Quaffing, Troughing & Truffle Foraging
THE PIG-in the South Downs | Wednesday 24 September 2025See out the last of the summer days at THE PIG-in the South Downs with a truffle-inspired three-course lunch and outdoor foraging adventure with a four-legged friend (and top truffle dog): Buddy, the Vizlador - a Labrador x Vizla cross!
£195 per person
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There is a poignant point in the calendar that comes just once a year when truffle season is truly at its delicious best.
As summer starts handing over the reins to the fresh autumn months, plenty of nutty, earthy fragrant fungi are waiting to be found in the forest – from the black autumn truffle to the beginning of the burgundy variety, packed full of roasted hazelnut flavours.
At THE PIG, we genuinely love nothing more than making the most of what’s in season on our doorstep. That’s why we’re inviting you to join us this September for an outdoor adventure to find these truffle treasures, rounded off with a three-course lunch inspired by your fresh pickings at THE PIG-in the South Downs!
This hands-on, helpful foraging workshop is hosted by three of our favourite wild food and outdoor enthusiasts: Tom Radford, Ben Sweet and his trusted truffle-trained Vizlador, Buddy.
Starting from our West Sussex house, Tom and Ben will kick off the morning with a friendly introduction to welcome you into their world of foraged finds and truffle hunting, plus give you a chance to meet the star of the show – Buddy! Together, you’ll then head to a secret spot around 15-minutes away from THE PIG-in the South Downs to begin the foraging walk.
As you explore, you will get a fascinating insight into your foraged fare, how to find truffles (with or without a dog), how to recognise a good truffle – and how to spot a bad one – as well as how to clean and care for them. Tom will also help you identify what’s edible (and what’s not!), what’s medicinal and what can even be used as ingredients in soaps and cosmetics,. He'll also share the folklore surrounding wild plants and mushrooms, as well as the landscape and history of the area. Of course, there will be plenty of time to ask questions as you go and lots of opportunities for some hands-on digging!
After working up a well-earned appetite, you’ll head back to THE PIG-in the South Downs to tuck into a three-course truffle inspired lunch, alongside a glass of our very own PIG Cut wine or a non-alcoholic tipple.
When, where, how much…
When?
Wednesday 24th September 2025, 10.00am – 2.30pm
Where?
How much?
£195 for a full morning of truffle foraging just a short drive away from THE PIG-in the South Downs, with a three-course lunch and paired wine to follow in the Garden Room – our semi-private dining room in the glass restaurant overlooking our very own vineyard.
What’s included?
A welcome hot drink when you arrive at THE PIG-in the South Downs, with a friendly introduction to your hosts – Tom Radford, Ben Sweet and Buddy the Labrador x Vizla.
A 90-minute guided truffle foraging walk and talk at a nearby location (to be discovered on the day!).
A three-course lunch at THE PIG-in the South Downs, inspired by your foraged truffle pickings, and our very own PIG Cut wine or a non-alcoholic tipple to enjoy with your lunch.
What to bring with you
Comfortable shoes are a must and, while we hope the weather will be on our side, we suggest wearing something suitable for all weathers… just in case!
A little heads up…
While we will always do our best to give you the best truffle hunting experience, foraging goodies are never certain until near the time – it depends on things like weather and wildlife to name a few… but it’s all part of the adventure!
Much closer to the time, we’ll have a better idea of what fantastic fungi are out there and where we can find them. So, you may be asked to drive to meet us at a secret location, which will be revealed on the day. Don’t worry – the drive will be no more than 15 minutes, and part of the magic of truffle foraging is its secrecy.
To help protect the site, we’ll ask you to sign a disclaimer on the day, in line with the Truffle Foragers' Code, to keep the location confidential (so it really is an experience not to be missed!).
Meet your guides
Tom Radford
Based in the New Forest, Tom is truly passionate about foraging, wild, local and sustainable food. He runs foraging walks all over the UK and is a keen cook and advocate of sourcing and serving wild meat and game.
Tom’s channel @EatTheCountry takes a wry and light-hearted approach to wild food and foraging – after all, laughter is the best path to good learning!
Ben Sweet
A South Downs-based truffle hunter, certified dog trainer and the driving force behind Truffle Forager – Ben helps people reconnect with nature through the ancient craft of truffle hunting with their dogs.
Passionate about sharing hard-won knowledge, Ben blends clear, science-backed training with old school truffle hunting secrets for beginners and budding experts. He is the co-founder of the UK Truffle Festival and the UK Truffle Dog Championships, events that have sparked a fast-growing community of truffle enthusiasts across the country.
Buddy
Buddy the Vizlador is 4½ years old and is Ben’s reliable sidekick.
“He was my first dog that I was fully responsible for,” says Ben. “From the moment he arrived, I set myself two goals: to make Buddy the best companion anyone could ask for and to teach him to hunt truffles – a dream inspired by my lifelong obsession with fungi, food, and the outdoors.
“I threw myself into learning, combining advanced scent detection techniques from the professional K9 world with traditional truffle hunting practices and, slowly but surely, Buddy transformed into a confident, reliable truffle hunter. Teaching him to work with me in the woods gave me a sense of purpose I hadn’t felt in years.”
