THE PIG-at Bridge Place | Hogwash issue 04

SUMMER

NO 4

2024

Hogwash THE SEASONAL DISPATCH

YOU SAY TOMATO...

Summer fruits Honey and sunshine Our exciting new PIG...with a pub Time out for body and mind

+ hotel guide + news + outings + recipes HOGWA SH \ SUMMER

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PIGGY BITS

Exciting PIG news!

FOR AG ER’S PICKS...

All of our kitchens love to make the most of wild seasonal produce. We’ve built relationships with foragers who bring us the best goodies out there. These foraging picks are from Chris, from Heavenly Hedgerows, who supply us with our delicious preserves at THE PIG-near Bath.

It’s been a little while since we have had new PIGs on the horizon.

Choosing properties that make a perfect PIG isn’t something that can be rushed. We had a view to open two new PIGs over the next MAY couple of years: THE PIG-on the farm, near Stratford-upon-Avon, St George’s mushrooms (which and THE PIG-at Groombridge. But, sometimes, opportunities appear around St George’s Day on 23 April) can still be found in early arise when you are least expecting them and earlier this year, we May, as well as dead-nettle, cow also acquired the 17th century Barnsley House hotel. It’s tucked parsley, sorrel seeds and garlic away in the quintessential Cotswolds village of Barnsley, just four leaves (you can dry, crush and preserve them in rock salt). miles from Cirencester.

Nestled in historic Arts and Crafts style gardens created by renowned garden designer, Rosemary Verey, this gem of a JUNE Elderflower (ideal for cordial property has all the makings of a PIG already or to sprinkle over scones or weaved into its DNA… with a few twists. strawberries), chicory, clover OUR It comes with its very own village and pineapple weed (camomile’s HOMEGROWN cousin – it has no petals and pub – which will be a first for us, a can be used to make HONEY PIG pub! It also has a small, but a delicious tea).

This summer, bring a sweet taste of the perfectly formed, spa which will PIG home to your breakfast table with our first jars of THE PIG Honey! Each 340g jar see us extend our Potting Sheds JULY holds a delicious combination of the liquid beyond our treatment offerings.

Chestnuts, thistle heads, gold harvested from our hives across Stepping into this very special blackberries, elderberries THE PIGs. Pick up a jar in reception, (perfect for making vinegar), or buy online at gifts.thepighotel. house feels like coming to visit your and meadowsweet (for a syrup com/products/the-pigsgreat Aunt Rosemary. It’s instantly to pour over ice cream). honey cosy and homely – the sort of place that would hold all your summer holiday AUGUST memories. We’re looking forward to doing this Plums, samphire (deliciously salty; beautiful building justice and restoring it sensitively, with its serve with melted butter or raw in salads), hogweed seeds and historic importance at the forefront of all decision making. strawberries. Crab apples are We’ll be opening THE PIG-and The Village Pub this summer a perfect partner with last month’s blackberries, added and we can’t wait to see you there to raise a glass together. to half a bottle of whisky with Bookings will soon be open for THE PIG-and The Village Pub; visit a little sugar – leave for a couple thepighotel.com for all the latest updates of months and enjoy.

LOCAL GUIDE: TURN TO THE CENTRE PAGES FOR EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO ENJOY YOUR STAY. ALL YOUR ESSENTIAL

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The story behind our limitededition Coffee Vodka, created with our friends at Sapling Spirits.

peas and beans

☞ HOW IT ALL STARTED

AND WE'RE PLANTING...

At THE PIGs, we’re big supporters of many independent, artisanal brands – that’s why we’re proud to use Sapling Spirits as the go-to vodka and gin behind our bars.

It’s a friendship that was meant to be. We share a passion for high-quality spirits, reducing waste and sourcing locally – plus, we have a penchant for a bit of a party!

Kales, fennel, purple, white and green sprouting broccoli,)chard, dwarf french beans

Notes from the Kitchen Garden Ollie, our go-to Kitchen Garden expert, shares a summer update

Join us in our Kitchen Gardens Enjoy a free guided tour of our Kitchen Gardens across THE PIGs (excluding THE PIG-in the wall and THE PIG-and The Village Pub), every last Friday of the month at 11am.

Our kitchen gardeners will help you explore

the veg patches, peek into the polytunnels and even say hello to our four-legged friends. We can even lend you wellies. Simply speak to the friendly reception team to join us. thepighotel.com/events/walled-garden-wanderings

☞ A PERFECT PARTNERSHIP

[Back page answers: Before it was a PIG, A; As a matter of fact, B]

“foraging hedge”, made up solely of native species that all produce an edible fruit or nut.

In the future, we’ll be able to use produce from these in our kitchen at THE PIG-near Bath, and even in delicious cocktail syrups.

In spring 2024, we also started work building the Kitchen Gardens for our newest PIG in the litter, THE PIG-and The Village Pub. We’ll have exciting progress to share from these veg beds in a future issue.

