please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Popped in here on a Friday lunchtime. Lovely old pub, good range of bitters and a couple of lagers. ..priced at about the £3.60 per pint mark. Wasn't drinking so can't vouch for the ales but the food (sausage and mash for me, tarragon chicken salad for the mrs) was very good. Good sized portions, fresh veg and came to the table in good time. Staff were genuine and friendly, and there was a good mix of what I took to be locals and paying guests (the pub has accommodation). Only downside was that parking is limited, but then this very old pub is part of a tiny village. Would definitely pop in again to try the bitters. Rated 9/10.
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The new Landlord and staff have been working hard for nearly a year now and The Swan comes over as well run. The accomodation was great, the beer fine and the food very tasty. These guys are making a success of the place. Long may it continue.
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After a period of closure The Swan reopened and has gradually come back to life. We stayed the night and were pleased with the accomodation, breakfast, evening meal, lunch, and the wine and beer on offer. (Sussex, London Pride and Doombar for the real ale lovers.)
The weather was great so we spent the afternoon in the garden.
The new Landlords and staff are trying hard to get The Swan going and are doing really well. Good value for money was the thought when we left - not quite the perfection of the previous Landlords but, they took The Swan to closure.
A nice old pub in the country.
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Oooops. The web site says the old place is closed. Company in administration. Oh dear. Would advise checking the web site or, up to date news before heading down there. All a bit sad!
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Stayed a night after a gap of a year. The pewter bar has dulled and real ales are still there. The restaurant is spilling over into the bar area - their food is very, very popular - not big portions but, high quality and tasty.
We were glad to see the wall panel paintings from the old restaurant had been cleaned and were now in the bar area.
The bedroom was fine but starting to look tired compared to the main pub area.
RIP The olde Swan Inn but give the new Swan a look in.
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Met some friends here for Sunday lunch, the London Pride was good, but the establishment had very little atmosphere, more gastro pub really. The food we thought was very expensive and the quantities were very very small, especially the �8:50 cheese board with 4 very thin slithers of cheese. I would certainly not be rushing back to eat here again. There was no children's menu for our friends son either, so not really an establishment fit to bring a child.
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Oh Dear!. I did not realise that the Swan had gone down the gastro route. As well as all the old fittings the atmosphere has gone as well. And what have they done to the old open smokey fire we loved so much on a winters day.
OK, the food is very good & competitively priced. There is a good range of well kept real ales, you can't go wrong with Doombar.
But did we really have to put up with the the high pitched wailing of some 6 month old baby. Obviously the delight of the grandparents present but a distinct downer for us.
I am afraid the changed Swan is not the sort of pub I feel comfortable in. But it will suit the wine bar crowd from London. Also if you are going to play non stop music ditch the repetitive rubbish.
I have to give it a 7 but I won't be going back.
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Wow what a fab pub!!!! makes dining out in your local town a pleasure if u wanted that something special.Enjoyed the experience to the max. we choose the antipasti sharing board what was delightful the atmosphere was relaxing and staff quick shall return.
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Went there with some anticipation after the last comments. Yes, the bar and dining area now look like they could be a gastro pub in Notting Hill Gate. But, the bar is in fact pewter and will dull with time and the paintings in the dining area that made it unique, will return after restoration. However, the old Swan Inn and its olde worlde time stood still decor is gone.
The new Swan Inn has a good real ale selection - Sussex and Doombar were there, and a fine wine selection with excellent meals and attentive staff. The overnight rooms are fine but next in line for refurbishment. And on a sunny day, there is a lovely garden at the rear.
Even if you were a fan of the olde worlde decor, give the new place at least a visit. There is a lot going for the new place.
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Wow! Closed for so long during reburbishment, the Swan has finally opened its doors again. And what a jaw-dropper! I instantly forgot I was in a centuries old rural coaching inn and thought I had been transported to the West End of London. A nice contemporary look, and immaculate bar work by the polished staff. Great stuff - in the West End. Not in West Sussex. But I suggest you go once, if only to see the stainless steel bar!
Sorry - its a No...
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Good news. We dropped in and stayed the night and I can say that the torrid past is being reversed by the new staff. Back to the old Swan we knew a few years ago - a little up market, with lovely beers (Doombar was on when I was there), good meals in the restaurant and rooms pleasant, comfortable and clean with, nice staff.
The new folks have a big task ahead to rebuild the reputation. Good luck. We will be back.
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Hurrah! Heard on the grapevine that old Mr Northern Grumpy had gone in the last few weeks, so popped in for a pint and bite. New family taken over lease, who run a pub in Steyning I think, but change is hugely noticeable. Much more relaxed friendly atmosphere, and they have local bitters on now too - Harvey's Best and Arundel Gold.
Food was as good if not better than before ( was never the problem) and had a nice realxing evening, leaving stuifed! Still a while to go to get a 10 - but will be going back to see how things change in teh next few months
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This is a real might have been, but gone sadly wrong. Over the years, there have been many changes, not just in personnel, but it just doesn�t seem to come off.
It has all the raw ingredients but seemingly lacks someone passionate enough about making this a truly great pub. Century old photographs give both an idea of how attractively presented it once was and how it could look once more.
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Had my first visit there last Sunday & won't be returning.
The food was fine as was the beer, but Mr.Grumpy who was unproffessional enough to reduce his staff to tears in the bar gets a great big thumbs down.
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