Swan Inn, The

Emily (26 April 2008)

I have eaten at this pub many times while visiting my mum who lives close by. The Swan Inn is highly recommended by numerous guides but it has still successfully maintained its image as pub, and not moved towards becoming a restaurant. The food is excellent with a wide variety of dishes and prepared using some fantastic seasonal local ingredients. Prices reflect the quality of the ingredients but are by no means ‘city prices’. The standard of service is high and the atmosphere relaxed and welcoming. It seems surprising that they were criticized for the speedy delivery - surely that has to be a positive aspect. The Swan offers an environment for you to either drop in for a quick light lunch or spend a long time over a splendid meal.

Nick (9 January 2008)

After reading a rave review in the local press and then visiting the website to view a superb menu, I decided that it would be worth the forty mile round trip to visit the Swan. I stepped through the door and found myself in a bistro style environment, not unpleasant but not quite what I expected. The reception was warm, but somewhat confusing, being advised to just pick a table and take a seat. The tables were without table covers and paper napkins were provided. It is listed as a top pub restaurant but I still paid city prices. The menu was fine, although the dishes I had hoped to try were not available and the service though keen was a little clumsy. My biggest criticism of the evening was the speed of service; three courses plus cheese and a glass of port, an hour and fifty five minutes. That was total time from walking in to getting back into my car. I could perhaps have understood, if there had been a host of people queuing for the table, but there wasn’t. The speedy delivery became a nuisance. My wife and I have a young child and we don’t often have the privilege of an evening to ourselves and when we do, we like the evening to continue and not be over in two hours. There was something missing here. Service ok, food ok, and wine list ok. Upon reflection a forty mile journey for something which was ok and for the drive which took half as long as our stay, would not entice me to return.

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