Swan & Cygnet in Wakefield

We came to the Swan and Cygnet today. I am absolutely appalled at the service. I ordered from the table as suggested. I ordered a soft drink and a pint of carlsberg and black and a portion of onion rings. My sister in law ordered separately a pinot grigio. We waited around 5 minutes for the onions rings which was fine. We then waited another 20 minutes before I had to get up and ask where our drinks were. Then 10 minutes later a lady brought us drinks but one was wrong. 5 minutes later she returned with the corrected drink but my sister in law was told they didn’t have her drink available and offered an alternative. Another 5 minutes pass and she returns again with a DIFFERENT drink because the alternative she offered was also not available. She accepted this to prevent any more waiting, but then noticed how filthy the glass was.

Lovely food, lovely staff. Would highly recommend ☺️

Good food, carvery was great, beef really tender. Jack was a pleasant and helpful server

On arrival not many free tables, the ones that were free were covered in used plates cutlery and glasses. I proceeded to order two meals and two drinks via the QR code on the table. 15 minutes went by no sign of the drinks so had to go to the bar. In total it took just short of an hour for the meals to arrive which weren’t great. I have visited this pub many times in the last 10 years and I have to say it has gone down hill along with other marston brewery pubs. The prices are going up and the quality is going down. To summarise I payed just over £37 for two meals and two drinks. I could have gone to weatherspoons and got the same 2 meals and drinks plus two deserts for the same price if not less and not to mention a clean table and efficient service.

It was really good food but really really slow service we had to wait 20 minutes for a rocky road and food we had to wait 45 minutes but nice waiters

We have visited several times before and always been happy with the food and service. However on visiting today we were very disappointed. Had to wait an hour even though was told 30 minutes wait. We were with family who had carveries who had waited before going to get theirs to time so we were eating together however they had all finished and we were still waiting. We had to check twice where our food was and each time told a couple of minutes. When the meals came our food was just warm not hot and one meal had to be returned as the steak was cold. We did ask for a refund for the cold meal which was given and eventually another meal came to replace it. We unfortunately will not be visiting again unless things change. They seemed to be concentrating more on the carveries and the regular food orders seemed to be left waiting a long time.

Always visit , excellent value for money

Great tasty food , wasn’t too busy and good service from staff

We have had a carvery here in many occasions. The staff are always friendly and accommodating, especially Wendy. Our Labrador, Buddy, is always made to feel welcome with a bowl of water, a fuss and a lovely selection of carvery scraps! A good selection of lagers, so always a lovely pint!

After waiting over 55 minutes for our food, when it came out the quality of the food was very poor, burgers where over cooked and dry, very little garnishing. The food could have been warmer too so overall very disappointed and will not be eating here again.

Wendy absolutely fantastic lady, always makes us welcome

Very impressed with the booking process and the welcome. I’d asked for a specific table as one of our party is autistic. This was provided politely and with no fuss. Billy was great on the Carvery. We have been before, we will come again.

Nice food, reasonable price. Staff are very nice. Very chilled vibes. 😁

Good staff especially Louie, Alex ,Ben and Mark. Food was perfect I had the burger and mint chocolate tart. Would recommend.

Really poor . Shown to a dirty table manager rude when asked if it could be cleaned . Carvery area very messy , looked like it had been very busy , but no one monitoring, not enough staff . Disappointed as we had read really positive reviews .

Swan and Cygnet is an absolute gem of a restaurant. From the moment you walk in, the warm ambiance and welcoming staff make you feel right at home. But what really sets Swan and Cygnet apart is the people. Special shoutout to Ben, Alex, Louie, whose attention to detail and friendly demeanor make every visit feel special.

Not happy today. No Yorkshire puddings left. Pork belly was way too fatty to eat.

