A luxury hotel company is planning to launch its second Kent venue at a Grade I-listed manor.

The Pig has announced it is coming to Groombridge Place, near Tunbridge Wells.

Its high-end hotels and restaurants first launched in 2011 and specialise in growing their own or locally sourcing produce.

There is already one in Bourne Park Road, near Canterbury, called The Pig at Bridge Place, as well as seven other locations across the country.

In 2019, it was the regional winner for Best Place to Stay in The Sunday Times' and last November was ranked number four in the top 50 boutique hotels in the UK.

Most recently, celebrity and illusionist Derren Brown spent his 52nd birthday at the Canterbury spot, posting a glowing review on Facebook.

Named The Pig at Groombridge, the new hotel aims to have more than 40 bedrooms, all with views across the property's moat, gardens and vineyard.

Its restaurant will have a sustainable menu – supplied from polytunnels of vegetables and fruit, a mushroom-growing house and on-site smokery.

In the grounds there will also be sheep, hens, quail and pigs.

What can’t be grown or raised there will be sourced from local Kent and East Sussex suppliers within 25 miles of the property.

On the website, Groombridge Place says it is currently closed for renovation and will not open until further notice.

The Grade I-listed manor was built in 1662 by barrister and architect Philip Packer, with the help of friend Christopher Wren.

Its moat dates back as far as the 13th century.

Groombridge has also provided the backdrop to numerous films, including the 2005 production of Pride & Prejudice starring Keira Knightley.

The hotel company says it will also be launching another venue at the Walton Estate, just south of Stratford-Upon-Avon in Warwickshire.

Chairman Robin Hutson said: “We are excited to acquire two genuinely unspoilt listed gems.

"We look forward to doing these beautiful buildings justice and restoring them sensitively, with their historic importance at the forefront of our decision making.

"These fascinating buildings complement our existing portfolio with each of them situated some distance from our other hotels.

"As with all of our hotels, we hope to create these with unique characteristics yet still very much designed with the quality of detail that has become the Pig look."

The Pig at Groombridge is set to open in 2025, subject to approvals.