Want to find the best pubs in New Milton? Then you’re just where you should be! I live in Highcliffe, halfway between New Milton and Christchurch, so these are my local haunts.
There aren’t actually that many pubs in New Milton itself – and to be honest, the two in the town centre are rather uninspiring. So I’ve also included some venues with a casual pub-like feel, to give you more choice. Such as the Cliff House in Barton with sea views, and James Martin’s The Kitchen at the Chewton Glen.
This guide also covers local places in Barton-on-Sea, Bashley, Downton, Old Milton, Walkford, and Tiptoe. New Milton is the closest town to all of these coastal and country pubs.
Whether you’re seeking a cheap feed from a chain pub, a memorable meal with sea views, or a traditional village inn, read on to discover the finest hostelries in the New Milton area!
9 of the Best New Milton Pubs
The House Martin, Barton-on-Sea
Best for Badger Beers
- Where: Christchurch Road, Barton on Sea, New Milton BH25 6QF
- When: Monday to Thursday 11am to 11pm; Friday and Saturday 11am to midnight, Sunday 11am to 10.30pm
- Why: Dine on fine pub food washed down with Badger Beers, in a rustic-meets-modern setting near Barton beach
- Stay over: No
The House Martin is part of the Hall and Woodhouse group. This company have been brewing for more than 240 years, producing a fine range of Badger Beers.
The pub is located in the Barton-on-Sea area. It’s just a walk up the road from the beach, and a little further from the centre of New Milton. The House Martin is also close to the five star Chewton Glen hotel.
I’ve eaten at the House Martin many times – as a couple, with friends, and as part of a group. The food has been unfailingly good, and the service invariably friendly.
There’s a bar area kitted out in a modern meets rustic style, plus a large, bright conservatory for dining. The pies are my number one recommendation, though the sausage and mash, burgers, fish and chips and Sunday roasts are pretty hard to beat. As is the selection of sweet treats to round off your meal.
Stay over at the nearby Chewton Glen
The Rising Sun, Bashley
Best for New Forest walks
- Where: Bashley Common Road, New Milton, BH25 5SF
- When: 11am to 10.30pm Monday to Saturday; midday to 9.30pm on Sunday
- Why: Fabulous food and a real fire, plus camping pod dining and a kids’ play area outdoors
- Stay over: No
The Rising Sun in Bashley near New Milton is a traditional pub with a contemporary twist. It’s right on the edge of the New Forest, so you can literally cross the road and work off your feast right away. Or hit the trails first to work up an appetite.
The outdoor areas here are a real plus. You can dine under cover in the open camping pods with curving roofs. There’s also a kids’ play area, keeping younger guests amused while giving the adults some peace. Inside, there’s a real fire to warm you up in autumn and winter.
I reckon the Rising Sun’s Sunday roasts are particularly yummy, and you can order a nut roast or trio of meats as well as chicken, pork, or beef. The main menu takes inspiration from around the globe, with dishes like chicken schnitzel, gnocchi, Indian salad and ravioli featured alongside the usual pub grub classics.
If you’re after a lighter bite, you can also order sandwiches. Interesting fillings like London Porter smoked salmon with cream cheese; avocado, olive and pesto; and Fuller’s Black Cab ham with cheese are available. Sandwiches are also served with triple cooked chips to make a more substantial meal.
The Wheatsheaf, Old Milton
Best for a proper pub
- Where: Christchurch Road, New Milton BH25 6QJ
- When: 11.30am to 10pm Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; 11.30am to 11pm Wednesday; 11.30am to midnight Friday & Saturday; 11.30am to 9.30pm Sunday
- Why: A proper, family-run British pub offering low prices, good food and a big beer garden
- Stay over: No
If you simply want to find a proper, no frills British pub serving great food at low prices, head to the Wheatsheaf Inn on Christchurch Road, in an area known as Old Milton, between the town centre and Barton-on-Sea.
The interior is traditional, and the food perfectly cooked. On alternate Saturdays, the pub offers live music, and Wednesday is quiz night. Outside, there’s a big, pet-friendly beer garden at the back with a children’s play area.
Again the Sunday carvery is a highlight. A selection of homemade pizzas has also been offered since the summer of 2024, and so far have proved a big hit. Look out for regular curry and steak nights, too.
For a proper, family-run pub offering warm, friendly welcome and top quality food at pocket-pleasing prices, the Wheatsheaf is a go-to venue on the fringes of the New Forest.
The Cliff House, Barton-on-Sea
Best for clifftop sea views
- Where: Marine Drive West, Barton on Sea, New Milton BH25 7QL
- When: Midday to 11pm Monday to Saturday; midday to 10pm Sunday
- Why: Sublime seafood, steaks, salads and more with sea views and a pet-friendly beer garden
- Stay over: Yes
While the Cliff House isn’t a pub as such, it is a bar and restaurant with rooms. It also offers sea views – and I couldn’t possibly miss out those in an area so close to the coast!
When the Cliff House reopened after a serious revamp a few years ago, it was successful straightaway. What’s not to love about good service, great food, a laid-back vibe and of course those clifftop panoramas?
Depending on the weather, you can dine indoors at the restaurant, or outside in the large beer garden. Walk-ins are welcome for outdoor tables; in fact you can only book when dining inside. Dogs are welcome outside and in the designated part of the restaurant, so do state when booking to make sure your pooch is made welcome.
As you might expect, fish and seafood are well-represented on the menu at the Cliff House. You can also order salads, burgers, grills, steaks and pasta dishes. If you prefer savoury flavours, order the artisan cheese selection in lieu of dessert. The puds, meanwhile, are very tempting to anyone with a sweet tooth.
