PIG PUB A YEAR OF OUR
In summer 2025, we celebrated the first birthday of The Village Pub – our very first PIG pub, just across the road from THE PIG-in the Cotswolds, in the idyllic village of Barnsley. Since it opened its doors on 14 June 2024, our charming English country inn has become a beloved part of the community – a friendly hub for PIG guests, as well as our fantastic neighbours and regulars, to enjoy proper British pub food, local ales and perfectly poured Guinness. And enjoy them we did! In our first year, we popped almost 900 bottles of fizz and dished up more than 8,700 bar snacks. (Our crispy potatoes were a top favourite – you’ll have to try them to see why.) We pulled over 6,730 pints of our much-loved LOL Lager, from our friends at Stroud Brewery, and dished up more than 4,680 of our classic homemade pies. A very big cheers from us to you, for making our first birthday one to remember. Swing by and see us this season – we’ll have the fires roaring, a table ready and a cold one waiting for you.
Hunker down with us
There’s no better time of year to bring the gang together again – and at THE PIG, we truly love nothing more than welcoming everyone round to our house on a cosy evening. So, we’re fully embracing the season of hosting and putting on a fantastic line-up of unmissable PIG events for you and your favourite people this autumn and winter. From foodie workshops to wild foraging and wine courses to rustic supper clubs with fantastic speakers, find out more and book your space at thepighotel.com/events. And if you’re looking to throw your own bash, we have plenty of seriously special PIG spaces for private hire. To discover where you could be celebrating, visit our Gather & Celebrate page at thepighotel.com.
FORAGER’S PICKS...
All of our kitchens love to make the most of wild seasonal produce. Over the years, we’ve built relationships with a network of brilliant foragers, who bring us the best goodies hiding on our doorstep. These picks are from Peter, our master forager at THE PIG in the New Forest
SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER
Sloe berries For sloe gin, jams and jellies. Rosehips Rich in vitamin C and traditionally used to make rosehip syrup.
Beefsteak fungus Beautiful, bright red edible mushrooms.
Crab apples Small, tart apples perfect for jellies, jams and butters.
Ceps Among the most highly regarded wild mushrooms.
Hen of the woods Large wild mushrooms that appear at the base of oak trees.
Winter chanterelles Frost-resistant wild mushrooms.
Hedgehog fungi Have “spines”, hence the common name. Great in sauces.
Pennywort A crunchy and succulent wild green leaf.
Horseradish root Can be used in the same way as cultivated horseradish.
Hairy bittercress Not hairy or bitter! Tastes a little like watercress.
JANUARY
– MARCH
Three-cornered garlic Its long, thin leaves have a garlic/onion flavour. Chickweed A great salad green.
Douglas fir Use needles in syrups and as a flavouring.
Alexanders Taste like celery and parsley.
Crow garlic Looks like a chive, but has more of a garlic flavour.
Wild chervil Young leaves that can be used like parsley or as a garnish.
Wild garlic Perfect for pesto. Use the leaves, flowers and seeds – not the bulb. Stinging nettles Ideal for soup.
Gorse The small yellow flowers have a coconut-like flavour and can be used for syrups, infusions and tea.
ALL YOUR
RIGHT NOW, WE’RE HARVESTING
Winter squash, kale, parsnips, celeriac, Jerusalem artichokes, Chinese artichokes, brussels sprouts, sprouting broccoli
AND WE’RE PLANTING…
Garlic, onions, broad beans, winter salads, cabbages, leeks, tomatoes, aubergines
Notes from the Kitchen Garden
Ollie, our Kitchen Garden supremo, shares a seasonal update from the veg beds
As the warmer months begin handing over the reins to autumn and winter, we sit down with the chefs and review all the produce we’ve planted and harvested over the past few months – and start planning for the season ahead. Each Head Kitchen Gardener creates a week-by-week plan of the calendar year, so we can plot with the kitchen teams what produce we want more of and which new varieties we would like to try, to introduce new ingredients to our menus.
In early autumn, we start getting garlic and onions in the ground so they will be ready to harvest next June and July, and we start to sow broad beans to plant out in November. One of my absolute favourite crops, winter squash, can be harvested from mid-autumn – the trick is to let it cure for a few months so the flavour is really enhanced to its full potential. Squash is so versatile, and our chefs love working it into soups, stews, gratins and tarts, mixing it with grains and salads, or even serving it on its own as a simple side dish.
