HOTELS
The PIG-in the Cotswolds Set to Open It’s Doors in September
The much anticipated hotel has been the talk of The Cotswolds since it was announced The Pig would be taking over the 17th century Grade II listed gem in January. The doors to THE PIG-in the Cotswolds will be flung open on Sunday 8th September with bookings now open. The Pig have also taken over the village pub, fittingly named ‘The Village Pub’. The classic country inn offers a humble menu of proper pub food and traditional bar snacks as well as being home to 6 gorgeous bedrooms.
BY ARCHIE CAWTHRA
19 August 2024
THE PIG-in the Cotswolds is tucked away in picture-perfect Barnsley, just four miles from Cirencester and within striking distance of the cobbled-street towns of Bibury, Burford and Bourton-on-the-water. A little further away is the spa town of Cheltenham; home to much-loved festivals of literature, jazz and the Cheltenham Races.
THE PIG-in the Cotswolds is a honey-hued 17th century Grade II gem, with original listed gardens designed by renowned gardener Rosemary Verey. This genuinely unspoilt, elegant building has been sensitively restored to keep the character and original features of this beautiful house while still being classically PIG; rooms that feel lived-in with rich fabrics, reclaimed pieces and cosy corners you can really relax in. Plus, there are very large characterful bedrooms with spacious showers and big bathtubs, either in the room or in a separate, large bathroom. Each bedroom has all the comfy, familiar furnishings that are classically PIG, with many rooms overlooking the original arts and crafts style gardens. Rooms at The Pig start from £250 per night for an Extremely Small, to £775 per night for the real showstoppers tucked away in the historic gardens.
Heading into the ornamental gardens, these were Rosemary Verey’s first ever creation - the true essence of quintessential English beauty filled with listed archways, potager gardens and a lush Laburnum walkway. Additionally, there are Simon Verity sculptures and a listed Gothick Summerhouse plus hidden rooms, secret gardens and a small but perfectly formed spa, the Field Spa. Tucked away in the gardens, the spa has treatment rooms, a sauna and a sunny outdoor terrace.
Beyond the back of the house is the large Kitchen Garden - the beating heart of the restaurant’s 25 mile menu. THE PIG gardening team has taken inspiration from the surroundings and history of the land to grow delicious homegrown produce that make up THE PIG’s seasonal dishes.
Over the road, you’ll find The Village Pub, The Pig’s very first pub.
The Village Pub, Photo by Jake Eastham
The pub started life as 3 cottages which were converted in the early 18th century into The Greyhound Inn, until the 1920s when the pub changed its name to The Village Inn. Ownership passed to the Cirencester Brewery on the 6th September 1935, and in 1952 it became Grade II listed. About half a century later The Village Inn swapped “inn” for “pub”, and after a brief 2-year stint as The Boot, it reopened in the Summer of 2024 as The Village Pub.
The Village Pub is a classic English country inn, with oak-beamed ceilings, dimly lit corners and roaring open fireplaces. Whether you’re stopping for supper, pulling up a stool for a pint or would like to rest up in one of the 6 gorgeous bedrooms, there’ll always be a warm welcome from behind the bar!
The Village Pub offers a humble menu of proper pub food and traditional bar snacks. The nostalgic, comforting dishes will give you a real sense of home-cooked familiarity. If it’s a drink you’re after, you can choose from local gravity fed ales straight from the barrel, ice-cold IPAs and Guinness on draft - and a serious wine list to match.