Been here several times over a few years. It's a fairly cheap pub so you get what you pay for. It's usually pretty good hence us coming back. However last night was a really disappointing visit. Waited a while just to be seated. Ordered on the app but that was playing up and frustrating. We waited about 15 mins for drinks and about 45 mins for 3 starters. For some reason they brought my daughters dessert after 5 minutes. I let her eat it as it was already 8pm now and no sign of any food. Had to ask for knifes and forks and napkins still only got 3 sets. Went to queue up for carvery it was empty but we had to wait at least 10 minutes just stood there. One member of staff saw us and asked if we are waiting for carvery ?? (As if we were just stood there for fun). Said he would get the lady but she still didn't come. Took another member of staff to go get Lucy the server. Finally got our meal and food was perfectly fine. Waited a while longer before the final two burger meals came out. Cheese burger was cremated. Chicken burger was missing two sides. We had to ask two different people twice before being told they had run out. If not being sold a full meal would be good to be informed before hand. Meanwhile an argument was going on near our table between an unhappy customer and a server. My young daughter was quite upset by this. I feel for the 3 young men serving a whole pub on a Friday night but they are clearly not trained in customer service. Also there is no excuse to have customers stood by a carvery when the pub is fairly quiet. Sadly we won't be going back to the Swan and Cygnet.

Venue really under staffed. Staff on duty being run ragged. Waited nearly 75 mins for food, glasses arrived dirty and lip stick marks still visible. Food finally arrived. No cutlery provided. Had to ask for this. Genuinely felt sorry for the 2 lads on shift. Constantly having to deal with complaints from other customers.

Wonderful place with amazing staff 🩷

Amazing night This Thursday night . The QUIZ was awesome winning the free carvery. Was so cool Thank You Alex the night was Fab Natalie was awesome x amazing atmosphere

Had to send Childs meal back due to undercooked sausages - No apology from staff. Myself and my husband had the carvery, both ended up with upset stomachs an hour later. First and last visit sadly as it is a lovely pub but both food quality and service needs some work.

The staff are really friendly and the food is great

Second time I've been here - arrived 25 minutes before advertised last food orders.. and "oh the gas is off now"? So no food? "No we closed 5 minutes ago" despite there being a half hour of service time advertised "Well the gas was off" A one off I can understand, but thats twice I've made plans, arrived in good order and time for you and you simply couldnt be bothered to serve us. We will eat elsewhere in future.

Lovely food and service 😋 highly recommended 👌

Nice pub but cold inside. Food nice. Staff pleasant. Big car park.

We had a really lovely visit on valentines day. I had booked for the valentines meal, but forgot to pre order. Wendy and Alex were really understanding and still allowed us to sit on a special table. We had the carvery and as usual, everything was piping hot and delicious. We love visiting here as the staff are all so friendly and helpful. We will definitely be back.

Vegan chilli- small amount of the chilli itself for the cost (£13.29). Primarily microwaved pilau rice with a slim portion of guacamole and salsa. Kids had the carvery, it seemed OK. They didn't like the mashed potatoes. I tried a carrot and a roast potato, the carrot wasn't particularly nice but the roast potato was fine. Kids enjoyed the yorkshire pudding. Very pleasant staff and helpful too. £5.60 for a pint of Guinness £3.30 for a 12oz lime and lemonade. I probably wouldn't return to eat here myself due to the cost of a microwaveable vegan meal, but the kids enjoyed it. I enjoyed the pub and staff, just I felt the food was expensively average fayre.

The place was clean and tidy. However no one greeted us, everything seemed rush and short staffed. We ordered via the app the drinks were just dumped on the table on the tray no thanks or hello. The kids meal arrived super fast. And we had to wait for 5 mins at the carvery counter for the 2 adult meals. When we got back to the table there was no cutlery left when the kids meal was received at the table so my son was eating with his fingers. I then had to go to the bar and ask for cutlery- no apology was given. Told him one person was a child and he just dumped adult cutlery on the tray didn’t say you don’t have kids cutlery or anything. (Luckily I carry some in my bag just incase). When we arrived the table next to us had empty plates and glasses on. Which were still there when we left. Had that of been me as a staff member I would have taken them on the first or second time I attend our table - poor Would we visit again…No

Went for a carvery Tues could not fault it good good food and service specially from a young lady called Wendy yours Keith

Us and our friends really enjoyed the place. Staff was very friendly. Venue is really nice and has comfy interiors. The location is fabulous, we went for a walk around the lake after meal which was great. Close to everything in city but far enough for quiet break

