Careys Manor was formerly a manor house, re-built in 1888 and is now one of the more striking buildings in Brockenhurst. The 2 AA Rosetted Manor Restaurant is done up to a high degree of style with gleaming cutlery, soft furnishings and windows that open out to the woods beyond.

The British menu with French influences leaves ample room for innovation while the kitchen takes sourcing seriously. Lovers of seafood will be happy to start with a bouillabaisse broth, a selection of shellfish and fish lightly poached in a saffron and tomato consommé; the rest could try warm ballotine of pig trotter and ham hock. Main courses feature the roasted haunch of New Forest venison and fillet of beef accompanied by wilted baby spinach and oxtail ravioli glazed with crayfish sabayon and red wine jus.

Dining at the Manor Restaurant on Friday and Saturday nights is further seasoned by the soothing strains of piano music.