Henny Swan in Braintree

Lovely service food and location

Disappointed in the weird decision not to allow latte coffees outside the restaurant! Never come across that before. Also disappointing was the lack of service when we received our lunch and were told to fetch our own cutlery. We paid just as much for the food as the people inside, so why were we treated any differently?

Overall brilliant local restaurant with great food at a reasonable price. Might seem strange, but I noticed just how clean the table and chair legs were. A small thing that makes a huge difference.

Great accomodating pub inside and out

Lots of tables available but was told that at 230pm we wouldn't be able to sit in the restaurant as they had a booking at 4pm ..wtf we only wanted a Sunday roast we were told we could only sit in the bar area where bar snacks are available but not allowed a roast .....then all we could hear was the doors slamming as people came in and out of the toilets ..never jumped so much in my life while just trying to have a meal ... Won't return im afraid ..Then a family turned up 5 minutes after us and was seated in the bar area next to us and where offered restaurant menu . Despite not booking in advance either . Make it make sense .... 😡

They made me show ID for a salad bro. But the chips were leng.

We went for the first time for lunch today , 2 adults and 2 children. A warm welcome on arrival , the pub is decorated beautifully too. The service was great , we were served quickly and didn’t wait long for our food. Our children had the fish goujons and chicken strips followed by the children’s mini brownie and ice cream they both loved it! My husband had the chicken burger and I had the piri piri chicken flatbread and adults brownie (pictured) both were really lovely, everything was home made and delicious! Lovely location and it’s great they have a boat hire place opposite which we used after! Thank you for a lovely meal , look forward to returning!!

Stayed at the campsite 50m down the road which is a great little place. Pub was ok, limited good ales but staff where great . it was a fun... What more do you need

Great spot for a lunchtime break Improved lunch time snack menu, sausage roll and sweet potato fries just the ticket or salmon sandwich Great to sit and enjoy the riverside location

Absolute gorgeous Pub. Me and my partner just stopped by for a drink and a light lunch. They have a "bar snacks" menu for when you're sitting over the road (next to the river stour) which has enough selection to suit people's needs. I would definitely come again and try out their full menu as the atmosphere here at the Henny Swan was perfect.

I visited the pub on a lovely sunny day I ordered the ploughman’s and was very disappointed as no pickled onions very little ham not even a whole slice as printed on menu 2 small pieces of cheese with very little flavour.

Had a nice coffee .will visit again

I was lucky enough to be invited out for lunch to this wonderful place. Only 35 minutes from Colchester so practically on my doorstep. Very warm and friendly welcome, lovely food. Good size portions. My only criticism would be, that ot would be nice to have custard as a choice for the puddings. Sometimes ice cream doesn't cut it. I would definitely go back, with or without custard 🍮 😃.

Excellent Sunday lunch. Friendly staff, clean and comfortable. Will be returning

Had a very pleasant Sunday Lunch here. Great location, food and great service. We chose the location as it was half way between where we live in Essex and my sister in Haverhill. Will meet here again.

Evening meal at this little pub. Dog friendly venue. Cosy as old English pubs should be. For me, the menu was a little small in choice, as not a big meat eater but everyone enjoyed what they ordered. I do not eat Venison or Pork belly, and loathe Risotto which left fish and chips, steak or a burger... would have been nice to have had a chicken option or two, and some hearty vegetarian option other than vegetable and miso broth, so Instead I went for a starter as my main course a nice hommus, dips, falafel & Pita bread with a side of beautiful fresh salad and a side of chips, the others enjoyed their venison and burgers. The staff were super friendly, efficient and very nice. Wine was good too! Not a 5 star venue, but certainly a great local pub and grub.

Enjoyed a lovely quiet Monday lunch at Henny Swan. Staff were very good. Great sweet potato fries.

Honestly my favourite place to go!! Food is always amazing! Staff are very friendly and cannot fault! Gets super busy throughout the summer months so advise booking.

This is a beautiful pub, with excellent service, great value and delicious food. Bonus cozy log fire smell if you go in the winter. I ordered the fish and chips which comes with mushy peas & tartare sauce and it was delicious flaky and fresh. Bring Your friends and family to this place

Fantastic food and staff. Always a warm welcome.

