The Barn Vegetarian Guest House
Ashurst, New Forest
02350 292 531; www.veggiebarn.net
'We're vegans. We're from the planet Vega.' Richard, our host, is joking of course. He is a vegan, but he's not extraterrestrial. He just makes his own tofu.
Richard and Sandra have been running this two-bed vegetarian and vegan bed and breakfast since 2004. There is no sign outside the house; their only guests (and they are frequently full) are those who have specifically googled the words 'vegetarian' and 'New Forest.'
But the Barn has a lot more to offer than just meat and dairy-free fare. The entire business model - from the PV (photovoltaic) electricity system right down to the water-powered alarm clock - is designed to be sustainable.
Within easy reach of London and the south coast, the Barn is a five-minute walk from Ashurst (New Forest) railway station. Guests who arrive by bike or train and stay for two nights or more are offered a 10 per cent discount which, given the proximity of the station and the superb cycling routes throughout the forest, makes perfect sense.
We get there on Friday evening and follow the directions past the Happy Cheese pub (an unfortunate monicker given that we're on our way to a vegan retreat) over the busy A-road to the Barn where we are greeted by our hosts and their monstrously large dog, Watson.
The name 'Barn' is slightly misleading however. The accommodation is, in fact, a large detached house set only slightly back from the main road. Our room is a small en suite at the front of the house and, if it weren't for the double glazing, the noisy road would have been a real drawback.
The decor wasn't exactly fresh (mustard-coloured walls clashed with terracotta gloss dado rails and mismatching bed throws) but it was homely enough and we could forgive the shower for spluttering hot and cold because the solar-powered system obviously hadn't quite kicked in.
The following morning we ate a hearty cooked breakfast of scrambled egg-like tofu, veggie sausages from a local supplier, organic baked beans and home-made bread - a welcome change from the usual hot tomato-beans-and-mushrooms combo we veggies usually have to put up with. We shared our table with a friendly vegan couple from Brighton and together pored over maps of the forest before setting off on separate adventures: they to find giant redwoods, us in search of a stable that would agree to take a couple of novice riders out for the afternoon.
Bruised and weather-beaten, we reconvened over vegan Tibetan momos (dumplings), fennel and chestnut stew and a soya-based 'cheesecake' with oat cream - a brilliant feast, and not a mung bean in sight.
Several bottles of fair trade wine later, we found the games cupboard and stayed up playing master detective game 221B Baker Street for hours. See? Who said vegans can't have fun?
What we liked: Not being offered veggie lasagne or mushroom risotto for once! Hurrah!
What we didn't like: Feeling guilty for scoffing unethical Frazzles and Strongbow cider before dinner.
Verdict: Homely accommodation for vegan and veggie tree-huggers.
Cost: From £28 pp per night. Meal £15 supplement.
