The Lord Bute & Restaurant

The classical-style, white-painted Lord Bute hotel has an interesting history. It was originally the home of 18th-century English Prime Minister Lord Bute (he only lasted a year in the post - from 1762-63), and two of the suites are the former entrance lodges of Highcliffe Castle. The classy restaurant, with its warm, golden tones on the walls and sumptuous furnishings, is the setting for some ambitious modern British cooking founded in top-notch ingredients from Hampshire and Dorset, including venison and mushrooms from the nearby New Forest. Start, perhaps, with fresh local crabmeat with king prawns in a smoked paprika, chervil and tomato dressing, spiced pepper oil and crisp baby leaves, before main-course herb-roasted rack of Hampshire spring lamb, grilled Provençal vegetables, thyme and smoked garlic jus.