Swan on the Stray in Harrogate - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Honestly awful!!! couldn’t check in as the reception was full to the brim with wedding guests. The wedding aftermath continued on and our room was shaking from the music until 1AM. Literally had our tv on full volume and could still hear the music over the tv sound. Reception reccomended using their library room … yes sure we will sit in a library room until 1AM :/ honestly would avoid at all costs

Wow unbelievable behaviour from the manager at this hotel. Not willing to help out. 4th person I’d spoken to today. No one at the hotel knows how to make a reservation will not be staying here!!

Called in for a pint on passing while we were staying close by 5.10 for a pint of premium lager. That is 2 quid more than my local at home no wonder the place was empty so just had the one and scarpered. I called into a shop 30 meters away from the pub and got 3 660ml bottles of great lagers for a fiver went back to my digs and enjoyed them in the sun in the garden. No wonder pubs are closing down they are pricing punters out of the door.Cant even get 2 pints for a tenner here I wonder where the locals drink around here or maybe they do not bother !!

Great pub, fairly quiet, friendly staff,decent food, good selection of beers, what more could you want? They also have a beer garden.

Ate here tonight as first night in harrogate and just around the corner from where we are staying. Nice friendly Barman and quick service for drinks. Ordered burgers (chicken chili, and mozzarella and bacon) each with fries and a shared onion rings came to £29 which I thought was expensive but as haven’t eaten out you here yet so it could be local prices. The onion rings were a little greasy on the outside and just cooked on the inside I would have preferred them cooked for longer and crunchier but that’s a very personal taste. The burgers were delicious and well cooked - highly recommended. Great little find and good atmosphere, really clean and friendly would come again.

Ordered a fried chicken burger with bacon, mushrooms and sweet chilli sauce, when it arrived no bacon or mushrooms. Spoke to the bar man, offered to go get me the missing bits but I said not to bother as my chicken would go cold. He gave me the difference in cost back which was fine. The bun was quite small and the chips were in a metal tub which had oil sitting in the bottom. When I tipped the chips out onto the wooden board, the oil poured out onto the chips which made them inedible. It was an average meal and expensive. £8.95 for the burger which doesn’t come with chips, they are an extra £3.50 = £12.45.

Pleasant food and service. The burgers were tasty and not badly priced. Not much atmosphere, however.

The Sunday lunch was very good, will definitely visit again. Garth the chef was so sweet coming out to check we’d all enjoyed everything, which we had!

Usually just pop in for drunks but recently have brought family here for food.... not disappointed! Chef Garth is brilliant ...friendl, att3ntuve and serves an interesting range of meals. Pizzas very good, niece had burger etc gave it thumbs up and last week nephew had Zulu Curry. Z ..more thumbs up ! ..I also ordered a side salad .... I enjoyed it as much as the pizza !

We had arrived at The Swan yesterday, a group of approx 28 of us. We arrived around 12:15pm, the pub i believe had just opened for service. The staff were expecting us as we had sent in a pre-order the day before. We all queued at the bar and paid for our meals and drinks and sat down. First note was we were pretty spread out as oppose to being on 2 big tables but this didn't seem to cause any issues. After about 30 mins the food started to arrive, or so we thought. 2 pizza's came out first, then nothing followed for about 5 minutes, then followed 2 burgers, followed by another few minutes wait. This continued for the next 45 minutes - 1 hour, our food coming out in dribs and drabs. We were hoping to all have eaten together rather than in dribs and drabs. One member of the party had to return her food and ask for a refund due to her meal being burnt on the outside and fairly pink, if not raw in the middle. A few people tried to cancel their food as it had been such a long wait but were told that three meals were on the pass to come out, yet still waiting a further 5/10 minutes until their meals actually appeared. Another member of the party at the last minute ordered a side of fries to go with her nacho's, the nacho's arrived first and the fries didn't follow for a further 30-40 minutes later, they had to take them back to the office! What should have been a nice send off lunch for one of the team, turned into a long agonising wait, there were people eating left over pizza crusts because they were that hungry. I've worked in this industry for almost 10 years and i personally would have been embarrassed to have served the food like this. I don't know why the food took so long, especially when the establishment received the order the day before, surely it should've been prepped and ready to go on our arrival? I don't know about everyone else but i can safely say i will not be returning ever again. Such a shame because the menu sounded lovely.

