The Cross Swords Inn in South Kesteven

We visited for Sunday lunch. Excellent, well presented Sunday roast with desert, good sized portion and very friendly staff. Good beer too. Couldn't fault it and we will be going back. One thing, its not in Grantham its in the village of Skillington near Grantham.

We stopped in on a very hot day so instead of big mains for lunch we shared a few entrees. The meals were lovely including smoked salmon, a terrine and whitebait. Good service too.

visited here when we were staying in the area and it has a lovely atmosphere when you walk in. staff really friendly and welcoming. we had booked a table for 6 of us who were staying in a nearby hotel. Good menu choice and good value prices. I order the Skilli pie and this was really nice and came with proper chips - spot on! Meal could not be faulted. The restaurant was busy with 2 other larger parties in but staff coped really well and we were not felt rushed or in the way. Great time was had. Definitely worth a visit if in the area.

Quaint village pub fantastic homemade food and exceptional welcome from the landlady Highly recommended

Tucked away in the small village of Skillington, the Cross Swords Inn greeted us with amazing food and service to boot! The portions are hearty and everything is homemade with love. For the price this was an absolute steal and I will certainly be re-visiting. I would highly recommend the pie!

Fantastic food and great service would recommend it for dog's and kid's and very good selection of real ales including Guinness

Visited here last night with my wife. The staff were extremely friendly and made us feel welcome from the moment we walked in. The overall ambience is light, airy and clean. Scampi and ‘pink’ duck were delicious. Good selection of real ale too.

We narrowly missed lunch time after walking miles to find this little gem. The owners were so accommodating and refused to let us go hungry. They made us ‘quick sandwiches’ and what we then received was so much better than we imagined! The effort they made was much appreciated and if quick sandwiches were that nice I can only imagine the main menu would be even better. If we’re ever back in the area, this will be our first choice for food! Credit to the land lady and her husband

Attending a wedding for one of my oldest friends and decided that we would all go out for dinner, obviously the groom and his troop had claimed somewhere local and we were under strict instructions to ensure the bride did not go there. Needless to say the car adventure began, we stumbled across this local village pub and decided to see if they could serve our hunger. Happily they said yes and our night of culinary delights began. The landlady was accommodating and took our drink orders quickly, the landlord came out the of the kitchen and told us about specials and then gave us some snacks whilst we waited. Needless to say we were welcomed and had a lovely meal. If we are back in the area then we will return to this little gem.

We were staying about two miles from this little pub. We booked a table for a meal as we had read some good reiews about this place. We found the owners very friendly and accommodating. They had two "specials" on the board for tonight (thursday) fish'n'chips or rib eye steak. I had the rib eye and my husband fish'n'chips. Both were cooked to perfection. We had three courses and were absolutely full when we left. This little place was superb if you want a great meal and good company don't hesitate to give it a visit.

Called tonight for an evening meal with my good lady,what can I say but if you want a nice pint and a great meal and I sincerely mean great meal,then look no further than the Cross Swords....all freshly prepared and home made by Harold and served to perfection by Linda...this little gem is a must....well done the both of you...superb. Darren and Lisa Skegness

Stunning food,piping hot,and lovely friendly people..We went out for an early Evening Meal,and ended up staying all night, chatting to the Landlord/Lady,and some regulars...Top food, Top Night, Top People...We will return.

Went for a midweek lunch, initially it appears to have a small menu but we were advised of extra starters and that any pasta dish could be cooked fresh for us. The portions were very generous and delicious! The chef popped out a few times to check we were ok which made us all feel very welcome. Will definitely be recommending to friends and family!

We had a fantastic meal, there were three vegetarians and there was plenty of choice, they were happy to make changes to the menu to suite us. A really friendly service in a nice village pub. Will definitely go back again.

We veined at The Cross Swords In. tonight. A great meal, friendly service. A great find in a lovely little village

We popped in for a quick drink before heading elsewhere as I'm veggie and there wasn't too much on the website menu to tempt me but after speaking to Harold, he said that he could cater for whatever I wanted. . . and he did it with an amazing style! The food was absolutely gorgeous with lots of fabulous flavours. . . and it takes a lot for me to say that!!!

