Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Porkie scratchings go down well in pub
She steals peanuts from behind the bar, tries to slurp from customers’ pints and regularly rams the kitchen door looking for food.
But the landlords of the Conquering Hero pub in West Norwood, South London, wouldn’t dream of banning their favourite resident, Frances Bacon.
They adopted the micro pig as a family pet when she was six weeks old and from the beginning she has been hogging the limelight.
Over the years she’s charmed drinkers in the pub and beer garden, where she has her own custom-built pen and house. Now 12, her favourite spot is lazing in front of the fire and getting a fond scratch behind the ears from regulars.
“She’s a lovely old girl, a mixture of a Gloucester Old Spot and Vietnamese pot-bellied pig,” explains landlord Vicky Taylor-ross, 46, who runs the pub with husband Ian, 50.
“She has the run of the pub and loves to greet her many fans who come to see her armed with treats like carrots and acorns.
“The funniest thing is when someone who hasn’t visited before sees her snoring by the fire, they look up in wonder and ask me ‘Is that really a pig sat there?’.”
But Frances is not always so relaxed, especially when food is involved. Vicky adds: “She’s been known to turn over bar stools in search of peanuts, and likes to headbutt the kitchen door to try and get in. We often use a stairgate to try and keep her out.
“Now she is getting old she can’t go upstairs so she sleeps downstairs – but when we go up to bed, she gets out of her basket to see if we’ve left the door of the kitchen or bar open in search of crisps. We can see her doing it on the CCTV.”
The family, including children Tavis, 17, Ruby, 14, and Mary, 10, wanted a pig because dad Ian grew up with them in San Diego. “We wanted them to experience the wonder of having a pet pig,” says Vicky.
“Frances was house trained within 48 hours of having her home. There is a perception that pigs are dirty but she’s exceptionally clean. She could live until she is 18, so we are hoping for a few more years with her.”
She has the run of the pub and her fave spot is lazing by the fire