During November and December, we will start to harvest more of our root crops, such as celeriac, parsnips, Jerusalem artichokes and Chinese artichokes, for our menus. We also plant salads in our polytunnels, as the heating, lighting and protective covers help to nurture these tender crops over the colder months. Our winter salads, leeks and brassicas can be harvested daily throughout the winter until the very last of them finish in April.
Towards the end of January and February, we sow thousands of tomato, pepper and aubergine plants – so there’s always plenty to do to keep us busy and excited for what’s to come in spring.
Come rain or shine, our teams will be out every day in the Kitchen Gardens to pick the freshest produce for our menus – even on Christmas Day! We’re always more than happy to show you what’s new and what’s in season, so do pop down to say hello and see what we’re up to.
Enjoy a free guided tour of our Kitchen Gardens across THE PIGs (excluding THE PIG-in the wall and The Village Pub), every day at 11am. Our kitchen gardeners are always happy to answer any questions you have, and
we can even lend you a pair of wellies. Simply speak to our friendly reception team and come and join us for a morning tour. thepighotel.com/events/kitchen-garden-tours-atthe-pigs
[Back page answers: B, THE PIG-in the South Downs; B]
☞ SET THE BAR
Take a peek inside your PIG bedroom larder and you’ll find three brand-new bottled cocktails that have been expertly muddled and mixed to help you to sit back and unwind during your stay. Choose from a Negroni, an Old Fashioned and a Strawberry Cosmopolitan, and simply pour into a rocks glass (over ice, if you like it extra cold). None of the fuss; all of the frivolity. We’ll drink to that.
☞ EXTRA HELPINGS
In summer 2025, our PIG people took to the saddle for the Summer Cycle Challenge, organised by our charity partner Hospitality Action, which supports people who work in the hospitality industries with help and advice during any tough times in life. Our PIG team pedalled over 103 miles together, and were proud to raise £1,115. This has been topped up further by our generous guests, with voluntary £1 donations on food bills across THE PIGs throughout July and August, helping to raise more vital funds for a cause very close to our hearts.
☞ ON THE NICE LIST
Stuck for a pressie idea? We’re here to remind you that we offer gift vouchers, which your loved ones can put towards their favourite way to unwind at their preferred PIG. Leave it up to them to decide how they’d like to redeem it or give a dedicated voucher for a Potting Shed treatment, three-course lunch or supper, or a sleepover. Visit gifts.thepighotel.com
AND
Our three PIG Cut wines are made especially for us – the result ofa winning collaboration witha small-scale winemaker in Tuscany
A cut above
“WE DESIGNED THESE WINES to pair beautifully with THE PIGs’ typical menu styles,” says Gaddo Castelli, of winemakers Tenuta Fertuna. “From the garden-led plates to meat dishes with richer sauces, we wanted the wines to be flexible across different dining occasions, and to create wines that can be enjoyed alone or with food.”
Gaddo is referring to THE PIG Cut range of three high-quality house wines: a red, a white and a rosé. Modest in number, these wines pack a punch when it comes to complex flavour. They are created in Italy by Gaddo and his team at the Tenuta Fertuna winery in Tuscany, specifically for our PIG guests.
“With THE PIG group, you’re never going to get a house wine that’s just mass-produced or impersonal, because we all know that PIG guests simply won’t want that,” says Alan Montague-Dennis of wine importer Mentzendorff, which helps to bring THE PIG Cut wines to your glass. “They have come for a memorable experience, in a hotel that has a Kitchen Garden and a real sense of place. Truly good wine can contribute to that feeling that you had a wonderful stay somewhere.”
This is where Tenuta Fertuna comes in. The independent family business was established in the 1990s and operates at a small scale for trusted clients. Its vineyard is set in the Maremma, a secluded region in the south of Tuscany.
as the Italian wine industry’s equivalent of B Corp. This speaks to a brand’s sustainability credentials and its performance in terms of environmental, social and ethical responsibility.
A shared approach to having a minimal impact on the environment and doing business in a socially responsible way is part of what drew our PIG team to develop wines with Tenuta Fertuna, and vice versa. “We have installed three reservoirs, so we’re recycling our own water and can irrigate when necessary,” says Gaddo of the winemaker’s operations. “We are careful in how we source our glass, we recycle our bottles and we use recycled hopsack paper on our labels, which required us to develop a special glue.”
“The sea breezes from the Mediterranean cool the vineyards”
“The Maremma is a relatively new area of Tuscany in terms of being a focal point for wine, especially the sangiovese grape,” says Alan. “It’s in close proximity to the Mediterranean, which is important because of global climate change. Throughout Tuscany, we’re experiencing extremes of climate now, and during the summer, temperatures can be well into the 40s. The sea breezes from the Mediterranean can balance that by cooling the vineyards.”