We decided to try the South African Bunny Chow, it sounded too interesting to miss. It looked fab filled to the max in a half cut loaf of crusty bread. The chicken was sublime, aromatic and like an authentic home made curry. Am definitely going back and would like to see more currys if this is the standard the chef is setting. Great service and relaxing venue.

Visited with my partner on a quiet Sunday. The chef whipped up a great veggie roast and my partner’s slow-cooked beef got the thumbs up!

A local pub with really interesting food, regional ales, and a welcoming staff--what more could one want? Our hotel suggested The Swan as a good local. On entering, we could see it was popular with the locals; many of the patrons and the staff seemed to have known each other for a long time. The special of the night was spicy chicken curry, a staple at many British pubs. A companion and I tried that and were delighted. When we commented to the server, he asked the chef to come out, and the chef's accent gave away that he was originally from South Africa. His curry had a slightly sweet note that I couldn't identify. He smilingly said it was mashed ripe banana, which he said is a common ingredient in South African curries. So, I recommend the specials, because they reflect something slightly nontraditional. The staff were welcoming, joking with us first-time customers as if we were locals. The pub focuses on Yorkshire ales (why drink Budweiser or Heineken in Yorkshire?), mostly within 20 miles of Harrogate. And the staff are good at advising on less well-known varieties. All in all, the evening was really pleasant.

We visited for a Friday evening dinner and really enjoyed the atmosphere and food, beer was great too. They’ve got a new chef who specialises in South African food, never tried it before but their bunny curry is amazing!

What a great little discovery, if you like garlic in your food there are come cracking items on the menu. Chicken, chorizo and garlic Calzone was awesome. Good sized portions and friendly knowledgable staff, very satisfied.

Popped into out local for dinner on Friday, had the amazing bunny chow which is a great chicken curry in a hollowed out loaf of bread. Curry was full of flavour and spicy, lovely. Been here for Sunday lunch before which is also great, slow cooked beef which melts in the mouth. Will be back for more

Popped into the Swan for lunch and was blown away by Garth’s superb Zulu Curry. It’s a dish from Durban with the curry served in a hollowed-out white loaf. Absolutely fabulous and washed down with an excellent pint. Highly recommended!

Absolutely beautiful food cooked by the man from Jo’burg! Mr Piggins and his other half Russian Ross shared a lovely pizza with enough toppings to fill John’s gaping potash mine. Would return for more.

Visited this pub for some food on Saturday night and while the main menu is quite small the specials board was filled with a variety of options. I had a dish called bunny chow which was a chicken curry instead a loaf of bread. I have to say it was the best curry I have had in years. My dad enjoyed his fish and chips and my husband said the homemade onion rings were perfect. We all really enjoyed our meals. Noticed they have a lovely garden at the rear to the pub and inside its cosy and dog friendly. All the staff were knowledgeable and great.

As usual staff are friendly and welcoming. Two of our party had the Bunny Chow and were very pleased with their choice. The rest of us were happy too.

The Swan pub is a great place to drink, relax and most of all eat. I came in tonight after a long day of work and they had bunnie chow on the menu (south african curry in a bread bowl) it was perfect tasted exactly as I'd hoped. The staff were amazing as well, kind and relaxed, willing to have a chat not just pour and move on. 100% would recomed this place to anyone who comes by Harrogate.

Requirements ... good food, and dog friendly ! The Swan offered this and more. One of the most exceptionally clean places ever ... including their facilities ! Off road parking at the rear, plus a very pleasant beer garden. But the best was yet to come ... being South African it was a complete surprise to find authentic SA dishes on the menu. Do yourself a favour and try the Durban Malay curry ... it was beyond delicious. My daughter & son in law who live in England are now determined to make the 2 hour drive from their home just to have some more.

Popped in on Friday evening with family to have some light bites and a few drinks and staff were very welcoming and happy to help. We came in just at the cut off point for food and they were still happy to accommodate us and cook us some food which was very nice of them. The beer selection is great with local beers. Highly recommend!

