Up Close: The Pig at Combe

This week The Pig at Combe won Best Small Hotel at the Devon Tourism Award and Nub News decided to go and check it out.

Situated in Gittisham, a village just outside of Honiton, The Pig at Combe opened in 2016, having previously been the Combe Hotel. The hotel is just a few miles from another East Devon winner, the Coldharbour Field Kitchen, which won Gold in the Best Casual Dining category.

The hotel is part of The Pig chain, which has 8 other small hotels across England. It is decorated beautifully, with a mix of country living, sparkly chandeliers, welly boots and velvet luxury. 

The Elizabethan manor has stunning views across the valley, pheasants aplenty and there is a real sense of quiet isolation, despite being only two miles from Honiton. It is possible to cycle here from Honiton - mainly on a cycle path - and possibly stopping at the Combe Farm Shop for a snack on the way!

The Pig at Combe welcomes non-guests and there are a range of meal and drink choices available for people wanting to pop in. 

The lunches are served in the impressive panelled dining room, but for something more causal there is The Folly, which serves woodfired pizza from 12pm. 

Situated in a repurposed greenhouse, The Folly serves up delicious flatbreads topped with unusual and locally sourced food, much of which is grown in the extensive gardens or reared on the farm. 

The menu changes regularly but recent toppings have included 'Pinch of Salt' Salami and Pickled Red Onion' and 'Garden Kalettes, Whitelake Goats Curd & Caramelised Onion Chutney'. The Folly also serves nibbles such as 'Piggy Bites' (cracking served with apple sauce) and Cornish Sardines, Dressed Apple and Roasted Fennel. 

Non-guests are also welcome to sit in the cosy main bar, with its roaring fire and unusual artistic displays. There are also two lovely sitting rooms, again with large fires and comfy sofas. A selection of cocktails and other alcoholic drinks are on offer, but also coffee, teas and juices. Cakes are served from 11am.

When I visited this week I was warmly welcomed by the friendly staff and there was a buzz of guests checking out, enjoying breakfast and enjoying coffees in the bar. 

I enjoyed sitting in one of the quiet lounges enjoying a hot chocolate - and the girl who served me even threw in free croissants from the breakfast room, which was much appreciated!

There are three walled gardens in the grounds of The Pig and an extraordinary range of food is grown here and used in the hotel, forming the backbone of the hotel's policy of sourcing all its food from within 25 miles. Visitors are encouraged to come and take a look.

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