Finally, if you’re heading to any of the horticultural shows this summer, you may just run into some of our PIG gardeners on tour. We will be busy building show gardens at BBC Gardeners’ World Live at the NEC, Birmingham (13 –16 June), and at RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival in London (2-7 July). We’ll also be helping our friends at Alitex Greenhouses decorate their stand at RHS Chelsea Flower Show (21–25 May). We love to chat about all things planting and gardening, so if you do see us, come and say hello.

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☞ SAPLING X THE PIG COFFEE VODKA

Tomatoes, carrots

With the warmer months upon us, it’s finally time to plant out the seedlings that have been lovingly propagated at our nursery in the New Forest. The nursery has been established for around 10 years now and we predict that in 2024, it will produce more than a quarter of a million seedlings – all to be planted across our PIG Kitchen Gardens, from Cornwall to Kent. Most recently in the Kitchen Gardens, we’ve been harvesting tomatoes, peppers, agretti (an Italian plant that is somewhat similar to samphire) and beans. These first came to us as nursery seedlings and replaced the last of the overwintered crops in our veg beds.

But while our plants were dormant over the winter, our garden teams certainly weren’t! In February, we rolled up our sleeves along with our friends at Sapling Spirits to create a nut orchard (or “nuttery”), at THE PIG-near Bath. We planted trees including cobnuts, filberts, almonds, walnuts and sweet chestnuts. They’re flanked on one side by a

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Together with Sapling, we’ve created our very first Coffee Vodka using spent coffee grounds from THE PIG. Usually, waste coffee granules are destined for compost – but we are always on the lookout for creative ways to reuse waste products at THE PIGs, and so, our Coffee Vodka was born. It’s a match made in heaven for espresso martinis!

☞ PLANTING TREES Our Coffee Vodka doesn’t just taste good, it does good, too.

Sapling plants a tree for every bottle it sells, so this February, we planted 32 nut trees together at THE PIG-near Bath (see Notes from the Kitchen Garden, left).

☞ TRY IT YOURSELF Our limited run of 1,000 bottles is being sold exclusively online at THE PIG Market. Once they’re gone, they’re gone! Grab yours at gifts.thepighotel.com/ products/sapling-x-the-pigcoffee-vodka

HOTEL INFORMATION, ROOM GUIDE, POTTING SHED TREATMENT MENU, THE BEST OUTINGS, LOCAL HEROES AND THINGS TO DO.

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HORTICULTURE, SAYS SARAH RAVEN, one of the UK’s best-loved gardeners, can be almost as capricious as fashion. What’s in vogue “A friend of mine, [gardener and food writer] Mark Diacono, helped today could quite easily be on the compost heap tomorrow. Take with the planting at THE PIG-near Bath, and I remember walking hydrangeas, for example. Long considered the frumpiest of shrubs, into the gardens and seeing these otherworldly kalettes, also known they are now, according to Sarah, having a moment. “Girliness is back as flower sprouts,” Sarah recalls. “I remember thinking, ‘Oh, they in fashion,” she explains, between potting workshops at Oxleaze Barn, obviously know what they’re doing here,’ because I thought I was the Gloucestershire – a class she’s led for the better part of 20 years (and only person in England growing them. I heard about them from an which she now co-hosts with her protégé, florist and author Arthur amazing Belgian seed grower called Peter Bauwens.”

“Chicken Boy” Parkinson). “Instagram has had a real effect on the One of the beauties of kalettes, says Sarah, is that they’re a look and feel of what plants are in favour because, in the same way wonderful example of a vegetable that is still relatively difficult to buy, that men dominate food and design, women dominate floristry. And so but incredibly easy to grow – and this is very often the case with edible hydrangeas, with their lacy, whimsical femininity, suddenly fulfil that flowers, too. “We eat with our eyes,” she says, “so flowers can really role perfectly.” help to make a dish look pretty. But I think they also help to visualise It’s worth taking note. As an award-winning author and this idea of garden to plate – you know they’ll have been grown broadcaster, Sarah has become something of a green-fingered nearby. At Perch Hill, every month we’ll have five or six different trendsetter, especially among those who like to mix their edibles with edible flowers: some sweet, some savoury.” their ornamentals, or perhaps Dahlias, she says, can add “real razzmatazz” lean towards a more relaxed style to a salad, nasturtiums offer a wonderful of planting. Perch Hill Farm, her pepperiness and ‘White Valley’ tulips, which home in East Sussex, has become taste “halfway between a cucumber and a the flagship for her brand of bold bean”, can offer a delicious crunch. “I used and brilliant gardening. It’s here to chat with [chef Yotam] Ottolenghi, and that she trials everything for about 15 years ago, I specifically remember her eponymous online nursery him saying he purposely avoided using edible flowers because they business, and where thousands of budding horticulturalists head were ‘far too wine bar’ for his taste,” she says – though we’re not sure year after year (perennially, even) to learn about succession planting, whether or not he’d still feel that way in 2024. “Sometimes these flower arranging and sustainable floristry. things are merely a matter of fashion.”