We called late in the afternoon and made a reservation for me and my wife for dinner Tuesday night. The young man in the waistcoat couldn't be more attentive. We questioned him regarding the special board and he immediately went to summon the chef a south African gentleman who was on stand by. Straight away he explained the "bobotie". We ordered it and we fully enjoyed it. Half way through the course my wife dropped her folk and just after she picked it up the young man in the navy suit already had a fresh knife and folk on the table. As soon as we entered the gentleman behind the bar allocated us a large table with comfy chairs and made us feel very welcome. he explained that if we found a more suitable position we could chose.

We went to The Swan for lunch, and I had the mackerel. What an amazing dish - so fresh, light and flavoursome. This was genuinely one of the best meals I've eaten out. It's followed up with a varied and amazing selection of beer, and Shauna was a great host. The other dishes my family had were also amazingly well executed, prepared to take best advantage of the freshest of ingredients. Seriously, go here for lunch. Garth (the chef) is a genius. What's more - it is very well priced. I felt I had great value for money.

Saturday 6th April 2019, what then to do on a sunny afternoon, hmmm which pub has nice food, nice beer and a nice beer garden our 5 y/o can play in a bit? The Swan! We stayed in the sunny garden from 2pm - 4pm and then went in and ordered food, the starter was nice (Calamari and Chorizo) the main from the Chefs Special board was AMAZING South African Bobotie - new dish for me and it was beautiful - I now have my own version of this recipe to try and make at home everyone needs to taste it here at The Black Swan as its awesome a couple were up from London who had recently had some down there which was rubbish by comparison to the Chefs own version at The Swan so get here and get some Bobotie down you.......

Visited friends and came for a drink or two . Nice place relaxed atmosphere and reasonable prices . I had Sunday dinner . Can quick all fresh and very tasty . Could have had a bit more mash but very nice and worth a visit

Always a cracking place for a roast on a Sunday. Friendly staff and family friendly venue too. We’ll be back.

The menu's seem to change every couple of months, which is good, there is always a good selection of food with an added bonus of a specials board. The staff are very welcoming and always make a fuss of our dog.

A lovely little place to eat and drink. Went with family and friends. Service is exceptional and the food is great.

Fantastic food, incredibly warm and welcoming service. Great attention to detail. A superb menu. This pub has become a regular jaunt for us. Highly recommend.

Amazing!! Food fantastic, great visiting ales and ciders, and the dtaff are first class+ Favourite pub in Harrogate!!! Thanks team Swan!

Great Food friendly staff, good real ales - within easy walking distance of the Shannon Court B&B; - It was the best homemade burger that I have had

Just had a fab Sunday lunch here with my friend.

I met with my frends on the Sunday dinner, we had trio of meats which was delicious . Servis was nice, price good I definitely recommended that place.

Great pub with a good selection of beers and good food menu. The staff are very friendly and helpful.

Just moved house and this is our new local - couldn't be happier! Staff were really friendly and attentive. Amazing atmosphere and food was divine! Good variety menu including vegetarian and vegan choices. Couldn't fault this place; wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

My wife and I visited the swan today for Sunday lunch

My favourite pub in Harrogate, as a regular for the best part of a decade i have seen many comings and goings, but can honestly the current regime has brought the Swan up to a new level. Staff are always a pleasure to talk to and definately know their drinks, infact if you ask nicely they will try order beers in for you! Atmoshphere is spot in, informal and laid back. Everyone behind the bar is engaging and helpful, *Although i do miss the 'unique' customer service from Tom! Have had many meals from here over the years but the current burger menu is a real highlight, absolutely fantastic! Rob and Frazer in the kitchen deserve a review themselves, always chatty and willing to help out at the bar if needed, if their exciting ideas for future menus come to fruition, the swan will be a real force to reckoned with. All in all a great pub, literally we have used it from weddings to funerals and everything in between over years!

Excellent choice of beers, great menu and very dog friendly, what isn’t to like?! I highly recommend the swan, and the speciality burger menu 🤤

Had a delicious meal at the Swan . Comfortable surrounding with lovely staff . Was able to bring my dog inside meaning we wouldn’t have to sit outside . The best chicken burger i’ve ever had and also great meals like fish and chips , also a steak and ale pie looked

We spent a lovely evening here last week. We popped in, in the hope for some food - I had just moved in around the corner and were greeted with a warm welcome and a menu! The food was excellent and the service superb. It was well priced and the food was clearly cooked to order and piping hot. I would recommend you try it out - it is a lovely surprise and we will definitely be returning soon.

