The Pig at Bridge Place

I’d booked my stay at the Pig’s newest outpost (just outside the historic city of Canterbury) after six back-to-back weeks of fashion shows and Frieze, so it was safe to say that I was ready to get there. 

As with all Pig properties, the original building is beautifully impressive. Surrounded by weeping willows and a glorious drive, it’s perhaps even more gothic and stately than some of its siblings.

We’d opted for a room in the main house rather than one of the cosy cabins beyond, and the decor did not disappoint: Farrow & Ball moss green, dark wood antique furniture, and William Morris fabrics decorating walls and lampshades.

The bathroom was one floor upstairs, looking back down on the bed, and had a chaise lounge next to the perfect-sized tub which felt really luxurious – you could stretch out and watch it fill up with hot water and bubbles while sitting soft. There are all the amenities that one expects at the Pig – but there is certainly a focus on more organic brands than ever before.

After the drive down on the first day we decided to tackle one of the more reasonable two-hour walks near the hotel, before the rain began in earnest. The tangled creepers down country lanes, old churches and a derelict hopyard gave things a Sleepy Hollow vibe but the wilder fields beyond were full of lovely happy-looking sheep grazing. 

After hitting a respectable 8,000 steps we headed back to the hotel in time for a long soak in that bath. Suitably relaxed, we decided that stiff drinks were deserved and sampled locally made vodka in our martinis before dinner. The menu in the restaurant – as with all Pigs – prides itself on being local: every ingredient from their kitchen garden or sourced from within a 25-mile radius. We feasted on Dover sole and numerous sides of garden vegetables before Mr Smith tackled a crumble with hot custard. Food comatosed, we fell into bed quickly that night.

The next morning, Mr Smith tackled the infamous Pig buffet complete with its array of homemade jams. I was on a gluten- and sugar-free diet but the kitchen were really helpful with providing alternatives: gluten-free bread, and delicious eggs from their farm.

We were only a short drive from Margate and there were a number of art shows and vintage shops we wanted to visit. The local Tate there has incredible sea views; the contemporary Carl Freedman gallery is really worth a visit too.

Margate’s vintage shopping in really is exceptional – we stocked up on a boot load of finds from crockery and vintage silk slips, to locally made candles and heavily embroidered 1920’s handbags. (For serious shoppers, I’d suggest going midweek when the town is less busy and all the shops are open; many are closed on Mondays for example).

After driving past the UKs largest greenhouse – Thanet Earth – we arrived back at Bridge Place where I’d booked myself in for one of the Pig’s signature massages. Afterwards I floated back to my room with my body warm and healed by a variety of essential oils.

Later that evening we had our second dinner at the restaurant, and decided to share their locally reared ham hock with lashings of chips and gravy, accompanied by more vodka martinis and wines from their extensive menu. (Dessert king Mr Smith also ate a homemade Bakewell tart, which he happily advised was ‘excellent’).

We had to leave quite early the next morning, alas, but the Pig at Bridge Place had made its impression: it’s a beautiful addition to the group with a personality all of its own. It was a good thing that the WiFi was slightly sketchy as it forced us to relax, focus on conversation and our time together, and catch up on reading all those magazines and newspapers we’d brought down to get through. 

And what’s wonderful about the location is the plethora of places to day-trip to – from historic towns to up-and-coming seaside scenes, there really is something for everyone. Having said that, I’d have been perfectly happy not to leave the bath in our room.