. Both inside and out this one looks the part of the traditional English pub, and its position connects the main shopping area and the steep, cobbled lane leading to the Quay. Cask Marque real ales are served here, alongside a decent selection of wines, lagers, spirits and ciders.
Menus are more pared-down here, so you can choose between daily specials, pub classics and children’s menus. Expect burgers, fish and chips and pies, as well as more exotic options like a Thai curry or Mexican-style nachos. There’s also vegetarian options such as sausages or battered halloumi.
3. The Sail Inn
Best for a coffee break
- Where: 3 Queen Street, Lymington SO41 9NG
- When: Wednesday & Thursday midday to 10pm; Friday & Saturday midday to 10.30pm, closed on Monday and Tuesday
- Why: Contemporary, nautical-style pub serving food and drinks plus coffee and cake
- Stay over: No
The Sail Inn in Lymington is located close to Waitrose and the High Street. It’s a modern, fully revamped pub with a local feel and a nautical theme throughout.
The inn operates as a cafe as well, so you can drop in for coffee and cake as well as the usual pub food and drinks. The menu offers a balanced mix of British and international favourites, ranging from steaks to lasagne, tikka masala curry, Singapore salmon and more. There’s about half a dozen veggie options too. Some of the best pub food in Lymington for everyone.
This is a good place to drop into when visiting Lymington as a family. The kids’ menu is good value and offers all the usual children’s favourites like pizza, fish fingers, pasta and sausages. As it is family-run, this is among the Lymington pubs that’s open five days a week rather than seven.
4. The East End Arms
Best for 80s music fans
- Where: East End, Lymington SO41 5SY
- When: Daily from 11am to 10.30pm
- Why: Owned by Dire Straits’ bass guitarist, combining a community and upmarket vibe
- Stay over: Yes
Anyone with an interest in the music of past decades may find that visiting the East End Arms near Lymington is a must. The pub was purchased in 1990 by Dire Straits’ bass guitarist, John Illsley. Under his ownership, it’s become both a community hub for the villages outside Lymington and a destination eatery.
The East End Arms is popular, so booking a table is recommended. You can do this for lunch or dinner. Breakfast is also served to guests staying in one of the five bedrooms. It’s among the best pubs near Lymington to stay over at.
The menu is refined, with both traditional British dishes like burgers or fish and chips. There’s also food with more of an international flavour, such as mushroom gnocchi or moussaka, or made from local produce, like venison pie.
5. The White Hart
Best for a TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice award
- Where: 17 Milford Road, Lymington SO41 8DF
- When: Monday 4pm to 10pm, Tuesday 5pm to 10pm, Wednesay midday to 10pm, Thursday to Saturday midday to 11pm, Sunday midday to 10.30pm
- Why: Dog-friendly pub serving great food, with a big, partly covered beer garden
- Stay over: No
The White Hart in Lymington is located by the A337 heading west from the town centre. It’s thus closer to Milford-on-Sea than other Lymington inns, yet isn’t too far from town.
This pub is in the mainly residential area of Pennington, yet shouldn’t be overlooked. It won a TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice award in 2022, for starters. There’s also a large covered patio outside for al fresco dining even when it’s wet.
This is a very dog-friendly Lymington pub serving good food. The Sunday roast in particular is recommended. For a sunny day, there are few better places to be than out in the beer garden, with a pint of Ringwood ale or a glass of wine.
6. The Chequers Inn
Best for sports fans
- Where: Ridgeway Lane, Lower Woodside, Lymington SO41 8AH
- When: Monday to Saturday 11.30am to 10pm, Sunday midday to 8pm
- Why: Ideal stop for coastal walkers, sports fans and those seeking a traditional pub
- Stay over: No
The Chequers Inn, Lymington is also located out of town, in Lower Woodside. Dating back to the 16th century, this is one of the oldest New Forest pubs of all. It’s a great place to stop by Lymington Salt Marsh, and during a coastal walk.
Dogs, kids, locals and visitors are all welcome at the historic Chequers Inn. There’s a main menu, a Sunday menu and a range of daily specials to choose from. It’s a good bet for sports fans, and has ties with both Lymington Mariners RFC and Hampshire County Cricket Club.
The menu is based on traditional pub grub, so you can choose between dishes like local sausages, chilli, honey roast ham, scampi and vegetable tart. On Sundays, roasts with all the trimmings are the order of the day, and a vegetarian nut roast is available.