Enjoyed a lovely lunch with the family there. I loved the baked Camembert, the halloumi and the chips - delicious! They choose good beer, too! ;)

Situated near our Harrogate bed and breakfast, we visited The Swan numerous times over a week's span. We also went to a number of other establishments ranging from high class, black bow tie to street food.

Service is excellent, staff is very friendly. Great food at a good price. Had the Sri Lankan curry...just enough heat!

I've been to the Swan several times and it never disappoints. Great for lunch a few drinks or an evening meal out. Very helpful staff who know alot about the wide range of beers and ales lovely outdoor area as well.

Been with kids great food and drinks.very pleased with money spent there.recomend to friends and family.dog friendly as well

Visited with my partner for a drink and was served by a very helpful and lovely gentleman named David who couldn’t do enough for us and made us feel extremely welcome! The atmosphere was great and we will definitely be returning for food as it looked divine!

Extremely happy we accidentally found this place, beautifully redecorated and I can’t remember ever enjoying a burger so much as I did The Camemburger the whole experience from start to finish was superb! Thankyou to the amazingly accommodating barmaid Sarah for making us feel so welcome. I will definitely be recommending to my friends!

Just called in for a pint and the choice of beers was very good. The girl behind the bar was very friendly and informative. Unfortunately she only works Monday to Friday during the day. If I had a pub i would be looking to poach her

What a hidden little gem. Fab service and great food. We ordered from the speciality burger menu and we were all so impressed with the quality of the food along with the service and speed of our experience. Very well done to all the team. We will be back for sure. Cannot recommend enough!

Lots of great options for allergy sufferers as they have a great website for checking which food contains egg. The burgers are good as were the sandwiches. Pulled pork is very nice! Lovely friendly service at the bar.

Very welcoming and cosey. A lovely beer garden to bask in the sun. Great service and nice food. Would highly recommend.

Great beer,Great food and service. We came in after kitchen was closed and they still served us food!thanks

We have been visiting the Swan, and when it was the Swan on the Stray, for several years now, mainly for lunch. We are also regulars of its sister pub the Old Bell, which is one of our favourite pubs in Harrogate. The company changes the menu regularly and each time it does so, the food choices get less and old favourites (ours at least) seem to be relegated to history. We last visited a month or so ago and the not-bad chicken and bacon sandwich (which itself had sadly edged out the quite excellent Club Sandwich) had been replaced by the "Open Club" with egg on top. The egg was overcooked and the sandwich was mediocre. We put this down as a one-off. However, we visited again today for lunch. I ordered the "Open Club" sandwich, with egg on top and my companion opted for the steak pie and mash (you can't really go wrong can you?). As far as the sandwich was concerned, the egg was over-done, both the chicken breast and bacon were dry and leathery and the half-toasted bread and chips were soggy. The meat pie was also over-cooked and dry, to the point of the meat being almost black. The soggy pastry was unappetising and the veg and mash were dry and tasteless. To top it all, we had to wait at least 45 mins for our food to arrive; the excuse being that everyone (2 tables!) had ordered at the same time and there was only one chef.

I still find this a soulless pub, uninspiring atmosphere, but called in when found to my shock that nearby 10 Devonshire Place had closed. Beer is good and had good Sunday lunch, and my wife particularly enjoyed the veggie option. However, I was persuaded to have three meats at 'a little extra cost when ordering which turned out to be £4 more.good food but felt cheated.

Went for a drink and bar meal midweek. The pub decor has been modernised and nicely done. Good selection of beers and fun and very nice bar food. Well worth a visit!

It's a while since I had a pint here and it was nice to see that the decor has been modernised and it is now a pleasant looking pub. As you would expect of this group (they also have The Old Bell) the beer was very good.

Just been for sunday lunch the worst sunday lunch iv ever had !

I'm looking for a good local to replace the Tap and Spile where I'd been going for 23 years. Here they sell goo beer but its such an uninspiring place to come for a drink. The bar staff aren't welcoming and there is still a problem with the acoustics which do not make it a welcoming place and the atmosphere is cold....would never think of coming here for a meal with my wife as entirely lacks atmosphere. At least its much better than the nearby empress which, following refurbishment, now has 4 TV screens on the walls of a relatively small pub!

