Pig Hotels expand despite surging costs of labour and energy

With a wave of his wand, Robin Hutson is turning derelict country homes into luxury hotels, The Sunday Times reports

The dilapidated kitchen in a deserted country manor house in the Warwickshire countryside feels a long way from a luxury hotel. The tiles on the floor are cracked, paint is coming off the walls and two electric heaters blast hot air into the room on a wet and windy April afternoon because the heating doesn’t work. Neither, for that matter, does the sink. There isn’t even a functioning toilet.

However, if you close your eyes, you can see Robin Hutson’s vision that transforms this hollowed-out hovel into a shabby-chic country palace. The room will retain its farmhouse kitchen feel but will be a reception area overlooking fields. An abandoned barn will be renovated into a bright and airy restaurant. The stables with their rickety doors will be luxury rooms.

This is a behind-the-scenes look at how Hutson’s popular Pig hotels are created. With a wave of a wand held by Hutson and his wife, Judy, grand but derelict country homes are returned to their former glory. Pig hotels have become havens for well-heeled staycationers — the “silver-haired brigade”, as Hutson calls them — who flock to his venues for their rustic charm. Rooms are fully booked months in advance.