Brasserie at The Swan Hotel

This former 18th century coaching inn has a prime location in the centre of town, and with 300 years of service and a major £1.5m modernisation by The Lewis Partnership behind it is well able to deal with the demands of modern life when it comes to creature comforts such as eating, drinking and relaxing.

In 2005 the brasserie won 'Brasserie of the Year' in the prestigious Taste of Staffordshire Awards and gained a rosette from the AA for the second consecutive year. Its reputation for live music in Stafford under the Swan Live programme is enviable, with the Courtyard Garden pressed into service.

One customer comments, 'Friday nights in the summer, there is only one place to be . . . in the garden at The Swan dancing to some of the best live music I have experienced.'

A brasserie style restaurant offers à la carte, with set menus and special offers in support. A typical meal could start with a Loch Duart smoked salmon parfait with horseradish crème fraiche and herb salad, or confit duck leg, chorizo and borlotti beans cassoulet with Madeira sauce.

The Black Rock Grill enables customers to cook their seasoned cut of meat at table on hot volcanic granite using no fat or oil. With a 10oz rib eye steak as top of the pops you have only to add the sauce of your choice, some homemade chips and a spot of grill garnish and you have a personalised meal to your taste.

Chicken breast filled with spinach and cream cheese is served with potato gratin, sun blushed tomato and rocket dressing, or there is always a good selection of fish. Depending on the market this could yield pan-roasted salmon, mussels, cider and parsley sauce with crusty bread, or tuna steak with caramelised onion, potato salad and red pepper compote.

The wine list is presented more by character than type under the general headings of red or white. So we are presented with lighter driven reds, bold and blockbusting reds. Fruity medium weight whites, aromatic whites even. The general aim is to stay under the £30 mark, and as well as this sensible pricing which appears to be achieved through not operating a fixed mark-up, they also do a selection of around 20 by the glass.

18th century travellers using the transport of the day would have been knocked out by the classic and contemporary cocktails available in Bar Swan. Nowadays they provide a convincing alibi for those who prefer to make a night of it in one of the romantic four poster suites. A more traditional approach to matters of liquid refreshment is taken in the Courtyard Bar.

A novel and welcome facility enables guests - or anyone for that matter - to buy Gift Vouchers in multiples of £5, which can be redeemed against food, drink or accommodation to be redeemed at The Swan or its sister ship, The Moat House Hotel, close to Stafford. How often have you been stymied in your search for a gift for that impossible person who seems to have everything?

A quick click on their Website will reveal a great deal more about this excellent and well recommended hotel.