Sarah’s style of gardening might not be for everyone – “We get She certainly welcomes the return of the popularity of the kitchen letters of complaint saying that Perch Hill is a bloody shambles,” she garden, something we’ve long been advocates of at our PIGs. “It’s the laughs – but it’s exactly to our taste. It’s tulips from Sarah’s Tudor result of a greater interest in real food,” says Sarah. “Slow food was a Rose collection that you’ll see around the grounds of many of THE buzzword several years ago, but then it faded away somewhat.” From PIGs, among other flowers grown from her bulbs, and we’ve planted food to flowers, “caring about provenance is not elitist, and it’s her seeds – kale, tomato, courgette, beetroot and basil – in a YOUR PIG no longer perceived as elitist,” says Sarah. “It’s essential.” number of our Kitchen Gardens. And with a bit of luck, DISCOUNT For info on open days at Perch Hill and more, visit sarahraven.com Sarah may start running masterclasses from one of our For 10% off at new openings – so watch this space.

“I saw plants at THE PIG I thought I was the only person in England growing”

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sarahraven.com use the code SARAHRAVEN10PIG until 30 September Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer and excludes sale items

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THE CON VERSA TION

s r e t c a r a h c l a n “Fictio d n a k o o l e h t e r i p s in ” s n g i s e d y m f o l fee Our interiors guru, Judy Hutson, talks colour and character with Ruth Mottershead at Little Greene EVERYTHING AT THE PIGS, from our food to the fittings and fixtures, helps to create the distinctively authentic, one-of-a-kind look and feel of our rooms and restaurants. Here, Judy Hutson, who masterminds all our interiors, chats to Ruth Mottershead, Creative Director at our friends Little Greene, the paint and wallpaper company. With a factory based in North Wales, Little Greene is an independent, family-run business.

JUDY It’s great to speak with you about colour, because I know you’re so passionate about it. For me, when I am decorating, I am always inspired by the anchor fabrics that I choose for curtains and blinds. I use them to find a colour for the room, because that way I arrive at one that complements that fabric.

RUTH The colours you choose to surround yourself with really can determine how a space will make you feel, can’t they? We feel the effects of colour even when it is used as a backdrop to support other textiles, accessories and design pieces. Because warmer and cooler tones evoke different feelings, I always find that creating a sense of atmosphere is not just about considering the colour, but also the brightness, the base tones and the depth of colour.

JH My top tip is always to apply some paint from the sample pot in various locations within a room, not just one spot. The look can change dramatically in different areas because of the light and shade. I also recommend choosing a paint that is washable, so it can be used in high-traffic areas of the home. From a practical point of view, one of the things that appeals to me about Little Greene paint is you can easily wash away any marks with soap and water. In a hotel environment, there is always a fair amount of wear and tear. But beyond that, I love Little Greene’s depth of colour, choice of palettes and the chalky texture.

RM Some of that will be due to the fact our paints have high levels of pigment – 40% more than many ordinary paints – which gives them excellent coverage. And our Intelligent paints range is 15 times tougher, making them fully washable and hardwearing.

JH Some colours will become more or less popular at any given time. I have always followed my instincts without worrying about trends. How do you think people can balance looking at the colour options that are more on their radar because they are current, with what will work best for a space?

RM I would always advise people to focus on choosing colours for the atmosphere you wish

“It’s about brightness, tone and depth” RUTH

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JUDY to create in a room. The kitchen is often a hive of activity, the hub of the home and a vibrant space, so it can be a place to be adventurous with colour and opt for bold tones that exude energy, like joyful and energetic yellows. But you could also opt for a calm, comforting palette of softer shades that will reflect a sense of homeliness, warmth and creativity. We have a gold-toned paint called Light Bronze Green that to me recalls a natural earthiness, for example. It looks sumptuous paired alongside our colours Nether Red and Elysian Ground for a scheme that really draws you in. How about your soon-to-open new place, THE PIGand The Village Pub, in the Cotswolds – what’s the decor inspiration there?

JH Historically, I have always chosen a fictional character and imagined they lived in the PIG that we are working on. I then impose that character on the look and feel of the design. But that’s been a bit different here because the THE PIG-and The Village Pub is a new life for Barnsley House, which was the home and, in many ways, the creation of the celebrated garden designer Rosemary Verey.

RM So in this case, did you find yourself looking for the first time to a real person’s life and work, rather than an imagined persona?

JH Yes, exactly – the spirit of Rosemary Verey, who had the vision to create the extraordinary garden at Barnsley House. So my own contribution was a bit different this time.

I wanted to create something that is at its heart a feminine design, with her legacy definitely inspiring some of the floral- and gardenthemed fabrics and wallpapers. It’s amazing to have this already well-loved property become a part of our PIG family.

RM I can’t wait to see what you do.

See the full range of Little Greene paints at littlegreene.com

INFO & GOINGS ON ~ ESSENTIAL INFO & HOTEL GUIDE ~ POTTING SHED TREATMENT MENU ~ KENT CALLING: THINGS TO SEE AND DO ~ THE INSIDE STORY ON MARGATE’S NORTHDOWN BREWERY

We lc o m e t o

THE PIG - AT

IT’S FITTING THAT THE FIRST OWNER of Bridge Place should have been known for the good table, good wines and good company he kept. Bridge Place was built in about 1638 by Sir Arnold Braems, the first manager of Dover Harbour. It was a society attraction – the Dutch painter Willem Schellinks visited in 1661 and reported that Sir Arnold kept a princely table and had many visits from knights and high-born gentlemen and ladies. Second only to Chilham Castle in east Kent, it was painted by society artists Jan Siberechts and Adriaen Jansz.

