Planning a celebration in Hampshire and wondering what to serve your guests? Grazing boards have become the go-to choice for weddings, parties, and corporate events across the New Forest: and for good reason. They’re relaxed, interactive, and utterly delicious.
At New Forest Events, we create bespoke grazing experiences that showcase the best of local Hampshire and New Forest produce. Whether you’re feeding 20 guests at an intimate Lymington gathering or 200 at a marquee wedding, these boards deliver flavour without fuss.
Ready to see what’s on offer? Here are three sample menus to inspire your next event.
The Hampshire Meat Grazing Board
This one’s for the carnivores. We’ve designed this board around locally sourced charcuterie and artisan cheeses from Hampshire producers. It’s hearty, flavourful, and celebrates everything great about New Forest farming.
What’s On The Board
Charcuterie Selection:
- Thinly sliced Hampshire prosciutto
- New Forest wild boar salami
- Peppered beef bresaola
- Homemade pork pie with hand-finished hot water crust
- Black truffle sausage rolls (served warm)
Local Cheese Selection:
- Tunworth (Hampshire’s answer to Camembert: baked with rosemary and garlic)
- Lyburn Gold (a creamy, nutty hard cheese from Landford)
- New Forest Blue (rich and tangy)
- Aged Double Gloucester with caramelised onion
Accompaniments:
- Crusty artisan sourdough and seeded crackers
- House-made apple and ale chutney
- Cornichons and pickled onions
- Local honeycomb
- Seasonal fresh figs and grapes
- Toasted walnuts and almonds
Serving Style
This board works brilliantly as a centrepiece for drinks receptions or as a starter spread while guests mingle. If you want a little more bite-by-bite variety, add canapés alongside it (your guests stay on the move, but the food keeps coming). We recommend one board per 8-10 guests, arranged on rustic wooden platters that fit right in with the New Forest aesthetic.
Our catering team sets everything up, replenishes throughout the event, and clears away at the end. You don’t lift a finger.
The Veggie & Vegan Grazing Board
Going meat-free doesn’t mean going flavour-free. This board is packed with vibrant colours, bold textures, and produce sourced through Hampshire and the New Forest. It’s designed to feel generous and bold (so everyone tucks in, not just the vegans).
What’s On The Board
Plant-Based Proteins, Dips & Showstoppers:
- Crispy house-made falafel with tahini drizzle
- Silky beetroot hummus
- Truffle-infused white bean dip
- Smoky baba ganoush
- Smoked beetroot tartare with sourdough crisps
- Fresh guacamole with lime and coriander
- Marinated butter beans with herbs and lemon
Fresh Produce & Roasted Veg:
- Rainbow crudités (carrots, radishes, cucumber, peppers, sugar snap peas)
- Roasted balsamic heirloom carrots
- Chargrilled courgette and aubergine strips
- Roasted cherry tomatoes with balsamic glaze
- Baby gem lettuce cups for scooping
Cheese & Alternatives:
- Creamy cashew-based vegan “cheese” with cracked pepper
- Marinated tofu bites with sesame
- For vegetarian guests: fresh burrata with basil oil
Accompaniments:
- Warm flatbreads and seed crackers
- Stuffed vine leaves
- Marinated olives and sun-dried tomatoes
- Spiced candied pecans
- Fresh seasonal fruit
Why It Works
This board is colourful, fresh, and properly filling. It holds its own next to any meat option, and it keeps things feeling bright and seasonal (especially when the roasted veg and dips hit the table).
If you’re hosting a vegan wedding, this board pairs perfectly with our extended plant-based catering menu.
Canape Selection
Want a drinks reception that feels smooth and well-paced? Canapés do the job. We keep everything bite-sized, easy to eat, and built around local Hampshire and New Forest ingredients where possible.
Meat Canapes
- Mini New Forest venison sliders
- Hampshire ham hock terrine bites
Veggie Canapes
- Crispy polenta fries with rosemary salt
Vegan Canapes
- Charred asparagus tips with vegan lemon aioli
- Crispy polenta fries with rosemary salt
The New Forest Wild Menu
This menu is inspired by the wild, artisanal spirit of the New Forest. Think foraged flavors, award-winning Hampshire cheeses, and local game, all designed to be eaten with your hands while you’re (hopefully) overlooking some ancient woodland.
🌲 The Canapé Selection
Bite-sized starters to kick things off.
From the Land & Stream (Meat/Fish):
- New Forest Venison Carpaccio: Thinly sliced local venison on a sourdough croute with juniper-infused mayo and crispy capers.
- Hampshire Chalk Stream Trout: Smoked trout mousse on a rye cracker with pickled cucumber and fresh dill.
- Honey & Mustard Piglets: Mini local pork sausages glazed in New Forest honey and grain mustard.
From the Earth (Veggie/Vegan):
- Wild Mushroom Palmiers (V): Flaky pastry swirls filled with foraged forest mushrooms and truffle oil.
- Whipped Lyburn Gold Crostini (V): Local Stoney Cross cheese topped with a dollop of red onion marmalade.
- Roasted Beetroot & Walnut Blinis (VG): Earthy beet purée on a buckwheat base with a toasted walnut crunch.
🧀 The ‘Forest Floor’ Grazing Board
A sprawling centerpiece of local bounty. Served with artisan sourdough, sea salt crackers, and New Forest chutney.
- Meaty Side: The Real Cure Hartgrove Coppa, Fennel Salami, and Game Pâté. Pickled gherkins, spicy pickled onions, and smooth chicken liver & brandy parfait.
