A scenic family-owned pub has launched its new menu, bringing Nepalese culture to a quiet forest town.
The Compasses Inn celebrated the soft opening of its new dining experience on Thursday, June 15.
The pub initially only served “pub grub”, which it will continue to do so, but now guests have the chance to try two other cuisines under one roof.
Owner Sumin Lohani, who has a background in managing sushi bars, restaurants and five-star hotels, bought the pub in 2019.
He is now offering guests something unique as he brings Gurkha-inspired food and top-quality sushi to Damerham, in the New Forest.
The 47-year-old was inspired to serve Nepalese 'Gurkha' cuisine by his uncle Bar Limbu, 61, who dedicated 40 years of his life to serving and helping those in the army.
Veterans living near Damerham were travelling more than 10 miles to eat the food they love so Mr Lohani decided to fill the gap.
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Now, Mr Limbu is "proud" to be working with his nephew to bring Gurkha food to the village and hopes to have cultural dance and music performed at the pub in the future.
Mr Lohani said he "always had a dream" to run a pub in a natural setting and decided to quit his job as a hotel manager to pursue this dream in 2017.
The unique offering at The Compasses has been extremely popular with guests, with the first night being fully-booked despite minimal marketing.
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Mr Lohani said: "People aren’t looking for classics. If you are not doing something different you are going to lose the footfall.
"Food is our culture and it's all about how you treat your customers like a guest in your home."
Chefs at The Compasses take advantage of their garden space to grow herbs and vegetables for use in the kitchen.
The majority of guests who stay at the pub are tourists visiting the "escape the hustle and bustle".
Options for staying overnight include deluxe rooms inside the pub as well as two secluded cottages.
It costs £170 per night, including breakfast, to stay in the cottage during peak season. After September it costs £130 per night.
"People expect a BnB but I provide a five-star level of quality," Mr Lohani added.
Future plans for the venue include creating an outdoor kitchen serving barbeque food and building a children's play park in the garden.
For more information visit compassesinndamerham.co.uk.
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