Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa in Brockenhurst will open a new contemporary Indian restaurant, Kasi, in late October.
The 4,349 sq ft restaurant will be led by chef and television personality Surjan Singh, known as Chef Jolly, and will accommodate 85 covers alongside additional outdoor terrace seating.
Kasi will be Chef Jolly’s first UK restaurant outside London, following The Great Indian in Finsbury Park and projects across Singapore, Kolkata, Doha, the Maldives and Cunard cruise ship Queen Anne.
Named after the ancient name for Varanasi, the restaurant will take inspiration from the cultures and cuisines found along the Ganges, from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal.
The menu will combine Indian spices, open-fire cooking and traditional techniques with locally sourced British produce and seasonal ingredients.
Alongside an à la carte menu, Kasi will offer a traditional thali at lunchtime and three and five-course tasting menus.
Signature dishes will include Hampshire lamb parantha and banana leaf-roasted Rivers Test & Itchen trout with coriander-garlic curry leaf butter.
Roasted Wessex saddleback pork belly with buttered pao buns and paneer lotus kofta with sundried mint and fennel will also feature.
The wider menu will include traditional tandoori dishes, biryanis, lentils and breads.
Interiors have been created by Amit Dixit Design, using earthy tones, rich textures, gold detailing and statement lighting inspired by India.
Chef Jolly said: “The food at Kasi will tell the story of the Ganges through the ingredients, flavours and cooking traditions found along its banks.
“At the same time, it will be firmly connected to its home in the New Forest, making the most of the exceptional produce available locally and across the British Isles.
“Careys Manor shares my belief that memorable restaurants are built around warmth, generosity and a real sense of place.
“I am excited to bring those ideas together at Kasi and to create a restaurant that feels equally welcoming to hotel guests, locals and those travelling to the New Forest especially to eat with us.”
Steve Woodrow, General Manager of Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa, said: “Kasi represents an exciting new chapter for Careys Manor.
“Chef Jolly’s vision and reputation for exceptional Indian cuisine make him the ideal partner as we continue to evolve our dining offering.
“Kasi will bring a distinctive new experience to both our hotel guests and the local community, further establishing Careys Manor as a destination for outstanding food, as well as exceptional hospitality.”
Kasi will become the third restaurant at Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa, joining British restaurant Cambium and Thai restaurant Zen Garden.
The restaurant will be open to both hotel guests and non-residents for lunch and dinner.