This is lovely place. The food is very good and well priced . The staff are friendly and polite and waiting time is short. Lovely location and would recommend to anyone

Lovely location. But the friendly welcome and serve was outstanding. Great menu choice and light bites specially. Homemade and tasted so nice. We had turkey and stuffing roll with dipping gravy and the sausage rolls. Will be going back.

We had an excellent lunch today at the Henny Swan. Food and waiting staff were wonderful with great service and a delicious menu to choose from. The menu was very reasonable, and I couldn’t recommend it enough. This must be one of the best places in the area. This is probably a third or fourth time and it’s always been excellent. Thank you for the hard work of the team and wishing you a prosperous New Year .

I wanted to say how much I enjoyed my visit for lunch at the Henny Swan.. the food was absolutely delicious and extremely well received. The waitresses for our table were very efficient and knowledgeable and very attentive...everyone's meal was so very nice. There were 10 of us and we all had enough food and drink to sink a battleship..all meals were served togethor nothing was too much trouble...I will definitely go here again to sit by the river. Great job everybody thank you. This is a place where you can celebrate and not be disappointed.

We booked the Henny Swan for a Christmas family lunch on 27 Dec. In advance of the day, I exchanged several messages with the team as our numbers swelled, & each time I was responded to promptly & courteously. We arrived to a warm, friendly welcome. The Henny Swan team was extremely efficient & attentive, striking that all important balance of being on hand but not intrusive. We were a big group, ordering different food & drinks both at the table & at the bar which must have been annoying! But they patient & happy to assist. The food was really great. Pub classics mixed with more contemporary options. Lots of variety on the menu to suit all tastes - we had several vegetarians & a vegan in the mix. Portions were generous too. We stayed for hours, way beyond lunch & again the team accommodated us away from their large dining room (the evening booking arrived). Hugely impressed - we all were. We will return in the spring. This is an excellent traditional British pub doing food, service & environment really well. Thank you

First time using this delightful restaurant, the food is amazing . The staff are really friendly . We will definitely be returning.

Great meal here. Great attentive staff and food was lovely. Best fish and chips ever!

all meals were good except for the crab risotto which was way too salty. Service was good ,very pleasant atmosphere. We wo uld return. Good vegetarian selection, starters and mains.

Lovely warm and friendly welcome with yummy food.

We booked in advance and received a warm welcome. Menu has a great variety for all diets. Dishes were tasty and beautifully presented. Really enjoyed our meal and the relaxing environment. I understand this is a popular spot in the summer as it is on the river.

Proposed to my partner here and couldn't have picked a better place to do it. Staff were instrumental in ensuring the proposal went well. She said yes by the way.

We arrived on Paddle Boards and had an excellent bar lunch and pint. Being able to park and then SUP to the Henny Swan was ideal for our party. Thanks!

New to the area we were recommended the Henny Swan as somewhere which provided the best food in the area and we were not disappointed. We were greeted by a friendly, smiling staff member who explained the two options for lunch, either in the bar or in the restaurant. We opted to have a full meal in the restaurant and it was one of those experiences where you savor every mouthful and don’t want it to end. The pork belly croquettes as a starter with their tiny picked baby apples were delicious and the duo of duck for the main was better than any duck I was served over 8 years of living in the SW of France….supposedly the duck capital of the world. When it came to the peanut butter/caramel and banana concoction we had for pudding - well, it was just a sublime end to a perfect meal! Chapeau to the chef!

Lovely place next to the river. Very high quality food and service, not exactly cheap but pretty much what you would expect to pay for food and setting

Great little spot opposite a little lake with swans. Perfect on a sunny warm day for drinks outside with food. Lovely service. Thank you for your hospitality. Regards from Australia!

1st time visiting in an age. Amazing food, great service, we'll be back.

Great pub, great location, great food.

Great place. Great idea to pay £10 foe launch pass then get the full value back at the pub. Great food, fantastic polite services. Best pub we have stopped at whilst kayaking by far. Well done The Henry Swan. Will definitely come again.

A good meal with great beer and all served by friendly and helpful staff.

The nicest pub/ restaurant in Suffolk and surrounding areas. The Henny Swan can not be faulted! The staff are all very friendly and accommodating, prices are reasonable, the pub itself and its surroundings are beautiful and the food is stunning. Mine and my partners favourite place to visit for a Sunday roast.

