Le Poussin at Whitley Ridge

Michelin-starred dining in the New Forest

Where? Whitley Ridge, Beaulieu Road, Brockenhurst, Hampshire SO42 7QL (01590 622354).

Mood? Refined elegance

Why go? You won't find better food in the New Forest (or for a good many miles outside it for that matter).

To eat? For starters: scallops served with leek puree, deep fried leeks and scallop roe soup; for your main: slow cooked beef with onion jam and horseradish cream; for dessert: passion fruit soufflé or valrhona chocolate fondant, served with tiramisu, sweet potato bark and espresso ice cream. Alternatively, the eight-course taster menu is available for those who really can't make up their mind.

To drink? Enjoy a glass of champagne and canapés in front of a log fire in one of Whitley Ridge's living rooms before dinner – it's the perfect time to browse the hotel's extensive wine menu. Prices for a bottle range from £30 to £2,000, so don't forget your credit card.

Need to know? If you want to savour your evening just that little bit longer, rooms at Whitley Ridge start from £90 per person, per night. Gastronomic breaks are also available, as well as special dinner, bed and breakfast rates.

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