THE PIG on the Beach

Perched above Studland Bay, THE PIG-on the beach occupies an eccentric 1825 seaside villa built for the Bankes family. Paths lead from its Kitchen Garden down to the sand, while the restaurant looks directly across the water to Old Harry Rocks. Here, THE PIG’s garden-led cooking meets the fishermen, foragers and producers of the Dorset coast.

Story

The house was built in 1825 as a seaside retreat for the Bankes family, whose Dorset estates included Kingston Lacy and Corfe Castle. Architecturally, it was never a conventional country house: turrets, Gothic details and an eccentric mix of styles give it an almost storybook appearance.

Later known as The Manor House Hotel, it was restored and reopened as THE PIG-on the beach in 2014. Rather than formalising the old villa, THE PIG retained its quirks and turned the surrounding grounds into a productive coastal Kitchen Garden.

Why we selected THE PIG near the Beach

A seaside house with real history

Built as the Bankes family’s coastal escape, the house’s turrets, irregular architecture and eccentric rooms give it a character unlike any other PIG.

The sea shapes the kitchen

Dorset fish and shellfish can arrive within an hour of being landed, joining produce from the Kitchen Garden and nearby farms on a menu that changes constantly.

The coast begins at the garden gate

Paths run directly from the hotel towards Studland Bay, with Old Harry Rocks and the eastern edge of the Jurassic Coast immediately beyond.

It celebrates Purbeck producers

Fishermen, farmers, foragers, cheesemakers and butchers from the surrounding Dorset countryside underpin its 25 Mile Menu.

Local life & traditions

Life around Studland and the Isle of Purbeck has long been shaped by fishing, farming and the sea. Swanage retains the character of a traditional Dorset seaside town, while the surrounding countryside supports grazing, cheesemaking and small farms.

At THE PIG, that landscape arrives directly on the plate through Dorset fish, oysters, venison and local cheeses, alongside coastal ingredients such as sea kale, sea beet and rock samphire grown in the Kitchen Garden.

Authentic experiences in the area

Explore the Isle of Purbeck

Walk the Jurassic Coast, visit the ruins of Corfe Castle or take the heritage railway between Corfe and Swanage to discover this distinctive corner of Dorset beyond its beaches.

Taste Dorset from sea to soil

Follow the day’s catch and harvest through a menu built around locally landed fish, shellfish, Dorset meat and whatever is ready in the garden.

Discover the coastal Kitchen Garden

Join the gardeners to see how the seaside setting influences what grows here, including rock samphire, sea kale and sea beet alongside the garden’s vegetables, herbs and fruit.

Walk from garden to sea

Leave the Kitchen Garden and follow the path down towards Studland Bay, continuing along the coast to the chalk stacks of Old Harry Rocks.

Protecting culture & land

The house has been treated as an eccentric historic villa, retaining its irregular architecture and character. THE PIG similarly works with the existing landscape through its walled Kitchen Garden and seasonal growing.

Its 25 Mile Menu keeps much of the hotel's food economy local, connecting the kitchen with Dorset's independent fishermen, farmers, foragers, cheesemakers and other small producers.

Location & surroundings

THE PIG-on the beach sits above Studland Bay on the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, around four miles from Swanage.

The beach lies below the hotel, while Old Harry Rocks mark the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast. Corfe Castle and Swanage are nearby, with heathland, chalk cliffs and protected coastline making this one of the most distinctive natural settings of any PIG.

Key details

Address

Manor House
Manor Road
Studland, Swanage
Dorset
BH19 3AU

Getting here

By train: Wareham is the most useful nearby railway station, followed by a taxi to Studland.

By plane: Bournemouth Airport is the closest airport. For a wider choice of international flights, Southampton and London Heathrow are alternatives.

By car: Studland can be approached from Wareham and Corfe Castle, or from the Bournemouth/Poole side via the Sandbanks chain ferry.

Facilities

Greenhouse restaurant with Old Harry Rocks views

Potting Shed treatment rooms

Direct access towards Studland Bay

Bar & snug

Kitchen Garden tours

More

23 individually designed bedrooms

Harry’s Hut & The Pig Hut shepherd huts

Words from the owners

“The walk to the beach takes about as long as it takes to decide to go.”

— THE PIG, on Studland

Every stay booked direct keeps value with the people of this place, so they can reinvest in culture, community and land

We believe travel should give back more than it takes; that it can protect cultures, not erode them.

That is why we connect you directly with each hotel’s own website. By booking direct, value remains in the hands of those who shape these places, enabling reinvestment into local culture, community, and land.