Credentials
Set against the idyllic backdrop of Studland Bay, Dorset, where you’ll take in stretches of the stunning sandy Jurassic coastline and an impressive horizon where Old Harry Rock – one of the most famous landmarks on the South Coast – stands tall, The Pig on the Beach sits pretty. This muddy yellow 16th Century 23-room manor house-turned-hotel that shouts Famous Five, was once the summer residence of MP Lord Bankes and family, including 14 daughters. It is said that Lord Bankes wanted the property to resemble a sandcastle, and that it does. The striking building, now owned by the National Trust, leased by The Pig, has pathways running from it like the veins of a leaf, leading to all manner of wonders: the famed walled kitchen garden, potting sheds for treatments, two private shepherd huts, and, of course, a pigsty for the hotel’s namesake residents.
In little under three hours, from London Waterloo, my train pulled up to Wareham on a rainy Tuesday afternoon. It was handy that The Pig on the Beach website lists two contact numbers for transport options from the station, and within ten minutes our taxi pulled up. The drive to The Pig took around 15-20 minutes and we took in the scenic route, admiring Corfe Castle and the lush rolling countryside.
Since the rain had stopped, we took a beach stroll before exploring the grounds (read: before eating ALL the food), and within three minutes were amidst seaside bliss. Fresh air filled our lungs, a light sunny breeze rippled the glistening blue water and a sense of calm surrounded us. After a much-needed amble in the sand, we headed back to the hotel for a wander around the grounds, taking in what would be on the menu from the famous walled kitchen garden (we said hello to the pigs, of course) and admired the view of Old Harry Rock from every corner.
Sleep
With a wide bay window framing the exceptional grounds against the bay, endless sands, blue waters and tranquil energy, our room exceeded expectation. Views? Check. Freestanding bath? Check. Massive, cosy better-than-home bed? Check. And all the rest; everything is covered, from a Bluetooth radio to a very well-stocked mini bar and coffee machine, plus a full range of organic Bramley products that permeated our space with a clean, herby spa smell.
Each of The Pig’s 23 bedrooms comes with its own unique décor and in a range of sizes and prices suited to your needs and pocket. Our room was a comfy luxe one, with two bathrooms; floor to ceiling dark wood, unfussy heavy fabrics and linens, a quaint writing desk, a four-poster bed and a gorgeous freestanding bath.
Treatments
Down a dimly lit path and through a farm gate at the bottom of the grounds, sit a pair of cute potting sheds where treatments take place. It was a windy evening and the potting shed was a welcome escape from the cold. That clean, herby Bramley scent filled the room, and the temperature was deliciously toasty.
After a thorough consultation and some welcome advice about collagen intake, my anti-ageing facial began. Wrapped up in fluffy towels, legs propped on an angle, it started with a deep cleanse. Using VOYA Beauty products, everything was bursting with the finest organic ingredients combined with antioxidant algae complexes and a restorative blend of aromatherapy oils. My therapist used fresh sheets of seaweed (we laughed as they comically slid down my face) to stimulate collagen production and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. My skin was instantly tightened, smoothed out and glowing – makeup for dinner was minimal and I was fully relaxed. Enough said.
Dine
Centred around its renowned 25-mile menu, which proudly sources everything within this radius, food at The Pig is an event. Seasonal ingredients are selected from the kitchen garden and beyond, bringing delicious and planet-conscious dishes to the table.
The bar is where it began for us. A twinkly lit, cosy setting adjacent to the restaurant – perfect for pre-dinner drinks and ‘piggy bits’ to whet the appetite. The cocktail menu features a range of options, with spirits from local distilleries and the barman was more than happy to go off-menu. We opted for a dirty martini followed by a spicy margarita – both excellent – alongside some tasty nibbles, including crunchy piggy scratchings, sausage rolls and pickled quail eggs. On our merry way, it was time for dinner and some wine to pair. The Pig serves an exhaustive list, including some fantastic English wines, as well as their own range made with expertise from Rhône based Michael Chapoutier.
We had already been treated to lots of ‘piggy bits’, so starters needed to be minimal. We ordered a plate of seasonal mushrooms on toasted sourdough, beautifully finished with thyme, creamy and abundantly flavoursome – paired with a glass of Hundred Hills, Rosé, Oxfordshire, Brut, 2018: a crisp and dangerously easy drinking fizz. Tobacco onions, buttered new potatoes, and wild garlic garden greens were delectable sides to my main dish. A tender pork loin on a bed of buttery sweetheart cabbage, topped with cooked rhubarb and an epic rhubarb ketchup (that I’d like a whole bottle of). My partner in piggy crime tucked into a plate of sausages and mash, of which I managed to snaffle a delicious mouthful. We were recommended a stunning Pinot Noir, Danbury Ridge, Essex, 2021, by the resident sommelier, and it coupled beautifully with our hearty dishes.
There’s something about a hotel breakfast that I get childlike excitement over, and the one at The Pig hits different. You’re treated to a breakfast table of everything from a line-up of immunity shots, smoothies and kefir to freshly baked Hoxton Bakehouse pastries, an array of bread, homemade preserves, yoghurts, Fluffets Farm eggs, fruits – fresh and stewed – and of course, The Pig’s homemade granolas. After all of that, you can order from the hot menu, and I opted for ‘the full veggie pig out,’ featuring Huxton halloumi, veggie Sausage, field mushroom, garden greens, grilled tomato & eggs. One thing is for sure when it comes to The Pig’s almighty breakfast: you’d better arrive with an appetite.
The best thing
I’ve been fortunate enough to visit two Pig hotels over the past few years, and what the group does best is to create a generous bite of luxury in a home-from-home environment; think optimum cosiness and dream interiors. For me, that’s what sets it apart. The venues are always considered, too – whether you’re surrounded by a breath-taking beach, lush green hills or grand manor house grounds, the destination of The Pig hotels will always set the scene, while the experience and the people make the story.
The team are attentive, but in a way that is not imposing; more a friend-having-you-over-to-stay-for-the-weekend in the country kind of way. They’re warm, generous and want you to be comfortable, relaxed and always enjoying what they have to offer you. And the food, well that is most certainly worth a top spot as one of the best bits.
The worst bit
There really wasn’t one. Only that we would have liked to maximise our time and catch more of our surroundings with a second (and third) night at The Pig on the Beach.
The details
Rooms at The Pig on the Beach start from around £295 per night
Manor House, Manor Rd, Studland, Swanage BH19 3AU
