Pig Hotel

Beaulieu Road, Brockenhurst, Hampshire SO42 7QL. Tel: 01590 622354

It has taken nearly a year for me to get round to using my £100 voucher for the Pig Hotel that Angela got me back in April 2013. Partly because we have been busy and partly because the place is booked up whenever we wake up on a weekend and decide we want to go. This place is booked up a long time in advance so it was never really going to happen on the spur of the moment.

I had popped in for one drink when coming back from a business meeting and thought it looked a really nice place to try, especially as it has been lauded in the weekend papers and web sites.

So, March 2014, we went for broke. We took the train from Pokesdown to Brockenhurst so we could both have a drink and it was a short £5 taxi fare to the hotel.

Rolling up on the gravel track it just feels idyllic, especially as it was a really sunny bright blue day after the miserable winter we have had so far. Through the door, we saw wide open spaces, comfy old fashion armchairs and sofas, and log fires burning. We went left to the bar for cocktails and it wasn't even midday!

I had a Bloody Mary and Angela had a Bellini. They had a range of flavoured vodkas that they infused themselves. I went for the lemongrass one, although it never really came through and I could have done with a bit more spice and Worcestershire sauce to my drink.

This place seems to be booked up all the time so it was nice to have had a 12pm booking and spent some of the time in quiet, not saying that it was noisy when full.

The menu options were very good and the wine list extensive.

The only downside to having young waiting staff, who may have been 6th form age, is that sometimes their level of communication skills is not up to the level expected when you are spending £XXX. But, I saw the funny side and I was having a nice day all the same.

After the dessert we had our coffee and petit fours in the courtyard. Got the coffee but no cups. All OK in the end. Sat next to the outdoor log fire to keep warm but a bit smokey.

We then took a walk around their vegetable and herb garden before parking ourselves back onto a couch in front of another log fire in one of their rooms. Why not, might as well have a few more drinks seeing as we are making a day of it.

All in all a really fantastic day out. I thought I was going to struggle to spend the £100 gift voucher that Angela got me but spent over £160 in the end.