By the early 18th century, the house was falling on hard times and was sold to neighbouring landowners who pulled down much of the property – the current building is just one wing of the original. Glory days returned in the 1960s, when it became a much-loved music venue. The arched wooden door to the sitting room was once the entrance to a nightclub where Led Zeppelin, The Kinks and The Yardbirds all played early gigs.

The rural location meant there were few neighbours to disturb.

These days, we also use this idyllic Kentish location to nurture our Kitchen Garden, accessed via a bridge and practically on its own island.

Here, you will find productive raised beds brimming with vegetables, our Alitex Mottisfont greenhouse and our polytunnels, which help to nurture tender crops with heating and lighting.

Today, the knights and rock stars have departed – or not, depending on who your fellow guests are. But with plenty of lovingly refurbished, original features to soak up, a stunning countryside setting and the PIG’s emphasis on the best local Kentish produce, this remains a very special house where the good times always roll.

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CHEC at 11am out is Check

All treatments are 60 minutes and £115 RESURFACING RADIANCE FACIAL This highly effective resurfacing facial targets congested, lacklustre and dull skin. Using a combination of seaweed extract and naturally derived glycolic and lactic acids blended with pineapple fruit enzymes, this facial will give your skin back its natural radiant glow.

ANTI-AGEING RESTORATIVE FACIAL A treatment that is suitable for all skin types. For those in search of anti-ageing results, this restorative facial uses VOYA’s finest organic ingredients combined with antioxidant algae complexes and a restorative blend of aromatherapy oils. It is this mix of seaweed and botanical ingredients that helps to stimulate collagen production and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, resulting in instantly firmed and tightened skin with a natural and more radiant glow.

UPPER BODY UNWIND A luxurious tailored treatment that starts with a warm exfoliation of the back, followed by a soothing back, arm and hand massage, and finishes with a facial oil specific to your skin. We use blended oils to feed your skin, leaving you completely relaxed and nourished.

Wander through the walled Kitchen Garden... ... past the raised beds, alongside the river and into our warm rustic retreats: our Potting Shed treatment rooms, quiet and calm and designed to help you escape it all.

Take inspiration from the garden surroundings and experience deeply relaxing full body and facial treatments using products by VOYA, made only with natural and organic ingredients and accredited to the highest standards by the Soil Association. VOYA is an Irish familyrun business that shares our ethos of authenticity and wellbeing. The brand’s seaweed-based products and results-driven treatments use top-quality botanicals and aromatherapy oils, and are all created using sustainable processes.

Good to know

HOT STONE MASSAGE A deeply indulgent body massage, using aromatherapy oils and volcanic stones, which help to melt away tension, ease stress and improve blood circulation. It is said that one stone movement is equivalent to ten hand movements.

The following treatments can be enjoyed in our new Treatment Wagon, tucked away in a tranquil corner of the sheep field. We are

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ORGANIC OCEAN ESSENCE TOTAL BODY WRAP Combining the detoxifying power of Fucus serratus and the cellulitereducing abilities of Laminaria digitata seaweed, this treatment stimulates the blood and lymph flow, detoxifies and hydrates the skin and encourages the renewal of skin cells.

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Old tobacco tins, gardening tools, balls of twine … Unlikely as it may seem, the decor of our Potting Shed treatment rooms was inspired by Beatrix Potter’s grumpy gardener, Mr McGregor. “I fill the shelves inside the sheds with the sort of things I’d imagine Mr McGregor would have,” says Judy Hutson, THE PIG’s interior designer. “Oil lamps, vintage bottles, old mugs, garden tools – and, of course, no shed would be complete without a few potted plants. And the massage table is dressed with a big picnic rug.”

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BESPOKE MASSAGE We tailor this massage to make it truly unique and personal to you.

Using blended natural oils, the treatment can help relieve any aches and pains, and totally relax the body and mind.

unable to take two bookings of these treatments at the same time.

Our therapists have been professionally trained to offer safe and effective spa treatments for guests recovering from or undergoing cancer treatments. Just ask at reception to speak to one of the Potting Shed team if you would like to know more.

SHED MEETS SPA

MUM TO BE This massage treatment is tailored to suit the specific needs of a mum to be, and provides a peaceful and uplifting experience that also helps to relieve fatigue and aches. Suitable for those in their second and third trimester of pregnancy.

FULL BODY SUGAR SCRUB This refreshing all-over exfoliation treatment awakens the skin and body using an uplifting mix of organic peppermint leaf, seaweed and sugar to invigorate, exfoliate and nourish. Afterwards, enjoy a shower and finish off with an all-over deeply nourishing body cream.

