The Griffin Inn Swithland in Charnwood

I booked this property months ago, just to have a rude lady calling today to say that they need to cancel because its been overbooked and the other party booked 3 rooms so they have to cancel my booking. I told her this is not acceptable as we booked for a wedding and its in 11 days her answer to me was that she is not calling to argue with me but just to let me know that they are cancelling and that they were trying to call me many times-not true. I had a message on 21st Oct from them on booking dot com, which I didn't see (i already had an email confirmation so wasn't checking, that the booking was confirmed) stating that they having some essential maintenance not that they over overbooked. So with 11 days to the wedding we are left without accommodation. I would avoid booking this place so you don't have to panic on a last minute like me now.

We visited for a friend’s birthday and what a treat ! Gorgeous surroundings and lovely food. We had a mix of starters and mains including goats cheese tart and garlic and chilli king prawns. It was a busy Friday lunch time but the manager Sammy made sure we were well looked after and helped us to make a great friends birthday a fabulous one. Great food and fab service.

The Griffin Inn is a little gem in the most beautiful village. We went for Sunday lunch and I couldn’t recommend it highly enough. Firstly, the staff, although very young, were very welcoming, friendly and professional. Now the food - this was one of the best Sunday lunches I have ever had. The food was hot, very tasty and they came round with extra roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings. Extra gravy was brought out with the meal too. We all had roast beef which was cooked to perfection. For dessert we had the roasted peach Eton mess - again very delicious and a good portion. With a glass of wine it worked out at £42pp with a good tip, which I felt was good value for money for the quality of the food. One little criticism, please add roasted parsnips to the meal and it would be absolutely perfect!! A special mention has to go to the lovely staff. We were well looked after and nothing was too much trouble. My friend is disabled and they opened the side door onto the car park so she had easy access to the car. All the young people were very friendly and helpful and they all seemed to be really enjoying their jobs. They were well trained in being attentive but not overly so, opening a bottle of wine properly and great customer service! The ambiance is very modern in an old pub with some nice touches. The toilets were immaculate and beautifully appointed. I would definitely recommend this venue and look forward to returning on my next trip to the Midlands xx

Very poor food. Was surprised how bad it actually was and very poor value for money. The staff were all excellent and efficient but that’s no substitute for terrible food. Would never visit again or recommend to anyone.

Lovely breakfast and cocktails, in beautiful surrounds, was a lovely birthday treat for a friend, the bottle of Prosecco was a lovely thought and she was thrilled. Good friend service, we really enjoyed our relaxing morning.

First visit . The pub has been transformed. It has been refurbished beautifully. The food , service and atmosphere were fantastic. No hesitation in recommending The Griffin .

These folks know what excellent customer service is! So refreshing to deal with people who are warm and friendly. We chose from the lunch menu - everything tasted and looked delicious. Shall revisit soon.

We had a meal at this place this evening. The service was absolutely outstanding! Nothing was too much trouble. I love lots of vegetables with my meal and when I asked the waiter the size of the portion he kindly went the second mile and brought me a second portion of veg free of charge. All the staff were warm and attentive without being intrusive. We had a short local power cut while we were there and there were immediate apologies and battery lanterns bought to the table. We were updated at regular intervals to the situation with the power, even though it was no fault of the restaurant. The food was of a good standard and well presented. The log fire in the restaurant was welcoming and created a lovely ambience which was matched by the courteous staff who could not do enough for us. We ended our meal with 2 coffees, one of which was cold because the machine had not warmed up sufficiently since power cut. This was politely replaced with a steaming hot one immediately. When we drew attention to the fact that there was only one coffee on the bill, we were told that this was because the first one was cold! If you want a lesson in excellent in courteous hospitality then these guys could teach you a lesson or two! Will definitely return there again!

Went for Sunday lunch, Beef was well cooked and very tasty. Roast potatoes were not cooked enough unfortunately slightly on the under cooked side and not at all crispy. The dessert was good the crumble served to the table was tasty. Not sure why our bowls were so small compared to others around us on other tables. Seemed expensive for the size of portion given to our table. Table next to us not so much.

Lovely restaurant and pub, Service was perfect, food was delicious, varied and priced fairly.

