The Black Swan in Stratford-on-Avon

Great menu. Food prepared and presented and cooked to perfection. Our second visit recently. We will be back soon. Thanks to all the staff

Sunday Lunch Cheese soufflé was a delight, really fresh, and the French onion soup really hearty, we loved them both. The following roast beef main course for Sunday lunch though was disappointing. The beef was chewy and the vegetables certainly not fresh, with a roast potato that the chef should most certainly have been taken off the plate before it left the kitchen.

Great spot for a casual dinner with good food and friendly staff in warm surroundings. Good choice of ales and wines by the glass.

I live fairly locally and I was not familiar with this pub. My friend researched it, it had good reviews and we gave it a go. We were both impressed. It was busy with a great atmosphere. Food choices was very good and with gf options. We took advantage of a 2 course set menu - really good value for money.

Had an early dinner here on a Friday evening. Two course meal and a glass of wine off the set menu. Very enjoyable - great food & service. We had a nice table in the front bar as we had our pooch with us. Very chill place with a nice vibe

This place never fails to disappoint. The food was sublime, as was the service. One of our party was a French doctor who claimed that the two souffles (one dessert) were the best she'd ever had.

The food and service at the Black Swan is great - lovely atmosphere as well. We have eaten there during the week and at the week end and the food is always a treat - it's just so nice to have somewhere to eat when the standard is a so consistently high. Thank you to everyone.

The ambience, service and most importantly, the food was excellent. It is a restaurant that I would thoroughly recommend to anyone who enjoys good food and surroundings.

Popped out for a wee drive, ended up a Sunny and warm afternoon 🤗🤗didn’t get home till 23:00, buggar the black swan !!! The service was superb, the food sublime and the wash down of all complimented by a very very nice wine list. Alex welcomed us and as you would expect of a quality establishment, seamlessly transferred us to Brooke, what a team, what a kitchen, what a professional establishment. Our first time, but it won’t be our last, “the chunk of coal” in amongst all the polished brass !!! A big thank you to the proprietor, Brooke, Alex, the kitchen staff and all the team. See you all soon, and thank you one and all 🤗🤗🤗

An excellent experience - staff professional and welcoming - food and service first class. Parking at the back is a little restricted but there is a street opposite with plenty of free parking.

Very good roast beef dinner. Not overly expensive but glass of Prosecco expensive for small amount. Service good and fast. Beautiful decor and furnishings.

dined there on a Saturday evening, starting with a drink in the bar area (with a great warm atmosphere). Then moved to dinner, with a lovely table in the dining room. Food and wine were delicious and the service was excellent, would definitely recommend and will return!

Very pleasant surroundings, a roaring fire and friendly bar staff. Unfortunately service was at all points surprisingly slow, despite not appearing overly busy for a Friday lunchtime. Wine by the glass was eye wateringly expensive. All in all a bit "Kings New Clothes".

What a lovely place. Ate here with friends on the evening of Friday 1st March. I have gluten intolerance which can be a real pain when eating out. Not so here, our waitress could not have been more helpful and lovely, nothing was too much trouble and I was made to feel valued and welcome, which unfortunately is all too often not the case elsewhere. The food was fabulous. Delicious, really good portion sizes, imaginative combinations. I had duck with blackberries, and chocolate and cherry mousse. My friends were equally impressed with their choices and we all agreed that the food and service really were excellent. Toilets were clean and pleasant, although up two flights of stairs, so could be a problem for some people (not sure if there’s an accessible loo downstairs or not as didn’t check. Will definitely return, as in my experience it’s really rare to have such excellent service accompanying great food in a lovely environment. The place was packed too, I can see why!

Excellent main course and dessert. Pleasant surroundings. Service was good and varied lunch time menu. Would recommend

Had a table for 12, the service was excellent and the food was enjoyed by everyone at the table, so has to also be classed as excellent, cant fault anything from this visit, i felt the speed of service and level of attention was perfect.

The Black Swan has a lovely atmosphere; the food is great and so is the service. We particularly enjoyed the soufflés. Will definitely return!