KATIE AND JONNY SPANJAR, THE HUSBAND-AND-WIFE FOUNDERS OF NORTHDOWN BREWERY

Beer beside the seaside

Photo: @joeandcharlotte

A family-run independent brewery in Margate that supports local creatives is one of our trusted suppliers “WHEN WE STARTED LOOKING for a site to finally start our own brewery, Kent was an obvious choice because of the appeal of coastal living,” says Katie Spanjar. She and her husband and business partner, Jonny, co-founded Northdown Brewery in the seaside town of Margate in 2018. The couple had been London pub landlords before that. “We had a boozer and lived above the bar,” she says. “But that feels a bit different after you have kids, and we wanted a change.”

In order to make their business idea and new seaside lifestyle possible, “Jonny began an apprenticeship at an east London brewery and spent six years learning how to make beer himself,” explains Katie, and they set about looking for a suitable site. Having searched in a few Kent seaside towns without any luck, the couple chanced upon an unassuming vacant building on a Margate industrial estate.

“In Margate, there was no working brewery at the time,” says Katie, which caught the couple’s interest. “But it’s actually got a very rich brewing history, which goes back centuries. One of the reasons we chose the name Northdown is as an homage

to a Northdown Brewery there had once been in Margate hundreds of years ago, which is referenced in The Diary of Samuel Pepys. There’s also a Northdown hop.”

Speaking of hops, Northdown Brewery currently makes 10 different beers, including an eponymous lager, a bitter (Bitter Seas) and hazy pale ales (Tidal Pool and Squidly Diddly). “We make uncomplicated, crowd-pleasing beer, and we take great pride in what we produce,” says Katie. “We’re also heavily involved in the local community and we employ local people.

I know that I’m contributing something.”

Collaborations with local graphic artists add a suitably unique craft-beer feel to the branding. “We work with Margate-area artists on the artwork for our cans and bottles, and we make a nod to the seaside location. It’s beautiful, fun, bright and colourful, so we’re chuffed with the branding. But I actually hate the phrases ‘craft beer’ or ‘craft brewery’,” she adds. “Because it’s a nonsense really – beer is beer. That said, there is a difference between cask ales, which are seen as more traditional, your pale ales and bitters, and the craft-beer

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“We make uncomplicated, crowd-pleasing beer” movement – which is the big IPAs that are in your face, with double, triple hops numbers. And we do all of those, so there’s something for everyone. We do everything from big IPAs to hazy pale ales, all the way through to Tidal Moon, which is our port-infused stout.”

Tidal Moon stout is also something that guests and visitors here at THE PIG-at Bridge Place regularly enjoy, as Northdown Brewery is one of our drinks suppliers. “We know that our Northdown Lager is also really popular at THE PIG, and so is Cali Ray, which is our Californiastyle IPA of west coast hops. Sam, the Group Bar Manager, has dealt with us since day one and is still there, which is incredible in this industry. It’s a charming place and a lovely relationship that we’ve got.”

For those PIG guests who are heading to Margate on a summer day trip to the beach, it’s now easier than ever to sit and sample some more of Northdown’s beers at the brewery itself. That’s because, in March 2024, the business added a new indoor taproom – before this, they only had some limited outdoor seating.

“It’s a game-changer for us,” says Katie. “It will allow people to come here all year round, and means we can seat 40 people. We’re going to have a roster of pop-up food vendors always here and will be showing all the big games like rugby and football. It’s going to be a great summer.”

As for their future ambitions, Katie says, “I’ve already done so many things because of having moved here that I would simply never have done if we had stayed in London, including joining a local netball group,” she laughs. “Ultimately, we just want to keep making beer and we’d really like to become a destination brewery for Margate and one of the places that people naturally think of to visit when they come here.”

Visit northdownbrewery.com or ask to try something from Northdown Brewery when you drink with us at THE PIG-at Bridge Place

For Margate day-trippers The iconic seaside resort town is just a 40-minute drive from THE PIG-at Bridge Place, so you can check it out on a summer’s day and be back with us in time for dinner. As well as Northdown Brewery, here are some addresses to check out.

~ Dreamland Margate Margate’s reinvigorated, knowingly kitsch theme park hosts big-name music acts, roller discos and more. dreamland.co.uk

~ Margate Main Sands The golden, sandy beach that you see on postcards is only a short walk from the Old Town or train station.

IF YOU ONLY HAVE ... ☞ 3 minutes

Can you spot the antique door behind the sofa in the Bar Lounge? It used to lead to the dancefloor, when Bridge Place was a legendary 1970s music venue.

☞ 30 minutes

If you fancy a bite to eat in the sun, our Garden Oven, in the Kitchen Garden, offers grazing plates, smoky flatbreads and ice cream.

☞ 3 hours

Treat yourself! Indulge in some pampering in one of our Potting Sheds, then enjoy that postspa-treatment glow as you relax with an evening cocktail or mocktail.

~ Turner Contemporary This major art gallery gave Margate a new lease of life when it opened in 2011, on the site where the painter JMW Turner once stayed. turnercontemporary.org

~ Shell Grotto A mysterious cave decorated with 4.6 million shells that was discovered by chance in 1835. shellgrotto.co.uk

GET EXPLORING...

