This traditional Italian restaurant has a children’s play area and a wide terrace with tables covered in jolly gingham cloths, plus heaters, plants and ornamental statues. Inside or out, children can tuck into smaller portions of any pizza or pasta dish on the menu. With a central bar, Italian flags, an assortment of pictures and ornaments, and a display cabinet for cakes and desserts, La Pergola is a jolly throwback to the early days of English/Italian restaurants.

Other recommendations include modern Italian Enzee and traditional Italian La Pergola, Imperial China with Sichuan specialities and Anissa’s Thai Kitchen for home-cooked Thai food – they also offer regular workshops on how to make Thai dishes such as Pad Thai. Although, come winter, can you beat a good country pub?. The Fox & Hounds is one - serving tasty updated pub classics among the cosy interior of low beams and log fires.

Chef Peter Leyland-Jones and his wife Nicola, once leading luminaries in such renowned establishments as the De Vere Group’s Royal Bath and Belfry Hotels, have realised their dream of bringing years of experience and passion for food and hospitality and created an exceptional restaurant and cookery school in Lanes of Lymington.

A family friendly, traditional Italian restaurant with al fresco dining on the pergola covered terrace. Choose from the al la carte menu for your favourite pizza or pasta, or something a bit different from the specials board. Make sure you leave room for the delicious homemade desserts though!

The Restaurant at The Cloud Hotel has a relaxing atmosphere and attentive service. Here you can enjoy views over the open forest to accompany your traditional English food. You can then take coffee in our Conservatory and enjoy views overlooking our well maintained gardens.

Having researched where best to eat in the area we went for lunch at La Pergola and ordered a pizza and the house special whole sole in capper butter and it was superb. Highly recommend for excellent traditional Italian dishes, very good personal table service and comfort.

La Pergola is popular with tourists and locals throughout the summer so booking a highchair in advance with your table is a good idea at the height of the busy season!. There’s a car park and a children’s playground.

Grab a bite from the snack bar/deli serving guests of Daisybank Cottage. Wrap up your day with a drink at the bar/lounge. A complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast is served daily from 8 AM to 10 AM.

If you fancysomething to eat go to the Waterloo Arms, the Fox & Hounds or the Oak Inn for pub fare; for world flavours go to La Pergola for Italian or Anissa’s Thai Kitchen for authentic Thai food.

For an enticing combination of food, patio and the Italian zest for families, Lyndhurst’s La Pergola Restaurant and Pizzeria may be a more pleasant (and modestly priced) bet all round.