New Place Hotel is a gorgeous, countryside hotel with events venue space and stunning restaurant, nestled in rural Hampshire. You don't have to stay overnight here to enjoy the gastronomic offering, which is ideally located for those coming from Southampton, Portsmouth, Winchester and Fareham.
Enjoyed by guests of the hotel and locals from near and further away, The Dining Rooms are a magnificent setting for a special lunch or dinner thanks to the building's precious original features. Think high ceilings detailed with ornate plasterwork and richly polished wood panelling across the walls, decorated with gold-framed oil paintings. Tables are effortlessly sophisticated with white tablecloths and huge windows allow light to pour in, with the best tables in the house, looking out to the grounds beyond.
The menu showcases some excellent modern British cuisine, with strong meat-based main options, as well as some delicious-sounding pescatarian and plant-based options, too. The menu follows a traditional, three-course format, beginning with starters such as glazed double-baked cheese and leek souffle, alongside ham hock and mustard arancini, as well as warm crispy duck confit with spiced apple compote and hoisin sauce. For mains, we like the sound of the rolled slow cooked pork belly with Jerusalem artichoke, red cabbage and jus, as well as the sea bream fillet served with braised lentils and savoy cabbage. But, the vegetarian option of confit shallot and thyme tart with mash potato, rocket and onion velouté sounds particularly good.
Finally, for dessert, it has to be sticky pear strudel with vanilla soy yoghurt and caramel sauce, or the cherry and chocolate delice with chocolate soil and chunky cherry compote.