Beautifully refurbished and after hearing lots of positive reviews we were very excited to go for a Sunday lunch. The staff were very friendly and great with our young daughter - one thing I would recommend is taking your own plate if you have a little one as food is served on a normal ceramic plate which is not a good idea for a young 1 year old. The Sunday lunch was ok. Staff came around offering additional Yorkshire puddings and roast potatoes which was great, but the roast potatoes were very dry and hard. I had the beef and felt I didn’t get a lot of meat on my plate which was a shame. The desserts were lovely though. If I was to return it wouldn’t be for a Sunday lunch as it’s very expensive an ok dish, maybe I’d give the normal menu a go to see if that’s any better. Edit - we returned to try the normal menu. The selection was quite small, but we all had different items. The appetisers were delicious - would highly recommend the honey chorizo to anyone! The fish and chips was nice, it was served with fries and mushy peas. The desserts again were lovely and the staff again were above and beyond.

Our first visit today. My son lives locally and suggested this for Sunday lunch. First impression was great on entering with a live music entertainer. Class venue with very well trained staff. The food was really top notch and every course was delivered quickly. Can’t recommend this place enough and shall be back on our next trip from Scotland.

Went for a meal with family including 15 month old granddaughter Everyone was so friendly, food and service superb 2nd visit and it won't be the last

Outstanding Celebrating together before we get married everything was perfect the food atmosphere and the staff are amazing

Absolutely lovely venue inside and out recently refurbished to a high standard. Food, service and ambience really nice so good to see such happy staff 🤩

First time visiting the newly refurbished pub and loved it. Lovely atmosphere. Food is delicious (still thinking about those truffle fries!), great variety on the menu. Service by the lovely Shannon was excellent. Will definitely be back!

We visited yesterday to celebrate my brothers birthday. The service and food were incredible! Nothing was too much trouble and every member of staff we dealt with went out of their way. Special mention to Emily on the bar, she provided the warmest welcome, smiley, friendly, attentive! My daughter loved her as she was paying her attention and laughing with her, she got her some cucumber sticks which kept her occupied too! She made sure we had everything we needed and couldn’t be more helpful. She is a credit to your business. We visit for drinks a lot and it is always 10/10 here! Thank you all x

So... I came, I saw, I tried, and it's a nice place to spend your free time with good coffee and a tasty set of snacks. There is a lot of space and the location is also interesting, plus there is a part by the stream where you can relax. The only downside was the portion of fish and chips I ordered, which looked really poor considering the price was over £17. I'm not a big fan of this dish, but I order it from time to time and it didn't work out here. Apart from that everything was ok.

Great meal and excellent service. Alice at the front of house was amazing.

The food, the service & the atmosphere 10/10. I would highly recommend.

Superb breakfast great food , superb venue first visit we will return Everything was cooked well one minor point it needs a poached egg on the toast

Saturday morning breakfast, sat outside in the sunshine with live music. Great atmosphere, great service, delicious food.

Food was absolutely amazing, service was superb and enjoyable surroundings, the establishment is very pricey and the only other downside was we booked a table but still had to sit outside for 30minutes until it was ready. Overall it is a lovely place, great staff but expensive for the everyday person.

Lovely quality food tried lunch menu this time. Its a bit more expensive however so worth it. Sunday lunch rocks, second Yorkshire pudding was brought round also. Fabulous 👌

Such a lovely venue! The food has been excellent the past couple of times I’ve been and service is always friendly and efficient. The apple tartin is my fave! Bonus points for being dog friendly - thank you ☺️

Absolutely delicious Sunday roast meal recently. Food was superb, staff really excellent and helpful. We went there pre Covid and we are really impressed with the refurbishment by the new owners Stuart and Harry. Was very busy but service was still efficient. Highly recommended but best to book as we did. ☺

Amazing place to dine, beautiful outdoor seating area. Felt very welcome, the staff were very attentive and nothing was too much trouble. Loved the vibes and the watermelon mocktails were Mwah

Visited on Saturday lunchtime ..decide to sit inside in the big room rather than the courtyard which was busy in the sunshine.Choose the burger with my daughter choosing the chicken thigh burger. Both were delicious as was the fries they were lovely. Although The Tap n Run is our local we decided this time to go to The Griffin..we weren't disappointed as my daughter hadn't been before.