The winemakers at Tenuta Fertuna are well aware of the need to adapt to global climate change, but also not to overly contribute to it. The winery holds Equalitas status, which can be loosely understood
While climate change is a worry, and 2020 may not have been a good year for most of us, “spring 2020 brought our best weather in decades”, says Gaddo. This was very much to the advantage of THE PIG Cut Red 2020 vintage, which was aged for four months in oak and instantly won over many of our guests (not to mention team members) when THE PIG Cut wines launched. The 2020 white, meanwhile, is crisp and vibrant, better suited to lighter dishes. Its blend of sangiovese and vermentino grapes yields a delicate, floral wine, which our sommeliers describe as having “soft notes of white fruits and elderflower”.
The results of our PIG partnership with Tenuta Fertuna are three house wines we can be truly proud of, which even the casual wine-drinker can tell at a sip are a cut above the competition. Plus, we have to pop over once in a while to make sure they’re doing it right! “Every year, we take some of our PIG team out to the vineyard so they can see what’s going on,” says Alan. “The winemakers have such a great attitude, and nothing is too much trouble for them. Creating THE PIG Cut wines is a wonderful collaboration.” Try THE PIG Cut wines across our restaurants, at our bars and from your PIG bedroom larder, and buy online at gifts.thepighotel.com
“At THE PIGs, we were looking for flexibility to collaborate on treatments”
A shared appreciation of effective natural ingredients for spa treatments unites these two wellness experts
OUR WELLNESS DIRECTOR, Harpreet Ghatora, was excited to bring natural and ethically sourced spa-product brand Tribe517 to our PIG treatment spaces. Claire Caddick founded the brand in her family’s barn in South Wales in 2016 (with a name paying tribute to her late best friend, a police officer whose collar number was 517). In the decade since, Claire’s effective, natural and frankly amazing-smelling products have won Tribe517 many loyal fans – including us.
HARPREET GHATORA When I heard people talking about Tribe517, and how you made really effective products from natural, ethically sourced botanical ingredients, I knew I wanted to check out your brand. That was when we at THE PIG asked to try some samples and to meet up. I loved coming to see you in your barn in Wales. I remember the first thing I said was that we were looking for the flexibility to collaborate and have products that could fit with what we want our treatments to do…
CLAIRE CADDICK We were absolutely on the same page from the beginning with that. We love to collaborate. So many of the big global spa brands want to train therapists to roll out exactly the same treatments, a “one size fits all” approach, because they operate at such a huge scale. We worked out what suited
THE PIGs’ therapists and teams, and the needs of PIG guests. That’s how I prefer to work, as part of a holistic approach, but it’s actually quite rare.
HG It was a real “ahhh!” moment for me that we shared that approach. When I developed our Classic Sculpt Prescriptive Facial, for instance, I found that using the Tribe517 Balm helped the Chinese gua sha facial tools that sculpt the face to slide perfectly smoothly across the skin. It’s such a bespoke facial that’s different for everybody.
CC Our “hero” Tribe517 Balm was our first product when we started the business about ten years ago, and it is still a real favourite, even though we now have 32 products in our range. We don’t use any allergens or synthetic ingredients, and with natural ingredients, we have the luxury of being able to mix them and try new combinations, like a chemistry set. Some combinations simply smell better together, for example. If you use a lot of unnatural ingredients, you can’t play with them in the same way.
HG So many brands will put what seems like 10 million ingredients into a spa product. Some people are almost predisposed to think that a product with more ingredients is going to be better than one with just a few, but, if anything, I find it’s the opposite. What you do ticks so many boxes for me – such as using honey
from your own hives, for example, the same way that we at THE PIGs always look to local ingredients.
CC Yes, we’ve got a 120,000-strong colony of bees here in Wales for our Wild Honey Butter and our Wild Honey Mask, which is 90 per cent pure honey. We add to that narcissus (or daffodil) oil, tuberose and hyacinth. When you open that jar – oh, my goodness! – it smells like a country garden. I know it’s been popular with PIG guests, which is great. And with ingredients that aren’t grown here, I will usually know who the farmer is and where the ingredients come from. It’s very much “field to face”.
HG It’s never been the PIG way to do any kind of hard sell. But what I notice is that a lot of the people who come for a treatment find the products very effective, and they genuinely want to know what they are.
