New Forest Hotels are bourn from the demise of the large country estate.

When the large country estate can no longer bear the rising costs of maintenance one popular solution is to transform it into a hotel. Although this is the case for most of the country, noticeably the New Forest has more than it’s fair share. Discarding those that call themselves Hotels, but simply, ‘are not’ by definition most new forest hotels fall into the category of working country estate.

Rhinefield House in the heart of the New Forest is one such example, this grand country house was originally built in 1887 and architecturally is a blend of Tudor and Gothic styles, and offers a fantastic standard of new forest accommodation. Located close to Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst and all the New Forest has to offer, the hotel is only 20 miles from Southampton and Bournemouth.

Previously a Lodge, Rhinefield House was built with no expense spared. It is fitted with chandeliers, intricate carvings and unique touches, but has retained a homely, easy-going feel. In 1877 many of the Crown Lands were "privatised". Grace and Favour appointments lapsed and vacant lodges were leased to private individuals. Rhinefield passed to the hands of the Walker family, which owned Eastwood Colliery, immortalised in the novels of D.H.Lawrence. 

In 1885 the only daughter of the family became engaged to a Lieutenant Munro RN, and her father's engagement present was £250,000 with which to build a family home at Rhinefield. After their marriage in I887 the couple adopted the name Walker-Munro and supervised the construction of an impressive countryseat comprising the Great House, a Hunting Lodge, Stables and a Gate Lodge.

In 1950 the great estate passed into the hands of private investors and for many years was owned by several entities with uncertain ideas about what to do with the estate. In 1989 Sir Richard Branson (Virgin Hotels) started a program of redevelopment to upgrade the now Hotel.

The present owners, Arcadian Hotels, offering new forest b&b at competitive prices are continuing the programme of refurbishment and modification. Once completed, they will have achieved the aims of restoring the great house to a condition worthy of its magnificent New Forest setting.