Old Swan

Oh dear! Pleasant staff but clearly a bit coy when I asked who owned the pub. Andrew Brownsword should stick to drawing pictures! Dead plants in pots on tables outside with loads of water in! They’re dead!! Get new ones. Tables need pressure washing, they are horrible. Took our food to sit by the river opposite. That area stinks of drains, great big dead conifer, weeds, lack of maintenance, again, get a pressure washer on the picnic tables. When arriving I said the signs need WD40 to shine them up, we should never have gone further. Food was actually ok, beer was really cloudy. A lovely chap said The Mill wasn’t open for lunch so sent us to The Swan. We were going to book Buckland Manor in Broadway for my birthday, not now, it’s the same chain. Get a grip guys.

When we arrived at 12:30pm for Sunday lunch, we were the only customers there which we took as a warning sign for what was to come. We gave our name of the reservation to the woman who greeted us and she went off for several minutes to find someone to help us. Another woman arrived who asked if we had a reservation and also asked for our name. She couldn't answer our question as to whether or not we could eat outside so we waited for the manger. The manager also asked if we had a reservation and for our name. Eventually we were handed menus, pointed in the direction of the garden to seat ourselves and told to come back to the bar to order. It turned out that we didn't need to order at the bar as a waitress came to take our order. We couldn't order any of the lemonades, Pimm's and draught ale that we wanted as the drink's dispenser was broken so we settled for bottled drinks. There were no small bottles of sparkling water so I had to order a large one (and pay for it). The Sunday roast was delicious. Very tasty and perfectly cooked veg. We were told though, before we had even sat down, that there was only an option of 'well done' beef. Fortunately, it was still juicy and tender. There was no English mustard available so my husband settled for wholegrain. It arrived in it's own sealed pot and he noticed that it was out of date by 14 months! The burgers were very over cooked and crispy on the outside.

Sunny day visit sat in garden 1st round Pint Hawkstone and a Prosecco standard. 2nd round just one Prosecco but not a full measure! I was at bar ordering and said politely to bartender this doesn’t look like the correct amount a bit low. Bartender says no it is correct mentions something about millilitres I don’t quite hear and walk away annoyed feeling ripped off. We were considering staying for a meal but no chance we drink up and leave never to return.

Booked for a meal. Very disappointed in the service and staff. Informed that soup and fish and chips were not available due to having a busy week,even though one staff member said it was because they had not been able to go fishing!!! My friends meal returned due to being undercooked, I had eaten mine my the time they returned with her meal, freshly microwaved I might add. Asked waitress who to complain to, her response, "I don't know, I did not cook it, maybe the chef" Salt and pepper pots were empty next table also. Other clientele waited 25 minutes for there order, only to be told they had no burgers. Very poor experience.

This is a lovely old pub in a beautiful village which we have visited before. However, calling in for a late lunch time drink we were very disappointed. We were served after a long wait by a rather flustered bar maid to find there was no draught beer available and we were charged over £20 for a large glass of rose, a pint of Hobgoblin and a ( half full) dish of peanuts. Buyer beware! We will probably not go here again .