CC That’s fantastic to hear. Like you and the teams at THE PIGs, I was banging the drum for natural ingredients when it didn’t seem as fashionable as it does now. At the end of the day, whatever our environmental credentials, people will only feel loyal to a product or a treatment if it genuinely delivers results for them.
Try Tribe517 products when you book a 60- or 90-minute treatment at any of our PIGs
“When you open that jar – oh, my goodness! – it smells like a country garden”
CLAIRE
INFO & GOINGS ON
~ ESSENTIAL INFO & HOTEL GUIDE
~ WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE
~ SOUTHAMPTON CALLING: THINGS TO SEE AND DO
~ THE INSIDE STORY ON OUR FAVOURITE HAMPSHIRE HIDEOUTS
Welcome to
THE PIG - IN THE
WE NEVER REALLY INTENDED TO HAVE a city hotel, but when we came across our historic townhouse, a truly unique Grade II listed private residence tucked into Southampton’s ancient walls, we just fell for it.
Our hotel was originally built as a private residence around 1820 and owned by the Countess Elizabeth Craven, an author and playwright, although she never actually lived here. In the late 1880s, it was a brewery, then a cosy pub, the Royal Standard. To create THE PIG-in the wall, we also purchased the adjacent house, adding more bedrooms.
The Western Esplanade, on which we are nestled, once fronted right onto the water. To the right of our hotel (as you face it), you’ll find the city’s West Gate, built in 1338. It’s through this archway that Henry V and his troops marched on their way to Agincourt in 1415. Along the city walls, you’ll find all manner of plaques and signs leading you on a historic trail through Southampton. From here, it’s effortlessly easy to dip into the city’s storied past at venues such as the Tudor House & Garden, the Medieval Merchant’s House and the ruins of Holyrood Church.
THE PIG-in the wall is yours to enjoy as a characterful base for making the most of the city and its surroundings. Should you fancy taking to the water, we’re also just a short ferry ride from the Isle of Wight.
We do things a little differently to the rest of the PIGS...
We are all about relaxed deli dining here at THE PIG-in the wall, rather than the full PIG restaurant experience. Being tucked away in the city of Southampton, we don’t have a Kitchen Garden on site, but we are still totally committed to homegrown and local produce!
Daily deliveries from the Kitchen Garden at THE PIG in the New Forest – which is only 20 minutes’ drive away – and our local suppliers from Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight mean that our menus change just as regularly.
Our menu is a pig’n’mix selection of freshly prepared deli-counter salads, hearty larger plates such as the pie of the day, quiche, snack boards, Piggy Bits and sweet treats.
Sausage rolls
Makes 2
• 2 shallots, finely diced
• 2 garlic gloves, finely chopped
• rapeseed oil
• a good pinch of flat-leaf parsley, chopped
☞ VISIT OUR NEIGHBOURING PIG
If you’ve enjoyed lots of the fresh, seasonal produce in our Deli-bar dishes, the chances are some of it was grown in the Kitchen Garden at THE PIG in the New Forest, just 20 minutes down the road from us. Our very first PIG is situated in the most bucolic of settings – a lovely old stone house in the leafy countryside outside Brockenhurst, alongside its abundant walled Kitchen Garden. If you have time, head over there for lunch, dinner or just a drink in the bar – followed by a mooch around the veg beds!
Useful info for your stay
HAVEAQUESTION?
Just call reception by dialling 0.
DIALLING OUT
To call an outside line, please dial 9, wait for the change in tone, then dial the area code and number required.
COMPLIMENTARY WI-FI
To activate, just select “THE PIG Public” on your wi-fi settings and away you go!
BREAKFAST,LUNCHANDDINNER
All served from the Deli-bar. To find out service times, please call reception by dialling 0.
TREATMENTS
If you fancy a relaxing massage or facial, then pop to THE PIG in the New Forest for a Potting Shed treatment. Call reception by dialling 0 to find out more.
CHECK OUT
Check out is at 11am.
• 2 tablespoons thyme or savory, chopped
• 1 tablespoon chives, chopped
• ½ teaspoon salt
• a good pinch of pepper
• 800g sausagemeat
• 2 x 320g packs ready-rolled puff pastry
• 2 egg yolks, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed
Over the years, we’ve found that baking two larger rolls and cutting them down into smaller sections after cooking is the best method, as you don’t get any obvious shrinkage of the meat in your roll.
In a pan, sweat down the shallots and garlic with a little oil. Add the herbs, salt and pepper, then cook for a few more minutes on a low heat. Chill the shallot mixture, then add to the sausagemeat and mix well.