From the loveliest bike rides to the best local pubs, we love to share our local intel. See our curated list online and ask at reception for our map of local walks.

~ Crab Museum A quirky museum celebrating our crustacean friends, all with a dash of British humour. crabmuseum.org

QR codes you’ll want to scan Go straight to Things to Do on our website

NORTHDOWN’S HAZY IPA, IN A GL ASS FEATURING THE WORK OF MARGATE ARTIST, MICHAEL GOODSON

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Download two of our favourite walking routes

F RI E NDS OF T H E PIG

PENTIRE’S FOUNDER, ALISTAIR “FROSTY” FROST, ABOVE. THE BRAND’S NON-ALCOHOLIC SPIRITS ARE MADE WITH BOTANICALS NATIVE TO THE CORNISH COAST

Naturally inspired Non-alcoholic Cornish spirits brand Pentire has become a global phenomenon – including at our PIGs, where we knew the founder when it all began

ALISTAIR “FROSTY” FROST was a regular at THE PIG-at Harlyn Bay long before he became a supplier, and could often be found in The Lobster Shed, tucking into a lobster thermidor and chips. That’s still very much the case – only when you’re the head of a fast-growing brand, you find less time to frequent your local haunts.

Named after the rugged headland a few miles up the coast from Harlyn Bay, Pentire’s alcohol-free spirits are made by distilling native coastal botanicals. In 2019, Frosty returned to Cornwall after a few years in London working in the drinks industry, and moved to Port Isaac in search of a different way of life – one that “encompassed the outdoors, wellness and a great foodie scene”. He had a longstanding ambition to create his own healthy drinks brand, and soon discovered that the clifftops around his local surf spot, Pentire Point, were home to over 1,000 types of sea herb, including ice lettuce, rock samphire, sea purslane and sea fennel. With the help of a few friends – one a mixologist, another a botanist – he started sourcing herbs and distilling them in his garage using a rudimentary homemade still.

It wasn’t long before they came up with the recipe for Pentire Adrift, the company’s flagship, original product – a blend of rock samphire, sage and lemon citrus with a dash of Cornish sea salt – which Gordon Ramsay has described as “the most delicious non-alcoholic drink”. The company has grown at an average of more than 100 per cent, year-on-year, and as well as being offered at our PIGs, who were early supporters, Pentire is now sold in 15 countries. The New York Times also named Pentire Adrift among the best non-alcoholic spirits for three years running.

Pentire is perfectly in tune with the zeitgeist for boozing less, but so are dozens of other fledgling brands. Why has it been able to grow so quickly? Frosty puts its success down to “being around good people”. The whole team is very much drinks-focused, but many also have a passion for sport or the outdoors. “Our team is made up of GB athletes, surfers, climbers and marathon runners,” he says. “As a company, we’re all passionate about prioritising health, wellness and time outdoors – go for a surf, go to the gym, do it twice a day if you like. Because when your body is feeling good, your mind feels good, too, and that’s when you achieve incredible things.”

Of course, the drinks aren’t bad either.

Other spirits in the range include Pentire Seaward, a zesty number made from pink grapefruit, sea rosemary, woodruff, sea buckthorn and wild seaweed that goes perfectly over ice with tonic. “With Pentire, we distil whole, fresh botanicals, which produces greater flavour and purity,” explains Frosty, who’s long since moved operations out of his garage. “I think that’s the appeal for chefs and bartenders. They tend to lean towards fresh, seasonal ingredients that are grown or farmed naturally.” The fact that Pentire has achieved certified B Corp status for high standards in sustainability backs him up on this point.

There’s never been an “anti-alcohol” mission behind Pentire.

“Eighty per cent of our customers do drink alcohol,” says Frosty. “We just want to offer an alternative. Pentire can elevate a food experience for someone who is looking for something more healthy to drink.”

Try Pentire drinks, including Pentire Adrift, when you stay at any of our PIGs

“We distil whole, fresh botanicals, which produces greater flavour and purity”

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Muddy Farmer • 40ml Sapling x THE PIG Coffee Vodka • 10ml coffee liqueur • 10ml rye whiskey • 2 dashes orange bitters

Dark chocolate and hazelnut slice We always want you to have the most delicious, relaxing time with us – so we hope that, even after a long lunch feasting with friends or tucking into a delicious supper for two, our dessert menu calls you to take a peek. This summery pud was created by our Group Pastry Chef, Kelvin … because, for us, chocolate is always the perfect end to a meal.

• 2 dashes chocolate bitters • 12.5ml spiced orange syrup, and dehydrated orange slices to garnish (see below)

For the spiced orange syrup (makes 500ml)

Serves 4 For the slice

For the stock syrup

• 150g 70% dark chocolate

• 100ml cold water

• 50g caster sugar

• Peel of 2 oranges

• 150g ground hazelnuts

• Spices such as: 2 cinnamon sticks, 6 cloves, 2 anise, 8 juniper

• 4 medium eggs, separated

For the garnish

• 150g butter, melted

• A handful of blackberries

berries, pinch of nutmeg • 250g sugar

• 150g caster sugar

(about five per person) • A handful of hazelnuts

Put the orange peel in a saucepan and cover with 250ml water and the sugar before bringing to the boil. Add spices, remove from heat.

