The Forest Arts Centre is the creative heart of New Milton. This wonderful live performance venue is home to a 140-seat theatre, art gallery, dance studio, art studio and a fully licensed café bar.
We offer the very best in music, theatre and comedy as well as a range of classes and workshops for children and adults of all ages and abilities.
How to book
- Most of our events can be booked online
- We accept most credit and debit cards online and cash and cheques at our box office
- Unfortunately we can't accept unpaid reservations, please have your ticket with you to enter a performance or screening.
- Concession prices are available to customers over 60 years of age.
Concessions for classes and workshops
We offer concessions for some of our classes and workshops.
How to find us
By car
We’re located on the junction of Old Milton Road and the A337 Christchurch Road in New Milton.
By train
We are a 20 minute walk (via Station Road and Old Milton Road) from New Milton railway station and taxi rank.
Parking at Forest Arts Centre
There is limited free parking on site. This is accessed from Old Milton Road.
Our car park is managed by a member of the British Parking Association (BPA) using a camera-based system with number plate recognition. This is to ensure that our customers and visitors to the centre have priority use of the car park.
The car park is free of charge for our customers and people using the building, including ticketholders for live shows, tutors and participants in classes and workshops, participants in any of our other activities or activities organised by hirers of our rooms or services, as well as those waiting to collect someone from an activity or show. Free parking is also available to artists performing or exhibiting at Forest Arts Centre.
To take advantage of our free parking, you need to register your car at the box office desk. If you do not register your car, you will be issued with a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). Registering your car is simple: at the box office desk you will find a touch screen tablet which you can use to enter your number plate or you can scan a QR code available from the box office or bar. Please ensure you register your car before leaving the car park or you will be issued with a PCN. You will need to register your car each time you visit the centre.
Accessibility
We welcome disabled visitors. There is level access to the theatre, bar, gallery and workshop areas. We can arrange spaces for wheelchair users who wish to come to the theatre independently, and there are free seats available for a companion at seated events. We also have an accessible lavatory, two disabled parking pays, automatic doors and an induction loop at the box office and in the theatre. Assistance dogs are welcome, as long as they are clearly identifiable, and we have some subtitled performances.
Please note that our seats are 40cm in width and height with variable leg room and no armrests. Please contact our box office to discuss any accessibility requirements either via email forest.arts@hampshireculturaltrust.org.uk or on 01425 612393
Child Protection Policy
Our policy outlines the procedures we have in place to protect your children when they are using our venue. For more information, please read our safeguarding policy.