The English countryside is the place where Londoners and other city slickers go to exhale. After all, London has been known as ‘the big smoke” from years past when the skyline was crowned with chimneys billowing smoke and turning their skies smoggy gray. Although those days are past, London is still a place with a manic pace with aspiring tycoons fretting over the next big deal and where people rushing through the Underground like a stream of ants are the modus operandi.   The antithesis of city life is the bucolic recesses where concrete and street noise are replaced with meadows and birdsong. That is exactly what you’ll find in Somerset countryside with a stay at the Pig Near Bath.

The Pig is a funny name for a hotel group.  Weird in fact. But once you go to any of their country estates you’ll find yourself forgetting the oddity.  And, in fact, the unusualness of the name starts to set the tone for what is ahead.

The Pig hotels are not glitzy. They are un-shiny by design with a down-to-earth and unpretentious vibe from the interior design to the service. The food is delicious and one of the main reasons that their guests love it so much, with most of the ingredients being homegrown in their hotel gardens or sourced from nearby.  The group of country hotels and pubs doesn’t take itself too seriously, and offers hospitality one would define as homey, laid back, and yes, a bit quirky. There are currently 10 Pig hotels with more on the way.

The Pig Near Bath is located a short drive away from arguably England’s most romantic city, Bath. However, the setting is far from Brigerton-like surrounded by farms and woodlands in Somerset’s Mendip Hills. Down a long gravel driveway is the stately 200-year-old, Grade II-listed Hunstrete Hall.  The exterior of the building is a classic example of Georgian architecture, characterized by its symmetrical design and refined proportions.

Constructed from Bath stone, the façade has a warm, honey-colored hue that is typical of architecture in the region. Several other buildings such as the Coach House, Apple Store, and Nuttery Stable have been repurposed into more of the Pig Near Bath’s quaint accommodations. One cannot miss the unusual greeting party at the main entrance of two full-sized cast-iron pigs with large ears and droopy brows that welcome all that come.

Guests who will come to the Pig Near Bath are there to spend time in the English countryside, and that’s just what they’ll get.  As one enters inside the estate they’ll find a row of Hunter Wellies, which prompt guests to take a pair and venture off.  The retreat’s 28 acres are a place to walk and wander through the lawns, orchards, and gravel paths or perhaps find a bench under a tree to relax or read a book.  The extensive grounds offer wildflower meadows, mature trees, beautifully maintained gardens as well as a deer park with a herd of Fallow deer.  Beyond the estate is ideal for nature enthusiasts as well with numerous walking trails and outdoor activities that are available in the surrounding area.

One highlight is to explore the chef’s walled vegetable garden to see the produce that will likely be part of their meals during their stay. Guests can stroll through the gardens, enjoying the seasonal flowers and plants, and even see where their dinner might have been grown and sourced hours before mealtime.

The setting creates a mood that is all about shifting gears to a slower pace and doing less instead of doing more. The atmosphere is calming and relaxed where guests breathe in the smells of nature without a hint of pollution in a place that is mercifully absent is noise.  There are no blaring horns, or trampling feet – just peace, quiet, and nature.   And with that first walk outdoors, that is where one begins to inhale.

What makes the Pig so special is that it is what it is and never tries to be something other than itself.  A casual and comfortable place where you can come for a relaxing stay in the country, with lovely accommodations, and enjoy really good food. It is both comfy and homely. The Pig Near Bath is never stuffy nor a place to see and be seen.  One could say that it’s like your favorite old pair of shoes; they still look good and fit well in all the right places.

Be that as it may, the Hunstrete Hall is a regal estate with well-preserved original fireplaces, wooden paneling, ornate plasterwork, and creaky plank floors.  Beyond that, you’ll quickly notice the décor. A deliciously imperfect hodge podge of items that fit perfectly together, sometimes matching and other times not.  The furniture is well-worn with some antiques but more second-hand or “preloved” pieces with a nick here and a chip there. The eclectic mix of styles and vintage furnishings adds to the character of the Pig Near Bath, helping one to relax while making each room informal and easy.

The artwork adds to the décor as well with interesting oil paintings and portraits to examine, wondering the story behind these stoic-looking people.  There are the customary deer mounts that you would expect in a country house, mixed in with gorgeous contemporary artworks, nostalgic pieces including a Gramophone, and other curios.