Absolutely fantastic food, service, atmosphere. Second visit since it has been refurbished and once again, did not disappoint. I fully recommend everyone should visit.

Excellent visit, staff were so welcoming and helpful . We had two courses from a lunchtime special meeting u which was extremely varied and interestingly put together. Mouthwatering choices ranging from duck to lamb to spork T bone. I chose the pork and the meat was unbelievably tender and a slice of noisy cracking accompanied it. My friend chose fish and chips and I was envious of his choice too! Drinks selection was very varied and they had a great choice of non alcoholic cocktails which we sampled. January had a promotion of 50% off main courses which was a great offer for such a fine establishment. We would definitely go back again!

Our first visit but not the last. We went for mid week lunch. The main restaurant is in a large conservatory style area at the back, well styled and cosy. Service was excellent and the food even better. The goats cheese and leek tart starter and pork ribeye were definite highlights.

Lovely place, second visit here but on first visit after re-opening was very disappointed to be offered ‘olives or bread’ due to long wait for starters and then to find they had been charged for on bill, felt a little duped into upsell. Worth a visit but check bill.

This was our second visit to this marvellous pub/restaurant in Henley-in-Arden. The menu is slightly different to our first visit and for me, better. The cheese souffle to start was perfect. I had never tried rib-eye of pork and found it succulent and meltingly soft. The accompaniments of perfect dauphinoise potatoes, a superb baked half apple with sauce and red cabbage were great. I love puddings and the Yorkshire rhubarb and almond tart was delicious.

Third visit to the Black Swan and high standards maintained. For a Friday Lunch the Restaurant was buzzing and Staff were all over it . Food was excellent , we both had the main Fish and Chips .Batter was literally Golden and Mushy Peas with a twist. Whole dish had a lightness about it. The Chocolate and Cherry Mousse Dessert was another highlight , really worked well. That’s another plus of the Black Swan , some different offerings or favourites prepared in a reimagined way. We also like the design and ambience of the building itself. Everything is really sharp and you can see that a considerable amount of money has been invested. Treat yourself !

My friend and I had such a delicious meal here last night. The service was great and the staff were really very welcoming and friendly. The pumpkin risotto starter was bliss, very tasty. We enjoyed our mains of lamb and pork and then finished off with a chocolate and cherry mousse which was perfect and a great combination of flavours. We took advantage of an advertised offer which made it fantastic value. Top marks for ensuring we had such a lovely evening!

Our second visit, the first in December was really very good, this time we were disappointed. Our waitress was lovely, but the wait for plates to be taken away after each course was way too long. Possibly they were understaffed? Our meals arrived on wooden boards, rather than plates. I can only suggest chef tries to control gravy on something that has no sides . Very silly idea. My dessert of a cherry and chocolate mousse looked and tasted like a bit of an experiment, thrown together with whatever was to hand. For the money, it really wasn't good enough, and I am very sorry to say that.

Lovely restaurant, nice ambiance, excellent service, we had the two course Sunday roast and it was lovely.

Visited on Sunday with 5 friends. We all had delicious starters, fish soup/mushrooms/ Cheese Soufflé and everyone enjoyed them, the roast beef and roast chicken were lovely with the option for extra Yorkshire puddings/roast potatoes and gravy if required. You can order alternatives to roast...

Four of us enjoyed a nice drink in the bar and then a super meal in the restaurant The food was excellent as was the service

This is the second time we’ve had lunch here in January. Both times the food has been lovely and the service is always impeccable, staff are informal, efficient and super friendly. Overall an excellent place for lunch or dinner.

Lovely restaurant. Staff very obliging. The food was amazing. I was very impressed. It was warm and very welcoming. Look forward to visiting again

We came here on a Sunday for a family meal and it was delicious. I had the beef and it was so good- really tender and juicy (and pink, which I love), lots of veg, huge Yorkshire pudding and roast potatoes I asked for a...

The Black Swan had been recommended by a friend and as we had been shopping in Solihull to replace the useless presents I bought for my girlfriend, I was in need of a tasty lunch and a glass or two of wine! We were welcomed...

