Where to eat in the Forest of Dean
The Forest of Dean isn’t somewhere with a restaurant on every corner, but that is rather part of its charm. The good places tend to be small, independent and scattered between villages, old pubs, farm shops and breweries.
Post — Newnham on Severn
We're biased but our own restaurant in Newnham, about ten minutes from The Three Doves. Post is a small, seasonal restaurant with a regularly changing blackboard menu from brilliant chef Fred. Produce from our plot here at The Three Doves makes its way onto the menu alongside supplies from local growers and farmers. It’s relaxed rather than formal: come for lunch or dinner, or drop in for a glass of wine and something small. Sundays are given over to a generous sharing menu. Three Doves guests receive our friends and family discount.
The Black Pig — Newnham on Severn
Also in Newnham, The Black Pig is our nearby choice for pizza and a drink. It’s a relaxed bar and pizzeria with proper seating, so works equally well for an easy meal out or a takeaway back to the Cowsheds. Particularly useful when you want something casual without driving further into the Forest.
Forest Bakehouse — Longhope
The Forest Bakehouse is one of our favourite reasons for taking the road through Longhope. It’s a cooperative bakery making excellent sourdough from locally milled organic flour, alongside very good sweet and savoury pastries and coffee.
There are benches outside but nowhere to sit indoors, so on colder days it’s more of a collect-and-continue proposition.
Hips Social — Lydney
Hips Social is our pick for a proper café in Lydney. Good coffee, breakfast and lunch, freshly baked pastries and seasonal specials, with plenty of seating inside. It’s a useful destination in its own right rather than simply somewhere to grab a takeaway coffee.
Combine it with a wander around Lydney Harbour, a trip on the Dean Forest Railway or a day heading further into the Forest.
Stuff That Tastes Good — Lydney Park Estate
The Forest Brewery is a particularly good option for an informal evening. The tiny brewery and taproom is tucked into an old stone workshop on the Lydney Park Estate and makes its own small-batch craft beer and real ale. Stuff That Tastes Good takes over the food, currently cooking Thursday to Saturday evenings. It’s exactly the sort of unfussy local place we like: excellent street food, locally brewed beer and a nice reason to stop somewhere you might otherwise drive straight past.
Littledean Tap House — Littledean
Littledean Tap House, home of Bespoke Brewery, is another good casual option. Set on a family farm, there’s beer brewed on site, food and a relaxed taproom; Hips also has a Littledean outpost here for breakfast and lunch.
It’s particularly nice in the warmer months when everything spills outside, but wood burners make it cosy in winter too. It’s also an unusually easy option with children.
Severn & Wye Smokery — Chaxhill
If you like fish, Severn & Wye Smokery is worth a stop. For us, the real draw is the fishmonger and deli, with an excellent selection of fresh fish. There’s also a café, restaurant and takeaway, making it useful for an easy lunch if you’re passing.
Simply Wild — Coleford
For something more ambitious in the heart of the Forest, Simply Wild is a small restaurant in Coleford serving contemporary British fine dining, a la carte and 6 course tasting menus.
Worth the drive
The Black Bear — Bettws Newydd
Not really the Forest of Dean at all, but sufficiently excellent that we include it anyway. The Black Bear is our favourite pub in the wider area and somewhere we’re always happy to make a journey for (often with Forest of Dean walk to break the journey)
A few useful extras
For provisions, Forest Deli in Coleford is a good independent deli, while Hanley Farm Shop is a useful stop if coming from Bristol, alongside A&H Hill in Tutshill for meat and traditional pies.
Further afield
Gloucester
Gloucester is around half an hour away and has a growing collection of places around the historic docks. Gloucester Food Dock brings together 12 independent cafés, bars and restaurants beside the docks, It’s easily combined with a wander around Gloucester Cathedral.
Cheltenham
Cheltenham is roughly an hour away but has by far the greatest choice of restaurants locally. It’s the place to head if you want the familiarity and ease of bigger restaurants and chains alongside plenty of good independents. It can make sense for a rainy-day excursion: shops and lunch around Montpellier and the Promenade.
Monmouth
Monmouth is about 35–40 minutes away and a lovely small town to combine with lunch and a wander. There’s a much broader choice of cafés, pubs and restaurants than in the Forest, with plenty of independents around the main street and its smaller lanes.
Bristol
Bristol is around an hour away and easily worth a day trip if food is part of the plan. The city has one of the best independent food scenes in the South West, from excellent neighbourhood restaurants and bakeries to the restaurants around Wapping Wharf and the harbourside, a good contrast to the quieter, more rural places closer to home.