I went to the Pig & Whistle at Healing Manor for the first time and will definitely be returning

One restaurant in the area that I've always heard really positive things about - but hadn't had the chance to try the food there myself until recently - is The Pig & Whistle at Healing Manor.

Set within the stunning grounds of the hotel, the restaurant adjoins the courtyard which looks absolutely stunning on these cold winter evenings, with its rows of hanging fairy lights providing a magical and twinkling glow.

We hadn't booked beforehand, so were a bit anxious about whether we'd actually get a table - but the lovely server had no problem fitting us in. We ordered our drinks at the bar and were shown to our table.

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The bar and restaurant itself is lovely, with that distinctive cosy and homely vibe found in English country pubs. Old pictures line the walls showing the history of the manor, and classic furnishings and comfy armchairs dominate the space.

We were brought our menus quickly, and it was instantly apparent just how amazing everything sounded. For starters, I went for the Smoked Salmon Mouse (£11), which includes pickled cucumber, smoked mackerel, seaweed emulsion and beetroot, and my partner went for the Prawn Cocktail (£10).

My Smoked Salmon Mousse was divine, boasting vibrant and complex flavours and bringing a fusion of tastes and textures together. It tasted and looked like something I'd imagine I'd be served in a fine dining restaurant, but without the small portions.

For my main, I ordered the Moules Marinières - or mussels - which came with truffle and parmesan fries and garlic bread (£19). When I say the Pig & Whistle doesn't skimp on portions, I'm not joking. The mussels were piled into a huge bowl alongside a basket of fries and a generous portion of garlic bread, and was served with an extra bowl to discard the mussel shells.

The dish as a whole was delicious - the meatiness of the mussels went together amazingly with the rich, creamy and garlicky sauce, which was perfectly mopped up with the toasted garlic bread. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't finish everything because the portion size was so big - but I'm not complaining at all.

My partner ordered Oscar Cleve's Fish & Chips (£18) with chips and curry sauce instead of peas, and I don't think I've ever seen such a big portion of fish in all my life. So it's definitely fair to say that you get some bang for your buck at Pig & Whistle.

I was thoroughly impressed with the food, service and atmosphere as a whole here, and I'll definitely be back. Each menu on the item just sounded delicious, and the dishes were presented immaculately.

The Pig & Whistle is such a versatile place because the food is comparative to that of high-end, "posh" restaurants, but the vibe of the place is so warm, cosy and friendly - meaning it's perfect for both casual date nights and special occasions, and everything in between.