Informality

Informality
rules at The Pig at Combe; swinging from
giant cedar trees is encouraged and the vibe is mellow with a
definite make-yourself-at-home attitude.

Located just three hours from London, The Pig at Combe draws
locals and Londoners alike to its restful residence. Situated in an
Elizabethan grade I listed house, on the outskirts of the achingly
twee Gittisham, the honey-hued hotel’s allure lies in its intent
for liveable luxury.

The dress code is smart-casual (two parts casual, one part
smart) with staff donning pink shirts, jeans and Chuck Taylors; the
made-over country pile’s overriding message is one of wholesomeness
(minus any kumbaya connotations.)

Bedrooms

All 17 rooms in the main house are sweet yet slick, but taff
will tell you that the Old Laundry is the best in the house. Those
with a predilection for all things rustic should choose from one of
10 stable yard suites. All rooms are fitted with freestanding
baths, fireplaces and four-poster beds. While the televisions
masquerading as antique mirrors feel a bit boujis, every other
detail is positively charming. The minibars and larders are stocked
with homemade and local treats – we demolished every last piece of
Devonshire fudge on the premises and can confirm that it is very
good.

What’s for breakfast?

Choose form a buffet breakfast of cereals, pastries, fresh
juices and fruits for just £11. For those who want to embrace all
that a pig is and aspires to be (read: gluttonous), plump for a
double order. The à la carte hot breakfasts – think eggs benedict
or avocado on sourdough – are scrumptious additions to the cold
buffet.

How about lunch and dinner?

The main restaurant is at the heart of The Pig at Combe. The
menu adopts a 25-mile-radius philosophy with dishes based on what
has been foraged from the kitchen gardens and polytunnels that
morning, and the remaining ingredients are then locally sourced.
The chicken with chorizo and anything from the dessert menu are
must-orders.

For those who get peckish between meals, piggy bites – from
crackling with apple sauce to pickled vegetables are available
throughout the day. Snug sitting rooms leading off the bar offer
afternoon tea Pig-style. The Victoria sponge – packed with
strawberries and clotted cream – is best gobbled by an open
fire.

The Folly (located in the former orangery) is self-described as
“derelict chic”. Complete with an indoor/outdoor bar and dining
area, this is a good choice for lunchtime bites. The Folly’s
drop-in dining style is great for those who adopt a keep to a turn
up and tuck in mentality when it comes to dining. Order the
wood-fired flatbread; trust us on this.

Is there a bar?

Meet for cocktails in the Great Hall Bar, cluttered with
paintings, taxidermy and some excellent tipples. Tester the
fennel-seed vodka, Pig Hut wines (made in partnership with a French
vintner) or the in-house cider produced due to an overeager apple
crop. Candy-coloured glassware tints the light as it passes through
the paned double windows, injecting a dose of playfulness into an
otherwise grandiose setting. An ideal quaffing spot.

Amenities

The Potting Shed Spa comprises of two treatment rooms, located
in the kitchen garden. Book in for a piggy massage or facial and
tester a range of Bamford products. Post-treatment, enjoy a
soothing herbal tea, with infusions picked fresh from the
garden.

Within a short walk I can find…

A rainbow of Hunter wellies (arranged by size) are tucked under
the grand staircase ready for an excursion. The estate sprawls some
3,500 acres so within a short walk you’ll find open fields and
similar surrounds. Those casting a wider net should head for the
thatched village of Gittisham or to one of Devon’s many rugged
beaches – although best to take a car. If you’ve come by train, the
market town of Honiton will be your depot. Famous for both Honiton
lace and Honiton pottery, the town is deemed the antiques capital
of the South West – walk the bric-à-brac trail to while the
afternoon away.