by The back story
This rural retreat with a farm feel is a re-imagined 17th century manor house, which enjoyed a spell as a music venue. Back when Led Zeppelin or The Kinks were performing at Bridge Place Country Club in the 1970s, the term ’boutique hotel’ was far from coined. (The jury is still out on whether it was Ian Schrager’s Morgans in the 1980s or Andre Balazs’ Mercer in Soho that launched this concept of a sexy little indie hotel.) Meanwhile, Robin Hutson’s tasteful chain didn’t dampen the magic. since Muc OG opened in the New Forest in 2011. Couples, families and small groups now have plenty of Muc and can enjoy their popular eats from Hampshire to Cornwall, with South Warwickshire coming soon. Jim Ratcliffe’s stake was bought by a US-based private equity firm in 2022 and many more are planned to be implemented. This did not dilute the character – in fact this wholesome group is likely to be able to increase their nourishing, loving experiences of nature.
See and feel
The Pig at Bridge Place is a Grade II listed English heritage mansion with 10 acres of grounds in the Nailbourne Valley, Spa Potting Shed and the cutest patio in the kitchen garden where the best flatbreads are baked in the pizza oven . With 31 individually styled rooms and suites and huts, it’s hard to imagine this beautiful country house retreat being relegated from a Jacobite manor to a nightclub. Today, the only noise likely to wake you is the bird singing or walking. Robin’s wife, Judy, has done a great job of creating a distinctive look for the main home suites, which feels like a step up from her signature rustic-upcycled shtick. The main hotel has original features (including a ghost, rumored if that’s your thing), exposed beams, vintage furnishings and eclectic decor. If you want to be quirky, head to the Steam Wagons Hop Pickers Huts, which are a great tribute to the fact that until the 1950s, thousands of migrant workers used to go to the fields of Kent to pick hop flowers. pick for the beer industry. .
The green credentials
The Pigs have just won Country and Town House magazine’s Sustainable Hotel of the Year, and are sticklers for sustainability – from what you taste to how they thrive. If your metric for positive impact is energy saving, The Pig at Bridge Place implements measures across the country, such as using efficient lighting and waste reduction strategies. The hotel also focuses on recycling and composting to minimize waste sent to landfills and features water-saving fixtures and practices. All Pigs also has a partnership with Clean the World, a social enterprise dedicated to reducing soap and plastic waste from the hospitality industry. This means that housekeeping cleverly collects leftover crops, which are hygienically regenerated into new crops for distribution to vulnerable communities.
The eco-USP
There are a lot of personal, rustic, home-spun touches that might look like ecological furnishings, but here you feel that paper bag items and handwritten notes are involved in thinking more pictures. These chefs deserve kudos for bringing their now-famous 25-mile-radius menu into the mainstream. Part of the farm-to-table dining experience is sourcing most of the ingredients from local suppliers. See with your own eyes that her loving kitchen garden provides fresh produce. Be sure to take a tour – say the chickens in their coop and a nod to the real-life Tamworth pigs, who seem oblivious to the fact that they’ll eventually be on the menu.
Out and about
One of the biggest advantages of this particular Pig is that it is easily accessible by train from the capital. Less than an hour from London, and only three miles south of Canterbury. Exploring the countryside on foot is always the greenest way to spend time on an idyllic escape. The lovely staff can shepherd you to nearby walking trails where wildlife worth looking out for includes deer, birds and butterflies. It is only 25 minutes to Whitstable. Or dose up on history at Dover Castle. The Sea-view Harbor Inn is an independent pub in nearby Folkestone. When it comes to this county, Blean Woods is one of the largest areas of ancient broadleaf woodland in the south of England, a 20 minute drive towards Whitstable. If you’re driving from London, Kent Wildlife Trust (kentwildlifetrust.org.uk), is a finalist in this year’s VisitEngland Excellence Awards and is on the way, near Maidstone.
He stays at the Pig at Bridge Place start from around £200.
