The Pig on the beach

The fourth addition to Robin Hutson’s drove, this little Pig, in a ‘rambling’, turreted Gothic manor house, is ‘a relaxed version of a country hotel, noticeably enjoyed by guests of all ages’. ‘The welcome could not have been bettered,’ Guide inspectors say. ‘We were greeted with a smile and charming efficiency.’ Take your pick from bedrooms in the ‘imaginatively converted’ main house, dovecotes and shepherds’ huts: each is individually styled with mismatched furniture, vintage touches, woollen blankets. ‘Our room had an enormous, comfy bed, good lighting, a large wardrobe; reclaimed-wood floors, retro prints, a Roberts radio. The huge windows overlooked grazing sheep.’ After a morning on the white sands of Studland Bay, relax on ‘squashy’ sofas in the ‘delightfully quirky’ public rooms. In the conservatory dining room, Andy Wright’s ‘simple, appetising’ dishes, perhaps chargrilled chicken, purple mizuna, garden pickles, use produce from the three kitchen gardens. Expect ‘a treasure trove’ at breakfast. Sister Pigs make their homes in Brockenhurst, Southampton and Pensford (see entries).