- Veggie/Vegan Side: Roasted Mediterranean veg, marinated olives, smoked paprika chickpeas, Nut-Based ‘Feta’ (herb-marinated almond cheese), radishes, celery, heirloom carrots, roasted garlic hummus, and smoky baba ganoush.
- Shared Cheeses: Lyburn Farmhouse: Old Winchester (hard) and Stoney Cross (creamy).
🍰 The Mini Dessert Sharing Table
Small bites for big cravings.
- New Forest Honey & Lavender Pots: A silky posset infused with local lavender and topped with a honeycomb shard.
- Forest Berry Tartlets: Shortcrust pastry filled with vanilla crème fraîche and seasonal New Forest berries.
- Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt Bites (VG): Rich 70% cocoa ganache squares finished with a pinch of Hampshire sea salt.
- Mini Spiced Apple Cakes: Warm, bite-sized sponges made with local orchard apples and a cinnamon dusting.
- Vegan Coconut & Lime Macaroons (VG): Zesty, chewy, and completely plant-based.
Pro Tip: If you’re serving this outdoors, keep the grazing board under a mesh cover. The New Forest ponies are charming, but they will steal your Stoney Cross cheese if you look away for a second.
Social Grazing Table (Hen Do / Party Vibe)
Putting together a hen do, birthday, or just an all-out party vibe? This one’s made for grazing, chatting, and going back for “just one more” (again).
The Boards
- Local charcuterie (prosciutto, wild boar salami)
- Local trout pâté
- Hampshire cheeses
- Sourdough
- Crackers
- Homemade chutneys
The Garden
- Nettle falafel with tahini dressing
- Mint and beetroot hummus
- Truffle white bean dip
- Charred seasonal veg
- Lavash flatbreads
- Vine leaves
- Polenta and wild mushroom bites with parmesan
- Chicory, blue cheese, walnut and pear boats
The Sweet
- A selection of mini dessert sharing bites (brownies, fondant fancies, vegan mango and coconut tart etc.)
The Dessert Sharing Board
Now for the sweet finish. Our dessert boards are designed for sharing, grazing, and going back for seconds (we won’t judge). They’re perfect for late-night wedding receptions, birthday parties, or any event where you want something more relaxed than a formal dessert course.
What’s On The Board
Baked Treats:
- Rich chocolate brownies (fudgy centre, crackly top)
- Tangy lemon drizzle squares
- Mini salted caramel cheesecakes
- Buttery shortbread biscuits
- Homemade rocky road with marshmallows and cherries
Patisserie Selection:
- Delicate macarons in seasonal flavours
- Mini profiteroles with chocolate drizzle
- Fresh fruit tartlets with vanilla custard
- Bite-sized éclairs
Interactive Elements:
- Chocolate and butterscotch dipping sauces
- Fresh berry coulis
- Skewered fruit kebabs (strawberries, grapes, melon)
- Whipped cream pots
Finishing Touches:
- Crushed meringue pieces
- Honeycomb shards
- Edible flowers for colour
- Dark chocolate thins
How We Serve It
These boards look absolutely stunning on long trestle tables or as a standalone dessert station. We arrange everything on tiered platters and wooden boards, keeping things accessible and inviting.
For evening events, we often set the dessert board near our bespoke mobile bar: because nothing pairs better with a slice of brownie than a well-crafted espresso martini or a glass of Hampshire sparkling wine.
Mix and Match Your Boards
Here’s the thing: you don’t have to choose just one. Many of our Hampshire clients combine two or all three boards for a complete grazing experience.
Popular combinations include:
- Wedding drinks reception: Meat board + Veggie board (covers all dietary needs while guests enjoy welcome cocktails from our mobile bar)
- Evening party: All three boards set up as a grazing station alongside our signature cocktail menu
- Corporate event: Veggie board for afternoon networking, dessert board for the sweet finish
We work with you to scale everything based on guest numbers, event timing, and your venue. Whether you’re celebrating in a barn near Lymington, a garden in Brockenhurst, or a village hall in the heart of the New Forest, we’ve got you covered.
Pair Your Grazing Boards With Our Mobile Bar
Food this good deserves drinks to match. Our bespoke mobile bar service brings craft cocktails, local wines, and artisan beers directly to your event. We design custom drink menus that complement your catering choices: think refreshing gin and tonics with the veggie board, or a rich red wine alongside the charcuterie.
Check out our bar menus for inspiration, or chat with us about creating something completely tailored to your celebration.
How It Works
Booking your grazing boards with New Forest Events is simple:
- Get in touch – Tell us about your event, guest numbers, and any dietary requirements
- Menu consultation – We’ll refine the boards to suit your tastes and budget
- We handle the rest – Our team sources, prepares, sets up, and clears everything on the day
You focus on enjoying your celebration. We focus on making sure everyone’s well-fed and happy.
A Note On Live Music
Looking to add some atmosphere to your event? We also offer live acoustic music as an optional add-on. It’s a nice finishing touch if you want background entertainment while guests graze and mingle. Just mention it when you enquire, and we’ll include it in your quote.
Ready To Start Planning?
Whether you’re dreaming of a relaxed wedding reception, a milestone birthday, or a corporate gathering with proper food and drink, our grazing boards and mobile bar services bring it all together.
Explore more event catering ideas or head to our services page to see everything we offer.
Let’s create something memorable for your Hampshire celebration.
New Forest Events 
Leave a comment