IT'S best known for delicious pies and stunning floral displays and its visitors include ponies, cattle and donkeys.

Ever popular even in normal times, The New Forest Inn is proving a particularly big hit with punters since reopening from its Covid closure thanks to its spacious garden seating more than 100.

The traditional 17th Century coaching inn, in the heart of the open Forest at Emery Down near Lyndhurst, boasts a delightful green and cream exterior adorned with dozens of beautiful hanging baskets.

Daily Echo:

The New Forest Inn has been owned by Debbie and Duane Lewis for the past 13 years and some of the friendly staff they employ are Izabel, Rob, Lori, Amelia, Caz, Dean, Lazlo, Jamie and Paul.

Debbie told the Daily Echo: "We're a destination pub for high quality fresh home cooked pub food renowned for our pies. We offer a choice of at least six, all freshly made on the premises using locally sourced ingredients where possible.

"It's an unspoilt and traditional New Forest pub with ponies, cattle and donkeys all ambling past the front door."

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Alongside the famous pies, pub classics such as fish and chips, liver and bacon and ham, egg and chips are served up. Other favourites include Sundays Roasts, vegan lasagne, burgers and the New Forest Chicken Stack. For the sweet-toothed, there's crumbles, cheesecakes or sticky toffee pudding, served with cream, ice cream, custard or all three!

There's a great selection of local real ales including Flack Manor from Romsey, as well as an extensive wine list.

The pub boasts a quirky sloping back garden, which is now mainly under the cover of marquees, gazebos and large umbrellas to allow for the very British weather this spring. The garden seats 100 comfortably with the top drenched in sun all day, sloping down to the newly built marquee area for outdoor dining. Two lower areas include tucked away tables and an undercover area with heaters.

Rodney and his team look after the garden with its amazing array of shrubs, flowers and hanging baskets.

The New Forest Inn began life as a caravan serving ale and developed into a pub with a barn attached, which eventually became a part of the traditional unspoilt pub that it is now.

Debbie and Duane have hosted many popular beer festivals over the years as well as the annual Forest's Got Talent competition.

When Covid restrictions ease, they hope to return to the quiz nights they host for charities throughout the year and occasional live acoustic music.

But, for now, it's fingers and toes crossed for a full reopening later this month.

"We'll be studying the new legislation and regulations for inside dining when we are given the go ahead by the government," adds Debbie.

"We just love welcoming our regulars and seeing how much they appreciate our hard work to give them the best service and food we can."