We enjoyed a meal here 2 years ago when enjoying a break in Harrogate.

Shocking! Went for a meal here because it had good reviews. The place was a zoo and the acoustics make conversation impossible with the people packed in there and drinking. But, okay, it’s a pub, so we dealt with it. What we couldn’t deal with was the hour and 25 minute wait for our food - and then the order was wrong. Only 2 of our party got their food. I guess the rest of us were supposed to just sit and wait - and watch others who came in after us eat and leave. Finally had enough and left. (They still made us pay for the colas we had as we waited. Would’ve been a conciliatory gesture to give it as a freebie since never got our food). Finally, after our youngest nearly fell asleep waiting to be fed, we gave up and went home and had a cheese sandwich. Save yourself the aggravation- choose one of the good restaurants in Harrogate. Stay far away from this one!

Great place to have a drink and/or eat. Very good selections on offer. Do suggest that if you want to eat you book a table in advance because at popular times it can be busy. Having experienced it you will understand why.

Whilst visiting my great friend in Harrogate, myself and my partner stopped by this delightful place. We had a delicious Veltins Pilsner and a delicious Amstell. If you are a gin drinker there is a fantastic selection of gin and mixers. The Swan is very clean and very friendly. You receive a very warm welcome. We also ate here and thoroughly enjoyed our meals. This pub is a dog friendly pub and if the Manager is around she makes as much fuss of the dogs as she does her customers. Giving them treats and fusses. It is a joy to see a Manager who is front of house with such enthusiasm and class. As well as front of house the Manager was waiting and clearing tables as well as serving on the bar. We visited a few times during our stay and this was the case on each visit.

The Swan is back on form after a period of bad management and a drop in food quality.

Visited here with friends lots of room just had a drink which was v reasonable prices looked at menu which had lots of options lunchtime menu looked good too

Went for dinner here recently. I had the New Yorker burger, which came with skins on chips. A good job I was hungry. The burger was tasty and well cooked. It was quite thick, but cooked through. Two of my companions had the Steak and Ale pie with chips. They had no complaints. Lovely well filled pie. My other companion had the chicken burger. The burger was cooked well, but it just didn't quite rise to her expectations. She'd opt for the steak pie next time.

We had a table booked for Sunday lunch at 1pm, we waited and waited and were eventually served our main course at 2.30pm. They apologised for the delay and offered us a complimentary drink, but rather than address the slow service it continued and we waited a further hour for our desert course. Also very disappointed that a lot of items on the menu were not available, we had chosen this venue after looking at the menu online. Not impressed.

The food is fantastic here and the selection of drinks does not disappoint either. The staff are always warm and very welcoming would highly recommend you try her....

Very nice, friendly little pub! Bar staff are really lovely and the pub itself is really nicely done up. Me and my boyfriend popped in one evening to have a couple drinks. Really want to head back soon to try some of the food as the menu was very tempting!

Been to this lovely place many a time and love it specially when I take my son the food is very delicious and staff are very friendly will be back very soon

Lovely presentation but...meat, potatoes, yorks pud, half a parsnip and some peashoot garnish does not make the perfect roast dinner. Where was the veg?

Went with my partner for few drinks there.great atmosphere,clean and we been served by lovely girl who mades as wery welcomed

Had a lovely lunch and fantastic cocktails made by a lady working there.definitely going back.good to have newspapers as well.

Called in at tea time on a Sunday. Food available, from snacks to Sunday lunch very nice too ! Nice modern surroundings , friendly staff and nice atmosphere. Dog friendly

Enjoyed Sunday lunch here with my son's and husband. Three of us had the lovely tender roast beef. This was served with a variety of vegetables all cooked to perfection. My husband had roast pork, he was a little disappointed there was no crackling. My husband had a starter of whitebait which was of generous portion. Three of us had dessert which again was well executed.

Sunday roast beef, today, very disappointing. Small meal, three small pieces of potato, one broccoli floret, a few slices of carrot, stuffing (?), and two slices of beef no bigger than the palm of your hand, and one small burnt Yorkshire pudding. The gravy was brown water! The size of the meal wouldn't have mattered too much if the food had been tasty. I wondered if they boiled the beef? Have eaten there before, but won't do again, and sadly its my local.

