I’m spoilt to be honest when it comes to a good country pub near where I live and the latest find has to be The Pig & Sty, part of the Elite Pub group, in Bethersden, just eight miles from Ashford.
Located in a beautiful Grade II listed public house, The Pig & Sty is filled with character with fireplaces, exposed brickwork and Dering windows, as well as modern touches in the vaulted ceilings, Insta-worthy floral displays, and the gorgeous bi-fold doors that look out onto the Kent countryside, complete with horses.
This is what I would call a gastropub to have lunch to catch up with friends or for a casual night out, as it has great decor and atmosphere as well as amazing food. The menu is vast, so be prepared to take a few to choose what you want as there are lots of yummy options. You can go for pub classics like fish and chips, steak, burgers and kebab, or sourdough pizzas, as they have an artisan wood-fired pizza oven or locally sourced seafood.
There is also lots to choose from if you are vegetarian or vegan, like the Power Bowl with organic quinoa, crispy tofu, pickled red cabbage, avocado and pineapple, tomato and fennel risotto, vegan pizza with Jamaican jerk jackfruit, and quinoa burger.
What to eat at The Pig & Sty near Ashford
What I loved most about The Pig & Sty, other than the desserts, which I will come to soon, had to be the finger food and sharing plates, where they recommend you get two dishes per person as a starter or three dishes as a main, so perfect if you want to create your tapas-style meal.
You can choose from dishes like caramelised onion and mozzarella sourdough flatbread, halloumi fries, smoked haddock, salmon and cheddar fishcake, mini pork pies, grilled Padron peppers, Romney Marsh lamb koftas, Tenterden charcuterie, king prawns, and harissa hummus and flatbread. I think even if I came for a few drinks I would need a few of these for the table.
I’ve been a few times with my husband and friends, for lunch and for dinner, both times the food was amazing, and I’m basically working my way through the menu.
So far, I’ve tried the pizza, my favourite, thin, crispy and delicious. I like the fact you can choose from one of their creations like The Pig on Fire with spicy nduja and Piri Piri chicken, or go for a classic like Margherita, Pepperoni or Hawaiian, or make your own.
While for starters you can’t go wrong with the halloumi fries, it comes with amazing harissa hummus and Piri Piri mayonnaise, as well as the seared King scallops. We’ve also tried the fish and chips, which had the most perfect mushy peas and the impressive-looking spicy chicken kebab that comes out hanging on a skewer for mains.
Pig & Sty do amazing puddings
For pudding, you are a little spoilt, with so many good options. From Eton mess to rhubarb trifle and chocolate brownie and sticky toffee pudding, as well as sorbet, ice-cream and cheese platters. There is also a selection of vegan ice creams. If I had to pick just one to recommend – I’d always say trifle!
The Pig & Sty is also dog friendly, you can eat with your dog in the garden and in the ‘pub’ part next to the fireplace, so a great option to come to in the winter after a walk and I definitely think we will return with Falcon.
The Pig & Sty, Ashford, Bethersden, TN26 3LF
