Words by Lowenna Merritt
Harlyn Bay welcomes The Pig hotel, a quirky, garden-oriented 16th century house oozing with character.
The Pig Hotel, Harlyn Bay. Image courtesy of Jake Eastham.
On 31st July, The Pig at Harlyn Bay opened its doors, inviting guests in for a heart-warming post lockdown getaway. Offering an authentic and warm atmosphere and fresh delicious food, Pig hotels put their guests’ happiness at the heart of their service, and they never disappoint.
Faced with the new normal, The Pig are operating in line with government guidelines and prioritising guest safety, whilst still ensuring that guests are provided with the same attentive care and relaxing experience as before.
The Pig have several havens across Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire and Kent, each with its own personality, and the new hotel at Harlyn Bay is no different. Nestled amongst beautiful coastline, its location is described by The Pig’s Robin Hutson as “amongst the very best coastal settings anywhere in Cornwall”, with some of the county’s most celebrated beaches “a stone’s throw away”. The hotel boasts panoramic sea views beyond its five acres of surrounding gardens.
The Grade II listed building itself is just as impressive. The Pig at Harlyn Bay is one of Cornwall’s most historic mansions, dating back to the 16th century with Medieval, Jacobean and Georgian features. The Stonehouse, which sits west of the main building and hosts additional rooms, is a traditional Cornish slate building with a Delabole slate roof. The long driveway leading up to the impressive establishment ignites a sense of awe for approaching guests, as the buildings stand proud and invite you in with their regal aura.
Stepping inside, the undeniable style is homely charm with a touch of luxury. Guests are welcomed into a traditional Map Room, greeted by a warming wood-burning stove. Beyond this there is a picturesque snug sitting nearby to the hotel’s wine store, the perfect place to unwind with a glass, or perhaps a bottle, of your chosen grape.
Heading upstairs, The Pig boasts an abundance of unique and characterful rooms, the wide array of sizes and prices meaning that there is something to suit everyone without sparing any luxury. Guests can choose between a room in the Main House, with views across Harlyn Bay and the headland, or the Stonehouse, which offers views of the courtyard and vast gardens.
Images courtesy of Jake Eastham.
Rooms range from cosy and small with monsoon showers to luxury large rooms with four poster beds, freestanding baths and private terraces. Each has a sense of individuality in its finishing touches, yet all adhere to the rustic country house decor that is quintessential of The Pig. Expect distressed wood, brass embellishments, panelled walls, hand painted artwork and colour schemes of sea blues and earthy greens. All features are carefully chosen with the soul of the building and location in mind – in this case, a traditional and weathered manor on the windswept seaside.
The Garden Wagons offer a quirky twist on the country manor stay. Closer to nature but still offering all the luxury comforts of a room, The Pig has four romantic wagons tucked away between the kitchen garden and the main house, each featuring a king sized bed, log burner, en-suite bathroom with monsoon shower and freestanding baths alongside a private outdoor shower, for those who prefer their bathing al fresco. Described as the ‘most comfortable, sexiest Shepherd’s Huts on the planet’, the wagons are perfect for any couple looking for a romantic and adventurous getaway.
The building dates back to the 16th century.
No two rooms are the same.
At the beating heart of every Pig Hotel is a kitchen garden. Bursting with fresh herbs and vegetables, everything grown in the garden dictates the seasonal menu and nothing is left to waste. This adds to the authentic, home-grown atmosphere; all produce is sourced locally, sustainably and with attentive care. The kitchen garden is the hub of the hotel, and at the end of it you’ll find the magical Potting Sheds, in which guests can truly relax and unwind with an array of massages and facial treatments – a surprise luxury experience in the comfort of the hotel grounds. The Pig encourages guests to connect with nature, and the blend of luxurious treatment in a home grown, garden style environment inspires a sense of natural harmony.
Beautiful from the outside in. Images courtesy of Jake Eastham.
The food is another wonder of The Pig experience. Everything is driven by the gardens, from which the chef crafts a menu that is simple, seasonal and embraces the fresh and vibrant flavours that the English garden has to offer. The 25-mile menu supports local farmers and producers, supplying any extras that cannot be grown on site. These include delicious local Tarquin’s gin and produce from Ross Geach – former head chef for Rick Stein’s and owner of Padstow Kitchen Garden.
Cornwall is often described as the UK’s foodie capital and The Pig at Harlyn Bay makes the most of this exciting reputation. Dine on seafood fresh from the ocean, local meats and cheeses from surrounding farmland, and even saffron – a tradition in Cornish cuisine. And with an incredible wine list to choose from, each dish on the menu can be paired perfectly, for the ultimate fine dining experience.
Unique to The Pig is their brand-new Lobster Shed. In the place of an old Pig Sty, this food outlet serves up fresh lobster, crab, oysters, meats and veggies straight from the wood oven and charcoal fired grill. Finish off with a delicious Old School Ice Cream sundae and a choice of Cornish cider or beer, or perhaps a glass of Camel Valley fizz or Pig Hut’s very own rosé. The Lobster Shed’s signature ‘Lobster and Camel’ is a must – a feast of lobster, thrice cooked chips and a signature pinot noir rosé brut, all served al fresco in the serenity of the surrounding gardens.
A foodie offering that’s driven by the hotel’s kitchen garden.
The Pig brand themselves as being ‘home grown in every way’. They embrace what they have available, rejecting the norms of designed hotels by emphasising home grown food, informal and authentic service and a genuine commitment to the environment. The Pig at Harlyn Bay offers a Cornish twist on this brand’s homely charm, incorporating seaside flavours and aesthetics into a luxury rustic garden-based experience, with incredible results.