‘I discovered a Rivals-inspired Cotswolds getaway at this fashionable new hotel’
The Pig boutique hotels have made a name for themselves for their farm-to-table food, characterful interiors and home-from-home charm, and this new opening just outside Cirencester – the latest in the piggy litter – is no exception. You’ll find The Pig’s particular brand of relaxed luxury in abundance here; this Grade II-listed building that was formerly Barnsley House is filled with mismatched antique furniture, faded rugs and staff that greet you like you’re old friends. Picture the Weasleys’ house in the Harry Potter films, but significantly more chic than shabby.
Our bedroom was a gorgeous (and spacious) green-toned sanctuary up in the eaves of the main house, while downstairs there’s the library, snug, dining room and small bar, plus a number of other rooms and lodges dotted around the grounds.
Most of the other hotels have their own 'potting shed' treatment rooms, but The Pig in the Cotswolds is the first with its own little spa featuring a sauna, steam room and outdoor hydropool. My bespoke full body massage was just dreamy, using products from sustainable beauty brand Tribe517.
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Also new here is The Pig’s first pub – The Village Pub – directly opposite, where you’ll find local ales, hearty dishes and six more bedrooms in a cosy setting.
The food at The Pig in the Cotswolds
The Pig’s culinary USP is local produce. Much is grown in the hotel’s own potager and kitchen gardens, open for guests to amble around, and almost everything else is sourced from within a 25-mile radius. There’s even a map on the menus highlighting local producers, such as Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone Brewery.
It’s all fresh, unpretentious and completely delicious. I also recommend asking the knowledgeable sommelier for a recommendation from the hefty wine list. He selected a delicious light Alsace red for us that we would never have chosen ourselves.
Breakfast features continental pastries piled high on the buffet table, plus hot dishes to order, including eggs freshly laid by the hotel’s own chickens.
What to do at The Pig in the Cotswolds
There’s not a huge amount to explore in the tiny village of Barnsley, but nearby Arlington Row, a picture-perfect row of honey-coloured weavers’ cottages, is a popular tourist stop, and Cirencester is just four miles away.
Really The Pig in the Cotswolds is a place to enjoy purely for itself. Take a guided tour of the kitchen garden, cosy up in the snug for complimentary tea and cake in the afternoons, or stroll over the road for a pint at the pub.
How much does it cost to stay at The Pig in the Cotswolds?
Rooms at The Pig in the Cotswolds start from £275 per night.