New Year, Fresh Air & Local Food: Winter Days at Hockey’s Farm
The start of a new year in the New Forest brings a distinctive energy. Winter strips the landscape back to its essentials - crisp air, wide skies and woodland paths that feel calm and expansive. It’s a season that invites people outdoors, encourages unhurried days and rewards those who take the time to enjoy it.
For anyone searching for things to do in the New Forest in winter, a visit to Hockey’s Farm Shop offers a complete and rewarding experience. Fresh air, local food and a welcoming place to pause, refuel and enjoy the season all come together in one destination.
As a New Forest farm shop with cafe, Hockey’s is perfectly suited to winter visits, whether planned in advance or enjoyed on a spontaneous day out.
A New Forest Farm Shop That Makes Winter Visits Worthwhile
Hockey’s Farm Shop is a well-established destination for locals and visitors looking for a farm shop in the New Forest that offers far more than a quick stop. Winter is an ideal time to visit, when the pace slows and there’s space to enjoy everything the farm has to offer.
January visits often become longer, more relaxed trips. Visitors arrive for coffee, lunch or a browse and find themselves staying, taking time to explore the shop, enjoy the cafe and make the most of the surrounding countryside. It’s this ease and flexibility that makes Hockey’s such a natural choice for winter days out.
Fresh Air First or Food First, The Choice Is Yours
Winter days in the New Forest encourage movement without pressure. Clear paths, cooler temperatures and quieter surroundings make it a comfortable time to get outside. Many visitors combine fresh air with a visit to Hockey’s, using the farm as either the starting point or the reward at the end of their outing.
This flexibility is part of the appeal. Some arrive early for breakfast before heading out, others return afterwards for a warming lunch or coffee. Either way, Hockey’s fits seamlessly into winter routines, turning a walk or countryside outing into a complete day.
The Farmyard Cafe: A Winter Destination in Its Own Right
The Farmyard Cafe plays a central role in winter visits to Hockey’s. As a popular farm shop with cafe in the New Forest, it offers exactly what visitors want on colder days - warmth, good food and a relaxed place to sit and enjoy it.
Breakfasts are particularly popular in January, providing a reason to get out early and start the day well. Lunches and light bites follow naturally, along with barista-made coffee and homemade cakes that make lingering easy.
The cafe encourages visitors to slow down and stay longer, making it a key part of the Hockey’s winter experience and a major draw for repeat visits.
Shopping Local: A Winter Essential
Winter shopping has a different feel. With fewer distractions, visitors browse with intention, choosing food that supports everyday cooking and comforting meals at home. Hockey’s Farm Shop is well known for showcasing local food in the New Forest and across Hampshire, making it a reliable destination for quality and provenance.
The shop offers carefully selected produce, including fresh meat from the on-site butchery, seasonal produce, everyday essentials and indulgent treats. Many visitors plan their trip around both the café and the shop, enjoying the convenience of doing everything in one visit.
January is an excellent time to stock up, discover new products and support local producers while enjoying a relaxed shopping experience.
A Destination for Winter Days Out in Hampshire
Hockey’s is ideally placed for those planning winter days out in the New Forest. With countryside nearby and a full food and retail offering on site, it removes the need to travel between multiple locations.
This makes it particularly appealing for families, couples and visitors from across Hampshire looking for a destination that feels complete. A visit can last an hour or an entire afternoon, depending on how the day unfolds and that flexibility is what keeps people coming back.
A Place to Return to Throughout the Season
One of the strengths of Hockey’s is how naturally it becomes part of winter routines. January visits often turn into February returns, with customers coming back for breakfast meetings, weekend lunches or a regular farm shop visit.
As a trusted Hampshire farm shop, Hockey’s offers consistency alongside seasonal change, familiar quality, evolving produce and a setting that reflects the New Forest throughout the year.
Starting the Year Well at Hockey’s Farm Shop
The beginning of the year is an ideal time to enjoy the New Forest at its most open and authentic. Hockey’s Farm Shop provides a destination that brings together fresh air, food and local produce in a way that feels purposeful and enjoyable.
Whether you’re planning a winter day out, meeting friends for coffee, enjoying lunch after time outdoors or simply browsing the Farm Shop, January is a perfect time to visit Hockey’s — and a great way to start the year.
