Food & Drink

We are located in an area that is fast gaining a reputation as one of the best destinations for food and drink in the country. There are many excellent options for dining near New House Farm and there are also plenty of suppliers and shops close by to pick up the highest quality produce and ingredients. There are excellent kitchen and dining facilities in the barn for large groups, dedicated barbecue areas and firepits outside, and – most importantly – in each suite there is a fully fitted, high spec kitchen, giving any group staying here many options to cook for themselves, or to be cooked for. We’ve listed some details on local food & drink below, and a visit here would not be complete without going out to discover a new farm shop, pub or café for yourself.

In The Area

Food & Drink

Hurst Green

Local Shops

New House Farm is surrounded by innovative farm shops, smokeries, vineyards and a wide array of thriving pubs serving wonderful food. We are also less than 10 minutes from a newly opened Waitrose in Hawkhurst, but you’d drive past some of the most innovative, fresh, and mainly locally sourced produce in the area on the way.

The Bell Pub

Local Pubs & Restaurants

Here are a few pubs we recommend – to name just a few of the closest. These are all high quality, traditional pubs with a strong emphasis on locally sourced, excellently prepared food, great ales and fine wines.

At New House Farm

Food & Drink

Catering at New House Farm Country Retreat

There are many ways to enjoy food and drink whilst with us, whether cooking with your friends and family, dining on fine food prepared by your own private chef, gathering round one of our giant fire pits and barbecues or even venturing into the wild, on a guided foraging tour and preparing what you find.

Cookery Courses & Weekends

We will soon be hosting weekends dedicated to cooking. We’ll be coverning many types of cooking, beginning with weekends dedicated to smoking produce, curing and brining, as well as a weekend dedicated to plant based cooking.

The Long Barn is a vast space, with the space and facilities for dining for up to 50, and has a profesional kitchen set up to cater for every person staying at the Lodges.

If you are a chef looking for the ideal location to host your next cookery course or someone looking for a location for a residential food course weekend then please do get in touch.

Personal Chef at New House Farm Country Retreat

Your Own Personal Chef

We are surrounded by lush pasture, wild woods and some of the finest fruit farms which give up their goodness season after season, and we’d really like to share it and enjoy it as we do. Local produce of course is very much dictated by exactly when you come and stay the High Weald but there’s always something going on! Getting close to animals, the soil, the trees and drawing in the very distinctive smells as each season comes around is part of what we love, and we’d like visitors to experience and take away as memories of their stay.

Our cooking at New House Farm reflects where we live; rustic, natural, simple and healthy. In essence, good, nutritious food sourced locally, cooked well.

We resist having a set format as we’ve found that all our guests’ requirements often differ. Let’s just have a conversation first over what you’d like to do, the occasion and the numbers, and we can make suggestions and then a plan.

If you’d like to discuss ideas or  anything to do with food really – cooking, local produce, local farming, maybe just the wildlife – then we’d be delighted to link you up with Kit our dedicated cook, foodie, forager and local produce champion. He’s our true local yokel..

Please contact us for any catering requirements you have.

Local Area

Activities In The Area

Bodiam Castle

Bodiam Castle

A perfectly preserved 14th century castle – regularly voted one of the country’s favourites. A genuinely stunning trip back in time, with a huge army of giant Coi Carp protecting the moat to boot. Captivating. Please visit the National Trust website to read more about Bodiam Castle.
Scotney Castle

Scotney Castle

You can happily lose yourself walking around the endless sculpted grounds of Scotney Castle.
Batemans

Bateman’s

Rudyard Kipling’s beautiful country home is opposite us in Burwash, just on the other side of the valley.
Pashley Manor

Pashley Manor

One of the finest gardens in England, just down the road from us – no image here can do justice to the wonder and beauty. Perfect for wandering through, for any ages. Visit the Pashley Manor Gardens website to read more

Pashley Manor Gardens
Dale Hill Golf Course

Golf

The beauty of the High Weald provides the backdrop for many excellent golf courses. If you’d like to know more just ask. Here are just three very close by:
Bewl Fishing

Fishing

The fishing amongst the valleys of the High Weald rates as some of the best in the country. Maybe anywhere…

Seriously – Google “Fishing in East Sussex”. Bewl Water is 5 minutes away.

Bewl Water Reservoir

Bewl Water Reservoir

Fishing, water sports, cycling, nature walks, kids’ activities, The Boat House Bistro, Waterfront café, and more. For full information of all that there is to do at Bewl, please go to their website.
Arena Pursuits at New House Farm Country Retreat

Arena Pursuits

Less than 10 minutes drive away, and you’re in a world of wild landscape activities, buggies, paintballing, and more – for grown up kids and vice versa. Read more on the Arena Pursuits website.
Go Ape Bedgebury Forest

Bedgebury National Pinetum & Forest

Bedgebury Forest is ideal for cycling, walking, running and horse riding. Visit the National Pinetum, one of the world’s finest conifer collections, perfect for walks and picnics.
Safe, healthy outdoor fun for all ages and abilities.

Open all year. (Bedgebury Pinetum’s website)

Go Ape

In the heart of Bedgebury Forest, you can also find the “Go Ape” treetop adventure.
(visit GoApe website)

Annual Local Events

Bonfire Night at New House Farm Country Retreat

East Sussex Bonfire Nights

East Sussex fireworks are a must; from Lewes to Hastings, Hawkhurst to Roberstbridge, there are plenty of fantastic bonfire nights/firework evenings, usually taking place over the entire month. Quite honestly, the Sussex Bonfire Societies’ events have to be seen to be believed. We are less than 10 minutes from the 5 year old, and youthfully spectacular Hawkhurst Bonfire Society’s event. This is a must see.
Forest Lasers at New House Farm Country Retreat

Alfresco Festival

Set in Tunbridge Wells, this is fast becoming the South East’s favourite boutique festival. There is a wide range of activities to cater for festival-goers of all ages. Please visit the Alfresco Festival website for further details.