• A dollop of crème fraîche or soft, whipped cream

For the dehydrated orange slices • 1 orange

Heat the oven to 110°C, 90°C fan (230°F). Thinly slice 1 orange and arrange the slices on a baking tray. Bake for 2 hours.

For the cocktail Stir all the ingredients (except the orange slices) in a cocktail shaker. In your chosen drinking glass (a whisky tumbler works well), add a large ice cube, or enough ice to fill the glass. Strain the mixture into the glass, using a fine strainer such as a hawthorn cocktail strainer. Finally, add a slice of dehydrated orange.

Heat the oven to 160°C, 140°C fan, (320°F), Gas Mark 3. Blitz the dark chocolate in a food processor until fine, then add to a bowl with the ground hazelnuts. Add the egg yolks and melted butter to the mixture, and stir to combine.

In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites to soft peaks, using a hand or electric whisk, then slowly add the sugar, whisking all the time to incorporate. Carefully fold the chocolate mixture into the egg whites until fully mixed, and pour into a 20cm (8 inch) lined cake tin. Bake for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the stock syrup. Gently heat the sugar and water in a small pan, and simmer until the sugar has completely dissolved. Place the blackberries in a heatproof dish and pour the syrup over them. Allow to cool at room temperature.

What to drink with our dark chocolate and hazelnut slice…

Our PIG Wine Team recommends this wine as the perfect match for this delicious pud.

Recioto della Valpolicella Classico DOCG 2021 When pairing wine with desserts, one simple rule to follow is that the wine should be sweeter than the dessert, otherwise the wine will lose its character on the palate. Chocolate goes with very few wines, but the blackberries make this Recioto della Valpolicella Classico

by Pier Paolo Antolini in Veneto, Italy, the obvious contender. This wine is the sweet cousin of the famous Amarone della Valpolicella, and has aromas of blackberry, morello cherry, baking spices and bitter dark chocolate.

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After the chocolate slice has been cooking for 20 minutes, remove it from the oven and allow to cool at room temperature.

While everything is cooling, place the hazelnuts on a roasting tray and bake at 180°C, 160°C fan, (360°F), Gas Mark 4 for five minutes.

Allow the nuts to cool before gently breaking with the base of a small pot or rolling pin.

To serve, gently remove the slice from the cake tin, divide into four portions and plate up. Add the blackberries, with a little of the syrup, the toasted hazelnuts and a dollop of crème fraîche or soft whipped cream to finish.

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E THO S

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PEOPLE ARE THE FUTURE OF

CA RI NG A ND CONSI DE R E D HOSP I TA L I T Y AT HEART, THE PIGs are restaurants with rooms where everything starts with the Kitchen Garden. Our gardeners and chefs work hand in hand to create menus brimful of the freshest seasonal flavours. What we can’t grow ourselves, we source from our local heroes – the best farmers, fishermen and foragers we know, who are the foundation of our 25 mile menu. We are obsessive recyclers and restorers: from vintage fabrics and china to DIY on-site smokeries and upcycled chicken sheds, we love anything homemade and ultra-local. Each of our eight PIGs is totally different – we always go with the grain of the place, taking our lead from the spirit of the building to create somewhere that feels lived-in and well loved. The bedrooms are pretty comfy, too!

Rooted in some of the most stunning parts of the English countryside, the places that we are lucky enough to call home are pretty special – with endless things to do and see, tight-knit communities and loads of talent all around. It’s important to us to play a positive role, whether it’s providing employment, sourcing local ingredients, forging links with nearby schools and charities or simply being the go-to place for our neighbours to celebrate their special moments. It’s a privilege to work so collaboratively with all of these local heroes that we count as friends and to play our part in these strong, supportive local communities.

Our PIG people are what really make us tick. We believe that our team of almost 1,000 talented professionals working across our hotels – chefs, kitchen gardeners, waiters, sommeliers, bar teams, housekeepers and everyone behind the scenes – is helping to shape the future of caring and considered hospitality. From the newest apprentice to the most experienced manager, they are what make the PIGs a happy place to be and the reason our guests enjoy their time with us. We couldn’t be more proud of them – and you couldn’t be more welcome here!

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Here at THE PIGs, we work with our friends at Clean the World to recycle our used soap bars from our bedrooms and turn them into new bars of soap.

These recycled bars are donated to global NGOs and distributed to communities in need. We have collected over 535kg of soap so far, which equates to 10,794 bars of recycled soap being created and donated!

Our dedication to “supporting local” is central to the way we do things at THE PIGs, so we asked Clean the World if we could send some soap bars back to our local communities. We were pleased to be able to deliver two big boxes of soap to FoodCycle and Genesis Trust – two charities THE PIG-near Bath has been supporting through volunteering efforts. This spring, we also sent a box down to Harbour Housing near THE PIG-at Harlyn Bay. These three brilliant organisations are doing amazing things, supporting local people facing challenging times. So, if you don’t fancy taking your soap bar home with you, rest assured that it is not going to waste!