Good Quality Pub food. Staff were friendly and helpful and were only too happy to help with an arranged birthday party and a guest who had special dietary requirements. The pub is set in a Country Location with views over the countryside and the River Stour. There a number of Parking Spaces which are set on the opposite side of the road, although there are a few disabled parking spaces as well which are outside the main pub and restaurant. However during the busy summer months I would think these will get filled up quickly. The only negative I would say is during the evening as there were several tables seated the restaurant got very hot quiet quickly some of the customers on other tables requested the Air Conditioning to be switched on which seemed to have caused some confusion due to other tables being seated under the Air-conditioning units.

Food and staff were amazing, thankyou!

Well worth a trip , lovely selection of food by the river. What could be better on a summer day? Excellent service and very good food. Also a nice selection of things to drink. Approach from the Sudbury side to make your car journey easier.

Had a day on the water, then here for lunch. All good.

Number of table options - "restaurant menu" tables need booking. Popular for paddle boarding the Stour

Real nice spot on the river. Great couple of hours on hired kayaks, then some nice food.

Although very busy staff were efficient and friendly. Good value menu and reasonably priced drinks.

A really lovely place on a sunny day

What a lovely location for a great lunch for our anniversary.

My wife and I came to Henny Swan for lunch. We both had the Henny ploughman's which came with homemade bread, pickles, and, homemade pork terrine. The food was delicious, the staff friendly and helpful and a great atmosphere to boot

Absolutely lovely food and the staff are very polite and welcoming. It was my first time here but I will be sure to visit again soon.

Great place for lunch. A very varied menu and a good choice of wine. Great beer garden next to the river.

Awesome little pub that’s helped along by having a fantastic canoe hire setup in its beer garden…. Great summer vibes, food is decent too.

Great place to paddle and have something to eat

Having been to the Henny Swan on several occasions now, I have to share my thoughts on their food. It is terrible. I'm not sure where all these good reviews are coming from. The only dishes you can order on the overly complicated and seemingly never ending menu is their fish and chips or burger and chips. The rest of the menu is disgusting. The chef doesn't seem to actually like food, just their pay cheque. There is not a chance they have tasted the chicken Caesar pasta salad, otherwise they would have thrown it in the bin. Stop serving your dishes in bowls, all that's left is an oily soup at the bottom of everything you make. Cut the menu down by 60%, taste what you're serving and actually care about what you're doing. The lady with grey and red hair is one of the rudest people we've ever encountered at a restaurant. Yes, table 23 is "in the restaurant" (not in the garden as we mistakenly said, despite it being outside). You treated my wife with utter disrespect. The only saving grace about this place is the waitress with long brown hair. She is always professional, extremely helpful and friendly. We will go back as the location is fantastic, but only for a SIMPLE drink.

Nice place to stop, particularly outside

Delicious food in an airy restaurant overlooking the River Stour. Definitely recommend a visit. Starters and main courses served quickly but did have a wait until dessert order taken but all in all a great place to eat

Food is always pretty consistently good here.

Lowly location with a fantastic garden. Tables are well spaced out with large sash windows giving an airy feel to the dining areas.

On arrival at the restaurant the parking is located on the opposite side of the road by the river and there seems plenty although I can imagine it could be difficult on a busy day. We started with drinks outside and was served by a very helpful young lady who was happy to help. Unfortunately food was not available outside however the restaurant had available tables and we moved inside the building. The hunters chicken burger was very tasty well cooked and used decent ingredients. Staff were very attentive to our needs and ensured we were happy without bothering us.

Was here for an evening drink. Great venue with outdoor seating. A bit pricey but expected.

Fantastic meal , staff outstanding, lovely place just by the river , highly recommend.

Dropped in on Monday afternoon after a long weekend at Center Parcs. Accommodate 11 seated down. Huge table in one of the restaurant rooms. Good quick service with great food. Great location with outdoor facilities next to a stream.

