Featuring a play on traditional winter comforts.

The new seasonal menu for the chilly weeks ahead of spring is now out at The Bell Inn, the independent, family owned 18th century coaching house in the New Forest.

The midwinter menu features a range of seasonally inspired fare thoughtfully prepared by Head Chef, Dave Basher and his kitchen team bringing seriously good food, to local visitor’s and guests alike, at great value.

The range of hearty dishes, perfect for these colder months include, for starters, the Warrawee Duck Egg Crumpet, Basher’s take on the traditional Egg Benedict, with a truffle mayonnaise and sausage patie replacing the more usual hollandaise version. Then, inspired by the food he enjoyed as child, Basher has created Corn Beef Hash Fritters as well as Ham Hock Terrine, a play on ham, egg & chips served with straw potatoes and a spiced ketchup.

For full on comfort food, at the heart of the newly launched main courses, is the Sticky Glazed Swallowfields Farm Pork Belly with a sticky bourbon glaze cutting through the fruit of the apple and red cabbage. Other new dishes to be featured on the menu include:

  • Seared Salmon fillet with a mussel and vegetable curry
  • Confit Duck Leg with wild boar cassoulet

Family-owned, with a heritage of over 200 years and strong connections with the Forest, the new winter menu uses some of the finest produce available from the area’s farms, involving wild boar sausages from Swallowfields Farm and eggs from Warrawee Duck Farm.

Available lunchtimes and evenings, long-standing favourites, including the famous Bell Inn Burger and Flack Manor Battered Fish and Chips, are joined by new Seared Calves liver with bacon and bubble & squeak as well as wild boar sausages with mash and gravy.

And if there’s still room, the winter selection of comforting dessert treats that include: Chocolate Baileys Indulgence with jaconde sponge and white chocolate macaroon, Rice Pudding Soufflé with blood orange sauce and Jam Roly Poly with custard two ways and warm strawberry sauce.

The team at the Inn proudly supports the local community and give a percentage of their revenue to the New Forest Trust, their way of helping to preserve and secure the surrounding national park, they get to call home.

The AA-rosette restaurant will launch its next seasonal menu late March.

To book a table, simply call 02380 812214, visit www.bellinn-newforest.co.uk or email bell@bramshaw.co.uk

ABOUT THE BELL INN

Rooted in history and fortified with contemporary design, authentic Grade II listed building boasting age-old rustic charm with flagstone floors, large open fireplaces and beamed reception rooms, humbly mixed with countrified-chic trimmings as well as 28 en-suite cosy and comfortable bedrooms, once more, cleverly blending original features with modern-day comforts – and conveniently located just one mile away from J1, M27. Proudly family-owned, visitors will enjoy the warmest of welcomes and hospitality.