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Alex Lewis The adventurer and campaigner/fundraiser taking on the PIG 2 PIG challenge In 2013, Alex Lewis contracted strep A and septicaemia, which led to him having all four limbs amputated. Since then, he has dedicated his life to the advancement of assistive and medical technology, raising funds through a series of extraordinary escapades. His latest adventure, the PIG 2 PIG challenge, will see him row 350 miles from Falmouth Harbour to THE PIG-at Bridge Place before hand-cycling back to THE PIG-at Harlyn Bay. THERE’S NO RECORD of a quadruple amputee doing offshore rowing. So for the PIG 2 PIG challenge, we’ve had to develop new prosthetics, attachments and mechanisms. It’s pretty daunting. But in the UK, we have access to the best engineers, technicians and universities, many of whom are on standby in case things break.

rst i f e h et b o t ow r g n o i t p ee ho “I’m ple amput tlantic” A ru quad the North s acros

Discover more about how soap can be recycled at cleantheworld.org

ROBIN HUTSON, THE PIGS’ FOUNDER, worked with my wife, Lucy (and said she was one of the best pastry chefs he’s ever known) at Hotel du Vin, and has always been supportive. He was always asking her, “How do we keep your hotel [The Greyhound on the Test] open? And how do we make sure you’ve got enough time to spend with Alex?”

THE PIG 2 PIG CHALLENGE is a way to fundraise. The money will go to Hospitality Action and the Murray Parish Trust, a children’s health charity. It’s also an opportunity to champion my own foundation, FLOAT (For the Love of Assistive Technology).

I’M NOT IN IT FOR MEDALS. I’m in it for the endeavour and the education around it. By working collaboratively to design new equipment, you can achieve some really cool stuff. I’m hoping to row from Newfoundland to Lymington in 2026, becoming the first quadruple amputee ever to row across the North Atlantic.

THIS CHALLENGE IS made possible by the Wild Wheelchairs Project, an initiative that business leader David Collinson and I created to develop vehicles for wheelchair users that can traverse mountain, desert, sea, snow, ice and air. We’ve ticked off mountain and desert, so it was always going to be sea next. We’ve been working with Rannoch Adventure to create an ocean-rowing boat with the necessary adaptations.

IF I CAN COMPLETE this PIG 2 PIG challenge, I’ll be delighted. Physically my body’s going to be wrecked by the end of it, but I’m fine with that, especially if we get people talking about assistive technology.

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HALL OF FAM

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WINSTON CHURCHILL’S PIGS

Spotter’s guide: collared doves These charming birds (actually a type of pigeon) have pinkish-grey feathers with dark grey wingtips and the striking neck collar that gives them their name. They coo at length, with a distinctive “hoo-hoooo-hoo”. Collared doves can now be found throughout the UK, but have only been present here since the 1950s. As long as the weather is mild, they can breed all year round. Their numbers are decreasing in the UK – bird experts believe this could be due in part to competing with wood pigeons for the same food and habitats.

HOLD THE BACK PAGE

BEFORE IT WAS A PIG...

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To help support birdlife, we have installed 149 nesting boxes across our PIGs.

A Grade I listed Elizabethan manor house set in 3,500 acres in the Otter Valley is THE PIG-at Combe today.

The first recorded owner of a property on this site, Bishop Odo, was the half-brother of a famous figure, who later imprisoned him. Whose brother was he?

A) William the Conqueror B) Queen Elizabeth I C) Henry VIII D) King George VI

[Answer on page 3]

As a matter of fact We serve delicious, sustainably caught, roasted lobster at our Harlyn Bay outdoor dining spot, The Lobster Shed. Which of these amazing claims about lobsters is not true? a) If a lobster loses a claw, it can grow back b) Lobsters change colour when happy c) Lobsters are cannibals [Answer on page 3]

PIG HACKS NO. 4 Milk urn umbrella stand Take a leaf out of our book and try repurposing an old milk urn (often available at garden centres or online) as an instantly stylish umbrella stand.

As well as having many beloved pet cats and dogs, Winston Churchill kept a variety of livestock at Chartwell, his country estate in Kent, including Middle White pigs. It seems he thought very highly of them, because in 1945 he reportedly said, “I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.”

Churchill certainly did like pigs, but there was likely also a double meaning to his words, as it is thought they were said in response to the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin having used the word “pig” as an insult.

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THE PIG IN NUMBERS...

seedlings grown in our New Forest nursery in 2023, to supply our Kitchen Gardens.

535 ... find out more here

1,037

kg of used in-room soap bars collected across THE PIGs in 2023. Every kg has been recycled into new soap bars by our friends at Clean the World.

hours of volunteering for local charities by our PIG teams in 2023.

Designed and edited by Uncommonly, 30 - 32 Tabard Street, London SE1 4JU (uncommonly.co.uk). Printed in East Sussex by Pureprint, a CarbonNeutral ® Company. The paper is carbon balanced with the World Land Trust, an international conservation charity. With special thanks to all of our partners and those in THE PIG team that have contributed to this issue.

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