Lovely pub& restaurant with large garden and gorgeous view. Food is always great and service excellent. Good place to come and enjoy the nature and food with friends.You can rent boats or kayaks and then come to the pub for refills.🥰🙏 If sun is up you’ll appreciate more this beautiful place.If you can find a place to park speak with the staff, they will find a spot for you.Have a great time and enjoy the food.🥰🙏

Absolutely loved this place. We paddled boarded from Sudbury and had a lovely lunch here. So easy to order food and it was excellent. The prices were fair and the service was quick. Will definitely come back here again.

A very charming country pub that has a garden over looking the river stour. Its remote location adds to the charm, it's quiet and peaceful. The food was good, fresh and not too expensive. The service was friendly and welcoming. I'll be back.

Had a small drink here after a kayaking session with some friends. Lovely pub with a great selection. I did have an issue with a card payment as the waitress seems to have pressed too many zeroes and I ended up being overcharged for my drink. One call the day after and it was sorted immediately, amazing customer service and very prompt with responding. Stop by if you're in the area, rent a kayak and drive down if you're not.

Went for Sunday Lunch today. Quite busy but the staff were very good and very friendly. The food was great and not rushed out. Nice airy atmosphere and surroundings. Prices are mid to high but good value. Will definitely be visiting again soon.

Excellent riverside setting, not much parking, which fills up quickly. On a nice day, it gets very busy. Nice staff, food is priced mid to high but very good.

Stumbled upon this place when I wanted to do paddle boarding/kayaking. Manager is lovely and staff are amazing too and food is YUM! Make sure to book and not just turn up

We found this by accident when on holiday in the area and were really glad we did. Popped in for a lunch and had an excellent meal in a nice country pub, tucked away in a small village. Service and value were excellent

Lovely meal & good customer service.

We've been meaning to dine here for some time after hearing nothing but good things about it. We were not disappointed! We both had the lamb kofta off the light bite menu. It was perfectly balanced with a slightly sweet pickled red cabbage, mint yoghurt, and with the chargrilled of the flatbread cutting through, it was absolutely delicious and very reasonably priced, too Staff were friendly and accommodating to our request for a quiet table. We will definitely be returning soon!

Perfect place to Unwind throughout the day or evening. With or without the children. Food gorgeous and staff very informative and friendly. You can launch paddleboard/kayak/canoe from here by paying a £10 launch fee. On return on the day you can use to exchange towards food or drink. Plenty of parking.

Great pub on the river. Nice and vibrant staff were superb friendly and polite. Order food on the app plenty of seating outside for ample big groups.

Pretty good place to visit by the water. Can get busy here when the weather is nice and sometimes a wait but guess that's generic really. Most of the food is better than average pub food so would say this is worth a visit. Can also rent some water equipment too which is nice on the rare sunny days!

Stunning location, great food and friendly staff! My friend and I went paddleboarding from Henny Swan and they managed to squeeze us in for dinner late notice so we were very happy 😊

Perfect roast beef dinner. Perfect service. Reasonably priced. Lovely setting.

What a gem of a place with a superb outlook across to the River Stour. The food is absolutely lovely, well cooked, and presented and not small. The staff are friendly and attentively wait at your table . We will definitely come again

One of my favourite places to sit and eat

We visited this absolute gem tucked away in the beautiful countryside perched on the edge of the river Stour, to celebrate my sisters birthday. The food was amazing, the staff were 1st class and very accommodating and such beautiful views. We will definitely come back.

We love this place so we had a chance to pop in and have lunch which was from their garden menu. This was really disappointing and not our previous experience from them we both had a pitta open sandwich and basically it was inedible as it was just mainly garnish and salsa! Come on Henny Swan you can offer a better menu than this and at £21 with some French fries was not value for money. We won’t be rushing back to experience this.

Honestly gorgeous place! Stunning location, recommended paddling or canoeing on river! Probably my new go to!

Great food,brilliant service in an amazing location. Best place around we don’t go out much but when we do it’s normally henny swan

Love the Henny Swan, Food always reliably fabulous. I had the smoked haddock and leek tart starter today, with salad and new potatoes.... Heaven! Staff are lovely and so welcoming. Family lunch, dinner for two, drinks with friends, or bar snacks and a pint around the fire with the dogs after a long walk. The Henny Swan ticks all the boxes.

