 |
| Arriving after dark at The Pig |
I have wanted to stay at The Pig since since it opened in a couple of years ago and last week Ollie finally treated me for my 25th birthday. We hopped on the train from Waterloo and 90 minutes later, were standing on Brockenhurst platform, being told that the road to the hotel was flooded. We could either walk 15 mins or take a taxi. Reminding ourselves that the remoteness was why we came to the countryside, we walked, most definitely not in wellies and with a pathetic iPhone torch. Adventure anyone?
 |
| Our room - The Pig Hut |
 |
| I fell in love with the grey brick tiles in the bathroom |
The flood was no more than a puddle and we skipped over and up the winding gravel path, edged with tall tress and flash cars to the lit windows of the hotel. The friendly receptionist made our chilly cheeks smile with a room upgraded to the Pig Hut. Set away from the main house, in stable houses, our white beamed room housed a four poster bed and a free standing bath. Oh the luxury. I fell in love with the grey tiles and rainforest shower in the bathroom.
 |
| Drinks by the fire |
 |
| Pigs cheek and black pudding scotchies |
The Pig is made for people who enjoy the cosmopolitan side of London and big cities but crave a wood fire and rural setting every now and then. We squeezed in a couple of cocktails, made with their rhubarb house syrup and spiced apple juice in front of the fire with some 'Piggy Bits' - two crispy black pudding and pig's cheek scotch eggs before dinner.
 |
| Potted rainbow chard in the conservatory |
 |
| Duck egg and mushrooms on soda toast |
The dining room? A conservatory decorated with potted salad leaves and lit with industrial lighting London restaurants can't live without. Most of the menu is brought in from its own farm and everything else is sourced from within a 25 mile radius. The duck egg and mushrooms on soda bread was comfortingly breakfasty while the Salt Hampshire cured meat board was a tad too fatty and roughly cut and the pickles? a notch too cold.
 |
| Produce in the walled garden |
The T-bone steak, medium rare was massive and tender and dwarfed the crispy chips. Partridge felt like the appropriate dish to eat here: pink and with politely sweet honeyed parsnips, kicked back by thick bacon and sloe sauce. We skipped pudding and fell asleep in a food coma.
 |
| The Pig |
We rose, bleary eyed to sheep bleating on an overly sunny November morning. So we actually have to eat again? We crawled out of bed like snails, last night's food baby swelling like a shell.
 |
| Bright conservatory at breakfast |
 |
| Birthday eggs benedict |
The bright conservatory buzzed with pottering waitresses. Lured in by the rustic nutty granola, poached pears and ripe gooey cheeses, piled high on the buffet table we started scoffing, again. Continuing with the eggs and pig theme, my half oeuf Benedict and Florentine came with a fun birthday candle and a contender for the best thickest piece of bacon ever.
 |
| Lined up wellies for guests |
We waddled out of the room and into a pair of their Hunter wellies - a lifesaver for the Londoner who doesn't quite compute the concept of mud for a stomp through the New Forrest.
 |
| New Forrest floor |
The hotel was surrounded by trees in autumn's full auburn swing. Feeling 10 stone heavier we trudged over fallen trunks and spotted mushrooms along the walking and cycling paths.
 |
| Hotel green grounds |
Fancy a bit more luxury? Wonder 15 minutes to the more modern and luxurious 5 star Limewood Hotel where £40 will buy non-guests a day pass to their spa and raw kitchen.
 |
| Ollie and I out side our room |
We returned two hours later and got back to The Pig for a final pale ale and a chunky ham and piccalilli bloomer by the fire.
It's in the name, they really do stuff you like a pig here. I just wish the little squealers we said hi to just before boarding the train back weren't so friendly and pattable. I don't want to feel guilty when I'm eating meat that tastes that good.
 |
| The courtyard- our room is the one on the left! |
Snug Rooms from £135
Or you can just go for dinner a meal
for two with a bottle of wine about £100
The Pig Beaulieu Rd,
The New Forest,
Brockenhurst,
Hampshire SO42 7QL
No comments :
Post a Comment