Fantastic meal all freshly cooked and served piping hot. choices were good and more than one vegetarian option.

absolutely fabulous meal tonight. Great hosts, a real find on our way through. We have a delightful twin room for the night, beds very comfy and our meal was superb. Highly recommend this place

Este es un fantástico pub. La pareja que lleva era muy acogedor cuando llamamos para tomar algo por la tarde en nuestro pie de Stoke Rochford. Volvimos para más tarde para la cena. El ambiente era fantástico, unos clientes habituales, pero no me sentí como un extraño en absoluto, de hecho lo contrario. Un lugar muy cómodo para estar. La comida era increíble, todo fresco. El servicio es fantástico. Y el precio refleja claramente los productos y experiencia en preparar la comida. El único problema fue que ojalá nos hubiéramos! Así que la próxima vez haremos quedarse demasiado. . .

Nuevo en la zona cogimos el perro para un largo paseo por el campo con la familia de la cruz espadas pub. Al llegar al pub la señal fuera dijo no no se admiten perros esto es comprensible debido a la comida que te sirven. Esperábamos una copa rápida y un bocado ligero para comer fuera. Nos recibió una señora muy desagradable en el bar que nos dijo que los niños no instanly eran permitidos. Aceptando esta estábamos contentos de haber "El Niño" esperar afuera mientras que pedimos. La señora entonces dijo que era "demasiado frío para comer fuera "Muy presumido y paternalista - creo que podemos decidir si hace demasiado frío o no! ! Teníamos caminamos 4 km a este pub y tenía 4 millas viaje de regreso. Rápidamente dejaron sin comida o bebida ni una palabra que decir sobre este lugar. No volveré.

Es un pub en el país, que sirve comida encantadora, lo recomiendo muy encarecidamente. La comida está bien preparado, bien caliente, y se sirve por feliz, personal servicial, si tienes alguna dieta especial, el chef Harold (y dueño) hará todo lo posible para asegurar que sus necesidades están satisfechas. . . Sólo tienes que decírselo cuando reserve. La ventaja es que no hay bebés o niños menores de 10 años permitidos, lo que hace agradable noche tranquila. Linda. . . Señora bar. propietario y es una persona alegre y amable que hace de bienvenida. El ser y ser es limpio, ordenado y bien presentado y el desayuno inglés es para morirse.

Realmente disfrutamos de la comida aquí. El servicio era amable y la comida bien cocinada. Mi única crítica es que me senti las verduras podría haber sido más caliente (no las patatas fritas ya que estas estaban muy bien).

Muchas gracias a Harold y linda por ser excelentes anfitriones y sirve excelente comida y bebida en un entorno encantador. Cualquiera que visite la zona necesita para visitar este lugar, ya que no te arrepentirás. Menú estupendo y elección y me hicieron sentir muy bienvenido. Gracias Mike y Kelly

Una fiesta sorpresa de cumpleaños para mi hermana de 17 fue aún más especial por la total cooperación del propietario y la casera de la Cruz Espadas Inn. Que se unió y mis dos hijas disfrazados con pelucas rubia ser temporal, camareras y personal del bar. Éxito total! Luego de darnos 17 una gran comida, todos teníamos algo diferente y nada era demasiado problema. Es un pub país dirigido por un equipo muy eficiente y excelente chef. 6 de nosotros nos alojamos en el ser y ser parte del pub y tenía un desayuno de 4 estrellas. Debería haber más pubs alrededor como este. Y aunque está en el país vale la pena un poco de viaje. Lo recomiendo totalmente. Y gracias las espadas cruz!

Had lunch on one day and dinner the following evening and can heartily recommend all aspects of this heart of the village pub. A limited but home cooked menu with guidance from the owners on both food & drink. Well worth a visit.

