Christmas Begins at Hockey’s: A Festive Shopping Evening and the Launch of Our Farmyard Cafe Christmas Menu
December in the New Forest brings with it a special kind of magic. The forest quietens, the air becomes crisp and the landscape turns into a beautiful winter backdrop for festive gatherings, comforting food and meaningful moments shared with friends and family. At Hockey’s, this time of year is one we look forward to more than any other. The farm becomes a warm and welcoming destination filled with local talent, delicious seasonal dishes and the unmistakable spirit of the New Forest community. This year, we welcome December with two key festive dates: the Hockey’s Christmas Shopping Evening on 4th December and the launch of the Farmyard Cafe Christmas Menu on 28th November.
These moments reflect everything we value as a family-run farm shop, cafe and butchery. Supporting local makers, offering carefully prepared food, creating a relaxed and welcoming setting and celebrating community is at the heart of everything we do. December is when all of these elements come together in the most joyful way.
A Christmas Shopping Evening Filled with New Forest Spirit
The festive season officially begins with our Christmas Shopping Evening on 4th December, from 4pm to 8pm. Over the years, it has become one of the most popular moments in our calendar, a chance for visitors to enjoy an evening of festive browsing, warm food and the best of what local makers have to offer. The atmosphere is always magical, with twinkling lights, the hum of conversation and the scent of winter dishes filling the air.
The Farmyard Cafe team will be serving a selection of comforting winter warmers ideal for enjoying while wandering the stalls. Visitors can tuck into our well-loved sausage rolls, cones of chips, mince pies, pulled pork with apple sauce rolls, hot soup in a cup, bacon baps, sausage baps and children’s mini burgers. These dishes are all served hot, generous and perfect for eating outdoors on a festive winter evening.
This year’s stallholders bring together an impressive collection of creativity, flavour and handmade charm. Makers joining us include Longfield Barn Pottery, Lyburn Cheese, Downton Distillery, Botanical Animals, Lucinda Nicholas Art, Acorn & Scapes Photography, Bramble & Beach, Wainwrights Bee Farm, Lynda Stewart, Danebury Vineyard, New Forest Tea, New Forest Shortbread, Pallet Tech, Hyde Flower Farm, Trish Williams, Wyrd Spirits, Folc Wines, Flack Manor and Michelle Smith and Sarah Collins with wax melts, reindeer food and more.
From handcrafted ceramics and artisan spirits to photography, candles, floral arrangements, artwork and local food products, every stall offers something unique. These gifts feel special because they come directly from makers who pour passion into their craft. Choosing to shop small makes a genuine difference to local businesses and gives every gift a story worth sharing.
This will also be the very first Christmas for The Vinery, our beautiful new gift and lifestyle space. Visitors will be able to explore curated seasonal homeware, festive decorations, children’s gifts, handcrafted pieces and winter treats as The Vinery celebrates its debut festive season at Hockey’s. It will be a highlight for anyone looking to pick up something thoughtful, stylish and locally sourced.
The Farm Shop will remain open throughout the evening, offering festive essentials, seasonal produce, gifts and food items perfect for Christmas. Our butchery team will also be on hand to take Christmas orders in person. Whether guests are choosing turkey, goose, beef joints, gammons or their favourite festive centrepiece, the butchers will be delighted to help secure Christmas orders with expert advice and traditional service.
The combination of the stalls, The Vinery, the Farm Shop and our butchery creates a complete festive experience that visitors of all ages can enjoy. Families can wander at their leisure, enjoy warm food, browse for gifts and soak up the welcoming atmosphere that fills the farm.
The Farmyard Cafe Christmas Menu Launches on 28th November
The festive celebrations continue as the Farmyard Cafe launches its Christmas Menu on 28th November. Thoughtfully designed to celebrate winter flavours, this menu brings together hearty seasonal dishes, local ingredients and the warm, homely cooking style the cafe is known for.
The menu begins with a delicious Winter Warming Soup, served with fresh crusty bread or a Dorset Cheddar Cheese Toastie. This option offers all the comfort and nourishment guests look for on a cold winter’s day. Whether it is enjoyed after a morning walk or as a cosy lunchtime bowl, it brings simple, seasonal flavour. (Soup and toastie pairing confirmed from the Christmas Menu flyer.)
A festive favourite returning this year is the Hockey’s Festive Toastie. Filled with turkey, stuffing, brie and cranberry and accompanied by chips or salad, it delivers all the best winter flavours in one generous serving. A vegetarian version, filled with stuffing, cranberry and brie, offers the same delicious festive flavours without the meat. Both versions are hearty, warming and perfect for the season.
The Pork and Cranberry Sausage Roll is another highlight, celebrating our butchery heritage through its rich, seasonal flavours. Served with chips or salad, it is the ideal choice for those looking for a satisfying festive lunch.
Finally, the bowl of Honey Drizzled Pigs in Blankets offers the ultimate seasonal treat. Sweet, savoury and wonderfully moreish, they make the perfect winter nibble whether enjoyed alone or alongside another dish. This option is confirmed on the menu flyer.
Throughout December, the Farmyard Cafe becomes one of the cosiest spots on the farm. The warmth of the kitchen, the aromas of festive dishes and the friendly welcome from the team make it the perfect place to relax after shopping or enjoy a catch-up with friends and family. Whether visitors join us for lunch, a weekend treat or a midweek pick-me-up, the Christmas Menu delivers the flavours of the season with comfort and care.
Celebrating Local Makers, New Forest Food and the Heart of the Community
Both the Christmas Shopping Evening and the Christmas Menu highlight what we hold dear at Hockey’s. Supporting small businesses, showcasing local produce and creating a space where visitors feel welcomed and valued are at the core of our identity. Each stallholder represents a local story and a craft that deserves celebrating. Every visitor choosing to shop small directly supports the people who make the New Forest such a vibrant, creative and diverse community.
The festive menu reflects another strong tradition at Hockey’s: great food prepared with quality ingredients and genuine care. Winter calls for generous portions, warming flavours and dishes made to be enjoyed slowly. The Christmas Menu offers exactly that, giving visitors a chance to experience the comforts of the season through every bite.
December also offers us the opportunity to show visitors the best of the farm. Whether they are exploring The Vinery during its first festive season, placing Christmas meat orders with the butchery team, wandering through the Farm Shop or enjoying time with the animals, Hockey’s is a place where people can reconnect with simple pleasures during the busiest time of the year.
Join Us as We Welcome the Festive Season
We invite everyone to join us for our Hockey’s Christmas Shopping Evening on 4th December, from 4pm to 8pm. This festive evening promises warm food, local makers, seasonal gifts and the joyful atmosphere that makes Christmas at Hockey’s truly special.
The Farmyard Cafe Christmas Menu, launching 28th November, will run throughout December and offers the perfect seasonal dishes for the winter weeks ahead. From Winter Warming Soup to Festive Toasties, Pork and Cranberry Sausage Rolls and Honey Drizzled Pigs in Blankets, the menu is designed to bring comfort and flavour to every visit.
Christmas at Hockey’s is a celebration of everything that makes the New Forest such a wonderful place to live, shop and explore. We cannot wait to welcome visitors old and new as we step into another magical festive season filled with warmth, great food, local creativity and community spirit.
