The Pig on the Beach Hotel History and Reviews, A sprawling yellow Victorian manor on a clifftop overlooking Studland Bay, the Pig on the Beach is all about classy, shabby-chic bedrooms and fuss-free, conservatory fine-dining: Think seasonal menus with locally-sourced ingredients, including grilled sardines, Isle of Wight tomatoes, garden greens, and mussels from the River Fowey. So good! There are 23 rooms in the main house, some super snug, others more spacious, and all are country-luxe in style with reclaimed floorboards, Persian-style rugs, monsoon showers, and sumptuous beds. Add two rooms in the garden, converted shepherd’s huts with low ceilings, freestanding baths, and private terraces, and some gorgeous standalone cottages for two in former outbuildings, and sleeping choices are plentiful. Plus, there are a couple of other shepherd’s huts now serving as rustic treatment rooms using the likes of Bamford and Oskia toiletries. This is Dorset and the Jurassic Coast at its best.
It’s really, really hard to beat the location. In fact, I challenge you to find a better one, that’s how enamoured I am with it. Located on Studland Bay, The Pig on the Beach has views of Old Harry’s Rocks and the Isle of White, and basically all the best bits of the Dorset coast.
If for some insane reason the beach isn’t for you, then no bother at all, the hotel is a stone’s throw from the historic village of Corfe Castle (make sure you try the cream tea, fudge and ice cream) and about a 45 minute drive away from Bournemouth.
The vibe
I’m a bit addicted to the Pig hotels, having visited the one in Brockenhurst, and near Bath (there are also some in Devon and now Kent). Each one has its own style and the Pig on the Beach is by far my favourite, in no small part thanks to the aforementioned view.
That aside though, it’s got a distinct fairytale vibe about it. The hotel used to be home to the aristocratic Bankes family of Kingston Lacy, who were a little eccentric to say the least. This is mirrored in the hotel’s turrets, gargoyles and medieval style carved woodwork in some of the main rooms.
Afew years ago, I took my mum for afternoon tea with a view at an old-school seaside hotel in Dorset. The view was lovely, but we found it hard to see past the fusty decor, stale scones and cheerless staff. The owners, my mother observed, were not exactly making the most of the place.
So it was with a little trepidation that, seduced by news of the hotel’s reinvention, I recently returned to celebrate my wedding anniversary. As we pulled up to the 18th-century villa, signs were good – a new paint job, an extension to make the most of its stunning location – and we were ushered through the door by sassy, smiling staff to find the place thrumming with the sound of happy people enjoying themselves.
The latest in a chainette of quirky boutique hotels in the New Forest, Bath and Southampton, The Pig on the Beach overlooks Studland Bay, near Poole harbour, a gorgeous crescent of sand. A jumble of turrets and gabled windows – this was once the beach house of the aristocratic Bankes family – hints at the slightly batty but chi-chi interior: dim lights, wonky floorboards, perfectly placed curios and mismatched sofas around the fire. A chunky wooden staircase and labyrinth of corridors lead to 23 bedrooms, ranging from “cheap and cheerful” to “generous”. Guests can also stay in one of two thatched dovecotes and a shepherd’s hut on wheels in the garden.
Our room, in the main house and at the lower end of the price range, was tucked into the eaves. It was certainly compact, the sloping ceilings more suitable for Hobbits than Gandalfs. But views across the fields to the white, chalk stacks of Old Harry Rocks rising from the sea, local goodies to binge on and a decent coffee machine, made up for a clonked head or two.
Downstairs, we flopped into comfy sofas and sipped on proper grown-up cocktails – smoky dirty martinis topped with lobster oil and a fish scratching hit the spot.
The sheltered cove a few minutes’ walk away would be nice for a swim, but we opted for a gentle yomp along the coastal path to Old Harry Rocks and afterwards I made a beeline for the “sheep huts” for a facial.
As with the other Pigs, the food is a big draw. The Pig on the Beach Hotel History and Reviews Main meals are served in the conservatory – a kind of posh potting shed (it’s popular with locals, so don’t forget to book a table even if you’re staying). The very pretty plates of food use flowers, herbs, fruit and vegetables picked fresh that day (all dishes include something from the kitchen garden and all ingredients are sourced from within 25 miles).
This particular Pig also offers lots of just-landed seafood. I tackled the famous Bath chaps: a vast piggy mandible still wearing a few of its teeth. I recommend it for those with robust appetites and sensibilities. Puddings showcase what’s in season: we swooned over the chocolate parfait with honeycomb doused in local honey to such an extent that we ordered it thrice. And I’d still go back for more.
Sue Quinn
Doubles at The Pig on the Beach (01929 450288, thepighotel.com) from at £119 a night midweek, or £139 weekends when there is a two-night minimum (room-only, breakfast £10-£15pp). Main courses from £14