Very friendly local pub with great food. They don't have a children's menu but the chef was more than happy to cook a special meal to suit my sons fussy! Taste !!

An extremely friendly pub which serves very good food. Lovely experience. Best cream of mushroom soup ever tasted.

...turn one of them into an eatery with a couple of B&B rooms on the back.A good formula these days when people dont go out to drink like they used to.The character of the place is fairly well maintained and the food is always reliable. Never the best, but as good as one can expect from a small location in the country ran by a couple, one in the bar and one in the kitchen.There's always a specials board and the chef must love his job to stay in the kitchen all night until last service. He cooks up (as mentioned) some pretty fine dishes whilst he's in there.

The place was buzzing nicely for our Saturday Night out with friends, and we were able to get a sneak preview of what was on the menu before the others arrived. Great choice of beers if you are a cask fan, and some nice non-alcoholics if you're driving. It took a while to decide on the meal as the choice was so wide - finally chose wild mushrooms for starter with freshly cooked sea bream for mains - all absolutely delicious but sadly couldn't manage a pudding. Relaxed atmosphere and top notch service and attention to detail - have been before and will definitely go again.

The "Cross Swords Inn" certainly does not rest on its laurels and this second visit after a 3 year gap did not disappoint in comparison to many similar establishments which tend to be "one trick ponies" ie good initially before lapsing into mediocrity.Food is home made and still of excellent quality and for dinner we had home made soup, steak pie with all the trimmings followed by ice cream and gateau- every course prepared to perfection from a menu to satisfy the most fickle gourmet.On arrival we were greeted warmly by the proprietors Linda and Harold who have created and maintained the great ambience which the "Cross Swords" has and the fact that it attracts a wide and probably eclectic range of customers including local residents, senior gliding instructors and intrepid yachtsmen from all over the UK is testimony to that.Once again, we can recommend the "Cross Swords" in the highest possible terms be it for bar lunch or dinner and if you wish to sample their compact but well thought out range of wines then it is a good idea either to take taxi or stay overnight in one of the very comfortable and tastily decorated adjacent chalets.

My husband and I enjoyed an amazing meal at the Cross Swords. Linda and Harrold are fantastic hosts, extremely professional and so welcoming. We will be back for more of the excellent food and good banter!

well worth a visit great food. i had the roast lamb and my wife had the roast beef, both cooked to perfection and portion size is generous. had the cheese board for desert, again a very generous portion. excellent service, perfect english pub. it takes a lot to please me. will definately be visiting again, in the very near future. would highly recommend to anyone visiting the area.

My wife and I went on a short walk around Skillington and we decided to go for a pub lunch and we are very glad we did. The Cross Swords Inn had a really nice atmosphereand the food we had was excellent. All in all a great place to eat and drink. We will certainly be paying another visit.

We needed to stop somewhere on the way back home to Lancashire and found this little gem of a restaurant.The food was exceptional and the wife believes she has just eaten the best stroganoff she has ever tasted. Strongly recommend

This is an excellent restaurant and pub (in the Good Beer Guide). We called on a quiet day so there was only the carvery and sandwiches available, but we were all very satisfied with what was available and with the food when it came. Recommended.

We were looking for a good venue to dine and catch up with family members and were not disappointed. We booked due to popularity, the host asked if anyone had special dietary requirements, we explained one of our party was a celiac and the host said that was fine no problem. On the day we had car troubles which made two of our party half an hour late, we checked with the hosts who said it would not be a problem. The service was top notch, they had even cooked extra Gluten Free options fresh that day for selection, we were extremely impressed. Nothing was too much trouble. All our meals were delicious, everyone made positive reference to their experience. We would highly recommend this venue and will be returning soon for our next get together.

