Our Bench – Our Story and How to Contact Us
Our Bench: A Family Business with Heart
Our Bench is a family-run business offering three fully wheelchair-accessible, self-catering holiday cottages in Pennington, Lymington. We provide barrier-free holiday accommodation for disabled people, those with life-limiting conditions, and their families or carers.
Each cottage is designed to be warm, inclusive, and homely so guests can relax, feel comfortable, and enjoy a much-needed break. With accommodation for 2–5 guests, we focus on comfort, dignity, and a sense of belonging. All cottages are wheelchair accessible and include profiling beds, ceiling-track hoists, spacious wet rooms, and mobility-friendly layouts.
We also provide essential equipment to reduce travel stress: tilt-in-space and standard shower chairs, commodes, Rotundas, Sara Stedy transfer aids, manual wheelchairs, walkers, and over-bed tables.
We believe in more than just providing accommodation. We offer personalised guidance on accessible attractions, local dining, and experiences across Lymington, the New Forest, and the South Coast, tailored to your needs.
You are welcome to contact us with any questions.
If you have questions about facilities, accessibility options, or specific equipment, please get in touch. Everyone’s needs are different and we are happy to help.
Making a Difference, One Family at a Time
We welcome every guest personally, listen to their stories, and adapt our accommodation where possible. Many guests return again and again. Helen also offers complimentary photo shoots in the New Forest so families can take home lasting memories.
Our Story
Our Bench began as a cosy bed and breakfast in the 1980s, founded by Mary and Roger Lewis. Seeing the need for accessible accommodation, they built Little Bench and Bench Cottage in 2001 — the first cottages in Hampshire to combine level access, split-level kitchens, and modern wet rooms. Mary, who was disabled herself, understood the challenges of travel. Creating accessible cottages became the family’s mission.
After Roger’s passing in 2009, Helen and Matt became more involved. In 2012 they purchased and remodelled Garden Bench, adding ceiling hoists and adult changing tables. Online bookings launched in 2019, and Helen’s photography became part of the experience. Mary passed away in 2024, proud that Our Bench continues to welcome families who need accessible holidays.
The Story Behind the Name
Mary and Roger dreamed of a home called Our Bench, inspired by Bolton’s Bench in Lyndhurst, where Roger proposed. The name was woven into the business and continues as its legacy.
Our Location
On the south coast near the New Forest and Lymington.
New Forest in 1955
Historic road signs in Lyndhurst.
Family Legacy
Mary with her granddaughter, before retiring.
What makes our accessible holiday cottages so special
- Step-free level access throughout
- Split-level kitchens designed for wheelchair users
- Spacious, modern wet rooms
- Ceiling hoists and adult changing tables in selected cottages
- Essential mobility equipment included at no extra charge
- Enclosed gardens — private at Garden Bench
- Online booking and virtual tours
- Photography sessions available
- Personal service from owners that understand and whom care.
Where We Are
Our Bench holiday cottages are located on the edge of the New Forest National Park in Pennington, just minutes from the Georgian market town of Lymington. We are ideally placed for forest trails, coastal paths, and accessible day trips across Hampshire and Dorset.