Just back from a lovely carvery here , from entering (there was a sign on door explaining they were a little short staffed.,so there might be some short delays , this didnt effect us at all ,although its a good idea so people have an imformed choice) , Cheerfully greeted n shown to our table , Good oldfashioned carvery , meat , veg , gravey absolutely banging!!Yorkshires like mi nan used to make , Crackling option aswell was a good touch (Cheers Craig ,love the sign lol) , the guy serving was very friendly n helpful as well as the lady who brought cutlery and very attentive , thank you , was a shame we where in a hurry , we will deffinatley be back , thanks everybody 😁👍

Nice meal as always... Friendly staff.

Bar Service was really good Meat on carvery lean and beautifully cooked Food hot, value for money brill Thank you

Just been down swan and Cygnet for lunch got to say food was lovely , service excellent and the lady called Wendy was very happy to help 10/10 will be back 👍

Alex served us on the bar and was kind and friendly, the food was amazing and delicious will definitely be coming back

Another truly enjoyable Sunday lunch at the Swan..a warm, homely and satisfying environment. As usual bar service although busy was swift and efficient and waiting staff attentive. Craig on the carvery serving up this seasons selection of perfectly cooked meats and vegetables...never a "hard" potato or over done roast! Allergies and intolerances very well catered for and communicated and heard Craig going over the dairy content of the vegetables for one such person. Great to see the care that goes into making sure the customer has an enjoyable visit.

My lovely local! Great carvery and cool background 🎶 music

Lively meal and friendly efficient service enjoyed by 3 generations.

Food was good but the glass I had my cola in was dirty

Fantastic visit to the Swan and Cygnet. Top quality food prepared by the chefs Lucy, Lewis, and Katie. Came as a group of 5 and we were all very happy with our meals. Will definitely be returning off the back of this experience.

Good food great service nice and friendly staff.

Beautiful carvery, meat was so tender staff were friendly and helpful.. will definitely return

Had chicken burger with french fries chips was very thin and hard chicken burger greasy on a small teacake with 1 piece lettuce nothing else no side salad ( could have gone to McDonald’s got better ) less price Meals came in dribs n drabs Apple crumble for dessert which came frozen in centre had to send it back Waited again Very slow service won’t go again Other meals came bare minimum no sauces Bland & dry Unhappy family outing

It was ok. Table was dirty, food and service were adequate.

Arrived early so the carvery wasn’t quite ready but enjoyed it when it was. The service was excellent.

Nothing flashy just a good old fashioned carvery. Does what it says on the tin.

I've ordered drinks and pudding online to be brought at the table but they just won't come, probably they've ignored my ordered so I had to go at the bar to let them know. I've been to better places

Rump steak was just a little bit gristly but tasty nonetheless. Wendy was welcoming and looked after us really well - thank you ❤️ Music is such an individual thing, I would prefer a little light classical rather than pop in the background- although Otis Redding was nice to hear as an older customer 😊

Very mediocre experience for our family Christmas meal. There was no urgency for our food it seemed and a fire drill in the middle of us settling delayed us further. Food wasn’t too bad but little or no apology over the time we waited with four children in our party.

Family outing for a heart warming carvery on Monday lunch. Been a few times and all in all very nice! The lady tending to our needs was Wendy and she was welcoming, polite and extremely helpful!!

When we arrived, we realised that it was quiz night and the bar was quite busy. Elaine explained this to me and showed us to a table that she advised would be a little quieter for us to eat at. We had the carvery, and the meat and vegetables were delicious. The quiz although we didn't take part added a nice family friendly feel to the pub.

We booked a table for 5 people for an early Mother’s Day lunch. We all ordered carvery and we had 5 clean plates. The meat and veg were delicious.