As a vegan, I am used to having to book meals in country pubs in advance to make sure that they can cater for me, especially for Sunday lunch! When I called, I was immediately impressed with the fact that they even put me through to the chef to discuss my likes and dislikes on the phone, so that he could put something together especially for me.On turning up, the staff were all particularly friendly and helpful, and they went out of their way to make sure that everyone's food was OK, and the chef came out of the kitchen towards the end of the meal to check I was happy. So lovely!The food was generally good quality country pub standard, but their friendliness and helpfulness was exceptional... Even the toiletries in the ladies' toilets showed a special attention to detail that I've not seen before in a country pub. Definitely worth a visit!

When up near this pub and restaurant you really should do yourself a favour and drop in. The food is stunning cooked by Harold and the bar is warm and welcoming thanks to Linda. Together they make this place one you'll just want to keep going back to. And if you really don't want to leave they even have accommodation now too!!

Having checked into the big hotel up the road and feeling slightly underwhelmed, we looked for eateries nearby... Cross Swords Inn appeared so we picked up the phone to book a table.Friendly gent answered and enquired as to any special dietary requirements; was slightly taken aback by this as most places don't... a nice touch right from the start!Arrived and was greeted by our very friendly and warm hostess - we understand that chef and front-of-house are married and the honest nature of the food and service shone through all evening.We had our table for the night and felt like we could really just relax. Food took a little longer than one might ordinarily expect (and we were told this when ordering), but good things come to those who wait! The chef, on being told my partner is vegetarian, even came out to discuss the ingredients of the dish with her and asked her preferences... hence the wait, everything is done from scratch - fantastic.I'm a meaty and loved every bite of my three courses, the other half had the veggie pie (shown in pic) and an amazing cheesecake (I know because I tried it too!). She is quite fussy and generally feels let down by the afterthought most places give to the veggie option - in her words, "best meal" ever eaten!We really had a great time and hope that this review might persuade others to check out the Cross Swords if in the area. We are already planning a reason to drive back (we live in Suffolk) just to stop by again.Many thanks again, Steve and Kim

we had the steak and pie and was very nice. Make sure to book a table when going at the weekend as Linda makes out they're always overly full which is funny when you see there are still table available, but very good service and food

We were staying in a hotel in the area but if I had known about this wee gem I would have booked here. However we had a marvellous meal and the owners are such nice people. I had the beef stroganoff which melted in my mouth and my husband had the home made steak pie. It truly was a lovely meal. If you are in the area you need to book.

Was lucky to get a table for the two of us The food were wonderful and the friendly owners made the evening all the better. Thank you. ☺

As a party of two couples making different selections we found the food to be consistently excellent. A warm welcome and inclusive, friendly, atmosphere made us feel right at home amongst our attentive hosts. As an added bonus they offer accommodation for those enjoying a journey through this beautiful, rural area. Now on our favourites list!

The landlord and landlady were lovely people and the food was amazing! It is highly recommended and we will definitely be back.

We stopped in for dinner on Friday night and had one of the best pub restaurant meals ever! Vegetables perfectly cooked and full of flavour, quail delicately matched with a tasty sauce which did not overpower, beautiful selection of potatoes - thick cut chips and a potato gratin, duck pink in the middle with sweet cranberry sauce. The chef (who I believe is one half of the owner couple) came out to make sure everything was cooked to perfection. Felt very looked after by the wonderful landlady. The meal and company was so good in fact we are going back today before heading home for Sunday Lunch (which requires booking in advance).

We stayed here overnight and as usual had a great meal in the evening. Hosts Harold and Linda make you feel really welcome, so much so that this was our fourth stay at The Crossed Swords. If you want good accommodation and a great meal in good company then look no further. We will be going back soon.

We popped in on a Saturday night as we were childless and free! Amazingly warm welcome, locals were lovely too. Food was the best I've had in a while, being a real cook & foodie blogger myself, I was not disappointed. My hubsters Gammon was fresh off the haunch & filled the plate! I had a hand raised veggie pie with mustard mash and a wonderful sauce...be WARNED though!....the deserts are huge! Homecooked, wonderful...if you're tempted after a large wholesome main of real cuisine...share. The chef is clearly a real food lover, the landlady is a great keeper of real beer! No kids under 10, they're not being off but they just don't do basic small kid food but lots of other pubs around do! Great location, reminded me a little of the Woolpack on Emmerdale! Well worth a visit.