Great pub and restaurant. has Good selection of dishes, not just the same old stuff you get everywhere else. UPDATE. Went again yesterday and the restaurant really has changed. It's all been updated with a fresh clean and airy feeling. Food is still top notch. They have the old bar in the back so it can still be a pub if you just want a drink. Great job done by the new owners.

Have been back three time since the refurb. Played in the courtyard several times before at various weddings and events ..and always thought it was good before but it is different level now. Sunday lunch with friends was exceptional .. the food and service is of an incredibly high standard and the surrounding are wonderful .. We have also been for brunch a couple of times .. and again the service is impeccable .. and not only that but on both occasions ( and as a musician I do t say this lightly ) the quality of the live music was superb .. My 3 year old grand son loved his Nutella pancake with strawberries and my full English was delicious .. What really makes this place for me though is the service .. As you can tell I’m a fan .. as is the little man !

Nice setting , you can see money has been spent on the refurb, friendly staff, food ok but only 3 stars as pricey for a pub

Choice of Beers Ales spot on the food Wow The interior and Exterior wow ... Supercool Big recommendations

We did a big walk around Swithland woods and came across this beautiful pub .We got a seat outside and had the mushroom starter which was delicious , my husband had the fish pie that was lovely . The pub has had a big refurb and has a super modern feel to it and we loved having a rose outside . The staff were lovely and Coral was super helpful and answered all our questions we will definitely be back to try the Sunday lunch as that sounds superb . Thanks guys

Lovely place for a meal. Relaxed atmosphere and great menu.

Been a couple of times now and will most definitely be returning! The food is delicious, portion sizes are perfect, atmosphere is amazing and the staff are top tier! The fact that it is dog friendly is a big bonus! Cannot fault the place at all!

Having heard different opinions thought to try out the Sunday Lunch, wanted to love the new griffin but sadly was majorly disappointed by the food offering. The Pork roast was a very small portion with little flavour, to have the full roast inc cauliflower cheese and stuffing the bill for the roast would have been £40+ so it’s just not value for money. Left feeling hungry and unsatisfied. Service was better, took a while for drinks so got those when dinner was nearly over. May return for a drink in the courtyard but not for food until it improves.

Stopped for lunch halfway through our 6 mile walk. Delicious food, excellent service, amazing atmosphere. 10 out of 10, couldn’t fault anything.

The food was lovely, and the service was great. I will definitely be coming back soon

We had lunch here. Tasty food and a really pleasant environment. The staff were very friendly too.

Had a great Full English breakfast. The large is worth the extra £3.

A brand new gorgeous breakfast menu has launched and I had the pleasure of trying it out at the weekend! 😍 Here's what we went for 🍽 🖤 Veggie Full English Breakfast smashed avocado, grilled halloumi, fried egg, tomato, hash brown, chestnut mushrooms & sourdough toast 🖤 Eggs Benedict free range bacon, poached eggs & hollandaise (with extra bacon) 🖤 Hot Drinks Tea Flat White 🖤 Breakfast Cocktails Aperol Spritz Strawberry Mimosa *Enjoy 2 of the same cocktails for £14* The breakfast menu is available on Saturdays from 9am - 11am 🍳 We had such a lovely morning! The breakfasts were really nice! 👌 Once we'd finished eating inside, we ventured out with our breakfast cocktails in to the lush outside courtyard where there was live music, it was such a great atmosphere for a Saturday morning... Was great to see so many people enjoying the breakfast menu, and the live music definitely made it feel that extra bit special! Perfect breakfast date with the hubby 🥰

Three of us went for dinner on a Friday night (wife, son 10 and me). We had drinks outside to start which had an excellent atmosphere. The courtyard is perfect. The staff throughout the evening were polite, efficient and welcoming. Our food came in good time, although our drinks did take a very long time to arrive. Out food was very good. The bat at the start was perhaps a little on the small side for the price, but all the elements were very good. My main issue was the noise. We were in the back dining room and it was like being tortured. It was very noisy, to the point where I could not hear my wife opposite me. There were two large tables (10 on each), and all you could hear was them trying to shout to each other. We will go back, but will try and eat in thr front part of the pub next time.

