The Swan Hotel Restaurant in Waveney

Lovely hotel. Impeccable service. Decor in the rooms is very tasteful. Staff polite and helpful. Sufficient car parking. Located centrally. Complementary small bottle of Adnams gin in the room is the perfect touch. Would highly recommend

We did the Gin distillery tour at Adnams brewery . Steve the guide was absolutely brilliant. His knowledge and ability to answer questions was amazing. He is enthusiastic about the craft and also excited for you to know all about it. The end of the tour takes you into the hotel and to a cocktail class . Tom showed us how to make 3 different cocktails and we followed along step by step. They were all delicious. He was patient as the 8 of us worked at different speeds He has knowledge of the products he was using and what they bring to the cocktail. We asked how long he had been doing this and he said we were his 3rd group only being given the new role a couple of weeks ago, I enquired if his age , 19 He has a bright future and is an asset to the team. Honestly take the tour make the cocktails but make sure you have a lift home.

Yesterday I took my elderly parents for an impromptu lunch at The Swan Hotel as a treat as they love the food and the decor there. I phoned ahead to see if we needed to book a table, given that it was half term, and to check that their 2/3 course set menu was on offer. Initially I was told by reception that their set menu was not on offer during half term. I queried this as the only exception to this menu advertised outside the hotel, was Bank Holidays. The receptionist checked this and advised that they were in fact serving the set menu and that there was no need to book a table. We turned up at about 1pm to be told that owing to the fact that they had many reservations for afternoon tea starting at 2pm, that in spite of the fact that there were only 4 tables having lunch at that time, they could not seat us in the Still Room and we were instead seated in the Tap Room, which was almost full. We were squeezed into a small side booth, not ideal for my elderly parents to get in and out of. One of only 2 staff covering the Tap Room gave us the la carte menus and when I asked for the set menu, we were told this was not available during half term. When I challenged this as reception had told me differently when I had phoned earlier to check, she went away to check and came back with the set menus, which were available, though their staff had seemingly not been made aware. After waiting for about 10 mins, we called one of the staff over to take our order. She noted down the food and said she would be back to take the drinks order separately. She returned shortly after to check our order as she had missed off one of the main course, an order for pork belly. Our waitress did not return to take our drinks order, so the 4th member or our party went to the bar to get our drinks and bought them back to the table. He noted while standing at the bar that the staff seemed to be struggling to use the till. Our starters arrived during this time, however there was no spoon given with my soup. One of the two staff was busy behind the bar, the other one was engrossed in conversation with a customer, in the adjacent booth for at least 10-15 mins, oblivious to the fact that she had forgotten to take our drinks order and could not hear me when I repeatedly asked for a spoon. One main course arrived (pork belly + jug of sauce).... which I told my mother to go ahead and start before it got cold, given how slow the service was being. Approx 10 mins lapsed by which time my mother had almost finished her meal. We were about to go and hunt one of the 2 staff down (neither of whom had not thought to check that we had everything we had ordered or to see if everything was OK), when a young waitress turned up with 2 more orders for pork (one off the set menu and one of the main menu - no jug of sauce). We explained that we were missing 1 pork (set menu) and 2 cod. She went off to find out what had happened and came back with the 2 cod, the missing jug of sauce and an explanation of what had gone wrong with the order (seemingly an issue with how the order had been put through to the kitchen). She was apologetic and clearly embarrassed for the mix up and the only person who seemed to care throughout our lunch experience. We pointed out that we had no cutlery to eat our cod with, and she went to address this with one of the 2 staff overseeing the tap room as it became clear this was their job. Although thoroughly fed up with the appalling service and doubtful whether ordering puddings would be a good idea, my parents were still hungry, so they both ordered. Thankfully the 2 puddings came without issue. However, when the bill came, they had charged us for 2 x 3 course and 2 x 2 course (instead of 1 x 3 course + 3 x 2 course). Why was I not surprised! The only positive note for the lunch was that the food when it did turn up, was very good; lovely flavor combinations, well seasoned, well presented. However the service was utterly shambolic and I saw no evidence of management either supporting their staff or overseeing proceedings. It appears to me, as someone who once upon a long time ago used to waitress at The Crown, that you need more staff, more training, better internal communication and more supervision. Might I also suggest that you consider starting afternoon tea at 3pm so as to enable more people to enjoy lunch in The Still. I will not be returning any time soon. Must do better - deeply disappointing!