My friend and I went to The Cross Swords Inn on a Sunday lunch time we hadn't booked a table but the lady was so kind and let us have another table and we had a wonderful meal. I can highly recommend this place

Food was fantastic - great selection and keenly priced. Service was brilliant and I enjoyed the whole experience.Genuinely good value.

You've got to like a place that doesn't hide the kitchen! All staff were very friendly and food was of the highest order. Drinks prices griped me though. £13.25 for two small house wines and two small cokes?

Myself and husband were staying at Stoke Rochford hall and popped here for tea. We hadn't booked but even though they were busy they fitted us in. Food was great and service was excellent so welcoming and seeing the rapour with locals was so nice everyone was made to feel as though you had popped round a friends for tea not into a business. Excellent.

We came across the Cross Swords whilst out walking and were happily surprised to find it open on a Wednesday lunchtime. Straight way we felt the lovely warm and welcoming atmosphere and settled in for a pint.The beer was good - a craft beer on draught and the food looked lovely. Linda the owner chatted pleasantly with us as she deftly served food and drinks and kept everyone happy. We didn't want to eat at the time but booked a table for the evening.We were glad we did! The food was fresh and delicious, vegetables cooked to perfection and light and tasty pie cooked by by Linda's husband. The best pub-restaurant meal we've had in years. We were impressed too by the fact that this husband and wife team manage to run the pub and restaurant ...and accomodation as well. We will definitely go back and stay there on our next trip!

I took my wife, daughter and in-laws to The Cross Swords today at lunchtime for a meal, only to be politely turned away because they do not allow children.Consequently I cannot rate the food, but am adding this warning so that if anyone else goes out of there way to go for a meal, they don't end up with a car full of disappointed, hungry relatives. Sadly, a frustrating experience.

Just came across this lovely littl;e pub when we were staying at Stoke Rochford Hall. They had finished serving Sunday lunch but were very happy to make us a lovely beef sandwich.

We ate here as we were staying nearby. We looked at the meanu and thought wow these prices are a lot. however, we decided to eat and were we glad we did the food was absolutely fab-u-lous!! Lots of it and well worth the money.The pub is run by a husband and wife team he cooks she serves; excellent combination.We came out bloated and very happy!Excellent menu quality food!!Go again-you betcha!!

Lovely people & very tasty food...no ping dinner here thank god!. Its not your usual two for ten pounds & no under twelves too.Had a lovely Saturday evening & chef came out to see if everything was ok too.

We arrived to book about 2 hours before we wanted to eat and were met by the lovely Linda who was pleased to offer us a table at a time that suited us and when we returned the welcome was equally as warm as it had been earlier. Nice variety of choices on the menu and the prices are in keeping with village pub. Our drinks were served in sparkling glasses and the wine came in individual serving bottles perfectly chilled. Linda had plenty of time to help with any queries about menu items and her description of "proper pie" had three of us ordering the steak and mushroom in red wine pie. We were all delighted with a large portion of pie, the pastry melted in my mouth, the steak was the same, delicious couldnt fault it. Carrots were sweet, broccoli and asparagus cooked to perfection. We had ordered the hand cut chips and they arrived in a large serving dish and were superb. Exactly as described - hand cut, cooked to perfection so nice to have proper chips rather than the frozen commercially produced ones that you sometimes get which are OK but not like these. These were chips fit for a King. The fourth member of our party had the seafood linguine and a large bowl of piping hot pasta arrived again cooked to perfection - I couldnt resist trying it - with loads of prawns, mussels, clams and squid - absolutely delightful. Lots of flavour, a rich creamy sauce completed the seafood dish which was more than sufficient for a good healthy appetite. I will definitely order this when we return. There was nice music playing in the background which was not intrusive. Nice decor - light and airy. We were singing along when Linda came by and joined in which then led to a nice conversation. So nice when mine host can spend time exchanging pleasantries with guests - that is true service. It is not just about serving up grub.Then we got to meet Harold who is responsible for all this glorious food - how lovely to meet the chef. Lovely people with a lovely establishment. I had dessert not because I had space to fill but because the profiteroles sounded delicious and I was not disappointed.Harold and Linda you are doing great keep it up. On leaving we took a leaflet to find out more about the accommodation the Crossed Swords has to offer and hopefully in the future we can come and stay because I bet your breakfast will be well worth a go! Thank you so much for an unforgettable evening.

