Food at The Swan, Grasmere in South Lakeland

We enjoyed this beautifully decorated pub for dinner one evening. You're able to sit wherever you like and put your order in at the bar which works nicely. The drink recommendations were excellent and the food was really good quality. We came back again another night just for a drink which we enjoyed once more. Highly recommend.

We stopped off for a bite to eat while walking in Grasmere for feb half term with family, food was good portion sizes ok, and drink seemed good was on the pricey side would be our only comment but we were in the Lake District on holiday so it’s to be expected, it was one of the better places we’ve eaten in Grasmere for sure.

We visited swan on 4th Feb, with Family of 6 for Dinner, we coudnt get the table we requested as we where told its fully booked, we where given Table 5, lovely atmosphere, we ordered food, as business people ourselves we asked how long will food take as we could see the hotel was full and busy, the waiter said she doesnt know, our order was taken everything came all together with starters which we did not say that everything must come out together, the waiter she said that was our instruction, fair enough food was amazing, top quality good proportion size on a plate, me, my wife, dad, brother, mom ordered casserole, which was very tender and tasty, my only advise would be that waiters should work with chefs and know what is the game on the casserole, hence i asked, the waiter said she does not know, we then sent back 2 game casserole to be made Extra Spicy, we said extra hot, the waiter did not ask if hot as in temperature or hot as in spicy, came back our casserole boiling hot, which we enjoyed but we wanted it hot as in spicy, service was great, overall thank you for dinner it was very lovely we would come back soon and see the adjustment in waiter knowing the ingredients on the menu, little more lighting would be better especially on dinner times, LOVE THE SWANN SEE YOU SOON

We stayed here recently and ate here every evening. The menu has a good selection for both meat eaters & vegetarians. The pheasant ‘pie of the day’ was very good . The pheasant meat was in a tasty sauce encased in lovely shortcrust pastry . The pheasant breast on the other hand was a bit of a let down . It was over cooked , tough & very dry but the accompanying mash & vegetables were cooked perfectly and very tasty. The tomato linguine was a bit too rich for my palate but the star of the show was definitely the lentil & mushroom shepherd pie . A pot full of deliciousness served with seasonal veg which were crunchy & fresh. The orange cake was very good but the plum sauce tasted synthetic . The cheesecake was presented in a little dish . The bottom was crumbly biscuit and the ‘cheesecake’ was plentiful and creamy. Breakfast was also very good with a good selection of hot food items, cereals, pastries , fruit & yoghurts. All were served by the most friendly, professional team who are an absolute credit to the Inn Collection brand!

GREAT FOOD We love the swann, what a huge improvement on food compared to our previous visit on November 2024, good value for money , nice potions, great taste pairing with pint, 6 minutes walk to the village and plenty of parking at the hotel, we coming back for dinners again, keep it up

Four of us visited in last few days for evening meal, two of us had liver which was plentiful and tasty, one had Carbonara which was very dry and very below standard, and I had Chicken Tikka Masala which was nothing short of the worst version of a chicken masala I have ever had. Menu states "cooked in tradional and authentic masala sauces" I am always dubious about eating pub curries as I eat and make a lot of curry and other Indian dishes and frequently get let down, but often get a pleasant surprise and am served a nice meal. However, this was probably the worst pub curry I have ever been served, it was dreadful. There was no indication of ANY spice/s in this meal. It was literally just blended tomatoes or pasata poured over cooked chicken. Just aswell I like tomatoes! Seriously bad!! The chapati was a dry piece of cardboard, awful! And no mint yogurt at all which I hadn't noticed to be fair until later. To be fair, pub refurbished to a high standard and staff very pleasant, but food needs checking out and will give The Swan a wide birth unless just a pint. Ps My tomatoes and chicken was £18.00!!

Disappointed to say the least, we stopped for food here on the 2nd Jan 2025. My burger was gristly and my partner had 7 bones in his fish and chips. When we told the waitress nothing came of it at all. I find this really disappointing for how pricey the food was. The staff were rather unfriendly and abrupt apart from the gentleman at the bar when we first came in.

I was devastated to visit the swan as it has been stripped out from its gorgeous original snug cosy after walk pub to a tepid, badly designed, boring, standardised, unimaginative, bland chain pub/hotel. It actually brought a lump to my throat with the sadness. I spent so many happy after long high walk pints and gorgeous meals in this pub. With lovely icy snowy strolls back to our b and b in grasmere I took my husband there saying you will love this pub. It’s the best. Old, dark, cosy, original, great taps, fab food, open fires. Devastated. 😩

Delicious food after a day of hiking. Wholesome food, not your usually biege fayre...real food, full of good quality ingredients. Nice atmosphere, pleasant staff. Clean. Just on the edge of Grasmere, lots of good walking routes nearby.