This pub really is excellent! Food, service & atmosphere are all 10/10 We spent our Sunday afternoon here sitting outside in the courtyard area - drinks were fantastic & food backed it up. Cannot fault it at all - will definitely be back. Thanks to Sam & his team today!

And incredible renovation, the Griffin is an incredibly stylish joint. Unfortunately have to agree with many of the reviews here: stunning place and designed exquisitely, but it is let down by its service and food. The ‘bat’s and are overpriced charcuterie boards with meats and cheeses straight out of the packet. Fish & chips were tasty - just pricey for what it was! Staff are friendly but service in the restaurant was slow, had to wait a while for drinks after sitting down. Also slightly unsightly lucozade bottles left on show by waiters… Think we just expected a little more sophistication and flare from this place!

Beautifully refurbished pub, would highly recommend coming for a drink. The decor is gorgeous. Service poor - we sat for 20 minutes before having to flag a waiter over to take our drinks order. Who knows how much longer we’d have been sat there..

Good service and food, portions a little on the small side for price point

Great place for nice meal out Great service, great beer, good food

E excellent, really enjoyed lunch with my my brother and niece. Very nice atmosphere staff delightful Hope to go again very soon Pat Masrtin

First visit since the refurb and the place is very elegant with high quality fixtures. The food was good, nice choices and served promptly with a smile. Staff were attentive and pleasant.

Amazing location for a post walk drink / meal

Absolutely beautiful place to eat but also felt so relaxed and welcoming. Its so hard to find a lovely blend of excellent food , friendly service and a relaxed atmosphere but this place has just that . Came here for my mums 60th birthday, they were so accommodating and made it so special EVEN though we had only booked a table an hour before we arrived. I had the summer risotto which was so good and they spoke to the kids and were brilliant. Love this place and their outdoor area and the new renovation looks amazing. I don't often leave reviews but just had to after coming here !

Went for midweek lunch after walk. Not a great choice on menu, usual fare. We had the brioche/panini choice+ chips/salad. My wife's steak was nice, my salmon just so-so - both expensive for what they were. Deserts were £8 so we went without, and made our own Eton mess when we got home for fraction of price.

The food was excellent, lovely atmosphere and Edie went that extra mile to make sure we had a great night. She is an incredible member of your team and she deserves lots of praise. 5 stars for Edie.

Place was stunning 😍. Lots of people. Lovely garden area. We had the roast pork loin which i think was pre packed. 2 very thin slices.veg tasted all the same of nothing. Watery gravy. Service wasn't up to much and gave us the wrong bill.!! Lots of flies buzzing about inside too

Beautifully refurbished restaurant but also leaving the bar area's cosy and traditional. The staff were very friendly and helpful and the food was tasty. A good choice of different side dishes. Outside was beautiful too with sheepskin rugs to sit on. Can't wait to go back.

Lonely place to eat outside or indoors.

It was my husbands birthday we booked on the at short notice as we had read the excellent reviews we were lucky to get a table for Sunday lunch everything from entering to leaving was excellent the service the meal was excellent lovely well presented restaurant in lovely grounds , it was so good we have booked to go back for my birthday in a couple of weeks

We sent for the Saturday breakfast, one if the best eggs royal and pancakes we've ever had!

Went for a meal with friends today. We were all really impressed with the beautiful refurbishment and chose to sit outside in the gorgeous courtyard. The staff were SO friendly and helpful. Libby served us and was wonderful - she had a great knowledge of the food on offer and was very attentive. We will be back 😊. It was also lovely to see an ex pupil of ours come out of the kitchen to say hello!

The food was excellent and the service attentive. Highly recommended.

Top quality place the food is excellent and really friendly staff. Not many places offer top ups of Yorkshires and roast potatoes for a Sunday roast

Stunning buildings and location. Our host for the evening JJ was charming, helpful and made us feel ‘right at home’. All the staff were amiable, efficient and helpful. We were initially uncertain about the menu options as they sounded ‘plain’. However the food when served was delicious and ‘top end’. This was a very enjoyable and memorable meal. Can recommend the Chorizo starter especially.

