The Elderflower

The story

The Elderflower, Lymington: Michelin-Recommended Modern British Tasting Menu

A Husband-and-Wife Vision

The Elderflower opened its doors on 7 March 2014, the realisation of a long-held dream for husband-and-wife team Andrew and Marjolaine Du Bourg. Each brings more than twenty years of experience from top kitchens in England and France, and together they have created a restaurant that feels both polished and personal. Their approach is straightforward: source the finest local ingredients and let the seasons guide the menu. That philosophy has earned them a Michelin Recommendation for 2026, along with three AA Rosettes, the title of Hampshire’s Chef of the Year (twice awarded), and consistent commendations in the Good Food Guide and Harden’s (ranked 86th).

The Tasting Menu Experience

The heart of The Elderflower is Chef Patron Andrew Du Bourg’s signature tasting menu – a fixed, multi-course journey that changes with the season. Guests choose from four, five or seven courses (priced at £85, £95 and £105 respectively), with optional wine pairings that trace the flavours of each dish. A recent June menu opened with a pea and ham combination built around aromatic pea mousse, buttermilk sorbet and lardo, followed by smoked cured sea bass with calamansi dressing, melon and cucumber balls. The kitchen shows a deft hand with texture and temperature: a tomato celebration featuring concassée, marinated slices, olive tapenade and tomato water jelly; then BBQ monkfish with spiced lobster velouté and brown crab gnocchi. Crispy pork belly with cauliflower purée and grilled grelot onion leads into an unexpected apricot, truffle and blue cheese course, and the meal finishes with a strawberry, lemon and elderflower dessert – white chocolate mousse, jus fraise jelly and apple verbena sorbet.

Vegetarian, pescatarian, gluten-free and nut-free options are available with advance notice, and lunchtime guests after 1pm receive a fixed four-course version of the same menu.

Local Produce, Seasonal Flavours

The Du Bourgs take evident pride in their sourcing. They talk of "the true meaning of local produce" and incorporate it into a "myriad of dishes created to follow the feel of the seasons." That commitment to British ingredients, prepared with French-influenced technique and a modern sensibility, defines the cooking here. For those who prefer a more relaxed approach, the restaurant also offers a sharing menu available Wednesday to Sunday (excluding Saturday evenings). Highlights include a Beef Chateaubriand for two – roasted fillet with pomme Pont-Neuf, Josper-grilled broccoli and Béarnaise – and a Fruits de Mer platter with lobster, oysters, scallops and more.

On Lymington's Quay Street, The Elderflower delivers an experience that is assured without being stiff. The room is calm, the service attentive, and the food speaks for itself – exactly the kind of modern cuisine that puts this corner of the New Forest on the map for serious diners.