We had lunch here on Christmas Eve, as expected, we all enjoyed it very much. The food was delicious, the service great as always. A lovely way to start the Christmas celebrations. See you again soon!

Our New Year's Eve at The Black Swan, chosen for its advertised "Hollywood Glamour Party," was a severe disappointment. The reality bore no resemblance to the promises of elegance and entertainment. Further exacerbating the situation was the manager's reaction when we raised our concerns. His...

On our way through, we spotted this place thinking it was a traditional pub. It is actually a Heartwood inn restaurant, elegant decor and welcoming staff. We enjoyed the food and drink but I thought the starter - goats cheese tart- was well overpriced at...

I left a review on 8 th Dec, as we didn’t have a good experience, Elliot kindly responded and asked us to get in touch with him , we emailed him detailing our dissatisfaction, on the 10 th …… we’ve heard nothing since disappointingly!

Visited here for dinner for the first time last weekend with friends. An all round excellent experience. First class food and first class service, so well done to everyone involved. I had the best - and plumpest mussels - I’ve had in years, and my...

Our third visit in 7 days. A welcome new restaurant in Henley which is becoming the place to eat out.

Disappointing. I organised a birthday meal including submitting pre-ordered menu choices as it was for a large group. One of the choices was substituted with no notice or regard for dietary requirements and allergies even though we had pre-ordered. I followed up by email but...

Excellent experience , Food superb , service outstanding , very helpful with dietry requirements . Only negative is gratuity already added to bill . They lost out as I intended to add 15% not 10 but find this practice offensive .

Great value for money, friendly staff, great country pub. A must do place to visit and try the superb food.

I’ve just returned from lunch today for my mothers birthday, I came a couple of weeks ago for Sunday lunch , we chose the festive menu and all had turkey , this was a massive disappointment as the meal was small and no roast potatoes,...

Booked a table for two for Sunday lunch to take my 90 year old mother out. Unfortunately on the way to Henley she started having stomach pains. On arrival the staff swiftly guided her to the toilets. She decided not to eat anything but insisted...

Pleasant restaurant, extremely pleasant ladies loo. Food tasty but portions small for a main course. Service very slow. However I gather the Sunday lunch is excellent value.

Disappointed as we have visited around 5 different occasions since the restaurant had opened 3 months ago, and had received excellent service on every visit HOWEVER my husband had booked a table for my birthday for both of us plus 2 friends. Due to the...

Last night was the first time we dined at the Black Swan, Henley in Arden, what an experience. Couldn’t fault the service, the staff were extremely friendly. The food was out of this world. The seating arrangements were very spacious, not cramped together like a...

We had the most delicious Sunday Lunch. We ate in "The Snug" which had a great atmosphere and full of charm. The food was faultless, absolutely delicious, staff were delightful, friendly and helpful. A wonderful experience, we have already booked to return again. Thank you...

Booking was easy . The kind member of staff advised booking slightly earlier so we could have the Sunday lunch menu. . We all had the beef... beautifully cooked. A good variety of vegetables cooked to perfection . Fabulous Yorkshire puddings and crispy roast potatoes....

Excellent as ever. So glad to see that standards are being maintained. Despite being very busy we still had excellent service and quality of food. Still amazing thank you

Fantastic place!!!! Food was a 10 out of 10 Amazing friendly staff. Highly recommend the pistachio soufflé. Lovely atmosphere and will certainly be returning.

We came here during our recent stay at Henley in Arden, and it was a delightful lunch. We ordered a drink each (a pint of Camden hells & a gin and tonic), and a sausage baguette and steak baguette off the lunch time menu. Both...

Wonderful food, the pistachio soufflé was stunning. All meals in our group were excellent. The staff were welcoming and helpful. Really had a great night, thank you.

This place is a great find , lovely food , lovely Staff, would highly recommend and we will definitely be going back ASAP !!

The staff were very friendly but sometimes slow. We had to wait 45 minutes from ordering to receiving the food which I think is too long, even for a busy restaurant. The quality of the food was good but small portions which I think made...