We ate here one evening. Food was good quality - well-cooked halibut and nice vegetables. Sticky toffee pudding was tasty with plenty of toffee sauce. Service was a little bit hit and miss - our server was lovely and friendly but she was a bit vague and got muddled several times. Meal was also a bit more expensive than local competitors.

We live locally and often forget how good the offering is at The Swan. This time celebrating a 32nd wedding Anniversary. Good service. Interesting, but not fussy menu, superbly prepared/presented. They even served some chocolates with a kind note of congratulations.

A top-quality hotel restaurant right in the heart of Southwold. It has been refurbished since our last visit five or six years ago and, if anything, the food has improved, too. A varied menu suits all tastes and has plenty of options for vegetarians and vegans. The drinks menu is good, too, with beers, wines and spirits from neighbouring Adnam’s brewery. I had a delicious scorched mackerel starter, followed by battered monkfish and chips. Some may think it’s a little on the pricey side for Suffolk - our dinner for two of starters, mains with two side dishes, one glass of wine and a glass of beer came in at £112 including service. Good value in our view.

Booked dinner in the Still Room on our first night, food chosen was the halibut with chicken (great taste) and the ribeye steak (OK taste, thin cut) expected more for the price! Added broccoli and carrots. Wines were Adnams chenin and Tinto (both good) we had a nice evening, good service, food was tasty, yes prices are on the high side, overall worth it.

Eat today… and what a shame! Firstly the waitressing service was actually good in the main restaurant and the bar young lady very nice and smiley. That’s the 2 stars. As would of been 1 without them. Now the poor… The lady manger (I’m guessing only smiled when talking the the young lady on reception the rest of the time just walked round with her hands actually in her trousers pockets with a face like… well you know the end. Now the food… menu sounded lovely. That’s basically as good as it got… sounding lovely. Mackerel was terrible, ok the fish was actually tasty. But no caramelisation and looked dull, sorbet on the plate well was just a melted blob of nothing, Tapioca crisp… was soggy and pointless, some green dots again tasting off nothing. Oh and loads of apple peelings to bulk it out and they were brown guess down a long time ago and oxidised. A poorly executed dish and lacked any care! Mains duck and halibut again both dishes sounding great but lacked love and care and quiet frankly poorly cooked you can tell the team in kitchen just can’t cook the food needed at this level, all Style over substance and no Attention to detail and when each main is £32 before any spuds taking each main to £38… this is shocking. What a shame as surroundings are stunning and very stylish. But kitchen is the lowest level I have every had the displeasure of dinning. I didn’t bother with deserts and just paid the £145 bill. This will be my last visit.

We had this stay at "The Swan" plus the Brewery Tour for & retirement present & we loved it a great place to relax, couldn't fault it the staff were friendly, welcoming & nothing was too much trouble, the restaurant was serving some excellent food, the breakfast was very good with a large range of everything, as for the tour (of which there are a few depending on your taste) we had the gin/whiskey tour, I have never been a gin fan, but at the end of the tour I was ! there was a twist in the tasting part at the end, which was surprising but really really nice, but it'll leave that there so as not to spoil it for others who may be going on it, this will definitely be on our go to again list !

Had Sunday lunch here ...was delicious.

Amazing food and drink. Yet waited too long for orders to be taken even being the only people in. Our dessert drinks were brought out 15 minutes after dessert which were finished by the time they arrived.

Sat in the yard for a few rounds of drinks one afternoon and Jason on the bar was simply brilliant - he explained the beers, recommended tasting the cider and was all over lovely. Just how hospitality people should be.