We decided to try the food at this establishment due to the good reviews. We are at several places over the last few days and decided on a pub lunch/dinner for our final day. We ordered the lamb kebab and the chicken kebab skewers and they were just awful. The lamb kebab looked undercooked and lacked seasoning. The presentation was awful too with drips of raita(dip) all over the container for the chips and the couscous/taboulleh underneath the meat on top of the flatbread was just sloppy and bland, just awful. I wouldn’t be returning as for £53 for 2 drinks and 2 tasteless dishes we were left with a bitter taste in our mouths. The worst food we have eaten in a long time.

Great welcome at the Swan. Very cheerful staff. Good selection of food. Sharing platters are very tasty. Definitely add on the Scotch egg.

Was not very impressed with the food that I was served for lunch at the swan inn . My wife picked the swan burger which was ok . But my choice of the chicken skewer was a disaster , the chicken skewer was only just cooked and the couscous with the dressing just looked like a mush , not very appealing at all . Completely left all of my meal and left when my wife had finished her meal.

The pub is just out of town. I thought I would come across a traditional pub. Local or popular beer and usual pub grub. Was I in for a surprise! The food was locally farmed DELECTABLE items that my taste buds could not comprehend! Wow! Then to top it off, the waiter Luke, was the most delightful and helpful server I've encountered! And I've been to 5 ☆ restaurants! I must say, Luke ur a gem and should be treated as one. The Swan,.. bravo!

Snug and cosy bar with very friendly and efficient staff. The most awesome fish pie, crammed with different fish, and a few peas, in a white sauce with cheesed mash potato topping. And the best onion rings I’ve ever eaten. Light fluffy almost tempura batter and thick sweet onion inside. Definitely a cracking lunch if you’re ever in the area.

Great friendly hotel where all your needs are met . The staff are so helpful and caring , Nellie advised me on the last visit to book direct which I did , got the room I wanted which was fab. Food is what you expect in a pub / hotel with a few little extras added we didn’t go hungry , and the gardens are an added bonus where you can sit and watch the world go by .

Lovely pub away from the busy tourists of Grasmere. Had a walk out of Grasmere and found the Swan on the Keswick Road. Had a light bite of a steak and blue cheese on sourdough with chunky chips. The food was delicious. We got talking to Tony a member of staff. What a lovely guy funny guy.

The Swan at Grasmere - lovely place, tasty food, great staff. After abandoning a 100 mile mtb / gravel ride the two of us needed help - me in particular as I was close to hypothermia. Sam and Nigel were life-savers and jumped into action as soon as I had wandered into the pub to ask for help. Lucy and Sian looked after us too when we were indoors and trying to stop shivering...! Kindness and compassion shown all round.

When we walked into the swan pub in Grassmere on our way home in the snow we thought we hit the jackpot. It had an amazing atmosphere with its open fires and quirky vintage modern decor. We were greeted by a wonderful and friendly staff member who told us about a free seat closer to a fire where we could get warm. All was well until the food came. I ordered a butter chicken, the menu made it sound delicious and up market. “Slow cooked tandoori style chicken” it stated on the menu. When the food came I was bitterly disappointed. I have had better curries in weatherspoons. It tasted like it came out of can. Terrible quality rice and Nan bread too. It was dry and tasteless. My partner ordered the pheasant. A tiny portion of meat with mounds of mash, only saved by the marginally tasty sauce. As I took a bite of his meal to try something hit my tooth nearly chipping it. I spat out a bit of bullet. When I complained about this, the waitress ignored me and walked off. I went up to the bar to complain and she said “thank you for telling me” didn’t apologise or offer anything to compensate. When you pay this much for food you expect it to be high quality. I have honestly had better meals out of a can and I didn’t nearly chip my teeth on those. The First Lady who spoke to us was wonderful we were just totally disappointed by the food and would not return here after our Experience.

Walked up from our holiday cottage. Looks so pretty with all the lights outside. Found a table near the fire, which was lovely. Very dog friendly, which is a bonus. There is also a dog free zone, which is a fab idea. Staff were really friendly. We ordered steak and a chowder. Both dishes were really nice. Would definitely visit again.

Very dog friendly with good beer and friendly staff but the food lets them down.I had a Tattie pot that was only notable by the absence of lamb. And because of convenience we returned on Sunday for lunch I had Pork loin which was sliced very thin and was way overdone and all served just a shade more than warm.If I had been asked by staff about either meal I would have told them. Plus we had to ask for a menu with gluten free options as they only had one behind the bar. I wouldn’t recommend the Swan but there’s scope for improvement

The best restaurant fish and chips I have ever eaten-beer batter, generous portion, beautiful fish David take note.

Having spent a week in the Lake District, I stumbled upon this lovely inn and decided to order a chicken salad. I cannot fault it as the chicken was so tender and the salad lovely and fresh with pieces of avocado and a dressing. The waitress was lovely as was the waiter who served me behind the bar. I am extremely particular and wouldn't normally eat in pub restaurants as I am usually disappointed. I went in twice for the chicken salad as it was so tasty.

The food at the The Swan is wonderful. We were lucky to have had two dinners and two breakfasts and all of them were made with the greatest of care it seemed to us. The steak and ale pie was amazing. The steak melted in your mouth and overall very flavourful. The staff make you feel so at home and cared for.