Fab place staff excellent ,food superb ,great atmosphere, have now been 3 times in the last couple of weeks. Definitely returning

Good food and lovely friendly staff, great teamwork. Would return, bar area was nice and cosy, seemed like a good locals pub.

We went to the Black swan as 3 couples to celebrate a birthday. We had booked a table but it wasn’t ready for the time booked. We had to wait while the previous occupants left and the table was reset. We did have to wait...

This place is amazing! Recently taken over and refurbed, the ambience and decor is fantastic. As soon as you walk in you’re welcomed by friendly, helpful staff. The food was nicer than some of the fine dining restaurants we’ve been to, with the short rib...

working in the industry I know how important reviews really are and I am quite dissapointed to read some of the recent bad ones, so please ignore these and visit for yourself! Me and the family visited Sunday just gone and we were really happy...

Since Covid I’ve found the quality of service to be lacking in a lot of places we’ve eaten at. However the couple of times we’ve eaten here the service has been exemplary . We also found the choice and quality of dishes to be excellent....

Lovely food but BE AWARE THEY AUTOMATICALLY ADD 10% SERVICE CHARGE WITHOUT TELLING YOU!!! Gratuity should be voluntary & at the discretion of the diner NOT management! Apparently it's now been confirmed this can be removed if you ask so be aware they don't rip...

The inside was lovely having all been refurbished however very very disappointed with the choice of food which was minimal and our food was so small for the enormous prices, won't come here again ever

Fantastic to see the old pub up and running again after such a long time, food, staff, atmosphere everything about the place is spot on. Thank you for a lovely evening.

Had the loveliest dining experience. From the moment I phoned at short notice to book a table, Alex sorted out an appropriate time. When we arrived we were greeted at the bar and then guided to our table. All of the staff were fantastic throughout...

Very expensive and small portions, however nice atmosphere and lovely restaurant area , good service and nice staff , pleasant enough experience

Great Sunday lunch, the beef was melt in your mouth and served again by cheerful Charlie. Lovely vibe.

I have now visited the black Swan more times in the couple of months since it reopened, than I have eaten out over the whole year in other restaurants. And why ? - because I love not only the food but I feel totally comfortable...

Excellent food a bit disappointed with the cheese board . Service excellent and definitely recommend

What a lovely warm welcome. Such friendly and efficient staff. Lovely restaurant with a buzzy vibe. Excellent food and particularly excellent puds! We will definitely be back. Thank you everyone

A lively Wednesday evening in a newly appointed restaurant. Plenty of space, welcoming staff, well drilled. Toilets up two flights. the food was very nice plenty to choose from for all requirements. staff were accommodating and had suggestions to accompany meals. in all a pleasant...

Another lunch at this lovely place, a slight issue with the main course was dealt with efficiently and quickly. We shall be back soon, Thankyou.

We have eaten here on several occasions previously since it reopened. We popped in for a late afternoon Sunday lunch which was exceptional. The roast beef was some of the best I have ever had and with the roast vegetables and unlimited roast potatoes it...

From the very warm welcome as we entered the bar to the excellent service we received in the restaurant, you could not fault one thing. Beautiful surroundings, excellent staff and wonderful food. Can’t wait for our next visit and introducing more of our friends! 10/10

Nice place but overly expensive for alcohol - service excellent and food good but place for me does not reflect their prices

Wonderful food, superb! Attention to detail really impressive. Fish cooked to perfection, lamb melted in the mouth, desserts gorgeous. Service really friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. Particular congratulations to Alex and Paul. Thank you for a lovely evening.

We went to the Black swan on Friday evening, we had a fabulous meal, the food was lovely, and the service was spot on. Thanks to Elliot for being so helpful. We will be back soon.

This pub has had a complete makeover. Fabulous venue. Great choice of food and drink. Service excellent.

Came here tonight celebrating a friends birthday. Food was amazing. 4 of us & we all agreed it was one of the best meals we'd ever had! 3 of us had 12 hour slow cooked beef short rib. It fell off the bone & melted...