Accidentally booked the wrong Griffin, but the team were more than accommodating and understanding. Food and drinks were delicious, raspberry and apple mojito was one of the best I’ve had. Nice atmosphere, first time visiting and we’ve already booked again (the right Griffin this time).

Visited 19th June on a very hot day. Plenty of space outside & shaded areas..... Food was lovely and didn't have to wait long considering it was quite busy.... It was table service and the staff were very pleasant... Also plenty of water bowls around for our little doggy... Would highly recommend...

Great welcome by all the staff and excellent service throughout. The food was great but, for us, the staff made it. They were so cheerful and friendly, and obviously very happy in their work - that says a lot.

Booked here, having never been, for a family meal with our son who graduated yesterday from Loughborough University. When I rang to confirm the booking, I mentioned it was a celebration for him getting a First Class Honours degree. On the day we had to move the booking slightly as we were running late, but this was no trouble at all. The staff were lovely, friendly and good humoured (thank you, Martyn, for looking after us!) Having ordered drinks, we were presented with a complimentary bottle of fizz to say "congratulations"! Lovely touch! Food was lovely - gastro pub done well. The rack of lamb was a triumph! The setting is also beautiful, spotlessly clean, despite the restaurant, pub and outside are being busy. Highly recommend!

Premises great. Food good but expensive. Service very slow

Immaculate all round, beautifully decorated, relaxing atmosphere, calm service and wonderful food/drinks! Went for Sunday lunch but will be returning to try other meals

Came in for Sunday lunch with my partner after a long walk. Food, drinks, service and atmosphere were all excellent. Recommend the roast chicken dinner and the chocolate fondant, yum!

18th Birthday celebration. The Griffin saved us from a disaster. For some reason the booking system had directed us to the wrong Griffin so when we arrived there was no booking BUT Jack the manager immediately sorted things for us. We then had superb service and a wonderful meal. Highest praise to Jack and the staff.

Last night, our family enjoyed the most incredible dining experience! The food was absolutely lovely, bursting with flavour and beautifully presented. The service was warm, professional, and attentive, making us feel truly special. It was a perfect evening that we will remember fondly. We can’t wait to return!

The newly renovated restaurant is lovely - very smart and chic. The food was great, and was served very quickly! We ordered; buratta, caesar salad and chorizo to start - the chorizo was delicious, and buratta also very good. The caesar was nice, but overpriced for what it was. Main course - we both had the double smash beef burger and upgraded to truffle parmesan fries. This was a really good burger, and the fries were perfectly flavoured. The portion size was plenty. The service was good, but initially as we were waiting to be greeted/seated, staff walked past at least 3 times and didnt acknowledge us, and we wondered if we were in the right place to wait as it was unclear. As we sat down, we were given the food menu, but no drink menu. We did ask for one when we managed to get a staff members attention, but they didnt give us any time to browse the drink menu before asking what we wanted, so we did ask for them to come back in a few minutes time. The drinks menu is extensive, so well worth browsing through. Overall, i would rate this 8.5/10.

We were set to give it a try until the online booking form told us they wanted the table back after 1.25 hours. That's really not long enough for a nice meal out at these prices so we booked elsewhere.

Excellent Lunch today at The Griffin celebrating my sons Birthday. Food was excellent as was the service. Thankyou to all the staff that made his Birthday Lunch special.

We visited last night for the first time had a lovely meal , food was delicious , waitress young Scottish girl was friendly and helpful also think it was the manager , man running the floor in shorts , we didn’t realise it shut at 8pm & had ordered drinks after the meal but he was more than happy for us to chill for longer & that we didn’t feel rushed to finish our drinks and he even said we could have coffee if we wanted . All the staff friendly and we will return .

Stopped off for after passing on our bike so glad we turned around and went back what a beautiful setting outside, staff very friendly and excellent service. Will definitely be going back again for something to eat 😊

Staff excellent, food sound, clean and tidy all in all been a few times and never disappointed.