Having been previous years for Christmas day I was very disappointed at the standard this time. There seemed to be no direction from the manager as to what was happening on the day . We were taken to our table not being set waited 20 mins for starters then having to go to the bar area to ask where our starters were . They eventually came out and my starter of pate was terrible the bread was hard and had holes in the pate was like something out of a tube . Had to then que up 35 mins to get our main courses after just guessing we had to as no one told us what we were suppose to do . The condiments were not full gravy had run out and I asked 15 mins before being served so they could sort . Food all over the floor in front of the carvery. No direction of where the que was forming so from the kitchen and people using the toilets and que for food it was horrendous . To then get our desserts of cheese & biscuits for three people wouldn't have fed one of us grapes were bruised the cheese was hard . Having paid for three people the amount I had it was a total rip off . The only good thing about the day was the overworked young staff who were trying to make people's day a good one . I hope they got paid a decent wage as the management took far too many bookings and couldn't cope with the day at all . Such a shame as I like this establishment I hope you take on board and maybe learn from this

Friendly service, delicious food. Lovely venue which is clean and the staff were brilliant. They looked after us especially with 2 grumpy hungry kids. Thank you

Very disappointed today, one of our party waited over an hour for her meal ,the tables weren't cleared, very very understaffed, I felt sorry for the staff they were trying they're best but couldn't keep up, one of our party ordered the light bite to include a reduced price starter ,we were charged £5.99 for the mushroom starter.

We visited The Swan and Cygnet in Wakefield for our Christmas Day meal, and while the food itself was fantastic, the overall experience left much to be desired due to several organizational issues. Starting with the positives, the food was excellent. The carvery meats were cooked to perfection—juicy and tender—with a great selection of sides that were full of flavor. The desserts we did receive were also delicious, clearly prepared with care. It’s a shame that the quality of the food wasn’t matched by the service and organization. Unfortunately, there were several problems that overshadowed the meal. When we arrived, the table wasn’t fully set, we had a christmas cracker and a knife no other cutlery we had to request the rest of our cutlery of which we were given a bundle of forks which i handed out, then one of our starters was missed entirely, meaning we had to wait while it was prepared thus meaning one of our guests ate his starter whilst the rest of us had finished ours The main course, which was served via a carvery, was another point of frustration 2 Side dishes were brought out to our table ( we ordered 3) before we even had the chance to collect our mains or our starter dishes were cleared, leaving them to sit cooling while we waited in line we then had to go and ask for the remaining side this disrupted the flow of the meal and made it feel disjointed. To top it off, one of the desserts we ordered never arrived. After flagging this with the staff, we waited again, only to be told it wasn’t ever ordered - we had to chase in order to get it. By that point, the meal felt like a series of mishaps rather than a smooth and festive experience. While the staff were polite and friendly, it seemed they were overwhelmed, and service felt rushed and uncoordinated. For the premium price of a Christmas Day meal, we expected a more polished experience. In summary, The Swan and Cygnet delivered fantastic food but fell short in terms of organization and service. It’s a real shame, as the potential for an excellent experience was there, but the lack of attention to detail left us feeling let down and disappointed I hope management takes this feedback onboard to improve for future special occasions.

Unfortunately for us our day was quite a disaster, we were told to wait in a queue even though we’d arrived for our booking in plenty of time. I did approach the host and explained we had been waiting for our booking 20 minutes already which was supposed to be at 2:30pm and we were told to just wait even though people in front of us were waiting for their 3pm booking. After waiting 40 minutes we were eventually shown to a table at 3pm. The table wasn’t dressed, didn’t have cutlery and looked like it wasn’t cleaned from the previous booking. I then had to ask twice for our starters. They brought out the adult starters then had to wait a further 10 minutes for our daughter’s starter. Also we had no cutlery which I had to ask for on 4 separate occasions. I had to go hunting for napkins as a couple of knives and forks were just dumped on our table. Then we had to queue yet again for our mains which if I’m being honest were not what I was expecting for Christmas dinner. The tiny slivers of meat we received were just not enough, the vegetables were soggy the best part of the lunch were the Yorkshire pudding which we’re impressive but everything else was very disappointing especially served on what I can only describe as a child’s plate. We had already decided we were not having dessert after waiting 40 minutes with zero interactions from any staff other than me trying to catch their attention when running past. I then spoke to a server and explained our dismay he was very understanding and the manager did refund most of our meal but as mentioned it was a huge disappointment. The manager seemed to be absent for the most part other than dealing with lots of other complaints from other customers. I feel the whole day would have ran a lot smoother had you not tried to cram in as many people as possible, there was no atmosphere, the place was very untidy and from speaking with a lot of other diners just a complete waste of money and ruined a lot of people’s day. I understand Christmas Day is a hugely busy day for all staff involved but on this occasion was let down by the poor management. Whether that’s down to head office putting far too much pressure on their GM or the GM not actually caring enough I’m not sure but we would not be in a hurry to return and definitely would not book for Christmas Day here again.