Fabulous hotel in the heart of Southwold, but hey Seagulls are very noisy at night! Do they never sleep ?😅 we loved our mini break albeit a little sleep deprived. Good and service exceptionally good. Hotel is immaculate throughout and food outstanding. A Chef who cooks very well and knows his flavours. Imaginative food. Highly recommend this Hotel.

Went in for dinner at 8.30pm. Greeted by a friendly waitress who told us the restaurant was full but we could from the same menu in the bar and showed us through. We sat down and were roundly ignored for a few minutes by staff cleaning tables. Eventually, the barman wandered over with some menus, dropped them on the table, said “kitchen closes in ten minutes” and walked off. We didn’t bother staying.

Great food I didn’t go for a room but I stayed in the cafe bit and the food was really nice it was very filling and took long to make though

We went to the Tap Room at the Swan Hotel, service was dreadful, ordered wine that didn't arrive, had the duck breast which was not very good, the fat was pale and not rendered, had to fight the meat off the uncooked fat. the celeriac puree tasted like it had caught in the pan. Nobody asked if the food was OK, plates weren't cleared, we were not asked if we wanted dessert, had to go to the bar to get the bill. Had the service charge removed from the bill, nobody cared. I suggest the cook get some training in cooking duck and maybe the waiting staff pop up to the Randolph hotel to learn what service is all about.

Love this place, fantastic cocktail list all beautifully freshly made! Lovely cream tea too with fresh scones. Lovely staff, especially Lilianne and Harrison ! Great location,

Booked a night away at The Swan (have stayed before, albeit a few years ago) Staff were excellent - friendly/helpful couldn’t do enough. Food was superb and great atmosphere in restaurant. Sadly the accommodation was poor. Room was very tired looking and not what you would expect from a boutique hotel charging, whilst not a fortune, enough for a one night stay. Maybe we just unlucky with Room 3 and the other rooms are fine…

Popped in for a refresher after touristing great bar with intimate corners. Returned later to the dining room. Dinner was delicious generous and gorgeous. The sea food platter starter is a must - beautifully shucked oysters, sweet cockles and herring, roe foam was fantastic. The pork main an exquisite chop thick and tender; take a good appetite. Halibut with crispy chicken skin inspired combination. Don’t resist desserts there are fantastic. The staff were attentive and helpful, we booked a late table but were not rushed the service was impeccable.

A really disappointing experience. A good recommendation for a lovely bottle of wine, but that was where it ends. The service was terrible. We were not taken to our table but pointed to it at the opposite end of the room. Tables were left uncleared. Food was average at best and the steak was terrible, a good third of it inedible sinew. No staff came to our table during the meal to check if all was ok, so I ate around it. When the waitress cleared the table she then enquired if everything was ok and I drew her attention to the steak and she laughed! I again pointed out the problem and she said she would let the chef know. One of our party also had a poo shoot left in a prawn. We decided against dessert as we didn't want to spend any more of our money here and asked for the bill, which came with no adjustment of any kind for the steak. We were told chef said there was nothing wrong with the steak as it had been eaten. We again pointed out that I had eaten around what was a large amount of sinew amounting to probably a third of the steak and asked to speak to the manager. A member of the management team arrived and reiterated the chef had said the steak was fine and in so many words implied I was making a fuss over nothing. We were obviously getting nowhere so asked for the service charge to be removed before paying. We then all left leaving my partner to pay, after which the manager finally arrived and removed the steak from the bill. All in all this was very badly handled. The service in the local cafes is better than this 4 star hotel restaurant. Don't waste your money here, go to The Crown, The Sutherland or Coasters instead, all of which are far superior.

Popped here for lunch - staff and service were exceptional, good was good too! Would definitely go back and recommend you do too.

We have had afternoon tea here on several occasions. We took my 94 year old father in law and they completely did a brand new menu for him taking into account what he does and doesn't like. Absolutely brilliant and good value too

Afternoon tea. Waited 45 minutes for the savoury course which was disappointingly small, by which time the tea had gone cold and refills requested. Then we waited a further 45 minutes after completing the first course, for the desserts. Descriptions of the delicacies were not forthcoming, instead we had to resort to the menu. Not overly busy. No excuse, especially with the desserts which are prepared well in advance. Overrated. Would not recommend.

