The Great New Forest Marque Breakfast at Hockey’s Farm, A Celebration of Local Food (and a Taste of What’s Next)

13 Apr

Bringing the New Forest to the Table This Weekend

There is something incredibly powerful about sitting down to a breakfast where you know exactly where every ingredient has come from. This weekend, that is exactly what we are celebrating at Hockey’s Farm as we take part in the Great New Forest Marque Breakfast, a two-week celebration of local food, community, and the producers who make the New Forest so special.

Running from 18th – 30th April 2026, the New Forest Marque is bringing together farms, cafés, hotels and producers across the region to showcase what truly local food looks like. And we are proud to be one of the host venues right here in the heart of the New Forest.

This is more than just breakfast. It is a chance to connect the dots, from field to fork, from farmer to plate and to remind ourselves why choosing local really matters.

What Makes a New Forest Marque Breakfast Different?

At first glance, breakfast might seem simple. Eggs, bacon, sausages, toast. But when every one of those elements has been sourced locally, produced with care, and raised or grown within the New Forest, it becomes something entirely different.

The New Forest Marque accreditation is not just a label, it is a guarantee. It ensures that food has been grown, reared, brewed, or produced within the New Forest, with strict criteria around provenance and sourcing. Animals carrying the Marque have spent at least half their lives here, and producers must source a significant portion of their ingredients from within the area.

That means when you sit down for a New Forest Marque Breakfast, you are experiencing:

High-welfare, free-roaming meat from local Commoners
Eggs from free-range hens raised nearby
Honey shaped by the unique flora of the New Forest
Jams, preserves, and chutneys made by local artisans
Fresh produce grown within the surrounding landscape

It is food with a story and one you can taste.

Why It Matters (Now More Than Ever)

There is a growing conversation around food, where it comes from, how far it travels, and what impact it has. Events like the Great New Forest Marque Breakfast bring that conversation to life in a way that feels real, accessible, and genuinely enjoyable.

Choosing local produce is not just about flavour, although that is a big part of it. It is about:

Reducing food miles and lowering environmental impact
Supporting the local economy and independent producers
Ensuring traceability, so you know exactly what you are eating
Protecting traditional farming practices that shape the New Forest landscape

Perhaps most importantly, it is about reconnecting people with food that has been produced with care, not scaled for mass production.

Join Us at Hockey’s Farm This Weekend

At Hockey’s Farm, this is exactly what we stand for every single day, so being part of the Great New Forest Marque Breakfast feels like a natural extension of what we already do.

This weekend, our Farmyard cafe will be serving a breakfast that brings together the very best of the New Forest. Expect plates filled with locally sourced ingredients, cooked simply and well, letting the quality speak for itself.

Whether you are joining us for a full breakfast, popping in for coffee and something lighter, or making it part of a longer visit, this is the perfect excuse to slow down and enjoy what is right on our doorstep.

You can find more details and book here:https://www.hockeysfarm.co.uk/events-news/2026/4/18/the-great-new-forest-marque-breakfast

If you cannot make this weekend, the celebration continues across the Forest until the end of April, with multiple venues taking part.

From Breakfast to Butchery – The Same Story Continues

What makes this event particularly special for us is that it does not stop at breakfast.

Everything being celebrated through the New Forest Marque is exactly what sits at the core of our butchery. Provenance, welfare, and transparency are not trends, they are the foundation of how we source and prepare our meat.

When you visit our butchery, you are not just buying a cut of meat. You are buying into:

Locally reared livestock
High welfare standards
Skilled preparation by experienced butchers
Honest advice on how to cook and enjoy each cut

Tom and Graham are always on hand to guide you, whether you are choosing something for a quick midweek meal or planning something more special.

As we move further into spring, those conversations are starting to shift…

Looking Ahead – BBQ Season Is Just Around the Corner

If breakfast is the beginning of the day, BBQ season is the beginning of something else entirely.

Longer evenings, warmer weather, and the unmistakable smell of food cooking outdoors. It is one of the best times of year to enjoy great meat and this is where local sourcing really comes into its own.

Over the coming weeks, our butchery will be fully geared up for BBQ season, with:

Proper sausages made on site
Burgers using quality, locally sourced beef
Cuts that are perfect for grilling, slow cooking, or sharing
Seasonal specials that reflect what is available right now

Just like the New Forest Marque Breakfast, it all comes back to the same principle, keeping things local, seasonal, and full of flavour.

Make a Morning of It… or a Full Day

If you are visiting us for the breakfast, it is well worth turning it into more than just a quick stop.

Take a walk around the farm, visit the animals, browse the Farm Shop and The Vinery, and make the most of being in the New Forest. It is exactly the kind of place where a short visit naturally turns into something longer.

That is really what this whole initiative is about - slowing down, enjoying good food, and reconnecting with where it comes from.

A Celebration Worth Supporting

The Great New Forest Marque Breakfast is not just a one-off event. It is part of a much bigger picture, supporting local producers, protecting the landscape, and ensuring that independent food businesses continue to thrive.

There will also be an opportunity to make a voluntary donation to the New Forest Trust, helping to support conservation work across the Forest.

So whether you join us this weekend, visit another participating venue, or even create your own New Forest Marque breakfast at home, you are part of something that genuinely makes a difference.