PIG-at-Combe (Devon)

Part of the Pig Hotel group (now owned by private equity firm KSL Capital Partners), the Pig-at-Combe is “our secluded, honey-coloured Elizabethan Gem.” On a long page of ‘things to do‘ the hotel suggests visits to wildlife sites, rugby clubs, Powderham Castle, Bicton Gardens and a whole lot more. But this is Devon, where almost every square inch is shot or hunted over – surely the hotel wants a piece of the action? Of course they do. On a rather less visible ‘Shoot Gatherings’ pdf, the Pig-at-Combe offers rooms for shooters, a ‘Shoot Feast-sharing menu’, and even a free room upgrade for the organiser of the ‘killing birds in the countryside’ jolly. Does the whole chain support shooting? We would love to know…and (as of June 2025) thanks to a supporter now we do. The PIG responded to an email asking about shooting saying that “While The PIG doesn’t promote or advertise shooting experiences, they recognise that some guests visit the area to participate in local activities, including traditional country sports that have long been part of rural life. The “shoot gathering” service is simply a practical accommodation option for guests who choose to take part in local shoot days independently. This reflects the hotel’s broader commitment to supporting local economies and traditions without taking a particular stance on the activities themselves.” So – as we read it anyway – the PIG believes that the industrial-scale slaughter of non-native birds is a ‘traditional country sport’ and that they’re happy to take the money without actually having to take a ‘particular stance’. That’s pathetic, to be frank. Make a bloody commitment or get out of the bloody business. Simply looking the other way while counting the cash as dead birds tumble from the sky is shameless…