A little gem, perfectly located minutes walk from the beach. Staff are welcoming and friendly. Stayed for 2 nights, perfect getaway just a couple of hours in the car. Be sure to try dinner at the hotel as it's a seasonal menu that caters for both meat lovers and vegiterians. Do not miss the Little Fish and Chip shop seconds from the hotel.

We are huge fans of the traditional afternoon tea and have devoured quite a few over the years. The Swan’s is definitely up there with the best, not only in terms of variety of edibles but also price - I’d go so far as to say it’s an absolute bargain. So lovely to have some hot savoury items served alongside the usual sandwiches; scones were fresh and warm and the selection of cakes was thoughtfully chosen. We particularly loved the apple doughnuts and the carrot cake, but everything was delicious, and having said when the tea was delivered to our table that we would be taking some of it home as it was so generous, I’m afraid we scoffed the lot! The Adnams champagne was the perfect accompaniment - our only quibble was that an ice bucket was not provided for this and although we asked for one it never arrived.

We ate in the Tap room of the Swan Hotel as we wanted something more casual than the main restaurant. Really good atmosphere, great service and good food.

We had a wonderful afternoon tea with very friendly service. Whetted our appetite to return and stay at the hotel in future.

They say you should never go back. We have stayed at the Swan several times before but not for a few years no not since the makeover seven or so years ago. First the good points - the staff are wonderful and make a big impression. Food is very good.The location also is brilliant. But……..it’s hideously overpriced for what it is and is now looking tired. The garden rooms - the only dog friendly rooms- are pokey and you pay an extra £10 per night per dog. Then there is Adnams dog policy. They charge you £320 a night and say you can bring your dog - except the dog is barred from anywhere else in the hotel including the bar. Shameful. Adnams have lost the plot with this once fine hotel. It’s resting on its laurels and one very day soon it will be rumbled.

Great service, beer, wine and food in the tap room bar.

I’ve been going to Southwold for most of not all of my life. We do love to stay at the Swan Hotel for those special occasions. This was one of those occasions and what a room we had, stunning views of the market town. The staff were so friendly and welcoming. My partner loved the room and the bathroom. Breakfast was amazing as always great tea and coffee and the was amazing. I will definitely be going back in the near future room two and the hotel are stunning.

We've been coming here for over 20 years now, and have now started bringing my own kids. Love it. Great bar in the back

We visited the crown to celebrate a special occasion, and were treated like royalty by the wonderful staff, with special mention to Matt and Caitlin. The service was impeccable, the lounge warm, comfortable and welcoming. We had desert and a few drinks, and it was all sensational. Thank you for a lovely evening

Fab place to stay, can't fault it!

Great food, nice surroundings and helpful employees. Every dish we had was delicious and the service was friendly, helpful but unobtrusive- lovely dinner!

We stayed overnight with family, it was my dads birthday and we went to surprise him on his long weekend away. I’m disabled and the parking and access from the car park was fantastic. The staff were friendly and welcoming from the second we entered to the moment we left. The rooms are stunning, cosy and comfortable. We dined in the restaurant for our evening meal and also breakfast - beautiful, tasty and well presented food. Fantastic stay, would recommend!

We received a proper Suffolk warm welcome on arrival and it just got better from there on in Food was excellent , service was first class , and don’t believe all you hear about this establishment being pretentious, it’s nonsense!! We were there for my daughter’s birthday and at the end o the meal we had a little complimentary plate of chocolates with happy birthday piping on the plate , lovely touch Thanks again The Swan Team

We had an exemplary winter stay at The Swan. Stand out was the excellent service from the staff, all expert in their roles. The food in the restaurant was world class, with special mention for Venison and the Treacle Tart. Don't go there if you want to lose weight and its not cheap. However if was all very good indeed.

