Since the first Pig opened in 2011 in the New Forest, the brand has flourished into a healthy litter of 11 hotels with more on the way. Championing locally sourced food (each Pig has its own 25-mile menu), cosseting country-house chic and a hard-to-achieve laidback affability, this empire excels at every level.
Alongside a Pig first – The Village Pub in Barnsley – the newest hotel in the brood is The Pig in the Cotswolds, formerly Barnsley House. Just a half-hour drive from antiques mecca Tetbury and, a little further on, meander-worthy hotspots Moreton-in-Marsh, Stow-on-the-Wold and Broadway, this is a tip-top base for an indulgent escape to the country.
Warmly greeted by reception manager Jasmine, we were taken to a frankly enormous room overlooking the driveway. Decorated with pure comfort and away-from-it-all vibes in mind – a blowsy wallpaper echoes the ravishing garden, while velvet upholstery and deep window seats provide perfect perches for repose – this tranquil haven hits the high notes.
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Dinner and breakfast are served in panelled splendour, made homely with plants and ambient lighting. Starters on the evening menu are arranged into ‘Garden Bits’, ‘Piggy Bits’ and ‘Fishy Bits’, followed by eight main courses and sides, while breakfast involves a groaning buffet table (the homemade granola and thyme-stewed fruits were highlights) alongside cooked options. Walk it off in the garden (tours are at 11am each day), or unwind with a luxe treatment at on-site Field Spa, using nourishing Tribe517 products.
