Food, Drink and Accommodation near Alice Holt Forest
<< See also our guide to local businesses aand places of interest
PUBS
There's nothing like a pint and a bit of hearty pub food after a long walk in the Forest. All these pubs are family-friendly places within easy reach of Alice Holt Visitor Centre. Most can be reached on foot or cycle in a few minutes from the Visitor Centre.
All have been personally checked out by the Editor (It's a tough job , but somebody has to do it!)
However please note that information is correct at time of going to press and no liability can be accepted for errors and ommisions
The Blue Bell,Batt's Corner, nr Dockenfield
Although it's very close to Alice Holt Visitor Centre, this pub is well and truly off the beaten track and can be easily overlooked. It's recently re-opened after a long fallow period and now has a welcoming and family-friendly atmosphere. Good fresh food and interesting beers. Great base for a long hike through the Forest or a gentle stroll on Dockenfield Common. Large beer garden and kids' play area.
Click here for details of the Blue Bell
The Cedars,The Street, Binsted
A
classic village pub: unpretentious and full of atmosphere. Both the
staff and regulars are friendly. The Cedars is very popular with weekday
lunchtime parties of cyclists and rambers exploring the beautiful countryside
of the "Hangers" the steep wooded ridge that overlooks Alice
Holt Forest. A perfect stop off along the Hangers Way path, or there
are several footpaths that do short circular loops around Binsted with
its picturesque malmstone cottages and marvellous parish church.
Click here for details of the Cedars
The Jolly Farmer, Blacknest
This is a large and often busy pub with an extensive high-quality menu. There's heaps of room for both dining and enjoying a quiet drink by the fire. There's a big kid-friendly beer garden and the "Jollys" is very popular on summer weekends. It's run by a very friendly young couple, who've dramatically improved what was once a rather lack-lustre watering hole. There's a great menu, wide range of good beers and wines and a bustling, friendly atmosphere, as befits the pub's name. The skittle alley is popular as a hired venue for parties and social events.
Click here for details of the Jolly Farmer
The Halfway House, Bucks Horn Oak - Closed until further notice
This is the closest pub to Alice Holt Visitor Centre. An attractive little stone building on the A325 right at the turn-off for the Visitor Centre. It's a very small and cosy place and was thriving and very friendly until fairly recently. It was a good pub to hole up in on a winter's lunchtime when the proposed walk in the Forest had been rained off!
Sadly the latest incumbents ran it in a rather half-hearted way and even most of the locals deserted, presumably looking for somewhere with a bit more atmosphere than a funeral parlour! So alas the Half Way House is now closed ...watch this space to see if anyone with half a clue about running a pub takes it over.
The Star, Bentley (01420) 23184 Restaurant (01420) 521137
Sitting plum in the middle of Bentley on the main village street this pub has come up in the world. Once a sad dive, the current landlord and landlady have turned it into a pleasant place for a drink, with a rather special covered patio garden at the rear which is more reminiscent of a tropical island than a Hampshire village. The food's innovative too: a joint venture with the Star of India, a Farnham Indian restaurant. You can order from the menu or go for the "all you can eat" Indian smorgasbord. Popular with locals and passers by, there's often entertainment in the evenings: generally reflecting the landlords interested in Blues music. When there's no blues or jazz playing, there's a pool table ....or just enjoy a pint and a chat.
The Bull, Bentley (01420) 22156
This fine old inn sits on the A31 Farnham to Winchester road, formerly the route of the Pilgrims' Way. The Bull is a great lunchtime pub. It's difficult to think of a better place to spend a cold, wet winter Sunday lunchtime than in this warm and welcoming pub. The food's not cheap but it's extremely good and there's a wide range of quality tipples to wash it down. Very "Olde Worlde" this pub attracts a lot of lunchtime trade at weekends ,so booking is strongly recommended. But it's more than just an eatery ,and there's still the atmosphere of a genuine local pub rather than a restaurant.
DIRECTIONS TO PUBS:
can be found on the individual links. Here's an overview
Please mention www.aliceholt.org when making contact
ACCOMODATION
There's not a massive amount of reasonably priced accommodation in this area, however here's a selection. We'd like to improve this section so if you run a hotel, camping and caravaning site or B&B please send your details with pictures, links etc to info@aliceholt.org
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STUBBS FARM South Hay (Between Binsted and Kingsley), about 3 miles from Alice Holt Forest
Described as "Peace and tranquility in the heart of Hampshire" this is a very rural location off one of the delightful wooded lanes on the malmstone hills near Binsted.
There's the Granary, a listed 17th century guest building offering serviced bed and breakfast accommodation. There are three separate rooms, each with en suite, together with a guest lounge and breakfast room.
The victorian Coach House is a self catering unit sleeping two.
Both are rated 4-stars (In the "Farmhouse" and "Self-catering" categories respectively) by enjoyengland.com, the official English Tourist Board site and Stubbs Farm has won a Silver Award for Green Tourism. There's a private trout fishing lake at the Farm , which is set in lovely countryside, but pets are not allowed and the Coach House is not suitable for children.
>>Click
here for Stubbs Farm website
Contact: Mrs Jean Stephens, Stubbs Farm, South Hay, Kingsley , Hampshire, GU35 9NR Tel/Fax: +44(0)1420 474906 e-mail info@stubbsfarm.co.uk
The
Granary 
The
Coach House
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DRAGON LODGE Millbridge, Frensham, about 4 miles from Alice Holt Forest
Millbridge is one of the quaint hamlets that surround the village of Frensham. Dragon Lodge is a beautiful old house well known for its distinctive Dragon above the front door. Originally a coaching inn called The Green Dragon Inn, the stable block has been converted into three contemporary self-catering guest lodges.
The Den - one double bedroom with an option of a second double bedroom. Lounge/kitchen. Bathroom. Decking overlooking garden.
The Orangery - with one double bedroom, lounge, large kitchen/dining room and shower room. Decking overlooking garden.
The Studio - with one double bedroom with en suite shower room. Large kitchen/lounge. Use of the garden.
>>Click here for Dragon Lodge Website
Contact: Carol & Peter Wood, Dragon Lodge, The Reeds Road, Frensham, Surrey, GU10 3DQ Tel: 01252 790187 Mobile 07785 918669 e.mail carol@dragonlodgeuk.com
Dragon Lodge 
The Den
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MANOR FARM West Worldham, near Alton, about 6 miles from Alice Holt Forest.
Manor
Farm is a 400 acre farm set among the many sunken lanes of the malmstone
hills around the Hangers Way walk. West Worldham is the little village
that was Jane Austen's last home, where she lived from 1809 until 1817.
The Brock family run a very traditional mixed farm, growing a variety
of arable crops and raising cattle and sheep on permanent pasture and
meadows under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. The meat that is produced
here, is sold through their very own butchers shop in Alton High Street.
The Farm has joined up with the Featherdown Group which offers a unique style of family camping at selected farms around the UK.The Feather Down Farm Tent is in fact a spacious structure , like a cross between a tent and a cottage or rustic cabin. Each tent can accommodate up to 6 people and includes a canopy bed, separate master & bunk bedrooms, and flush loo. Plus there's the fun
of cooking using an old-fashioned wood stove and even a communal wood-fired bread oven and eggs from the henhouse. It's a really different kind of holiday and all about letting families get closer to the traditions of farm life. Children and supervised pets are welcome and getting to know the farm animals is all part of the experience.
A
Featherdown Tent 
Manor Farm 
Getting Back to the Land
>>Click Here for the Featherdown Farms website
Contact: Phone: 01420 80804 Email: info@featherdown.co.uk
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Please mention www.aliceholt.org when making contact