Hotel Review: Old Mill at Gordleton, Hampshire

Situated in the small hamlet of Gordleton on the southern edge of the New Forest, this is a great base for exploring the nearby Georgian sailing town of Lymington. You could even pop over to the Isle of Wight for the day, or venture to Hurst Castle. The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu is a 20-minute drive away as is Bucklers Hard where they built ships for Nelson's Navy.

By car: from London the drive takes 2 hours and 30 minutes, from Salisbury 1 hour and from Southampton a mere 40 minutes.

By train: Sway is a five-miute taxi ride from the hotel, accessed from Southampton in 25 minutes or from London Waterloo via Brockenhurst in just under 2 hours. Book trains to Sway.

The public rooms mix the old and new to great effect; an antique coal scuttle here, an oversized flock velvet armchair there. A roaring fire in reception greets guests on a cold day, while when the sun is shining large windows open the restaurant up to the river.

This became part of the Upham pub group in 2015 and service is friendly and informal from a team of largely local staff. Being a pub with rooms, facilities are limited, but staff will advise on local walks and buses, whilst board games and garden games will keep you busy.

• Restaurant
• Bar
• Riverside views
• Gardens
• 24-hour front desk

• Free parking

• Free Wi-Fi

Rooms are comfortable, offering little luxuries such as robes, smart TVs, Anne Seminon bath products and bottled water. The four rooms in the annexe have more boutique, contemporary styling with freestanding bathtubs and wet rooms. The eight rooms in the 400-year-old main building are more characterful with florals and checks.

Room types: Standard Double, Standard Twin, Superior Double, Twin Rooms and Suites

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom with Anne Seminon toiletries, TV, local shortbread biscuits, water and a selection of teas, free Wi-Fi

The menu has a well-balanced mix of flavours and styles to please a party of people. You could just opt for ham, egg and chips or be more ambitious and try steamed venison suet pudding with New Forest greens and roasted roots. There's homemade bread, and kippers and avocado are on the breakfast menu.

The Mill Restaurant: gastro-pub, modern European and British cuisine. The restaurant is open from 8am-10pm for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Main courses from £13.50 to £24.