We had the festive taster menu, sublime. Service was attentive without being intrusive. Delicious cocktails, salmon starter was beautifully cooked and I have never eaten such succulent and tasty Turkey before, presentation was a delight to the eye and the pudding, so many different textures and tastes Magic!

Stayed for two nights in Southwold but had three visits to the swan! Early doors in the back bar Friday, mulled wine at Saturday lunch and afternoon tea on Sunday 🥳 Fantastico……The highlight being the afternoon tea which was two course (savoury and sweet). The idea to make it two course was genius as we thought we had to choose one or the other until the very friendly and helpful Katie told us otherwise 👍. Honestly it was the best afternoon tea we have ever had and it was unlimited hot drinks. Don’t mind paying if it’s that good and it was. Well done Adnams again …every venue visited has resulted in an excellent score. They just need to expand further and buy up everywhere- could be a centre parks type model with a barbed wire fence around the town 🤔

Stayed at the Swan for 2 nights. Staff very friendly and always available to help. Room was adequate in size, very clean and had all the essentials such as Nespresso, fresh milk etc. breakfast had great options and was very tasty. Bar was very well decorated with a great vibe. Would thoroughly recommend a stay, although not cheap it is worth the money.

We were staying in Southwold and unfortunately my wife came down with the flu and was seeking a soup to eat from the comfort of her bed. We popped into The Swan on a whim and asked if they were serving soup, which they were. While the staff was busy handling a lot of other takeaway orders, they were very accommodating in helping prepare our soup for takeaway as well. They mentioned that even though they are a fine dining restaurant, they are more than willing to accommodate takeaway orders, which we very much appreciated. My wife absolutely loved the soup and will certainly be ordering takeaway from The Swan next time we are in Southwold.

Our meal was superb in every way: choice, food, presentation, inventiveness, service and even value for money given the excellence. My wife’s battered monkfish was cooked to perfection and her affogato dessert was gorgeous. My seafood platter - oysters, cockles, crab, sweet cured herring, smoked salmon, whipped roe, rye bread and a little salad was perfect and my dessert - liquorice panna cotta with blackcurrant sorbet and pistachio tuile is one of the best puddings I have ever had. The sourdough with malted butter was as good and interesting as it sounds. The others in our party all left very clean plates too. The suggested wines were all excellent, if a little pricey. My low alcohol Ghost Ship ale by Adnams was a revelation. Our server was friendly, efficient, polite and attentive. The atmosphere was elegant yet warm. If I was in Southwold again, I’d not venture anywhere else.

The restaurant has had a good refurb since I was last there and it is now attractive and modern. Greeting and service were good throughout. Food was excellent, notably my ribeye steak. Wines were decent and not over expensive for a hotel restaurant.

We visit The Swan every year for my daughter’s birthday. Previous visits have been very special but unfortunately this year was distinctly average. The positives are: lovely, friendly attentive staff and a beautiful setting. Unfortunately the quality of the food was very mixed. My son ordered the steak which he thought was great and my daughter’s battered monkfish and chips were good. We had pork filet which was a bit dry and uninspiring. The side of broccoli needed seasoning and flavour. The passion fruit and orange tarts were really lovely but the choux bun was really tasteless and actually unpleasant. The Chardonnay we chose was also disappointing. In previous years we have had bread brought to the table and even amuse bouche and sorbet as a palate cleanser between courses but any extras have now been removed. If the quality of all the food was exceptional it wouldn’t matter if the extras aren’t there but it was very hit and miss this year which was a shame.

We’ve been including a trip to this restaurant in our annual trip to southwold since The Swan’s beautiful refurbishment but our most recent visit was really disappointing. The menu is hugely expensive and over ambitious. I had poached salmon which was barely cooked (I know that’s how you’re supposed to want it in places like this) but it was tepid and flabby. It came with a Prosecco sauce which added nothing but gimmick. My husband had the pork which was good but came with accompaniments that really clashed. Two nice starters and meh mains plus a soft drink and one glass of wine came to over £100.