Heat the oven to 200C, or 180C fan (400F; Gas Mark 6) and line a lipped baking tray with baking parchment.
On a lightly floured work surface, lay out the sheets of pastry. Brush egg wash all over the pastry, shape the meat into two long sausages and place one onto each sheet, 5cm in from the rim and 2.5cm longer than the pastry to allow for shrinkage.
Gently fold the pastry over the sausagemeat to form two rolls, then press the edges together using the back of a fork.
Brush the surface of the pastry with egg wash again, sprinkle over the fennel seeds and place on the tray. Bake for about 30 minutes, turning the rolls over halfway through cooking. Before serving, cut each roll into 6-8 pieces – perfect for a filling lunch.
Live like a local
From bright lights to country sights, our PIG-in the wall team shares some favourite Hampshire hideouts
EXPLORE WINCHESTER
Less than 20 minutes by train from Southampton Central, this lively, ancient city is just a short hop from THE PIG-in the wall. Winchester is packed with historic charm, award-winning pubs and incredible architecture – and is a real foodie haven. Here are the haunts, in and around the city, that we love to visit before heading back home to the peace and quiet of our piggy nook.
Visit the Cathedral
The magnificent medieval cathedral is nestled in the heart of the city – it’s more than 1,000 years old and is the resting place of the beloved author Jane Austen. There’s always something new to see throughout the year, which makes every trip a little different and all the more special. From changing exhibitions to daily tours of the outdoor tower, it’s a must-visit for THE PIG team, time and time again.
Enjoy a glass of local fizz
Moments from the Cathedral is the perfect place to watch the world go by – General Store, a firm favourite of THE PIG team. It is indeed a store, but it doubles as a bakery, coffee shop and wine bar. There’s often live music in the evenings and it’s a great place to while away the hours. Swing by for a crisp glass of English fizz from Black Chalk, a Hampshire vineyard less than 25 miles from THE PIG-in the wall.
Walk the South Downs Way
Many visitors don’t realise that from Winchester, you can easily reach the South Downs Way. In fact, the city is the starting point for the 100-mile-long walking route within the South Downs National Park. Taking in the chalk escarpments and ridges of the South Downs, it offers some spectacular views. Whether you want to tackle the 11-mile hike from the city to Beacon Hill National Nature Reserve or opt for the gentler four-and-a-half-mile trip from Beacon Hill to Old Winchester Hill, the trail is a great way to maximise your time here.
Stop for a sarnie
Need somewhere to refuel? An absolute go-to for THE PIG team is Two Hands on Southgate Street, just off the city’s high street). As the name suggests, you need two hands to tackle its really, really good sandwiches. Make the trip and thank us later.
Enjoy the Great Hall
Immerse yourself in history and step inside Winchester’s Great Hall, built by William the Conqueror. Marvel at the soaring arches, see the iconic Round Table, linked to King Arthur, for yourself and walk through the formidable Westgate.
HANG CLOSER TO HOME
Whether you’re travelling by foot, bike or car, there is a wealth of beautiful places to visit on our doorstep.
Enjoy Beaulieu River
A visit to our New Forest waterway is a must when you come to stay with us. The source of the river is near Lyndhurst, in the centre of the New Forest, less than a 30-minute drive away. It’s a cracking place for birdwatching and you’ll often find wild animals walking through the water, too: we’re talking donkeys, horses, cows and the occasional pig.
Take a walk
There are many great walking trails to explore in the New Forest – and we’ve saved a few of our favourite loops to create the free walking maps that you can pick up from reception at THE PIG in the New Forest or download on your phone ahead of your visit. From a brisk hour in Brockenhurst to an all-afternoon walk to Beaulieu and back, we’ve got a range of trails to choose from. Take a peek at our three-and-a-half-hour circular walk to Hatchet Pond, for a taste of where you could be stretching your legs.
Hire a bike
Fancy going for a cycle through the forest?
We have a great relationship with local legend Cyclexperience, which offers a wide range of bikes to hire – perfect for exploring with the family or your outdoorsy pals. The team is based just by Brockenhurst station, but if you don’t fancy the trip to the shop, you can still hire a set of wheels and they will deliver your bike direct to our door at THE PIG in the New Forest.
Hit the beach
Calshot Beach is just a 25-minute drive from THE PIG-in the wall, so you can have a dip in the sea, watch the boats sail by and be back in the city, all in one afternoon. If you’re up for making a day of it, Milford-on-Sea is another scenic Hampshire gem – the village’s pebble beach has spectacular views of The Needles and the Isle of Wight, as well as Hurst Castle. From here, you can also reach the Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes Nature Reserve, a protected wildlife haven that is particularly brilliant for spotting sea birds and waders.
