Winterbourne Bassett publican bringing home the bacon (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Winterbourne Bassett publican bringing home the bacon

12:00pm Sunday 2nd September 2012 in News

VISITORS to the White Horse in Winterbourne Bassett, near Avebury, can not only enjoy great ale, they can also tuck into a pork chop that started life just a stone’s throw away in the publican’s field.

The new tenants at the Wadworth pub are going to great lengths to ensure their customers enjoy the best produce by keeping their own hens and ducks for eggs to make pub puddings, and rearing their own pigs for sausages, bacon and chops.

Kurt Turner and his partner, licensee Saman-tha Creech, are first-time publicans, having moved to Winterbourne Bassett a couple of years ago from London.

Mr Turner said: “When the White Horse became available, it seemed too good to be true.

“We had dreamed of running our own pub for many years, and here was an opportunity on our doorstep. I saw this was a chance to combine my passion for pigs with delivering really great food to our pub customers.”

Mr Turner breeds British Lop pedigree pigs, a rare breed that produces top quality pork.

He said: “I like to feed them naturally through the seasons, so they have acorns in the autumn and apples in the summer – they are very happy pigs.

“One thing they get all year round is [Wadworth] 6X.

“Pigs love beer, and we soak their kibble mix in slops from the pub and the hops give the pork a fabulous flavour.”

In time, the couple plan to bring the piglets to the pub and raise them in the garden, so visiting families can see them. They are also going to rear lambs for meat.

Mr Turner said: “We have had a fantastic response from customers who are bowled over that they are eating home-grown, home-cooked pork, together with vegetables sourced locally and home-baked bread.”