Four of us went out for an early evening meal with a dog, and we were all made welcome by a cheerful and friendly young staff. Between us we chose two old favourites: sea bass and steak and ale pie. Both were very tasty and well cooked. The wine by the glass was of good quality and reasonably priced. We thoroughly enjoyed the food and the easy- going ambience.

My wife and I visited today with our 2 dogs to have some lunch. When we arrived, the bar staff just stared at us and it was only when we smiled and said hello that they acknowledged us. After finding our own table and seating ourselves, it was a few minutes later that one of the staff members brought biscuits and water for our dogs, and then left without even asking if we were here for food or drinks. Shortly after, I went to the bar and explained that we had come for food, but after the lack of customer service, we'd be leaving to eat elsewhere. She tried to explain that they do not offer table service, but previous visits have always been table service, so this is what we had been expecting. It's frustrating to see a place like this fail at the basics, when it has potential to be a lovely local pub. Try welcoming your guests, providing menus and explaining that drinks and food can be ordered at the bar when ready. With so many lovely places to eat and drink in Harrogate, this place really needs to up their game if they're to compete with similar businesses to their own.

Lovely hotel with a well designed bar and clearly positioned and comfy seating. Great food for the gala dinner with speedy service. Highly recommended for a quiet drink or busy gala dinner!

My husband and I tried the Swan a while ago for lunch. We enjoyed it so much we decided this time to bring friends as it was local to where everyone lived and so easy to get too.Lovely, airy, venue, plenty of spaces between the tables so we didn't feel on top of other customers so were able to have conversation without being disturbed by others. The music was not too loud just enough playing in the background. Customer service very good and very friendly too.Very welcoming. 3 of us had mains off the specials board which were really enjoyable. Other friends had meals off the usual menu. All were well presented and tasted delicious.Those that had the chunky chips enjoyed them with their meal too. None of us had any room for a pudding which was a great shame but means we will have to go back again to try puddings.

Came for a 'chunky beer' to celebrate - had an ok pint but not as powerful as usual. What happened to the strong darks and IPAs?

We arrived around 5.30 and ordered food. Very disappointed. The roast was tiny and burnt Yorkshire pudding. The chicken and veg pie was poor. For £10.95 each the value was poor. We've eaten here before and had no complaints but today was poor. We'll think twice about returning for food.

Always have a good time visiting here. Would recommend for chilled drinks with friends/family. Eaten here several times and food has always been spot on! Bar staff are always helpful, friendly and knowledgeable.

Lovely atmosphere, friendly quick service.Food is fabulous. We shared Indian mix, courgette fritters, sweet potato chips & humus. It was all really good. Apart from the dips I think it was all vegan.My dog was made welcome & offered a bowl of water. There is a jar of dog treats on the bar.

Second experience of The Swan, we had Deluxe High Tea on Friday at 3.30 pm there were four other couples also enjoying high tea in the large comfortable lounge. We were quite impressed by the service. Like our first visit the Hotel seems to lean towards "Weddings" which is fine but it can become a little over powering for other guests!

Nice pub, well done out with a good selection of beer (£5.25 a pint) and gins. Food menu is small but decent. Sunday dinner was poor though, very little veg came with the dinner (7 green beans, 1 floret of Broccoli + some dried carrots). Waiter and waitress lacked enthusiasm and seeing the waitress chugging on her E-cigarette behind the bar really topped off a mediocre visit.

Went on a cold late January Tuesday night and received a warm welcome from the staff.By ordering our food before 7pm we took advantage of the two course special price. Both had the fish & chips which were excellent, best we've had and very filling. Almost didn't have room for the sticky toffee pudding.Take the points made about the inside being very open, however, it was very clean and fresh looking.Good choice of ales if you're not driving. Wish it was closer to home so we could go more often.

A great pub with decent food. Fantastic staff and a great service. I come in a few times a month and regardless of how busy it is the service and food is spot on.The pricing is very good given the location and quality.