There are heaps more places to discover nearby. Speak to our friendly team to find out more of our favourites
IF YOU ONLY HAVE ...
☞ 3 minutes
Visit the D-Day Wall, right next to our PIG, to see the original messages and signatures left by the departing American troops.
☞ 30 minutes
Take your pick from our stash of favourite board games and settle in by the fire with a hot chocolate or a glass (or two) of your favourite tipple.
☞ 3 hours
Drop in for a drink at Unity Brewing Co. The team behind this brewery and taproom, just around the corner from us, are our long-standing friends, and we’ve had their local beer on our menus since they opened.
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.
RATION.L’S FOUNDER, KAVITA BASI, AND A SELECTION OF THE BRAND’S VEGAN,
GENDER-NEUTRAL
FOOTWEAR
Training season
When
Kavita Basi applied her fashion-industry experience to start sustainable trainer brand Ration.L, she rewrote the rulebook
IN 2015, KAVITA BASI SURVIVED a life-threatening brain haemorrhage. Having done so, she felt compelled to finally pursue her business ambitions wholeheartedly. She wanted to put the professional skills she had gained from nearly 30 years in the fashion industry into action, but in pursuit of her own vision. “For decades, I had felt interested in the idea of creating more opportunities for sustainable fashion, including how factories in other parts of the world are run and how they affect the communities around them,” says Kavita, who is based just outside Manchester. “I was talking to people in the industry 20 years ago about the idea of making products from recycled plastic or organic cotton, and they would just look at me like I was mad and say, ‘But who are you going to sell this to?’”
After her recovery from the unexpected health crisis, which included having to learn to walk again, Kavita felt ready to be brave. “After being lucky enough to survive my subarachnoid brain haemorrhage, I had to start over, so I just thought, ‘Now is the time.’ I had a huge mental and physical shift, and this feeling that I really wanted to put my own stamp on things. I left a big, well-paid corporate job and said to my husband, ‘I want to just do something on my own.’”
the start and the couple’s daughter Jasmine now heads up marketing –to customers in the UK, Europe and America. Ration.L trainers are sold in physical stores, too, from London’s Oxford Street, where you can pick up a pair in John Lewis, to LA’s Melrose Avenue. You will also spot them on the feet of our teams across THE PIGs.
“Laces are organic cotton, with eyelets in recycled aluminium. We put a lot of thought into every detail”
Today, Ration.L, the chic sustainable trainer brand that Kavita founded in 2020 as part of her business ventures, is in high demand. (In 2022, the Telegraph named her as one of its 100 Female Entrepreneurs to Watch.) The shoes have an understated aesthetic and the brand has earned B Corp certification for its strong ethical and environmental credentials. Most sales are made online, directly from the brand’s small, independent team – Kavita’s husband, Deepak, has been involved from
“The kitchen and cleaning teams wear our R-Kind Vegan Astra Green Trainer [pictured top right],” says Kavita. “It’s made in non-toxic polyurethane fabric, which, unlike plastic, is kind to the environment, and we use vegetable dyes. Laces are organic cotton, with eyelets in recycled aluminium. We put a lot of thought into every detail.” Our front-of-house teams don’t miss out, either, sporting the brand’s first canvas trainer in a forgiving shade of navy. What do hospitality teams, who are on their feet more than most, demand from a trainer? “Comfort is obviously vital, but I’ve also had good feedback on the fact that the trainers are relatively splash-proof and easy to keep looking good. With THE PIGs, our environmental values really align. I am careful about who I partner with, and so are they.”
Beyond the green credentials, Kavita has taken a holistic approach to making sure the brand feels accessible. This includes the decisions to make the trainers gender-neutral and to include pull-on styles without laces. Compared to other trainers of similar look and feel, the pricing is also competitive, typically at about £70 a pair. “Ultimately, people want to look good and feel good,” says Kavita “We want to make a product that makes people’s feet happy.”
