The Pig in Brockenhurst, Brockenhurst, UK - Explore & Book
"Crunching up the winding drive of this old shooting lodge, you could be forgiven for thinking you'd wandered into a Jane Austen novel. The sweeping grounds, handsome white building and majestic oaks evoke period drama, but inside lies a cosy, contemporary retreat - and a genuinely warm welcome. This is the little sister of luxurious Lime Wood up the road, but The Pig has its own USP: here, food rules supreme. A walled kitchen garden takes centre stage in the grounds and its bounty dictates the restaurant's menu. What's on offer changes daily, sometimes hourly, according to what the gardener deems to be in perfect condition, and one section of the menu reads 'literally picked this morning'. Almost everything else is sourced within a 25-mile radius, and mushrooms, berries and wild salads are foraged from the forest. But as you’d expect from hotelier Robin Hutson (the founder of Hotel du Vin), the intense culinary focus in no way detracts from the comfort and effortless style of the hotel itself. We loved the cosy formal-but-informal lounges with crackling open fires, and the gorgeous shabby-chic bedrooms, in a range of sizes to suit all budgets. Best of all, the conservatory dining room is an Instagrammer's paradise, with a colourful mosaic floor, mismatched vintage crockery and potted herbs. Combine it all with idyllic views and the heady smell from the restaurant's smoke house, and you’ve got all the ingredients for a perfect wind-down weekend. Highs Delicious, super-fresh food; think wood-smoked trout with fennel potatoes and garden mint mousse with chocolate ice-cream Gorgeous bedrooms with monsoon rain showers, top-quality linens, even roll-top baths. We stayed in Bert's Box, which was perfection The New Forest National Park, with its wild ponies and stunning heathlands: borrow Hunter wellies and go walking or hire bikes to explore Staff are helpful and friendly; the atmosphere is one of pure relaxation and in no way stuffy Lows Super popular; you'll need to book 2-3 months in advance for weekends (including restaurant reservations) Breakfast, though delicious, isn't included in the rates and bumps the bill up We've heard a few gripes about service, but we found it amazing! The rooms in the main house aren't huge but hanging out in the beautiful communal areas is half the fun" - Charlotte Bonsey
