A Short and Lovely Stay at The Montagu Arms Hotel in Beaulieu, New Forest

New Forest is one of the many picturesque places in Britain - beautiful scenery, lots of lovely walks, charming villages and abundant wildlife. There is a fantastic range of places to stay and eat, making New Forest an ideal destination for a family break.

The Montagu Arms Hotel is an excellent choice for a short break in New Forest. Located in the heart of New Forest, in the quaint village of Beaulieu, the four-star country house hotel provides a lovely retreat away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Featuring a line-up of 22 well-appointed bedrooms and suites (most with fabulous views over the gardens or the Beaulieu River) the hotel and its grounds are immaculate. The location of the hotel is also ideal - only a short walk from the village high street, the Beaulieu River and the Montagu estate.

First Impressions

The hotel combines the charm of a country house hotel with four-star luxury. From the moment we checked in to the moment we departed, the service and atmosphere were excellent. There is ample car parking at the rear of the hotel and valet service is available. The gardens were well maintained and attractive. The lounge offered a relaxed and informal atmosphere and was perfect for taking afternoon tea or enjoying a glass of champagne. Staff were friendly and helpful or discreet as the situation demanded. Overall, the atmosphere at the hotel was very relaxed and this I felt was one of the factors that ensured guests had a pleasant stay.

The Room

We stayed in one of the Superior Rooms (prices from £249 per night). Decorated in a traditional country house style, the room was decently sized and featured a king-size bed. The windows let in abundant daylight and offered partial views of the garden. The bathroom was spotlessly clean and cotton robes, warm fluffy towels, slippers and a selection of White Company toiletries were provided.

There are many other room options available (four poster superior bedrooms, four poster suite and deluxe suite) at slightly higher prices. You can check them out online before booking.

Out and About

Once we had freshened up, we headed out to explore Beaulieu. Montagu Arms Hotel is ideally located for visiting several places within a short drive from the hotel, one of them being the Montagu estate. Montagu estate is home to the National Motor Museum, Palace House and many other attractions. There are many nice walks locally including one to Buckler's Hard. Irrespective of which walking route you head out on, you are sure to be greeted with the stunning scenery of New Forest. The hotel is an excellent base to explore New Forest.

We returned from our walk feeling refreshed and spent some time in the beautiful gardens of the hotel.

However, we did not lounge around for long as the walk had worked up our appetite and I could feel the Michelin-starred restaurant beckoning us.

Incredible Food and Service

Food was definitely the highlight of our stay. We had a table reserved at The Terrace, the Michelin-starred restaurant at the hotel. The dining experience was amazing. The staff were knowledgeable, polite and friendly - the waiters explained to us about every course as in how the dish was prepared and where the ingredients came from. A special mention goes to the restaurant manager, Pawel Nowinski, whose passion for fine food was reflected in the conversation we had with him.

Each dish we sampled offered an exceptional culinary adventure both in terms of flavour and texture. The presentation was equally good. We enjoyed everything we tried and at the end of the dinner we left feeling full and satisfied. If you are in Beaulieu and get the chance to dine at The Terrace, do it.

Pumpkin and Parmesan Agnolotti with roasted Orange Puree, Sage Beurre Noisette and Hazelnuts

Dark Chocolate Cremeaux with Walnut Ice Cream, Coffee Macaroon and Milk Chocolate Mousse

Warm Salted Caramel Fondant with 'Cider Lolly Sorbet' and Creme Fraiche

Montagu Arms Hotel offers great value for price. It has a winning location, warm and welcoming service and you are spoilt for choice when it comes to food and drink. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Montagu Arms Hotel and would certainly go back.

Book A Room

Rooms in the hotel start from £209 for a Standard Double to £249 for a Four Poster room. Suites are priced from £269 for a Four Poster Junior Suite to £349 for a Deluxe Suite. All prices are based on 2 guests sharing a room.

For more details, special offers or to make a booking, you can contact the reservations team on 01590 624467.

The Montagu Arms Hotel | Beaulieu, New Forest, Hampshire - SO42 7ZL
Telephone: 01590 612324

We were guests of The Montagu Arms Hotel but as always all opinions are our own.