Look out for Ration.L trainers on the feet of our PIG team members, and at rationl.co.uk
Smokin’ Bloody Mary
Serves 1
• 50ml Sapling Vodka
30ml spice mix (recipe below –you can vary this depending on how hot you like it)
• 5ml apple cider vinegar (we use Willy’s)
• 250ml good-quality tomato juice
For the spice mix (makes enough for 10-20 Bloody Marys)
• 250ml Worcestershire sauce 5½ tablespoons horseradish sauce
4 tablespoons English mustard
• 20 dashes Tabasco 35ml lemon juice
• herbs (thyme, rosemary, bay, tarragon)
• salt and pepper
To make the spice mix, place all the ingredients in a large bowl, give it a good stir, cover and leave to sit in the fridge overnight. In the morning, sieve into a large jar or bottle to remove any solids.
For the Bloody Mary, stir all the ingredients together in a tall glass until thoroughly mixed, then add a few ice cubes. Some prefer a shaken version of this classic, which also works well. Garnish with a herb sprig and finish off with salt and pepper, to taste.
Learn how to rustle up even more of our simple PIG classics by watching our YouTube series “PIG Tales”
– visit youtube.com/ @ThePigHotel/videos
What to drink with this dish…
Our PIG Group Beverage Director, Luke Harbor, recommends three perfect pairings for this comforting pie
Domaine Hugo Single Vineyard Brut Nature, Wiltshire
2020
A benchmark for English biodynamic fizz, this elegant bottle of bubbles shows toasty brioche and shortcrust pastry layers with finesse.
PAX Buddha’s Dharma Vineyard Chenin Blanc, Mendocino County, California 2017
This wine has a fun mix of aromatics and structure. Foot-trodden for added depth and aged in neutral oak, it expresses classic chenin blanc character: beeswax, crushed wildflowers, wet stone and a savoury hint of white pepper. A beautiful counterpoint to the earthy sweetness of roasted root vegetables.
Cascina delle Rose Barbera d’Alba DOC, Piemonte, Italy 2021
Aged for 15 months in Slavonian oak casks, this barbera is lively yet grounded, showing deep ruby hues and bursting with pure red berry fruit. The wine’s energy and precision balance the richness of the pie, while its subtle spice and high-toned fruit complement the caramelised edges of roasted roots.
Spicy garden root pie
It probably hasn’t escaped your notice that we love a good pie at THE PIG. But this one is slightly different from the meaty ones we usually serve – it’s packed with veg from the Kitchen Garden, so it’s light and wholesome, and it’s made without dairy. The vegetable filling can be adapted to what’s in season, but this mix, with the celeriac setting off the spinach and chard, is a firm favourite. Don’t hold back on the spices –they’re what help to make it so tasty. This one’s even been known to convert the odd meathead!
Serves 4–6
You’ll need a 22cm x 26cm pie dish or 6 individual 16cm pie dishes
2 tablespoons rapeseed oil
• 1 large white onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 celeriac, peeled and diced (you want to end up with 600g flesh)
• 3 large carrots, diced
• 4 medium sticks celery, diced
1 tablespoon mild curry powder
• ½ teaspoon turmeric
• ½ teaspoon chilli powder
• salt and pepper
• 1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes
• 120g fresh spinach
• 120g chard
• 320g puff pastry (shop-bought is fine)
• 1 large egg yolk
Heat the oil in a large saucepan and sweat the onion and garlic without colouring. Once it’s fully softened, add the celeriac, carrot and celery.
Cook until everything has softened, add the spices, salt and pepper, then cook for a few minutes more. Add the tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes – you may need to add a splash of water here.
Taste the mix and, if you’re happy with the seasoning, add the spinach and chard – this will only need a minute to cook, so take care not to overdo it. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
Heat your oven to 200C, or 180C with fan (400F; Gas Mark 6). Fill your pie dish (or dishes, if you are using individual ones) with the vegetable mix. Roll out the pastry to fit your dish(es). Brush the inside edge of your dish(es) with egg wash, then place the pastry on top, pinching it around the edge to seal. Using a pastry brush, egg-wash the lid well – this will give the pastry a nice glaze when it’s cooked. Poke a hole in the middle to allow the steam to escape. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
OUR PIG PEOPLE
ARE THE FUTURE OF CARING AND CONSIDERED HOSPITALITY
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 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 the hotels – chefs, kitchen gardeners, waiters, sommeliers, bar staff, 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!
Better than school dinners
OUR PIG TEAMS REGULARLY VOLUNTEER at primary schools in their local areas, to help deliver the Adopt a School programme from The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts.
Adopt a School helps children to learn healthy eating habits and encourages enthusiasm for cooking, as well as an understanding of the provenance and sustainability of different foods.
