Well, this is exciting....
We’ve been keeping a little secret.
As we celebrate fifteen years of THE PIG, we've found ourselves looking back at quite an extraordinary journey. Nine country houses and a pub. Thousands upon thousands of homegrown tomatoes. Wonderful growers, farmers and fishermen. Countless memorable meals, celebrations and muddy boots through the
It has also felt like the right moment to look ahead.
Over the last couple of years we've searched high and low for the right building to become the next chapter in THE PIG story. We've explored countless old buildings, each with its own story to tell. Some we've admired from afar. Some, despite our best efforts, simply weren't meant to be.
But every now and then, a building comes along that simply won't leave you alone.
So, after months of plotting, dreaming and finding ourselves feeling very much at home in it, we've finally got the keys to the next chapter in THE PIG story.
Many of you will know that we had hoped to bring THE PIG to Groombridge Place. Whilst that wasn't meant to be, we couldn't quite shake the feeling that this corner of Kent still had a place in our story.
As it turns out, it did.
We're delighted to say that our next adventure will begin on The Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells.
And at the centre of our plans...
An elegant 18th-century Georgian building on The Pantiles, currently known as The Tunbridge Wells Hotel.
For generations it has sat at the heart of one of Kent's most characterful addresses. A place where people have gathered, stayed, celebrated and watched the world go by.
For centuries, people have come to The Pantiles to eat, drink, stay and spend time together. We thought that sounded rather familiar.
Old buildings have always been where our story begins. Most just happen to have been tucked away at the end of country lanes. This one happens to sit at the heart of one of Britain's most beautiful historic promenades. The more time we've spent there, the more convinced we became that this was somewhere we could call home
If you've spent any time with us over the years, you'll know we've always believed the best places are shaped by the people around them.
Knowing who's growing our tomatoes.
Buying fish from the boats coming into Kent harbours.
Cooking what the seasons tell us to cook, not the other way around.
Filling old buildings with warmth, generous food, comfortable beds and interesting people - believing the best conversations usually happen around a table.
Wherever we are, we'll always begin with the place around us.
None of that is changing.
In fact, before we even unpack our boxes on The Pantiles, we'll be opening the doors to THE PIG-on the Farm next spring - another wonderfully rural chapter in our story, and one we can't wait to share with you.
Tunbridge Wells isn't about replacing what we've always done.
It's about building on it.
Taking everything we've learnt over the last fifteen years and seeing how it feels in a place with a slightly different rhythm.
The countryside has always encouraged us to slow down. The Pantiles has always had a habit of bringing people together. Perhaps that's what drew us here in the first place.
We hope, in time, to become a small part of that story too.
Somewhere to grab a coffee on your way into work.
Somewhere for a long lunch that drifts into the afternoon.
Somewhere to meet friends for a drink and end up staying for dinner.
Somewhere to prop up the bar a little longer than you intended.
Somewhere to stay the night if the evening runs away with you.
The keys may be in our pocket, but there's still plenty to do before we welcome our first guests in spring 2028.
Over the coming months we'll be uncovering the building's stories, rolling up our sleeves, getting to know more brilliant growers, farmers, fishermen and producers, and slowly bringing our latest project to life.
Different? Yes.
Less PIG? Absolutely not.
We'll share plenty along the way, follow the journey.