7. The Mayflower
Best for boutique accommodation
- Where: King’s Saltern Rd, Lymington SO41 3QD
- When: Monday to Saturday 8am to midnight, Sunday 8am to 10pm
- Why: Boutique accommodation and a menu based on local coast and country produce
- Stay over: Yes
Named for the ship that took English pilgrims to the New World during the early 17th century, the Mayflower in Lymington is ideal when you want to stay over. A range of stylish boutique rooms is available, so if you want pubs with accommodation in Lymington, this could be the one.
Produce from the local coastline and countryside forms the backbone of the menu here. There are kids’ and Sunday menus in addition to the main menu. The latter features dishes like a stilton and cheddar ploughman’s, a local crab pasty, grilled bream or a vegan burger.
The selection of puddings and cocktails served here is especially good – think caramel cheesecake, lychee martini, chocolate fondant, elderflower collins and more.
8. The Six Bells
Best for Wetherspoon’s prices
- Where: 47-48 Thomas Street, Lymington SO41 9ND
- When: Sunday to Thursday 8am to 11pm, Friday & Saturday 8am to midnight
- Why: A smart Wetherspoon’s pub on the high street offering unbeatable value for money
- Stay over: No
Don’t be put off by the fact that the Six Bells in Lymington is a Wetherspoon’s. It’s very tastefully kitted out, and when we go we see as many families there as locals on their own or in small groups.
This is our go-to if we want breakfast when shopping in Lymington, or for a quick and great value lunch stop. The pub is named after the inn that closed here in 1911. It was also formerly Ford’s of Lymington, an established and respected local shop. There are nods to this history throughout.
As it’s open from 8am, you can grab a cheap bite to eat here at any time of the day. In our experience the staff have been very welcoming indeed. This is the pick of the pubs on Lymington High Street for those on a budget.
9. The Angel and Blue Pig
Best for a high street stop
- Where: High Street, Lymington SO41 9AP
- When: Monday to Saturday 11.30am to 11pm, Sunday midday to 10.30pm
- Why:
- Stay over: Yes
This is another of the Lymington pubs and restaurants that’s very centrally located. Slap-bang in the centre of High Street. It’s thus ideal for shoppers – and trust me, Lymington does shops as well as it does pubs!
The Angel and Blue Pig offers luxurious, elegant guest rooms, including family accommodation. It’s also among the most dog-friendly pubs in Lymington. If you want to find pubs in Lymington high street, this one or the Wetherspoons are your best bets.
I love the snug setting and convivial atmosphere in here. The menus offer a good range of food, including nibbles, small and large plates, steaks, sandwiches and desserts. My favourites are the truffle pasta, the chicken and ham pie and the pan-fried sea bass with tenderstem broccoli. Yum!
10. The Monkey Brewhouse
Best for a microbrewery
- Where: 167 Southampton Road, Lymington SO41 9HA
- When: Sunday to Thursday 8am to 11pm, Friday & Saturday 8am to midnight
- Why: A smart Wetherspoon’s pub on the high street offering unbeatable value for money
- Stay over: Yes
Monkey Brewhouse in Lymington is located inland and north of the high street, close to the local hospital. It’s convenient for town, and you can stay here in one of the freshly revamped rooms.
There’s a clue regarding the key selling point of the Monkey Brewhouse in the name. Yep, it has its very own on-site brewery. The five barrel microbrewery is situated in an outbuilding, and has so far created around a dozen unique brews.
Food-wise, the menu here takes inspiration from around the globe. Tempting options include a five-bean jambalaya, an Indonesian seafood curry, a panko chicken burger and duck confit. There’s also sharing boards, a kids’ menu, baguettes at lunchtime and a selection of desserts. You can also order a cheeseboard or one of seven single malt whiskies.
Which Lymington pubs will you dine, drink or stay at?
Whatever you want, there’s plenty of choice when it comes to pubs in Lymington. Some of the best pubs in the new Forest can be found in this elegant coastal town. It’s a lovely place to stay in, shop at, explore, or of course dine in.
The only question is – which of these pubs in the Lymington area will you try first?
Also, you might like to drop into some of these Lymington shops.
If you’re planning a visit to the area, you may like to check out articles on the best New Milton pubs, pubs in Milford-on-Sea, New Forest fine dining restaurants, pubs in Lyndhurst, New Forest pubs with accommodation, pubs in Fordingbridge, where to find the best afternoon tea in the New Forest, pubs in Burley village or which villages and towns in the New Forest to visit.
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