We visited Southwold for the weekend , just want to make clear this review is for the tap room towards the back of the hotel. We ordered drinks lovely local Adnams Beer and Gin then we chose the Monk Fish with triple cooked chips and...

A delicious and very different Afternoon Tea. We were welcomed at the door and from here, the service could not have been better - attentive and of a very high standard. We were given a menu listing all the various items of food and drinks...

We had a couple of evenings in the pub enjoying a drink or two. We wanted to book for a meal on our last night which was Sunday. My husband asked if we needed to book a table and was told it was first come...

This review is in respect of food served in The Still Room and general service throughout. I booked diner as a treat to accompany an extended stay in Southwold. Availability to book was limited online, but during the evening a lot of tables were empty....

Great atmosphere now in the restaurant. Good choice of mains.. my sea trout and my husbands lamb were delicious washed down with a great Argentinian Malbec. Lovely waitress (Emma) with just the right balance of professional but friendly and helpful too.

A beautifully designed restaurant in the equally beautiful seaside town of Southwold. Owned by the Adnam’s family and right in front of the Adnam’s brewery and distillery. Service was pleasant and friendly and for the most part the food did not disappoint. The Avocado starter,...

Great place but no food service? Try and bye some drinks and did not want not accept cash and that's all I had never will I came back

Absolutely first rate on every level. The food - lamb and rib eye could not have been better - thanks chefs. Our server, Pete, was absolutely great - just the right balance of attention and distance. A truly wonderful experience

Fantastic food, lovely surroundings, great service. Second visit and will return. We were a party of 7. We ordered the Avocado salad which was delicious, the Monkfish, Cauliflower and Asparagus. All really tasty, well presented dishes. Very nice experience.

We went here for Sunday lunch and had a very good meal, the roast beef was excellent. Great staff and service, no rushing, nice and clean and very good quality food. Not cheap, but you get what you pay for and it was good.

Having resettled in the UK following a 3 year overseas contract in Falkland Islands, my wife and I have been spoiling ourselves visiting places if interest and tasting cuisines that we have been missing out on. Southwold was on our list for overnight dining. We...

Three of us had dinner here in May 23 and it was all excellent. We shared the bigod cheese as a starter which was tasty with lovely bread. Then I had the two kinds of lamb, both were super tasty, as were the sides and...

We had tried the restaurant a few years ago after it was refurbished which had put us off rebooking but this was a totally different experience. The staff were all friendly and helpful. There were some lovely choices on the menu. The fish platter shared...

Everything from the welcome at the reception desk, very comfortable room to well served good quality food was perfect. I chose a potato dish which turned out to be not to my liking. No problem, without even asking it was swiftly replace with an alternative....

We had afternoon tea with Champagne It was everything you could wish for. Consisted of two courses Savoury delicacies, ice cream cone and homemade cakes. The scones were the best I’ve ever tasted. Staff friendly and professional Will definitely recommend

Very disappointing food. It was also very overpriced which I could overlook if the food was delicious but it was mediocre at best. The staff were pleasant though and the surroundings nice.

The Swan is back at its best. My mother and I had a last minute plan to dine at the Swan. Over the years we have been regular visitors there. Last night all the elements were just perfect. A manageable and interesting menu. The presentation & flavours were lovely and we met four members of staff; they were engaged, well trained and delightful.

Back again, after two year gap, for yet another wonderful meal. As we were a large family group of 12 we used the Juniper room, which was a lovely space. The food was superb, with the main courses being particularly good. Service was excellent - the perfect balance of being extremely efficient/attentive and friendly. Particular thanks to Cherelle.

Well even though we had a new waitress on her first day the team support she got and the way the staff made our party including my disabled father very very welcome was amazing. The food was just divine also, was the best place we eat all our holiday. P.S if in wheelchair go in via Hotel front door much easier :-)

We ate here on the spur of the moment. They were able to find a table for us, and the food was really excellent. So glad we went in! The staff were also really friendly. I had the chicken with chargrilled prawns, which was delicious and so tender and moist. My husband's ribeye had a great flavour, enhanced by the bone marrow - and triple cooked chips! Would go back again.