Accommodations at the Pig Near Bath

There are 29 rooms in the Pig Near Bath spread between the main house, Coach House, and garden. Accommodations range in size from snug rooms perfect for solo travelers or couples to larger suites. Rooms are beautifully decorated in the hotel’s rustic country style with thoughtful touches like fresh flowers and homemade treats as well as a complimentary larder stocked with snacks. Many rooms have roll-top baths ideal for relaxing with a glass of wine after a long country walk.

Away from the main house and near the garden are three cozy cottages with a seating area, wood-burning stoves, and a four-poster bed as well as a front garden. The Apple Store, Hide, Orchard Stable, and Nuttery Stable are their top-of-the-line accommodations and the most private. These detached accommodations are in the Kitchen Garden or beyond with lovely views, lounge areas, and wood-burning stoves.  The Orchard Stable offers two bedrooms with a cozy lounge with a large log burner that is ideal for families or couples traveling together.

Country Cocktail Culture at the Pig Near Bath

Throughout the day and pre-dinner, the bar is the gathering place for the hotel’s guests or those there just for dinner. Many will gather around the buzzing bar that feels more like a kitchen counter than your typical bar. It is not as high as you would expect, making the bar staff more approachable.  Behind the bar are shelves well-stocked with spirits, bottles of their own infused concoctions, and two large sash windows with shelves of colored goblets and glasses. The gregarious staff are more than glad to make for you one of their specialty drinks with ingredients picked from the garden that day,  perhaps a dried garnish or even spirits such as their homemade blackberry gin infused with their own herbs and fruits.

Guests gather in the comfortable seating around the room and in the adjacent lounge while others opt for their cocktails al fresco on the outside terrace.  You’ll see friends and couples gathering for a cocktail or two. Guests also chat with each other about how they enjoyed their day or perhaps compare notes about other Pigs they’ve stayed in. It’s not really a competition but there seems to be a bit of a cult following of the Pig hotels where guests take pride in collecting stays at them all as well as going back to their favorites.

The Pig Near Bath Restaurant

One could say that the Pig hotels balance three aspects of the holidays they provide. A place in the country away from the city, a relaxed luxury vibe and accommodations, and delicious wholesome food. They do all well and the food is no exception if not arguably one of their strongest draws. The Pigs refer to themselves as a ‘restaurant with rooms’ so the culinary aspect is clearly a key focus for the group.

The dining experience at the Pig Near Bath Dinner is a big deal. It takes place in the conservatory on more well-loved furnishings with colorful bone china that sometimes matches and usually does not. The room is a buzz with hotel guests and those just there for dinner.

The food is not overly complicated or what one would consider fine dining. It is delicious and more approachable with a focus on super-fresh local ingredients. The Pig restaurants pride themselves on sourcing their ingredients from within 25 miles which also means that they support local producers and lower their carbon footprint. The menus include a radius map sharing with the producers and they have harvested, hunted, caught, or foraged for your meal.  However, most are sourced even closer than that, and a large share of their produce comes from their chef’s gardens or their own coups, hives, and paddocks.  There’s something about knowing that squash on your plate may have been picked just hours before it appears on your plate. You can’t get much fresher than that.

This also means that the menu is seasonal based on what is available that day. In their garden and around the property you’ll see greenhouses, a smokehouse, fruit cages, a mushroom house, and even hives that produce their own honey.

The menu changes often with dishes such as Crab risotto with garden flowers or the Pan Roasted Duck Breast with Chioggia Beetroot & Elderflower. The wine list is exceptional as well with a talented wine steward ready with advice on how to perfectly pair each dish with the wines from their extensive cellar.

Beyond the menu and accommodations, there’s a lot to do beyond eating and relaxing. Guests may choose to explore Bath for the day before returning or perhaps do some sightseeing in Bristol.  To stay immersed in the rural holiday, guests may take their wellies and go off on one of the numerous walking trails throughout the gorgeous rural landscapes of Mandip Hills countryside.

For guests looking to take their focus on relaxation to the next level, the Pig Near Bath offers a wide range of wellness services in their Potting Shed treatment rooms with massages, facials, and services that incorporate natural and locally sourced products.

The Pig Near Bath fulfills the desire of its guests to escape the manic pace of the city for a stay in a serene country idyll. The experience is somewhat simple and formulaic, creating a stay in the countryside where guests can exhale, have good unfussy food, and a comfy stay in a homey environment. With its unpretentious air, casual vibe, and not-so-new décor, guests feel less like they are not staying in a hotel but more like the country house of a well-to-do friend.