Food absolutely out of this world service was amazing friendly happy place prices are not to bad for the quality of the food

We enjoyed a couple of drinks in the garden, before moving to an outside restaurant table. We sat around the side, so were able to make the most of the evening sun which was lovely. We ordered the Chicken Ceasar Burger, which is a new item on the main menu and it was delicious. It came with extra ceasar dressing in a pot, which was so tasty and not too garlicky, and was great as a dip for our chips too. We absolutely love The Henny Swan. There is always something tasty to eat from light snacks to a full meal, which suits all budgets. The service is always quick and the staff are really friendly and welcoming. Add to this the most scenic location, it is a place we return to again and again. Thank you for a great afternoon 😃

Came on the boat from Sudbury on a cold damp day and delighted to see the lovely fire in the pub.! Food and service were both excellent. Staff friendly and helpful. Lamb and fish delicious. Will be back!!

Great food. I had the fish of the day battered fish and chips - the batter was fresh as well as the fish, the chips nice and piping hot, a generous pot of tartar sauce. They kindly made me a decaffe liqueur coffee as well. I tried a bite of the lemon meringue cheesecake which tasted light and divine. We were seated quickly. Food was prompt and the service was friendly. The atmosphere is nice; open layout with beautiful thick wood tables, cozy wood fires and a cute outside eating area (sadly raining on the day of eating). Set in a really stunning area, too. Decent value. Main and a drink came to slightly under £20 which is good considering the portion size! I'll be coming back here soon.

What a beautiful pub hidden away from the bustle of Sudbury! We drove from Mildenhall seeking lunch whilst our baby finished his nap. We found this pub via Google after finding ourselves in Sudbury and not liking any of the pub options there. This is a PROPER pub. As soon as you walk in you get that gorgeous smoky smell from the fireplace and the general atmosphere is just so warm and welcoming. The staff at this pub are friendly and accommodating. We get nervous sometimes bringing our son to lunch with him being young but we were greeted without worry and highchair provided. They also have a baby changer which is a welcome addition. The food itself was really tasty. Can recommend the brisket. We had two mains, shared a dessert and had starters and two drinks plus a coffee and it came to just over £50 so brilliant value for money for the quality you get. There is ample parking, camping & a river nearby. We would definitely drive an hour to visit here again!

What a beautiful pub hidden away from the bustle of Sudbury! We drove from Mildenhall seeking lunch whilst our baby finished his nap. We found this pub via Google after finding ourselves in Sudbury and not liking any of the pub options there. This is a PROPER pub. As soon as you walk in you get that gorgeous smoky smell from the fireplace and the general atmosphere is just so warm and welcoming. The staff at this pub are friendly and accommodating. We get nervous sometimes bringing our son to lunch with him being young but we were greeted without worry and highchair provided. They also have a baby changer which is a welcome addition. The food itself was really tasty. Can recommend the brisket. We had two mains, shared a dessert and had starters and two drinks plus a coffee and it came to just over £50 so brilliant value for money for the quality you get. There is ample parking, camping & a river nearby. We would definitely drive an hour to visit here again!

Great place to eat. Even on a wet April afternoon. Highly recommended

The best Food Served from the most relaxing restaurant in a country pub ever. Great beer selection . Fish n chips are legendary

Great food and very pleasant staff. They looked after our whole group really well. I picked the Henny Swan for our celebration because every time I'm in the area I eat there and I know you can rely on a great meal in amazing and picturesque surroundings.

Lovely food in a beautiful setting

Very good food, service was excellent, staff friendly and helpful A1.

This is a fantastic food experience unlike any other pub in the area. The food and the service is fantastic with a beautifully decorated bar and restaurant area. The menu changes regularly and has specials on every day and ranges from superb fish n chips to venison , duck, steak and chicken. Fantastic place EVERY TIME.

Wonderful food, welcoming staff looking foward to our next vist

Always a pleasurable experience and welcome awaits at the Henny Swan. Life and demands on 'social excursions" are many so we only manage to visit 4-5 times a year but every time we come away we always comment to ourselves that we should visit more frequently!! If you're in search of a warm welcome with good food then the Henny Swan won't disappoint.

The Henny Swan has the freshest most seasonal ever changing menu you will ever have the pleasure of experiencing. The venue , the food and the staff are simply superb. Sandra and myself had valentines dinner last night and could have simply stayed there forever .