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Swan Hotel, Southwold

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user reviews of Swan Hotel, Southwold

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

Refurbished completely in 2017, Adnams must now look at this as their flagship venue. It's really a hotel with a large "Tap Room" (that's how they describe it) and other seating areas dotted around for one to partake in afternoon tea (or beer). Modern display board behind the bar advertising 12 different choices; all the usual beers from Adnams including a never-to-be-seen-again Ease Up IPA. Whatever time we walked in last Monday (guessing around 5pm), we had the place largely to ourselves before the influx of families arrived for their 6pm feed.
paul_d102 - 29 Jul 2019 22:35

We have eaten and stayed at The Swan and Crown on numerous occasions.

We opted to have lunch in The Swan bar and placed our order at 1.15pm.

This consisted of the Spicy Chicken Open sandwich, and the Rumpsteak
Burger and Chips.

There were six other people in the bar at the time : A foursome who
were already eating, and an elderly couple who were served with their
food shortly after.

How long would you think is an acceptable time to wait for food in
such circumstances ?

We waited until 1.50pm when our annoyance got the better of us, paid
for our drinks and left.

The manager we later complained to said it �shouldn�t have happened�
but wasn�t too concerned because 2010 had been the hotel�s best ever year !
Thanks !

If a hotel kitchen cannot produce a relatively simple burger and chips
and open sandwich within 35 minutes of the order being placed, on a
quiet lunchtime, then it must have serious problems.

Perhaps this may account for the lack of diners, because on previous
visits we remember that the bar was bustling with people.

rosiesboy - 10 Dec 2010 13:44
Wonderful building, great ambiance, superb service, but oh so small portions in the restaurant!

I think for 5p short of �17 you should get more than a piece of Bass fillet which is one and a half inches by 3 inches, I kid you not!

It is ridiculous to charge what they do for their main courses in the restaurant considering the minuscule portions on offer. How they get away with it and get the customers through the doors is beyond me. As I would not go back ever again.
gusguzzler - 10 Aug 2010 23:53
Standards of service remarkably variable from year to year. We try it on holiday each year and is unreliable. This year bar staff courteous but fairly clueless and inattentive once your food order has been taken, don't seem to notice (or care) how long you have been waiting. Food disappointing for the price. Manager-type person is bustling but pretty ineffectual unless you are bound for the restaurant, in which case you will get fawned over! Have a drink here but if you want to enjoy yourself, head for the Red Lion where they really understand food and service.
lemonadedrinker - 19 Aug 2008 08:41
Bland hotel bar. Barman seemed to take an age before approaching us with a surly 'Yes?'. Sorry, but that is simply rude and not, I'm sure, how the management of this Adnams hotel would expect staff to greet customers. The guy (from SA I think) lightened up later but, in my mind, the damage had been done. Bizarrely, the courteous & very helpful barman from our previous stop (Crown Hotel) was buzzing around the area - his colleague could learn a thing or two. The beers were ok but I prefer to be in a pub anyway.
trainman - 25 Apr 2007 10:38
Not a pub as such, more a hotel bar. The food at the restaurant is lovely. The staff are very friendly. I enjoyed it but if you fancy a pint or 2 then perhaps go to The Lord Nelson instead.
anonymous - 29 Mar 2006 15:29

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