Sutton Forest Inn

28 June 2026 / Story: Anda Clayton; Ptos: Anda Clayton, Rose Smith, Lesley Brook

With the arrival of winter, where better to lunch than in front of a cosy fire in an old fashioned pub?

The Southern Highlands with just such a place beckoned, as 12 of us set out for the Sutton Forest Inn for lunch.

A glorious sunny and calm winter's day kept the chill out of the air, enabling most of us to travel "tops down".

We met and enjoyed a coffee and something sweet at our new favourite "northerly" meeting place, North Nowra's Neck of the Woods cafe. Great coffee, friendly staff, yummy goodies and, even on a Tuesday, very popular with the locals.

We finally made tracks to our next eatery, Sutton Forest Inn, an hour's drive away. Our run was punctuated by several stops due to roadworks. As to be expected, we caught up to a slow truck during our ascent up Cambewarra mountain, however much to our surprise the driver was unusually courteous and moved over at his first opportunity to allow our convoy safe passage. My faith in truckies has been restored.

Following a mandatory wrong turn and a minor detour via roads less travelled, we finally arrived at our lunch venue.  Patiently waiting were 2 more members, our vice president Jeffrey and Pamela.

A few of us commented that we'd driven past the pub many times, and had always meant to stop by....one more item crossed off the bucket list! 

The pub is olde worlde inside and out, very pleasant on a winter's day with a log fire burning, and views to the countriside. Lunch was delicious, with the chicken and leek pie a favourite. Topped off with a glass of red....a perfect warming pub lunch on a winter's day.

Yes, life was good today - another pleasant day out with MX5 Club friends, perfect weather, a pretty drive, enjoyable conversation, and delicious hearty pub grub.