The New Forest is to hold its first ever Food & Drink Festival this autumn from October 31 to November 6 2016. 

The New Forest Food & Drink Festival will be a week-long celebration with culinary events, produce-tasting, featured dishes and activities for every foodie - even the littlest ones. 

Menus will feature traditional forest foods and more contemporary additions such as award-winning charcuterie, not to mention stunning fish and seafood from the forest's 40 miles of coastline.  Some of the New Forest produce is little short of unique – where else can you eat true Pannage pork from the forest's famous free-roaming, acorn-eating pigs?

The Forest is a foodie paradise with world class hotels sitting alongside country inns. Until now it's been one of the UK's best-kept foodie secrets, too. But that's about to change…

The first New Forest Food and Drink Festival will build on the success of the New Forest Marque – indicator of quality local produce – and celebrate its rich culinary heritage, the variety of food from its natural larder, the drinks created by artisan brewers and wine-makers and the producers, chefs and retailers who create and sell it all.

It will become a must-visit destination on Britain's acclaimed food fest trail.

Chair of the New Forest Food & Drink Festival 2016 Anthony Climpson explains: “The New Forest is one of the most exciting food destinations in the British Isles.  Our team of chefs, restaurateurs and producers are all very excited about this celebration of our sensational food – especially in the autumn against the rich canvas of the Forest and its riot of reds and golds.” 

So what's on the Menu?

Everything! From Pannage pig and glorious game to the very English afternoon tea and the best of beer, wine, cider and juices.

There are 15 themes - each has its own Main Course headline event – a special tasting menu, local producer talks or a celebrity chef showcase.

Every theme, too, has what we're calling Sensational Sides; more eclectic events and activities, from celebration menus to sausage-making demonstrations or talks from leading chefs and chocolatier classes.

Then there are our Passionate Producers – a showcase of farmers and producers and the food and drink they create for the Forest's restaurants, shops and market places.

There will be two cross-Forest events which will be free of charge to visit. The first is happening on Wednesday November 2. A Taste of the Outdoors is a living & learning event all about the Forest's rich history and cultural heritage. Scrumptious lunches, cooked by local chefs, will be available to purchase on the day.

The second takes place on Sunday November 6 and will be the highlight of the celebrations. A Festival Food & Drink Produce Market features a skills workshops and showcases our amazing farmers, producers and local ingredients.

Our themes ensure there's something for everyone…

Tastes of the Forest

The Forest's tastes are an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary, earthy and delicate, sweet and savoury. With this vast array of delicious choices visitors will discover a whole new, New Forest favourite.  Events include a luxury celebration at Chewton Glen – incorporating dishes created by past and present chefs such as James Martin, Jean Christophe Novelli, Pierre Chevillard and Luke Matthews – and a dinner with Masterchef's Gregg Wallace at Rhinefield House.

The Vegetarian Forest Feast

The outdoors way of Forest life is a delight and our choice of produce is so diverse that vegetarian food is nothing less than a joy. Join Simon Rimmer, from Channel 4's Sunday Brunch, who will be headlining this theme at Burley Manor for a vegetarian banquet.

The New Forest Forager

The massive ancient woodlands of the New Forest are home to the most delicious wild mushrooms and toadstools – find out from one of our best-known foragers what he gets up to and how he cooks his finds when he gets into the kitchen. Enjoy a taste of foraging at The Bell Inn at Bramshaw.

The Very English Afternoon Tea

Introduced by the Duchess of Bedford in response to a sinking feeling between breakfast and dinner, we're celebrating everything about this quintessentially English tradition. Where better to experience this than at the Michelin-starred Montagu Arms in Beaulieu – home of 'the best afternoon tea outside London'. Visitors can also enjoy walking picnics and pop-up cafes during the Festival week.

Forest Fish & Fruits of Our Sea

The New Forest is one of the few National Parks which can boast both coast and countryside to explore and enjoy. Its stunning but little-known, 40-mile coastline, stretching from Calshot at its eastern end, to Christchurch in the west, is where some of the best British seafood and fish are landed after being sustainably caught.  Join in our celebration of fish and seafood at The Master Builder's House Hotel in Buckler's Hard.

Other New Forest Food & Drink Festival themes include: Heritage, Artisan & Charcuterie; The Sensational Pannage Pig; New Forest Breakfasts & Brunch; Sizzling Steaks & Perfect Pies; Glorious Game & Roaring Fires; The Great Forest Banger; Sip & Savour; Cheese and the Forest Larder; For the kids, our future foodies; and Sweet Forest Somethings.

Information about the Festival activities as well as special accommodation offers which will be available across the New Forest can be found at thenewforest.co.uk/newforestfoodfest as well as on social media.