The Swan, Tarporley
The Swan is a 16th century pub and hotel nestled in the centre of Tarporley, which has all the charm of a chocolate box picture. It is the perfect resting place for commuters from London to Chester.
Boasting sixteen en-suite bedrooms, with décor that exaggerates the building’s original features, large arched windows and dark wooden furniture, it’s like taking a step back in time.
Please note that we were unaware that there was secure overnight parking, and parked in the street, where the spaces were sparse so I would suggest you opt for the parking provided by the hotel.
The pub is open 7 days a week and offers a relaxing place to dine and drink or to stay. We were shown to our room upon arrival by the general manager Bianca and she told us that we could dine at any time that suited us.
The room was large, with a dressing table, wardrobe, large bed, coffee and tea making facilities, free WI-FI and seating area, with pictures hanging from chains on the walls, in-keeping with how the building would have appeared back in its heyday. The bathroom was modest, with fluffy white towels and complimentary toiletries.
We went down and were given the option of a table down near the bar or in one of their side rooms for a quieter experience. The hotel has many charming corridors and nooks where people can settle and enjoy an intimate chat or experience the bustle of the busy bar, so there is a place for whatever mood takes you. We saw large groups of women celebrating a birthday to couples having private conversations with one another- it really does cater for people from any walk of life.
We ordered our meals at the bar and enjoyed a large Scotch egg with brown sauce and Venison and chilli pate to start. The food was of a very high quality, however lacked the pretentiousness of other 4-5 star establishments, still delightfully maintaining its rustic routes and friendly relaxed atmopshere.
For our main course we enjoyed a duck leg in Cointreau sauce, with dauphinoise potatoes and seasonal vegetables and fish and chips with mushy peas. We were served by the general manager Silviu, who made sure we had enough drinks and that we were enjoying our choice of food.
To end we had raspberry and chocolate fudge cake and rhubarb and apple crumble, which were equally as delicious and layed with flavour.
All the food was well cooked and wholesome- just what you would expect from traditional pub grub!
The room was comfortable and quiet and we enjoyed a restful night’s sleep; despite our room facing the street, there was no noise from the Friday night merrymakers.
Breakfast was buffet style for cereals, fruit, pastries and juice and waitress service for the cooked meal, tea, coffee and toast. With a modest amount of rooms there were only a few people that joined us for breakfast so we received a lot of attention from the waitress, who ensured we were happy with everything. The hot breakfast was delicious, made with locally sourced food and cooked well.
I would recommend The Swan to anyone looking to stay in the Cheshire area- with only a short journey to large cities such as Liverpool and Manchester it’s a great base for commuting or to soak up the picturesque town of Tarporley for a more relaxed and slower pace of stay.
Thanks to Bianca, Silviu and the rest of the staff who were involved in making our stay so enjoyable!
The Swan,
50 High Street,
Tarporley,
Cheshire,
CW6 0AG
01829 733838
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