The PIG team have announced that they have just acquired the 17th century Barnsley House hotel, tucked away in the quintessential Cotswolds village of Barnsley, four miles from Cirencester.

Nestled in historic arts and crafts-style gardens, created by renowned garden designer Rosemary Verey, this property has all the makings of a PIG already weaved into its DNA.

It comes with its very own village pub - which will be a first for The PIGs and there is a small spa.

Not only does it have a working kitchen garden, but the ornamental gardens will be a new source of inspiration for the eager PIG gardening team.

Chairman Robin Hutson said: "We are absolutely thrilled to have acquired Barnsley House. It has been in my peripheral vision for many years as a possible acquisition, always thinking it would make a perfect 'Pig' and we are very excited to have our first pub too."

Barnsley House will continue to run as is by the Barnsley team until Sunday, February 4, when it will close for refurbishment. The company says for any guests due to visit up until then it will be very much 'business as usual'.

In February, the PIG team will go in to start the works to turn the property into a PIG, with a view to opening the doors this summer as The PIG - and The Village Pub.

The company says that, with a fair wind, the plan is to open The PIG - and The Village Pub, Cotswolds, in summer 2024; The PIG - on the farm, Stratford-upon-Avon, at the end of 2024; and THE PIG - at Groombridge, Tunbridge Wells, in summer 2025.

The PIG group is a personal collection of small lifestyle restaurants with rooms where the focus is on authenticity and informality of design, food and service.