The people behind this new venture in Henley have done a brilliant job. Taking into account it has been open a few weeks there are no teething problems at all. You can really tell they’ve spent time in recruiting and training their staff to a...

Exceptional service, delicious food and beautiful decor. Easy parking too. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.

We revisited the Black Swan to celebrate our Ruby Wedding Anniversary after meeting each other here 40+ years ago. It's changed so much over the years but this reincarnation is truly amazing! It was perfect in every way - the food was delicious, I had...

Well done to everyone involved in this venture! What a fabulous experience from start to finish. The food and service was second to non….cannot fault anything. Will definitely return and recommend to friends/family You could teach the restaurant down the road from you a few...

Our 3rd visit to The Black Swan. As locals we are delighted that this lovely old pub has been given a new lease of life, and even more delighted that it's so darn good! Food & service are both excellent, beautifully presented, delicious & great...

I have tonight had the best meal I have had for a very long time! Ordered the slow cooked beef and my husband ordered the Pork with crackling. We shared a bootleg of wine and Cheese and Biscuits. I am so please we have found...

A newly refurbished pub and restaurant. We were celebrating a birthday with friends. Had drinks in the bar first then moved to the restaurant for food. Our food was taking a little bit longer to prepare so the staff offered free nibbles (olives and crusty...

Both professional and friendly service from Charlie and Alex. Excellent lunch. Great new addition to local options for lunch/dinner. Good to have a variety of choices to sit in the shade on a very hot day either under sunbrellas or in a corner shielded by...

This pub has reopened after a full refurbishment. The inside is lovely with a bar area at the front and a really nice dining room at the book. We felt it was important to support any business which open in the current climate. The roast...

We heard the Black Swan was 'the new kid on the block' and what a relief to see a restaurant with a more thoughtful menu rather than the usual fare. The ham hock terrine and the lamb was utterly delicious as was the beef rib...

Great place! Absolutely stunning food and great service also. Will definitely be back and hopefully will visit some more of their other pubs.

From our first step over the garland decorated doorway to the restaurant beyond, everything has been rebuilt & decorated to the highest standards & very tastefully to preserve the age of the pub. Service was both efficient and friendly & the food sublime. I had...

What a great unexpected evening. Our first visit since the renovation and myself and my parents all gave it 10/10. The cucumber gazpacho was a surprise, I have only ever had tomato but my gosh this was spectacular. All of which could be said for...

They have ticked all the boxes with this new venue - professional delivery in all areas - very good - GO and enjoy it even if only a drink in the lovely bar

We have lived in Henley for 20 years and have been waiting for a place like this. Great atmosphere, great service, flexible, innovative menu. Really hope it's around for many years to come. We will definitely be back!

We were passing through Henley and stopped here for Sunday lunch. We all had Sunday roasts (veggie, beef and a children’s chicken) and the food was outstanding - best roast we have had in a while. We sat in the bar area as the restaurant...

I was looking forward to visiting the Black Swan operating under new ownership and having been completely refurbished. I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. The bar had been retained an area for a casual dining or simply a drink. I notice that they had...

We couldn't get a table in the evening for some weeks in this newly refurbished pub in Henley in Arden High Street so we went for lunch instead. I am so glad we did. The food was outstanding - I had cheese soufflé to start...

Having eaten in the bar area a couple of times and really enjoyed it, we were looking forward to to eating in the restaurant in this favourite pub, that has been beautifully restored and updated. The restaurant area was quite noisy. After we were seated,...

We had a fabulous meal at the Black Swan last night. The food was really delicious (amazing soufflés), the atmosphere was great and the staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. We will definitely be back!

Was welcomed with enthusiasm and friendliness. Restaurant had a lovely ambiance. Staff were very helpful & friendly. Service was excellent. Food was delicious.

Lunch with friends, the food was delicious, the atmosphere was happy and relaxed even though it was very busy. Thankyou Charlie for excellent service, his knowledge of the menu was so helpful. A great experience, we will definitely be back.