“At THE PIG in the New Forest, we run our Adopt a School programme at Brockenhurst Primary,” says Head Chef Alex Proudman. “It helps to give children some food education opportunities they might not otherwise have at home or at school – and the activities are a lot of fun. We made bread with one class, for example, including showing how it can be made in a way that is gluten-free or suitable for different allergy sufferers. We always bring along many different kinds of fruit and veggies, to show kids the sheer variety of what’s available – dragon fruit always goes down very well!”
Learn more at royalacademyofculinaryarts.org.uk/aboutaas
Megan Walters
Our Kitchen Gardener at THE PIG-at Combe on organic planting and her charity work in Uganda
I REALLY GOT INTO GARDENING when I was living in London Before moving to Combe to join THE PIG team, I had trained in gardening, including with a Royal Horticultural Society Level 3 course. I also undertook practical experience across the UK with World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. THE PIG’s emphasis on organic gardening and sustainability really appealed to me.
EVERY MORNING, WE HAVE A LIST that the chefs have provided the night before, of which ingredients they need from the garden. There’s always plenty to harvest, even in the autumn and winter months, when we grow kale, lettuce and other winter salad.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES of organic gardening is the sheer amount of weeding, which we do by hand. In Combe, we also need to protect our plants from the local pheasants, which would happily eat a lot of them. We use netting to protect the plants they like best, such as kale.
IT’S REWARDING TO SPEND SO MUCH TIME outside and to do hands-on work where you put skills into action and see results from applying your knowledge. In the winter, I will be out pruning apple trees and pear trees in all weathers. With the right clothing, you can be outside year-round – that feels empowering somehow.
ALONGSIDE MY GARDENING CAREER, I’m passionate about the educational charity that I founded with my husband and three Ugandan friends. In 2011, after visiting Katanga, an area of the Ugandan capital, Kampala, we founded Hope for Life Katanga. We provide teaching to help children take the test they need to pass to attend school and match them with sponsors to support their education.
OUR CHARITY ALSO SUPPORTS young women to be coached in skills that help them to enter the workforce. Some have been able to put their own children through school as a result. It’s great seeing that ripple effect. THE PIG-at Combe has been really supportive – it gave us the proceeds of a staff raffle towards our work. It’s a place where I feel we all share the same values, of sustainability and making a difference.
hopeforlifekatanga.com
Spotter’s guide: redwing
Among the most recognisable birds to land in the UK for winter, the redwing has a namesake red patch beneath its wing. Not sure if you’ve seen one? Other features include a brown back, a cream chest and a white eye stripe. According to the RSPB, the birds migrate here from Scandinavia, usually from late September, and feast on hawthorn, holly and rowan berries, as well as worms.
BEFORE IT WAS A PIG...
To help support bird life, we have installed more than 150 nesting boxes across our PIGs.
This PIG is set in a national park and occupies a house that dates from the 1770s. Beyond the Georgian main house, rooms include traditional Sussex stable yard buildings clad in brick, flint and timber. Which PIG is it?
A) THE PIG in the New Forest B) THE PIG-in the South Downs C) THE PIG-near Bath [Answer on page 3]
As a matter of fact
HALL OF FAME
TIRPITZ, THE SEAFARING PIG
When they searched the wreckage of a scuttled German warship off Robinson Crusoe Island in 1915, British naval officers discovered a pig swimming in the waters, along with “chairs, hammocks … and a cask of red wine undamaged by its immersion in the sea”. The pig was given a new home aboard HMS Glasgow and named Tirpitz, in an ironic nod to a German navy admiral. Regarded as having “defected” to the British cause, she was treated as a beloved mascot. Tirpitz found a new home at the Royal Navy’s training facility in Portsmouth Harbour in 1916. After her death, her head was displayed at the Imperial War Museum in London, where it remains today.
THE PIG IN NUMBERS...
24,000 hours of training clocked up by our PIG people in 2024
An hour’s drive from THE PIG-on the beach, The Hell Stone in Dorset is a “squat, crab-like neolithic table”, writes Tom Howells in the 2025 book Ancient Britain for Modern Folk. But which 1860s event changed the appearance of this ancient landmark? a) It was damaged by a bomb b) It was put back together, incorrectly, after falling down c) It was taken apart and moved to London, then returned [Answer on page 3]
PIG HACKS NO. 7
Vintage sari LAMPSHADES
Translucent and colourful, old sari material makes unique lampshades. We get ours from Samarkand Design.
... find out more here
120,000
plastic toiletry bottles saved from wastage by using refillable glass bottles across our PIG bedrooms over the year
740 kg of homegrown grapes in 2024 from our vineyard at THE PIG-in the South Downs
OVER AND OUT