Harden's survey result
Summary
This 16th-century hotel on the market place and a short hop from the sea was acquired by Ernest and George Adnams back in 1872, the same year they founded their famous brewery. Still part of the family, the ancient venue does tend to split opinion these days, with fans claiming it “continues to improve”, and cynics – reciting a perennial gripe – that it’s “still struggling after the refurb” that fancified it in 2017. In any event, the bar (aka Tap Room) still offers “reasonable” prices though arguably “the best offering here is morning coffee or afternoon tea in their comfy lounge”.
Summary
On the market place, the Adnams brewery’s grand seventeenth century hotel attracted some positive reviews this year for its “good food” and “warm, buzzy atmosphere”, but also critics in equal measure, for whom the food is “OK, nothing special” – contributing to a lingering sense that “it was far better before the botched refurbishment” back in 2017, which added fancier design cred and fancier prices to go with it. Top Tip – for a cheaper meal, head to the Tap Room, not the main dining room.
For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at The Swan?
The Market Pl, Southwold, IP18 6EG
Restaurant details
The Swan Restaurant Diner Reviews
"standard of food has improved but still a bleak dining room"
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Filter Coffee | £0.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £5.00 |
| Service | 12.50% |
The Market Pl, Southwold, IP18 6EG
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm‑4 pm, 5:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑4 pm, 5:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑4 pm, 5:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑4 pm, 5:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑4 pm, 5:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑4 pm, 5:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑4 pm, 5:30 pm‑9 pm |
Best British, Traditional restaurants nearby
British, Traditional restaurant in Dunwich
British, Traditional restaurant in Norwich
British, Traditional restaurant in Stoke-by-Nayland
Best similarly priced restaurants nearby
British, Modern restaurant in Southwold
Fish & seafood restaurant in Southwold
British, Modern restaurant in Aldeburgh