Decided on the Swan burger at £16.00 as it sounded lovely. It tasted as bad as it looked. Even the waiter said the plate looked a little empty.

Bland, forgettable food. Portion sizes on the smaller side. Pricing more expensive than usual pub grub. Lamb harissa burger was dry and boring. Game cottage pie sounded great but was pretty unremarkable. Service was decent and beer garden lovely, so would recommend for drinks but not food.

Lovely meal in a nice setting. The game cottage pie was really nice. The parmesan top was especially nice.

Are here for our evening meal. Service from Katie was great and she was very friendly. Food was very well priced and really tasty. Hubby had huge fish and chips and I had the lamb harissa burger and chips. Both meals were lovely and with plenty of food too. Definitely recommend a visit to this lovely refurbished pub.

I visited the Swan Hotel, Grasmere expecting to have a good lunch but was bitterly disappointed. I had hand cut honey glazed ham with chips and parsley sauce. The ham was thickly cut but was very dry and the hand cut chips were unbelievable. I think I got the left overs, there was not a decent sized chip amongst them. Fifty per cent were very small hard pieces of potato. No one came to the table to ask if I was satisfied with my meal until the girl came to clear away the plates. It was only then did she ask if anyone had enquired if the meal was OK. She did offer to get me some more chips but I declined her off as I had finished my meal by then. I often visit the Pheasant Hotel at Bassenthwaite which is owned by the same hotel chain and have never had a bad meal there. I think that the Swan needs to take a leaf out of their book.

We received a warm welcome for us and our dog when we stopped for dinner even tho we hadn’t pre-booked. There is a lovely atmosphere with attentive staff and a lovely range of food items available. We opted for a range of starters to share, all were delicious - soup of the day, scotch egg, black pudding sausage roll & hummus with flat bread. Highly recommend, we will definitely be back again.

This pub was recommended by a friend who told me it has been there for many years. The food and wine were of a high standard and I would recommend you give this place a try.

Me and my husband had a lovely Sunday lunch here after a walk. Food was delicious and service was good.

A true hidden gem, don't be put off by the dated aesthetics of the exterior of the pub because inside it is lovely and rustic, a true traditional English country pub. The food is exceptional. We dined here for our wedding anniversary and we were...

Visited the Swan after day swimming and walking round rydal water . We arrived at 4.15 and wanted food but we were informed politely that food did not start until 4.30 which was fine do we sat and had a drink in the bar .ordered...

We were returning from a day out & needed to stop for a meal & came across the Swan, which I popped into to ask if it was possible to eat. It was 3.45pm & & meals stopped at 4.00pm the Manager was very nice...

Super friendly and helpful staff. Meals were generous and tasty. The steak was excellent. Shame they don’t let you have a ‘tab’. Nice atmosphere. Would come again. Thank you

Went for lunch with dogs. Very friendly and welcoming. Lovely atmosphere. Nice menu. Food was lovely it was really busy but very efficient unflappable staff who couldn't do enough for customers. Will definitely return.

We ate here twice while staying in the hotel. The same menu is served in the restaurant and bar areas but we were seated in the bar accompanied by our dog. This hotel is very dog friendly with water bowls and treats provided also a...

Popped in for lunch. Very warm welcome and very good service. Food was very enjoyable and satisfying. Easy recommend. We were well looked after. Great place to sample if near Grasmere.

Where to start with this place. The location is simply stunning. We ate indoors but then moved to the outdoor gardens for some drinks to take in the scenery in the sun. The restaurant offered a varied menu which would provide something for everyone. Between...

We were lucky to be able to have dinner twice at the Swan Grasmere during a recent stay in the village. Food is served in the main restaurant and the bar at the Swan which is also a hotel and there is some seating outside....

We had 2 dinners at The Swan Grasmere (June 2021)both beautifully cooked and plentiful,the steak pie was by very far the tastiest EVER ! The staff were attentive and very pleasant The restaurant is lovely,spotlessly clean and extremely comfortable,there are a few small alcoves that...

Had a meal here this evening and was met at the door by a very welcoming smile from Hazel & Lucy, they where short staffed and under pressure from the very sunny bank holiday weather, but their professionalism was second to none from all the...

Very enjoyable first meal indoors for months. Excellent steak and ale pie and well cooked veg. Very friendly and attentive service. So glad we went.

We were looking for good pub grub and that’s what we found here. The service was great, the staff were helpful and friendly. The premises is clean and adhering to all Covid procedures. They catered for my husband who is a coeliac, so can’t eat...

Booked to have an evening meal. Covid restrictions very good. Menu varied with good selection of dishes. Waiter very friendly but not over the top.

We stayed at The Swan Inn over our 4 day holiday and we loved it. We brought our 2 year old son and they were so great with him. The Inn was clean and the staff was friendly. The food was great --- we ate...

A cosy bar, preferable to the restaurant, as long as you love dogs. Very nice staff, and good pub food with a wonderful view out of the window. I particularly loved the salmon and avocado salad, which I had two nights running.