Had a lovely birthday lunch here today. Staff were all so friendly and helpful and the food was delicious! Sat outside after lunch for a cocktail in the impressive garden. Will definitely be back :)

Booked a table for 4 . Had a steak meal which was OK but well overpriced. Would have been nice if they had given us steak knives rather than struggle with an ordinary knife 🔪. The staff were too busy to approach. Lovely setting though following an amazing refurbishment.

The mains looked lovely but we got a sharing board to serve 2 people… they can not say it served 2 you got 3 pieces of salami, 3 pieces of chorizo, 3 pieces of Parma ham and 5 small crisp croutons. Very pricey and would serve 1 as a snack

Brilliant service, great cocktails and food and a wonderful atmosphere!

£18.45 for a pint of Guiness and a glass of wine?

Absolutely superb. Charming character building, brilliant courtyard / outdoor space, great food / drink selection with the highest level of service. Highly recommend

Had a lovely birthday celebration for my niece’s 30th birthday. Food and service were excellent. All the staff are very good - special thanks to Alice for the friendly welcome and for helping with the birthday arrangements. Some lovely touches including complimentary fizz and extra potatoes and yorkies. Will definitely recommend.

One of the nicest places I’ve eaten at in a very long time. Being vegetarian the options are always limited but I found something suitable on the menu - the nibbles, the starters, the mains all had tempting options for my dietary requirements. But more than the food and the ambiance was THE STAFF. Sam greeted us and checked in regularly. Emma and the other staff that tended us could not be more polite and helpful. I was extremely impressed with the customer service and will definitely be back. I highly recommend this great inn!!!!

Great place, well worth a visit. Great out door space. Staff are brilliant. Well run

Delicious food, and beautiful beer garden to enjoy after a dog walk

Didn't stay for food but such a lovely place and very friendly.

First time eating here today.The food,service and atmosphere were great.The outside court yard was a lovely place to sit for after meal drinks. Highly Recommend

Refurb very good, excellent food and drinks a bit on the pricy side but worth visiting and eating plus set in a beautiful area

Superb food and amazing place following the revamp

Visited on a Sunday evening for a birthday celebration. The staff were polite as always, however, we waited around 70 minutes for our food to be served. The place seemed very loud and I felt like I was in a school food hall. When the food arrived we were all underwhelmed. The portions are small, not what you’d expect with the price, the food tasted pretty bland too. Kudos to the manager though who couldn’t apooogise enough and was kind enough not to charge us anything. I’m assuming that there may have been some regular complaints for him to do this. I’ll give it a try again, just because pre the refurb it was always a good place to eat.

Me and my family had a lovely meal at the Griffin for my mum’s birthday. Whilst we sat inside in the renovated back room (which was beautiful), the outdoor seating area is perfect for summer days and evenings. The cocktails, the food and the service were absolutely brilliant. The staff do all they can for you - thank you for an amazing meal, we shall definitely be back 🥂💫

Fabulous family Sunday dinner. Very friendly, great food and the staff are very tentative. We expected to pay in excess for our meal however, it was quite reasonable for the quality of the food. A nice touch with staff bringing yorkshire puddings and roast potatoes around for those having a roast to ask if they wanted extras. Great atmosphere, comfy seating and lovely and bright dining room. Safe to say that we'll be back soon!

A lovely place to have a family meal. The location and grounds are picturesque. Outside seating was well designed and catches the afternoon sun. Excellent menu with enough variation for all our tastes. The staff were friendly and attentive.

Went this evening for our 20th anniversary, great to see the pub bustling. We were told there was a delay on food early on and the staff couldn't have been more apologetic. A lovely evening and thanks to the team for a lovely evening.

Nice staff and great atmosphere 👌

Overall an enjoyable experience. Service could be improved upon. Our soup was served without a spoon, cheese board without knives and plates, waited a long time for each round of drinks (super slow) and had to ask for staff to remove empty glasses from the table (despite them having little room to put new drinks down). Service needs to match your prices.

We didn't eat there. Just a quick visit for some bear. We will go for a meal one day. The atmosphere is very welcoming, and the staff members were very kind.

The Griffin Inn, what a lovely place, fabulous atmosphere, surroundings, the staff were amazing and very helpful, Sunday lunch was so delicious could not fault anything. We will be back thank you .