Another lovely meal at the Swan. We have eaten here several times, for lunch and in the evening. We have never been disappointed with their straightforward tasty food. My particular favourites being their homemade steak & ale pie and fish & chips.A good selection of draught and bottled beers. The guys are always most welcoming and friendly, many establishments would do well to match their standard of customer service.

I will happily return and would like to try the food as the burgers did look good. I'll re-rate it once I've eaten there. + Tim Taylors on tap. + really friendly staff, attentive and polite.+ good for big groups. - there's too light and the openness lacks charm and its own personality. - doesn't take Amex.

Visited for (late) sunday lunch last week. The decor is bland but the welcome is warm, with a great selection of beers. Very dog friendly. Gorgeous homemade steak and ale pie, packed with tender meat, buttery pastry, hand cut chips, and perfectly cooked veg. The roasts looked good too. Not cheap, but well cooked local food and good service.

Booked a table for two and arrived on a busy Saturday tea time. Great atmosphere in this pub which has had a nice refurbishment. Many varied ales are available and the menu varied and caters for all tastes but importantly, at a reasonable cost. The rump steak on the specials board was cooked 'well done' and was superb. The home made pie was exactly as it should have been, full of succulent well cooked beef in a crust to die for. Food hot, freshly cooked and served within 15 minutes. Staff helpful and friendly and took the time to explain about the dishes available. Dogs are allowed here but parking is not immediately available outside until after 6pm when the 20 minute maximum has finished. Nothing not to like. Recommended

I frequently travel to Harrogate to have lunch with an old pal who lives in the area; he tends to do a bit of research in order that we try a different place each time I go. This time we visited The Swan on the edge of The Stray. Inside the place is quite minimalistic; I understand that it has had a recent refurb. It doesn't quite have the feel of an old pub, more like a high street café; but don't let that put you off because the staff are great, very friendly and nothing's any trouble; and the food is great; well what I had was anyway. I had gammon, egg and chips and, as the son of a butcher I can tell you that it was a beautiful piece of pig, cooked well and the chips were really good, it was almost as if they had been dry fried - there wasn't a trace of oil or fat with them.My old mate had Moussaka, something outside my comfort zone but he thoroughly enjoyed it and although not my kind of meal, it did look good. Decent portion sizes and certainly not overly expensive for Harrogate.If you are a real ale buff, they have quite an extensive choice hand pulled ales; I'm more of a lager man myself but having travelled from West Yorkshire I limit myself to one lager shandy.We tend to try a different eating place each time I visit but The Swan will definitely be one that we will revisit at some time in the future.

Having been regulars when this was 'The Swan on the Stray', we thought we'd revisit to see how 'The Swan' looked - unfortunately the name is not the only thing that there is now less of. While the interior is fresh and clean after its redecoration, it has failed to add any charm or character to what was always a fairly bland interior, the quirky touches are lost in the bland interior decor. The peg board signs look like they've been borrowed from a 1970s working men's club - crap rather than hip.The menu has also lost a few favourites (the Black Swan burger with black pudding is sorely missed) and the food was what drew us to this pub - hopefully the trimmed down menu doesn't mean that the food has fallen in quality, our next visit will see if that is the case.

Love the Swan! - always guarantee a great meal (they are so good with catering for special diets too), the guys are always super friendly and it is so amazing to go out as a family complete with doggie. There is a lovely sheltered beer garden too. We were a bit lost when they closed recently to refurbish for a few week! The revamp looks great.We had a family christmas meal there last year and it was brilliant!

Best pie and mash ever, very very highly recommended, really great very clean and tidy cannot praise the swan more..

Always a nice relaxing atmosphere with wonderful staff who make you feel as though you're the only person in the pub. They have introduced table service since the refurb which means that I never have to wait for a drink, the customer service is just quality. It's nice to see it so busy at the weekends, definitely a place to drink before a big night out!p.s the raspberry vodka with sicilian lemonade is delicious!

Nice pub. Lunch menu is fairly basic but well done. Staff are helpful and the beer list is good . Not a venue for a special occasion but a good stop for a beer and something to eat with friends.

Great pub, food was amazing (loved the cheesy chips) and service even better. Decor was lovely, modern and very stylish but still with that pub feel. Atmosphere was great, lots of families, couples and it was great for an evening with the work friends for those after work drinks on a Friday. Best of all, dogs are allowed!!