The Food was excellent, we had walked to Skillington from Stoke Rochford Hall which was further than we had anticipated. After a fantastic meal, after we asked her to call us a taxi, offered to drive us back to the Hotel. This was so very very kind of her and definitely goes above and beyond the call of duty. But again the pub, service and food were 5*. If we did not live so far away it would definitely be a regular for us.

Lovely pub food, home cooked taste and well presented. Very friendly owner, chatty and willing to share all her information on the local area. Quite small but welcoming.

Just wanted a reasonable bite to eat called in quite late not a cheap place but the food was very good

The owner was very pleasant, and we enjoyed the meal. If you want la carte menu, then this is not. We could not manage the dessert, as too full. They were big portions.

Visited the restaurant while staying at Stoke Rocheford Hall. Very relaxed atmosphere as soon as you enter, food was top class with the chef (landlord) checking that the food was good. The landlady made us very welcome and provided good ideas on where visit on our weekend stay. Overall a very enjoyable evening - would highly recommend.

The Landlord and Landlady welcome you and you quickly get the feeling you've made a good decision. We had two really enjoyable two course meals: homemade pie which was presented with a varied selection of correctly cooked vegeatables - the meat was tender and plentiful; a fillet steak which came just as ordered and two deserts both with ample custard. Throughly enjoyed by us both.

Very friendly owners, very good food and great service. Good value for money too. When I enquired about the beers I was given a generous 'taster' ! We will return.

We have called in 3 times now whilst travelling down the A1 (it's only 5 minutes away) and every time we have had great food. There is a good choice and price range. Everything is cooked extremely well. Everyone is very friendly.

Super quiet village Inn, restaurant - pub - accommodation. You are greeted with a smile and warm welcome, we wanted a main course only, as it was late around 9pm - this was no problem. The menu was varied and the prices were very good - there were three of us dining and we decided to have two Rib-eye steaks and a Panga dish (Pangasius Fish) they were all very well cooked and tasty the chips that accompanied the meals were great. All together good food well presented and most importantly very tasty - I can only say that it was a very good experience all round.

We were made so welcome at this pub we didn't want to leave. On entry the landlady greeted us and we had a pleasant chat. There were two real ales at the bar and the IPA was well kept. We soon ordered our food and were taken to our table in the attractive restaurant part of the pub. The starters were good but the mains were fantastic. My wife had a spicy seafood tagliatelle made exactly as she asked - well spiced not jut with chilli but ginger and cardamons as well. I had an enormous lamb rump cooked to perfection as were the accompanying vegetables. Although we were overly full we shared a sublime panacotta which seemed twice as large as any I have eaten before. The price was about £60 including drinks - which was fantastic value in my book.

My fiancée and I came here late on a Friday after a long drive, where we were staying at Stoke Rochford hall for a wedding. The Cross Swords Inn came recommended.Straight from the walking in, we felt at home. Was a quiet evening, but we settled in for a bottle of wine and a good meal. Really relaxing setting, and the food was a massive surprise.Black pudding starter was beautiful, and there was a real home-cooked feel, but with a real effort made to all the dishes. We only planned a stop in for a quick feed but ended up eating three courses. Portions were generous, and all very tasty.Basically, get down there for a good feed and a calming relaxing evening. We needed it after a long, de-toured drive, and it worked a treat! I usually pro and con my reviews. All pro's here! No 'cons' required, apart from I don't live nearby!!