We are getting very excited about the opening at Careys Manor Hotel of the much heralded KASI Restaurant, where renowned London chef and television personality Surjan Singh, better known as Chef Jolly, will bring his lively, creative approach to Indian food beyond the capital for the first time.
A new restaurant is preparing to open its doors in Brockenhurst this October, bringing contemporary Indian cooking to the heart of the New Forest.
KASI will open at Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa in the former home of Le Blaireau. Led by renowned chef and television personality Surjan Singh, better known as Chef Jolly, the restaurant will be his first outside London.
While the name and menu may be changing, guests will still find a familiar face waiting to welcome them. Richard Naulleau, who managed Le Blaireau, will remain as restaurant manager at KASI, bringing his knowledge of the hotel, its guests and the local community into this next chapter.
A culinary journey along the Ganges
KASI takes its inspiration from Varanasi, one of the world’s oldest living cities, and the cultures found along the River Ganges.
The menu follows the river from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal, exploring how ingredients, flavours and cooking traditions evolve as the landscape changes. Open-fire cooking, bold spices and historic techniques will sit alongside a modern approach, with elements of tableside theatre bringing a sense of occasion to lunch and dinner.
“The food at KASI will tell the story of the Ganges through the ingredients, flavours and cooking traditions found along its banks,” says Chef Jolly. “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.”
Indian flavours meet Hampshire produce
Local and seasonal ingredients will play a central role in the menu.
Among the signature dishes will be Hampshire lamb parantha and banana-leaf-roasted trout from the Rivers Test and Itchen, served with coriander, garlic and curry leaf butter. Diners can also expect roasted Wessex saddleback pork belly with buttered pao buns and paneer lotus kofta with sundried mint and fennel.
Traditional tandoori dishes, biryanis, lentils and freshly prepared breads will complete the menu, offering familiar starting points alongside some less expected combinations.
KASI will serve an à la carte menu, a set thali lunch and three- and five-course tasting menus. Optional wine and cocktail pairings will also be available.
A new look, with a familiar welcome
The former Le Blaireau restaurant is being completely refurbished ahead of KASI’S opening. Earthy colours, deep greens, rich textures, brass details and statement lighting will create a warm, contemporary setting influenced by the colour and energy of India.
The change marks a new direction for the restaurant space, but Richard’s continued presence will provide a reassuring thread between past and present. Having welcomed guests to Le Blaireau, he will now lead the front-of-house team at KASI and help introduce diners to the new menu.
Meet Chef Jolly
Chef Jolly has spent more than three decades working across the international hospitality industry. His career has taken him to Singapore, Kolkata, Doha and the Maldives, as well as aboard Cunard’s Queen Anne. He has also appeared as a judge on MasterChef India.
In London, he is behind The Great Indian in Finsbury Park. KASI will bring his lively, creative approach to Indian food beyond the capital for the first time.
The restaurant will join Cambium and Zen Garden as one of three dining options at Careys Manor. It will be open to hotel guests, New Forest locals and visitors for lunch and dinner.
KASI opens at Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa in Brockenhurst in October 2026. Guests can sign up for opening news, menu updates and reservation details through the Careys Manor website.
Sign up for opening news, menu updates and reservation details!
Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa luxury spa hotel in Brockenhurst
From royal hunting lodge to state-of-the-art spa, Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa is an adult’s retreat that’s steeped in history and keeps its rich heritage at heart.
