The Pig in the Cotswolds
We were beyond excited when we heard that The Pig Hotel Group was opening its first boutique spa hotel. A likely contender for the best new spa hotel in the Cotswolds, The Pig in the Cotswolds is the first in the group to have a stand-alone spa, and we were delighted to be one of the first to dip our toes into its warm wellness waters.
The lowdown
Once again, the Pig Hotel roup has worked its laid-back luxury magic, this time transforming a charming 17th-century country house into a unique boutique spa hotel.
Sitting pretty in the picturesque village of Barnsley near Cirencester, The Pig in the Cotswolds brings together everything you’d expect from the brand, including its hallmark warm welcome, unpretentious atmosphere, farm-to-table seasonal dining, wallow-worthy bathtubs and blissful beds. Boutique Fieldhouse Spa further elevates the offering, with its natural treatments, outdoor hydrotherapy pool and heat experiences.
Plus, this little piggy in the Cotswolds comes with beautiful Grade II-Listed Gardens and adds a country boozer to the quintessential mix. The traditional ‘Village Pub’ just down the road is a classic inn with a copper-topped bar, gastropub menu and six stylish bedrooms.
Kemble station is a 20-minute cab ride away, picturesque (but tourist-ridden) Bibury is just a few minutes up the road, and the cobbles of Burford, and ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’ Bourton-on-the-water are within easy striking distance. The charming market town of Castle Cary is another must-visit destination, as is spa town Cheltenham with its literature and jazz festivals and famous horse racing events.
The best spa in the Cotswolds is a fiercely contended title, with several of the best spas in the UK vying for this wellness accolade. Read on to find out whether our independent spa experts think the new Pig in town cuts the mustard.
Spavellous for
Foodies, garden lovers, nature bathers, romantics, solo travellers, overseas guests looking to experience a taste of the Cotswolds.
Spa info
Fieldhouse Spa is the first of the Pig’s wellness spaces to offer treatments by natural British brand Tribe517. The aromatic spa and skincare products nourish skin and soul with scents and textures from the garden, making it a great fit for the Cotswolds Pig.
Treatment highlights
There are currently six spa treatments on the menu – two facials and four massages, including a pregnancy treatment – all carefully created for Fieldhouse, and targeting different wellness needs.
I tried the Classic Facial, which focuses on plumping and lifting the skin using massage and Gua Sha stones. The treatment features Tribe517’s core One Collection products, along with other natural aromatic favourites from the brand.
My treatment started with a foot cleanse before I hopped onto the comfy, super-wide massage table for the (literally) uplifting treatment. The therapist started by double cleansing my skin with Tribe517’s subtly chocolate-scented cleanser, which she gently removed with a hot towel. Next, she placed toner-drenched pads on my eyes and spritzed a fresh rose-scented mist, before going on to exfoliate, massage and hydrate my grateful skin.
Treatment highlights included the exfoliation part, where a sweet-smelling cream scrub containing coconut sugar was gently massaged over my skin, then removed with a refreshing, orange-scented foaming cleanser and hot towels, and the Wild Honey Mask, which was blended with One Oil and enveloped my skin with the sweet scent of springtime. The gentle scraping of the Gua Sha was as soothing as it felt lifting, and more effective than I could ever do at home.
The treatment has clearly been designed to prioritise relaxation as much as complexional benefit. The combination of the facial’s flow, the fresh-scented products, the supreme comfort of the bed and the variety of textures involved make for a particularly luxurious and soothing multi-sensory experience.
After the treatment I was given time to emerge from my blissed-out state and led to the field-view relaxation room to enjoy some fresh dates and a cup of herbal tea. I reflected on how much I love a good facial these days, and how far they’ve come over the years to be so much more than skin deep. A facial like this gives the best massage a run for its money on the relaxation front.
Rooms
The 18 rooms at the new Pig in the Cotswolds channel the group’s signature style and reflect its ethos: luxurious yet unpretentious, with an emphasis on comfort, warmth, and sustainability. The new owners have breathed colourful life into the rooms here at Barnsley House, fusing a kind of maximalist ‘hygge’ with their trademark shabby-chic aesthetic.
The décor blends rustic elegance with modern amenities, featuring reclaimed wood furniture and flea market finds, and prioritising cosy comfort with squishy sofas and open fireplaces. Rooms in the original house have Main Character Energy, ranging from super attic suites to cosy eaves rooms. There are further rooms in the Stable Yard next door, soon to be joined by another four in the former cinema. Plus, there’s a three-bed self-catering cottage two minutes down the road.
Beds are super-comfy, designed for the ultimate rest, and bathrooms are taken seriously too, with some almost as large as the bedrooms themselves. Expect monsoon showers and/or supersized tubs peppered with indulgent Bramley products.
Wining and Dining
The restaurant is particularly lovely at The Pig in the Cotswolds, plant-filled and with daylight streaming in through the many windows that look out across the gardens. Pots of herbs in rustic wooden crates bring the outside in and create a seamless transition from hotel to garden.
Pig Hotels are known for their quality food and farm-to-fork ethos, and this little Pig is no exception, offering a ‘25-mile Menu’ featuring Piggy Bits, Fishy Bits and Garden Bits. In reality the journey for many of the ingredients is more like 25 metres, with many foraged fresh from the hotel’s own Kitchen Garden.
We enjoyed a starter of fresh fishcakes, served with preserved lemon mayo, followed by a deliciously creamy Jerusalem artichoke risotto with crispy sage. Despite opting for a starter-sized main, it ruled out pudding, but happily, left just enough space for some particularly delicious petit fours.
why so spavellous?
The Pig in the Cotswolds is a real all-rounder with a great atmosphere and a small but perfectly formed spa, making it ideal for a restful Cotswolds retreat. The hotel garden is particularly special, especially when it’s at its floral best in late spring and early summer.
The new Pig on the block ticks all the usual feel-good boxes: style, comfort, drinking and dining. The laid-back feel of the whole place enhances Fieldhouse’s relaxed vibe, as does limiting the number of guests using the spa. The carefully curated treatment menu has something to hit every spot, drinking and dining is a pleasure and The Village Pub offers flexibility and some great room rates.
spavellous tips
As with many Spavellous spas, we advise booking treatments at Fieldhouse Spa well ahead, especially if you’re visiting at a weekend or during peak times.
We recommend swinging by the spa’s retail area on your way out. Tribe517 products are good value and a purchase or two will help you keep the spa feeling going when you get home.
Garden lovers can join a tour with the knowledgeable garden team, several of whom have been lovingly tending to the hotel’s gardens for years.
If affordability is a priority, you can stop searching for ‘Pig-dupes’ (apparently a thing) and book one of the rooms in the Village Pub. Rooms are cosy but still have the Pig look and comfort, but rates are generally lower and, happily, include a proper big Pig breakfast.
Spa Goers say...
‘We love a Pig Hotel and this one’s our new favourite.’
‘I treated my husband for our wedding anniversary, and he had his first ever massage, which he loved!’
‘The pool’s small but lovely – even in the rain.’