The Kitchen at the Chewton Glen
Best for a celebrity chef
- Where: Christchurch Road, New Milton BH25 6QS
- When: Midday to 2pm and 6pm to 8.30pm daily
- Why: Laid-back eatery overseen by celebrity chef James Martin and located at the Chewton Glen
- Stay over: Yes
The Kitchen in New Milton has two big things to recommend it. Firstly, it’s located at the prestigious five star Chewton Glen hotel, which is regularly voted one of the top country house hotels in the UK. It’s also part of celebrity chef James Martin’s empire.
You can take cooking classes at The Kitchen if you like, or simply book a table to enjoy a relaxed dining experience. Some of the food comes from the greenhouse and raised beds right outside, so it couldn’t be more locally sourced.
Set lunch menus make dining here more affordable, and feature a choice of pasta, pizza or salad for your main. Or order from the main menu, which includes grills, pizzas, and a mix of mains, including Indian-inspired dishes.
A fellow school mum has worked at The Kitchen and said she saw James Martin several times, so you never know your luck!
Pebble Beach, Barton-on-Sea
Best for a seaview stay
- Where: Marine Drive, Barton on Sea, New Milton BH25 7DZ
- When: 9am to 10pm Wednesday to Sunday
- Why: A bar, restaurant and sunset terrace offering gastropub-style dining, smart rooms, live music events, and sea views
- Stay over: Yes
Again, Pebble Beach isn’t a pub as such, but it does have a bar. Plus a casual, coastal vibe. It’s also an inn as well as an eatery, with a range of rooms you can stay over in, including a seaview suite. The inn has a five star rating.
How about the food? There are several menus to choose from, including the laid-back bar and sunset terrace menu. This features paninis, burgers, small plates, pasta, pizzas, and more.
You can also order from the breakfast, a la carte, children’s, and Sunday lunch menus. The a la carte selection also includes gastropub-style dishes like baked salmon or seabass, roast pork loin, steaks, salads, and a dedicated list of vegan and vegetarian options.
Like a pub, Pebble Beach also hosts live music events, including tribute acts.
The Plough Inn, Tiptoe
Best for a village pub
- Where: Sway Road, Tiptoe, Lymington SO41 6FQ
- When: 11.30am to 10pm Monday to Saturday, 11.30am to 9pm Sunday
- Why: A traditional village pub with a huge beer garden and a great selection of reasonably-priced food
- Stay over: No
Though the postal town and postcode for The Plough Inn is Lymington, the village of Tiptoe is actually closer to New Milton. If you want to spend time in a New Forest village and dine or drink at a proper pub, then this could be the one to go for.
The menu certainly offers plenty of choice. There are special deals available when you order several small plates, and the list also includes platters and sharers.
Also featured are ciabatta rolls, jacket potatoes, salads, “naughty fries,” burgers, pasta, and a Sunday roast. Main meals include pub classics such as pies, chilli, lasagne, fish and chips, or ham, egg, and chips.
A real perk of this pub near New Milton is the generously sized beer garden. It’s ideal for kicking back and unwinding in summer after your meal, perhaps lingering until the sun goes down. Inside, the pub is kitted out in a traditional-meets-modern style.
The Royal Oak, Downton
Best for coastal walks
- Where: Christchurch Road, Downton, Lymington SO41 0LA
- When: Midday to 11pm Monday to Saturday, midday to 10pm Sunday
- Why: A warm welcome, good pub grub made from locally sourced produce, and a mile from the beach
- Stay over: No
Like the Plough Inn, the Royal Oak has a Lymington address, yet is closer to New Milton. It’s also only a mile from the coast, so you can walk to or from the beach in around 20 minutes to half an hour.
The Royal Oak in Downtown is an 18th century coaching inn, with several real fireplaces and a large beer garden. I can testify that it has a really good reputation locally, with people travelling to Downton so they can dine there.
Food sourced from the New Forest area is used throughout the menus. The focus is on pub grub done really well. A good choice of vegan and vegetarian dishes is available, and pets are made very welcome, too.
Expect a warm welcome and great food whenever you visit this traditional new Forest pub.
The Walkford, Walkford
Best for chain pub prices
- Where: 6 Walkford Road, Walkford, Christchurch, BH23 5QF
- When: 11am to 11pm daily
- Why: Very affordable food from this big Greene King pub with a large beer garden
- Stay over: No
If you want decent food at very appealing prices, then head to this Greene King pub in Walkford, between New Milton and Christchurch. It’s big, and usually busy, with a beer garden out the back and parking at the front.
The menu is wide-ranging, featuring pub classics, grills, pies, burgers, sharers, and more. As well as the main menu, there are bar snacks, kids’, and Sunday menus. Plus a gluten-free one listing a good range of starters, mains, sides, and puddings.
Whether you want to tuck into a signature dish like prawn and chorizo risotto, a vegan mushroom and ale pie, a juicy burger, chickenless katsu curry, or a stacked nachos sharer, the Walkford pub has always been a reliable, affordable local option for me.
Which pubs in New Milton will you dine, drink, or sleep at?
From a carvery in the New Forest for Sunday lunch to somewhere to stop before or after a coastal or countryside walk, there are plenty of pubs and similar eateries in the New Milton area to tickle your fancy.
Once you’ve picked your pub, all that remains is to choose from the menu. Will it be a loaded vegan burger, an Italian-style pasta dish, the pie of the day, a freshly-baked pizza, or fragrant, flavoursome curry? The decision is yours!
If you’re looking for more pubs in the New Forest area, why not check out my guides to the best pubs in Burley, Fordingbridge, Lymington, Lyndhurst and Milford on Sea?
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