The latest in the hugely successful Pig empire is almost ready to start welcoming guests.

The PIG–at Combe in the Otter Valley near Honiton, Devon opens in early July but bookings are already being taken.

The Elizabethan House is set in 3,500 acres of countryside, 1.5 miles from Honiton, just off the A30 in the village of Gittisham. It is just 8 miles from the south Devon coast and 15 mins by road to Exeter, just over 1 hour to Bristol, and just over 3 hours to London.

The latest Pig is predictably unpredictable with a number of head-turning alterations and highlights.

The historic entrance and ‘Great Hall’ have been converted to the main bar with no formal lounge seating. On entry guests will see a long bar, oversized sofas, and chairs to curl up in along with an roaring fire.

The panelled banqueting room and formal drawing room have been knocked together to create a new restaurant where informality rules. There is no polished panelling, pelmets and fitted carpets; here it’s stripped back to signature bare wood floors and restored shutters. A restored principle double-height bricked up window brings light and views to the room.?

The former dining rooms have become snug and cosy sitting rooms leading off the bar for more chilling and quaffing by open fires.

The old garden folly is ‘semi-restored’ (meaning almost, but not really) creating a look described as ‘derelict chic’. It creates an indoor/outdoor bar and dining area with wood fired oven, oversized tables and benches, and lots of cigars!

There are plenty more changes including the unused attic and stables being converted into rooms, the original kitchen becoming a private dining room with a ‘below stairs experience’ and within the walled infusion garden two potting sheds have been turned into treatment rooms.

As with the other Pigs, what cannot be grown in kitchen garden will be sourced within a 25-mile radius.

Chief executive of Home Grown Hotels Robin Hutson said: “Demand has been very high for the existing properties and our guests want more Pigs in more locations but we will only create them if we find exceptional sites like this – possibly the finest hotel building in this neck of the woods.”

There will be 27 rooms and they start from £155 per night.

thepighotel.com