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The Railway Hotel is a boutique hotel, restaurant and bar located in the town of Fordingbridge, in the New Forest, Hampshire. Originally opened in the 1860s by Eldridge Pope, a Dorchester Brewer, it served Fordingbridge Railway Station, one of the stops on the newly built Salisbury and Dorset Railway. The Railway Hotel has been lovingly restored to its elegant Victorian form and celebrates the golden age of the railway.

We have five distinctive en-suite rooms and a self-contained two-bedroom cottage set around a characterful courtyard that still features the original livery stables.

Guests and visitors can enjoy contemporary International cuisine in our restaurant where our chefs use fresh, seasonal produce supplied by local farmers and growers.

In our Public Bar guests and locals can relax around the fire and enjoy a wide range of individually selected ales, fine wines and spirits, some of which are brewed or distilled locally. We’ve installed the latest technology into our brand new cellar so that you’re served the perfect pint and we even have our very own Railway Best Bitter, Railway Steam Beer and Railway Cider.

We are ideally positioned for guests to explore the local area. We are just minutes away from some of the country’s most beautiful natural landscapes including the New Forest National Park, Cranborne Chase AONB and the miles of sandy beaches on the south coast.

Railway Hotel Courtyard with Tables

Originally opened in the 1860s by Eldridge Pope, a Dorchester Brewer, it served Fordingbridge Railway Station, one of the stops on the newly built Salisbury and Dorset Railway. It had seven rooms to rent and a livery stable.

The line was closed in 1964, and the Railway Hotel became The Load of Hay for a time, then was named after a local artist, Augustus John.

We have now restored the Railway Hotel to its original elegant Victorian form. We have five spacious, luxury en-suite rooms and a self contained two bedroom cottage, set around a characterful courtyard and the original livery stables. Guests and locals can relax and enjoy a meal in our restaurant and Pullman Carriage.

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