This historic riverside pub boasts one of Britain's best beer gardens and a new manager with big plans for the place.
It's been a busy summer at The Old Mill, a New Forest hidden gem where Simon Mukhtar hit the ground running, taking over at the start of the school summer holidays.
The pub's glorious location, next to the water off Silver Street in Hordle, has seen it attract thousands of locals and visitors to the area, enjoying the sunshine.
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Its 13 rooms have been at 90 per cent occupancy throughout and the summer drinks have been flowing with Aperol and Hugo Spritz cocktails proving particularly popular alongside bottles and bottles of wine, notably crisp whites and fruity rosés, and a long list of appealing non alcoholic options.
Cornish hake, Thai beef salad and Ploughmans lunches, using as many locally sourced ingredients as possible, have been going down a storm with the hot weather not putting customers off of their hot breakfasts and Sunday roasts.
"It really hasn't stopped," laughs Simon.
"But I'm happy, it's a great place to be. You really can't beat the location. We have to work hard, by the location certainly keeps us smiling.
"It's been a really busy few weeks, but once we catch our breath, there are lots of plans for the place."
Christmas will be put in the spotlight with a seasonal barbecue and lots of other festive fun planned, alongside a midweek calendar which could include themed food nights as well as live music and quiz nights.
An outdoor covered area could soon see all year round use of the fantastic outdoor area.
The Old Mill's tranquil riverside location three miles from Lymington makes it a prime venue for al fresco dining and drinking. Muddy Stillettos recently listed it one of the UK's 50 best pub gardens, celebrating its 'jaw-dropping views'.
Inside, the refreshed bar and dining areas have a modern look with nods to the origins of the building as a 18th Century working water mill.
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