First time venturing out for Christmas dinner, and what a let-down! We had been previously for a Sunday carvery and were very impressed with the way dogs were welcomed and the carvery food was beautiful. We booked for 5 people for a 3 course dinner on Christmas day - even had to pre-order our courses, so we were very disappointed to arrive and discover that the main dinner was, in fact, the carvery! We had to queue outside for 20 minutes to get in, despite having booked a table, then we had to take turns to go and queue for the carvery as we had our dog with us - 20 minutes queuing for cold, dried up food and we couldn't eat all together. We didn't have so much as a Christmas cracker on our table! I had to ask twice for cutlery, and we waited so long for our dessert that the staff were cleaning up around us, ready for closing. Absolutely ruined our Christmas day and has put us off ever eating out at Christmas again. It was such a stressful experience when it should have been quite the opposite.

Friendly staff and comfortable surroundings. There is real customer service and pride in their work and this shows as the staff are all interested in helping the customer to have an enjoyable visit. Nice food and relaxed ambience. A very pleasant visit.

Been many time in the past but this will be the last ! Stood at carvery for 10 mins waiting for someone to come cut the meat.In this time the veg was just sat there not covered then we get to the gravy and it's empty. And the food was cold .

Very nice food nice friendly place nice friendly staff thank you Wendy, Alex & Callum. Merry Christmas

Nice and friendly, seemed busy, would go again

Food is quite good. But really let down by service. Young girls serving are nice but simply haven't been trained. Service is very slow. Have to keep trying to get their attention to order etc but they appear infrequently and when they do come out of kitchen they avoid any eye contact so this can take time. Tonight ordered food and drinks and 20 minutes later had to try to get attention to ask where drinks were. No finesse in serving. Can't understand why an establishment puts effort into cooking but not into service. Table booked 5.30pm. Had to try to get attention after 20 minutes to order. Had to get attention after another 15 minutes to ask for whereabouts of drinks. Nobody ever comes by after serving to ask if everything OK. This was typical.of orevious visit. Unsurprising that tables empty on a Sunday when other places like Wheatsheaf in Kirk Ella always rammed. Dint think ill givecit another gi. Poor management to blame I'd say.

Lovely pub great food and atmosphere

Got smashed in here and started dancing on the bar like a coyote girl, good times

Had a superb carvery. Everything cooked to perfection - the Yorkshire Pudding was so big it needed its own plate. Staff super efficient and friendly, will certainly be back.

Very good experience. Great carvery, beef and gammon was delicious with a good selection of vegetables.

We booked a table at Swan and Cygnet last night for tea. We had a variety of meals which included ultimate chicken burger, steak and ale pie, tikka curry, 2 sausage kids meals, all were throughly enjoyed and plates were emptied. We shared some puddings between us. The apple crumble was the best for me, it were so tasty, warm chocolate fudge cake and a rocky road sundae which were both what you would expect. All the portions were generous and we left absolutely stuffed. Prices were in line with the items we ordered. Friendly staff and a lovely calm atmosphere. Would definitely visit again

Food was up to standard tonight. I was surprised by how quiet the pub was for a Friday night.

No booking required, called in and ordered on app from the table. All very stress free

Sadly today our main course food of the carvery ŵas very poor. Food was barely warm. It was dried up and over done. The starter and the puddings were good and the service from the young waiter who served us saved the day as we had booked the festive menu as a group of friends wanting to spend Christmas early. So bit disappointing really.

Had a carvery, was to die for, everything was piping hot and cooked to perfection. Only two choices of meat, gammon or beef but it was a week day. Both cut like butter, delicious. Natalie was our server she was very attentive and very polite.

