The Pig on the Beach

Robin Hutson put the Pig in higgledy-piggledy with the most fanciful of his litter of porcine hotels (see index), set in a yellow seaside villa built in 1820 in romantic picturesque style, with gabled dormers, a turret and random roof line. It stands on the reputed site of vanished Studland Castle, with views across Studland Bay to Old Harry Rocks, and the fairy-tale fantasy extends to two thatched dovecotes in the kitchen garden, each with a four-poster, one with its own beach hut. House bedrooms – from very snug, with countryside views, to ‘generous’, with a sea view, perhaps French doors to the grounds – are all in the group’s signature shabby-chic style, with bare floorboards and soft paint finishes. You can dine in the conservatory on dishes such as Dorset Horn hogget loin, wood-oven-roasted carrots, garden nettle and mint sauce, or go for wood-fired flatbreads on the terrace. On a sunny day, Guide insiders found the place thronged. ‘They were so busy we had a long wait for our lunch. When it came, the food was fine – fresh fish simply cooked, rich puddings.’ And, as ever, ‘friendly young staff keep things going’. (C and AR)