Lady’s Review of The Pig Restaurant in the New Forest

Today I want to share my review of The Pig restaurant in the New Forest with you. This famous place in Brockenhurst, Hampshire is known for its use of local produce, and it’s one of the most exciting places to eat in this part of Britain.

The Pig Restaurant in the New Forest

It’s winter in England. Time to curl up by the fire, take country walks in wellies, and enjoy comfort food in cozy dining rooms. While these things can (sort of) be done in London, it’s much easier to do them in the countryside.

So when I got invited to have a complimentary lunch at The Pig restaurant in the New Forest this week, it seemed perfect.

How to Get to The Pig in the New Forest

I met several other bloggers, journalists, and PRs at Waterloo station yesterday morning and boarded a train to travel to the New Forest.

The hour-and-a-half journey through southeast England was filled with picturesque scenery as low fog painted the landscape with a touch of mystery.

When we arrived at Brockenhurst station in Hampshire, we hopped in a taxi to travel the rest of the way to our destination. Five minutes later, we alighted in front of The Pig restaurant in the New Forest.

The Pig Restaurant

The restaurant was set in a 17th-century building with white columns and ivy growing up the facade. It was situated on a large estate that made it feel like it was a million miles away from London.

Walking through the door, we found ourselves in an inviting bar and lounge area. The decor was contemporary and comfortable without trying too hard to be stylish.

I later found out the owners had done all the interior decor themselves, which was impressive given the tasteful result.

After being welcomed by David, one of the owners, we enjoyed a glass of local English sparkling wine from Ridgeview, a winery near Brockenhurst.

Each of us was given a different type of glass, from funky flutes to etched coupes. It was something that could have been tacky had it been done wrong, but The Pig restaurant pulled it off.

The sparkling wine was good, and it was nice to drink something produced locally. It wasn’t the only thing on the menu that was produced in the New Forest, either.

Lunch at The Pig Restaurant in the New Forest

When we sat down for lunch in the dining room of The Pig restaurant in the New Forest, we were told all the menu items had been sourced from within 25 miles (40 kilometers) of where we were sitting.

In the summer the distance is reduced to a mere 15 miles (24 kilometers).

The Pig’s 25-Mile menu was replete with everything from shellfish to pork, sea bass, and steak. Much of the produce was grown right outside in the kitchen garden, too.

The Pig restaurant even has an in-house forager tasked with finding wild food from the New Forest.

The back of the menu featured descriptions of each of the restaurant’s outside suppliers, letting guests know a bit about where their food comes from.

Excited to eat local produce, I was happy when a number of “Piggy Bits” arrived at the table.

I sampled everything from ‘Karma’ ham to delicious grilled and smoked sausages and The Pig’s own version of Scotch Eggs. The last of these were made with quail eggs from the restaurant’s birds.

For my starter I opted for the dressed Portland crab with celeriac, caper mayonnaise, and granary toast. Served in its shell, the presentation was so pretty I was almost sad to eat it.

But as soon as I tasted the fresh, light meat I was glad I did. The sommelier paired the dish with a Chateau des Eyssards Sauvignon Semillon.

The wine was dry, but I would have preferred something a bit more crisp to accompany the crab.

My main course at The Pig restaurant in the New Forest was deep-fried baby squid and chorizo with herb butter, foraged wild garlic sprouts, and sea beet.

The calamari was fresh and not overly fried, which was great. The chorizo was excellent, and the thin slices added a great complimentary flavor to the squid.

It was served in a large bowl, which made it a bit difficult to cut, and I could have done without so much oil in the bottom of the dish, but overall it was a winner.

It was paired with a Chilean Oveja Negra Winemakers Selection Cabernet Franc – Carmenere, which went well with all the elements in the dish.

For dessert at The Pig restaurant in the New Forest I couldn’t resist trying the fresh mint mousse with chocolate ice cream. The mousse was delicate and refreshing, and the richness of the ice cream rounded out the dish nicely.

It was paired with an excellent Hungarian Patricius Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos. The dessert was a great way to finish off the meal.

As I ate, I looked around the dining room in The Pig restaurant to admire the rustic wooden tables and light, airy greenhouse ceiling.

I’d never been to Petersham Nurseries Cafe in London’s Richmond before, but for some reason The Pig’s dining room reminded me of it. When David told me they’d been inspired by Petersham Nurseries, I couldn’t help but agree.

The Pig Hotel

After lunch we were taken for a quick tour of the rest of The Pig. The owners call the place a “restaurant with rooms” due to the guest rooms on the property.

Some of them were located in the same building as the restaurant, while others were a short walk away in the stable yard.

We took a quick peek at two rooms, both of which had large four-poster beds with delicious white linens and great views of the New Forest.

Outside were vegetable gardens and greenhouses, a smoke house, and three resident pigs.

There was a small pond with a bridge, at the end of which was a great little hut where guests could get massages and other beauty treatments.

Back at the main building, we passed by a welcoming outdoor fireplace before moving into the library to have coffee and tea in advance of traveling back to London.

The space was as cozy as the rest of The Pig, and I couldn’t help but wish I could stay the night.

The comfy sofas looked like the prefect places to curl up for an afternoon, and the long line of wellies by the door begged my feet to hop in for a long walk in the woods.

The Pig Restaurant in the New Forest

But alas, my time at The Pig restaurant in the New Forest had come to an end. For now.

I’m already looking forward to going back again soon, and to visiting its sister property, the nearby Lime Wood hotel. If it’s anywhere as good as its sibling, I might just have to stay indefinitely.

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