
Quick info
About The Oak Inn, Lyndhurst
The Oak Inn is a pub in Lyndhurst, on the quiet road of Pinkney Ln in the heart of the New Forest. Inside, the ceilings are low, and the bar pours real ales straight from the cask. The kitchen cooks a British menu that includes Tuscan Chicken and lamb shoulder, and Sunday lunch is served as well. Dogs are welcome, so visitors can bring them along. The Oak Inn is owned by a brewery.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree parking lot · Free street parking · Paid parking lot
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, parking lot, restroom
- Good for kidsGood for kids
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Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention tuscan chicken, lamb shoulder, fishcake special and real ales from the cask.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention tuscan chicken, lamb shoulder, fishcake special and real ales from the cask.
Customer Review Summary
Most reviewers praise the food, with the Tuscan Chicken and the lamb shoulder named as must-haves, and hearty, generous portions and a fishcake special also singled out. Close behind is the welcome, as diners describe friendly, helpful staff at the bar and a team that squeezed in walk-ins without a booking. Several mention real ales served straight from the cask, a covered outdoor area and garden where baguettes and chips made a light lunch, and a quiet New Forest setting with low ceilings and a cosy, country pub feel. Walkers and cyclists note stopping in after a circular route or a warm day on the bikes. The complaints are about busy weekends. One Sunday lunch party waited about an hour for food, and their beef arrived overcooked and tough, though they found the staff lovely. Another group was told no indoor tables were free despite many appearing empty, was offered only outside seating on a cold, cloudy day, was given no menu, and left for lunch elsewhere. One diner also found parking limited.
Customer Review Summary
Most reviewers praise the food, with the Tuscan Chicken and the lamb shoulder named as must-haves, and hearty, generous portions and a fishcake special also singled out. Close behind is the welcome, as diners describe friendly, helpful staff at the bar and a team that squeezed in walk-ins without a booking. Several mention real ales served straight from the cask, a covered outdoor area and garden where baguettes and chips made a light lunch, and a quiet New Forest setting with low ceilings and a cosy, country pub feel. Walkers and cyclists note stopping in after a circular route or a warm day on the bikes. The complaints are about busy weekends. One Sunday lunch party waited about an hour for food, and their beef arrived overcooked and tough, though they found the staff lovely. Another group was told no indoor tables were free despite many appearing empty, was offered only outside seating on a cold, cloudy day, was given no menu, and left for lunch elsewhere. One diner also found parking limited.
Featured reviews
- Mehran Vafaei
“Unfortunately, a rather disappointing experience. We had checked online beforehand and got the impression that booking was recommended or required at weekends, so we expected the pub to be very busy. When we arrived, it was certainly lively, but surprisingly around half of the tables inside appeared to be empty, with no obvious reserved signs on them. Despite this, we were told that none of the indoor tables were available to us and that our only option was to sit outside. It was a cold and cloudy day, so sitting outside for lunch really wasn’t a reasonable option for us. What made the experience more disappointing was the lack of hospitality. Nobody offered us a menu, explained what food or drinks were available, or really tried to help apart from discussing where we could sit. We eventually decided to leave and have lunch somewhere else. Given the large number of positive reviews and the information online, we had expected a much warmer and more organised experience. Perhaps we simply visited at the wrong time, but unfortunately our experience didn’t match the expectations at all.”
- Kerry Andrews
“Gorgeous cosy pub, lovely decor and excellent food. Really great atmosphere, proper cosy country pub vibes”
- The Hungry Gecko
“Great stop after a very warm day cycling. Managed to squeeze us in without a booking. Friendly services and the food came very quickly considering how busy it was. Fishcake special was really good.”
- Julie Rochelle
“A lovely pub in the heart of the New Forest. We did a great circular walk from the pub and stayed for lunch. Lovely cool outside area, part of which was covered for when the weather is not so warm. Food was really good, some different options on the menu. Served really timely and everyone was helpful and friendly. Will definitely return.”
- Sally Ravening
“A lovely light lunch of baguettes and chips enjoyed in the garden. Excellent pub”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“A major brewery owns this classic country pub with on-site parking serving a typical British menu.”
- Great beer selection
- Great wine list
- Live music
- Popular for solo dining
Amenities
- Wi-Fi
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
- Dine-in
Show more amenities
- Good for kids
- Alcohol
- Cozy
- Onsite services
- Beer
- Food
- Offerings· 2
- Hard liquor
- Wine
- Crowd· 4
- Groups
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Tourists
- Transgender safespace
- Accessibility· 2
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Atmosphere· 2
- Casual
- Romantic
- Parking· 4
- Free parking lot
- Free street parking
- Paid parking lot
- Parking
- Dining options· 3
- Outside food allowed
- Seating
- Table service
- Highlights· 3
- Great beer selection
- Great wine list
- Live music
- Facilities· 1
- Restroom
Location
Bars near The Oak Inn, Lyndhurst
- The Snakecatcher4.32,0423.3 mi£20–30ReservationsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
large portions, outdoor garden seating, jumbo fish and chips
- The New Forest, Ashurst4.21,9233.5 mi£20–30ReservationsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
sunday roast, pork belly roast, kids play area
- The Sir Walter Tyrrell4.31,3053.6 miWheelchair accessible
kids play park, dog friendly garden, vegan roast
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Oak Inn, LyndhurstReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.41,525 | — | £20–30 | tuscan chicken, lamb shoulder, fishcake special |
| The SnakecatcherReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.32,042 | 3.3 mi | £20–30 | large portions, outdoor garden seating, jumbo fish and chips |
| The New Forest, AshurstReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.21,923 | 3.5 mi | £20–30 | sunday roast, pork belly roast, kids play area |
| The Sir Walter TyrrellWheelchair accessible | 4.31,305 | 3.6 mi | — | kids play park, dog friendly garden, vegan roast |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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