TUCKED away in the New Forest, The Oak Inn can be found just outside of Lyndhurst.

The traditional, family-friendly and dog-friendly village pub is a popular stop off point for walkers, cyclists and visitors to the forest alike.

Owned by Fuller’s and run by general manager Matt England, it boasts 5.5 stars on review site TripAdvisor and is also a recommended destination by The Good Pub Guide.

The building is hundreds of years old with low-beamed ceilings, bare floorboards and an open fireplace which adds to the “olde worlde” feel.

Manager Matt, joined the pub just a month before Christmas.

Originally from Lymington, the 35-year-old said: “When I saw the management position at The Oak, I jumped at the opportunity. It’s such an iconic pub so I gave Fuller’s a call. I was really happy to get it. I feel privileged to be here.”

According to Matt, the building has been a pub for at least 150 years and it is steeped in history.

He said that it used to be more of a “drinking” pub but now it is open to the community and hungry travellers.

Matt said: “I have even had a couple come in and ask for the same table they met at 40-years ago.”

The father of two added that during WW2 it was a popular meeting place for foreign and allied servicemen who were based at military sites in the area.

It is believed that underneath the pub there are tunnels that lead to the local church which priests used to escape persecution during the sixteenth century.

The pub also hosts a quiz night on the last Tuesday of every month, and often gives to charity.

On Father’s Day it donated £2 from every table booked to a prostate cancer charity.

The head chef has two rosette awards to his name and pub classics remain on the menu.