Enjoyed our food and the service was prompt. We would go again soon

Wendy was so friendly and accommodating to myself and our 2 dogs. As soon as we come in we were directed to a wonderful dog friendly area, with water bowls and a dog menu! Wendy also helped me get a beautiful sandwich outside of lunchtime hours. I’d highly recommend a visit to this friendly and clean pub.

Food was gorgeous very tasty and hot with plenty of meat as well

Very good service all round, staff very friendly

Ordered stake median was so tuff was unable to eat it all tried has was hungry but was two tuff complained and was only offered a drink or dessert

Wonder staff, clean and tidy and absolutely top notch food. A must visit.

Atmosphere was lively, a great and friendly place for families and with a great variety on the menu, the staff are always friendly, efficient and helpful, and the Carvery was delicious.

Outstanding, from the moment we walked in to the moment we left. Each and every member of the team was so happy to help. The young chef that was on was excellent, nothing was too much trouble he was so chatty along with the staff who was supporting the tables to the lady who spent time to explain what they have over Christmas period Defo toy be a regular here now Outstanding staff and food is just delicious

Really good food at good prices. Carvery veggies were especially good, roast potatoes were crispy on outside and buttery smooth inside. Sides were excellent as well especially the sweet potato fries. Server was prompt and friendly thank you Kathy. Excellent value for money, would recommend.

A great roast from the carvery Friendly staff and close to M1. Much nicer than services. Was a bit Quiet but it was Fireworks night

Called here as we stayed at the premiere inn nearby. It was very quiet ( Monday eve ) but the staff were very friendly and the food, whilst being pub grub was lovely. Barbecued chicken wings were really nice and I had the lasagne with the crispiest chips I've ever eaten. I would recommend.

Comfortable pub with excellent carvery. Meals on offer at the venue are lovely and good value. We happened to go here on a quiz night which was good fun.

Food great, table service great but the wait at the bar was unacceptable

We went for sunday dinner carvery and we were delighted with the place and food. Relly nice warm atmosphere and delicious food served. We all enjoyed the day ☺️ Just get rid of the 🐝 from inside the pub as my daughter is scared of them when flying around while eating

We had visited the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and wanted a dog friendly pub for lunch. The Swan and Cygnet came up very dog friendly hence our choice. Reviews also mentioned a very good carvery. We weren’t disappointed! We were shown to our pre booked seats and opted for the Carvery as per the reviews and seeing for ourselves what was on offer. It was exceptional with excellent quality meats and veg too. The chef serving was very professional, happy and good at explaining the options. The only downside was we hit the pub at the busiest time and the queue was quite long! (A positive in its own right!). It soon cleared and all was well. All in all an excellent experience and we left very full !

We always get good service although sometimes there doesn't seem to be enough staff and need to wait for someone to appear at the bar to serve. Wendy is always pleasant, smiley and helpful.

Really nice pub near the lake, so perfect pit stop. The only criticism is that they offer kids eat for a £1 but you have to ask for it at the bar. If you go through the app you cant add the discount so people will miss out

First time at the swan and cygnet and the carvery was one of the best we ve ever had. Really fresh and piping hot. Kids food was really good too and the service by Wendy was friendly and helpful. She really made a fuss of our children and even gave my son some Halloween sweets.

Excellent food friendly staff and even better value with Marston’s voucher!

Thanks to wendy for excellence service

Had hunters chicken .....dry Bacon on top sacrificed. Other 2 dishes at our table were over done. Be a while before we return. Staff confessed no toilet roll in building all week.. why didn't someone go to asda one mile away and buy some. Not acceptable.

Good food as always! Carvery & Steak & Ale Pie with Moretti and Old Mout cider.

Very sorry but the vegetable Thai curry was far too hot, it needed mango chutney and yogurt and raita to calm it down. Very disappointed 😔

Brilliant food. I go here regularly for my too good 2 go order and decided to go here for a meal today. Was really impressed

Great carvery and kelly always has a smile. A warn welcome from wendy and Alex is great

Had to wait 50 mins for food to arrive, All food was dry and over cooked. Staff never came to checked everything was ok. Shame as we were all starving. We won’t be in a rush to come back. Table 32 5:30pm 24/10

Very welcoming, great atmosphere Good food & drinks