When The Pig opened in the idyll of Hampshire’s Brockenhurst, it did so with a bang. Ever since, folk in-the-know have covered many miles to check in to the gorgeous and very family-friendly hotel in the New Forest for a long weekend of gorgeous food (we’re talking garden to table in the most literal sense), rooms decorated to shabby chic perfection, and a sense of utter relaxation and informal luxury. Since then, the clever people behind The Pig have opened a small sister hotel in Southampton and, just last month, the Pig near Bath opened its heavy doors to a roar of applause. I recently went for an overnight visit with Lola and, having also been to the original in Hampshire, can safely say this is no less fabulous.
Shabby Chic Country Style.
In a land where country house hotels can equate to dreadful carpets, dark hallways and squeaky old beds (not to mention Walls’ bangers for breakfast), the up-to-date and effortlessly cool way in which The Pig has redefined the classic English country house hotel is a breath of fresh air. The rooms are hand-curated with a wonderful mix of silky smooth wooden floors, beds that hug you and sweeping bathrooms (our room had a roll top bath at the foot of the bed which delighted Lola and I, no end). The soft furnishings are a sensational array of soft tweeds, velvets, silks, corduroys and linens, all thrown together in effortless perfection.
Garden-to-table dining.
The aim at The Pig is that at least 90% of what you eat is from the grounds of the hotel itself and, at the very least, from a local supplier. The dining area of The Pig near Bath is a sort of outdoor-indoor eating experience, because the recent renovations included adding a conservatory to the back doors of the house. Having filed it with terracotta pots bulging with delights such as lemongrass and rosemary, lots of inviting wooden tables and a home-from-home sense of space, the views across the Somerset fields are gorgeous and one finds it easy to forget the area recently suffered devastation from near Biblical weather. Children can enjoy a very well-curated “Menu for Piglets” (think home-smoked ham, homemade ice cream and apple jelly) or they can order a half size portion of anything on the adult menu. The menu for grown-ups is a beautifully designed array of delectable dishes that read so beautifully it’s nearly impossible to choose, and all ingredients come from within a maximum local radius of 25 miles. Under the “Literally Picked This Morning” section of the menu you’ll find kale, quail eggs and home cured pancetta. There are delicious small plates of slow cooked pig cheek, beetroot and garden walnut soup, or home soused sardine fillet, to name but a few. The wine list is seemingly endless and I slowly sipped on a beautiful Domaine De Muret Syrah from Languedoc while Lola gulped down the locally pressed apple juice with equal enjoyment.
The Pig with kids.
Lola hasn’t stopped talking about The Pig since we left. Not only are the staff incredibly inviting no matter what your age, but the general sense of relaxation and informality made it a delight with a nearly three year old. Though she was the only toddler dining that night, no one cared and I sensed that the other guests expected children to be there, rather than simply tolerating them. She awoke the next day (late I’m delighted to add, thanks to the blackout curtains in our stunning room), raring to head outside and meet the local pigs (one of whom is suitably named Truffle), see if the quails had laid eggs overnight and explore the adjacent deer park. Breakfast was no less impressive than supper (the personalised Pig milk bottles were a lovely touch) and the surroundings of green grass, fresh air and gardens in which to roam make it an utter delight with children.
Next month promises the opening of The Pig at the beach, very close to where we live in Dorset, just on the edge of Studland Bay, and I’m extremely excited to see what gorgeous touches that will add to the already beautiful Jurassic Coast. Now, if only I could entice the owners to come and decorate my house, À la Pig, while they’re down here renovating the newest Pig premises……
For further info on The Pig see here.