Hartnett Holder & Co - Lyndhurst

Lime Wood is a stunning Regency Country House originally established as a hunting lodge in the 13th Century that has been lovingly restored over the last five years at a cost of thirty million pounds, and is now the only five star luxury hotel in the New Forest National Park. Interiors have been designed by David Collins as a modern interpretation of the classic English Country House and the result is both luxurious and relaxed.

A roaring fire in the entrance hall welcomes guests and there is enough on site activities to keep you busy from a cookery school, food foraging classes to yoga lessons, spa treatments and bike rides. Children are also well catered for with Sony Play Stations and Nintendo Wii machines.

The Dining Room restaurant has been relaunched as Hartnett Holder & Co with a more relaxed and informal style. The new restaurant takes its name from Michelin-starred chef Angela Hartnett and Head Chef Luke Holder, who together have collaborated to oversee the menu which will offer local sourced English dishes, reflecting seasonality together with Italian influences.

The décor has been created by renowned interior designer Martin Brudnizki, who has previously designed London restaurants Le Caprice, J Sheekey's, Corrigan's Mayfair and Hix. With a palette of warm red and gold, the restaurant has a country style ambience, with comfy low leather seating set against simply laid polished wood tables.

Local cuisine is top of the agenda and the kitchen makes good use of seasonal ingredients from local farmers and artisanal producers. Kick off with a starter of mackerel, lettuce heart, wild cress and oyster mayonnaise or gammon broth, smoked cheese on toast. Main courses usher in spaghetti, Isle of Wight lobster, chilli and parsley, or New Forest venison, red cabbage and apple slaw or from the grill menu choose Jurassic rose veal chop serves with artichokes and parmesan cream.

Service is attentive and the atmosphere is relaxed and Lime Wood is home to a spectacular wine cellar full of top-end treasures adding lustre to the whole experience.