Mind you, it only had two others to beat & they were both average !I do like the restaurant. It is well designed. Lots of quirky features. Although we were a table of four, it is perfect for couples as the tables for two are imaginatively spaced out. Service was pretty good & no complaints with the grub, although our plaice came with a sauce which was not needed.Thought the wine list a little over-priced.

We had lunch there in September and I was so pleased weren't staying there. The food was at best average and the service was from androids with faulty fuses. everything was performed in an impersonal mechanical way and there was no point in trying to improve or even complain about any the things that wrong or overlooked. The delays, missing parts of our order, the noise & clatter, removing some plates but not others ...... maybe some of these negatives could be overlooked but only if the quality of the food and its cooking was a compensation; but it wasn't.Friends of mine who stayed at the Swan many years ago had fond memories of the place. I'm pretty sure they would be dismayed if they now returnedLater in September we returned to this pretty part of Suffolk but stayed at another hotel/inn that we thought from their website and chatting on the phone was an independent estaablishment. But it turned out to be yet another property acquired by Adnams Brewery. Drat, I should have read customer comments on Trip Advisor! Seemingly high ratings but the comments connected tothe lower ratings had a disturbing substance.

We visit the Tap Room at the Swan about once a month and love everything about it but twice in the last three months we have been given incorrect information about whether the Tap Room will be serving non residents. One mistake is forgivable but two is not, especially for an establishment which prides itself as a flagship for the Adnams brand. With 2 young children and knowing the difficulties hospitality is facing with staffing we have, on 2 separate occasions called in to check with the front desk whether we will be able to eat in the Tap Room a few hours later. Today we were told at 12.30 that it would be absolutely fine to get there at 5.30pm for dinner for 4. We arrived at 5pm to ensure we could have a drink first only to be told there was a wedding so non residents couldn’t eat or have a drink. The hotel would have known about this weeks if not months before so how were they unable to communicate that to their front of house representative only a few hours earlier. Rather than extend any kind of assistance (surely they could have made a call or two to direct us to somewhere that might be serving food-particularly given the torrential rain and our now hungry children) they instead directed us to 2 further Adnams establishments, one that was fully booked and the other than wasn’t serving food so not only does the flagship hotel not know what’s going on inside the hotel but they have no idea what’s going on in their sister establishments either. Altogether thoroughly disappointing particularly from a brand we have been great fans of.

We had a fantastic lunch at The Swan Hotel Restaurant. The decor is elegant and relaxed, and the place was about half full with a great ambience for lunch.The japenese inspired vegan meal we chose was absolutely delicious; the best and most imaginative food we've had in a long time. The table service was prompt, friendly and very efficient.Highly recommended!

Arrived here in panic mode, as the first two places, we tried, were not serving food that evening. The restaurant was full; but the maitre d' recommended theirTap-room and checked that we were being served. Food was delicious and the service throughout was excellent.

Whilst guests are allowed to have dogs in their rooms, dogs are not allowed in any of the bar, restaurant or other areas of the hotels. This can severely restrict your options.

Beautiful surroundings, good people around you, excellent food, great wine BUT customer service absolutely tip top. James was immense - incredibly knowledgable, up beat, engaging and added so much to the experience. Hugely recommended

My wife and I visited The Swan for afternoon tea .We are regular afternoon tea participants and have enjoyed many the experience in numerous locations in the UK and overseas.The food and service at the Swan was outstanding and in our opinion other than the Ritz in London this is the very best Afternoon tea that we have participated in.It was also in our view extremely good value at 21pds per head.The mini fish and chips was a particular favourite .If you are in the area you should book this afternoon delight .

We managed to get an early evening (pre-football final!) booking at The Swan in Southwold as this popular spot was fully booked for the rest of the week. (Bring back holiday spontaneity). We were worried that we'd be dining alone at such an early hour but the restaurant was comfortably full with a pleasant buzz. The waiting staff was welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and the food was delicious. The only downside was that we couldn't go back.

We had the best 2 nights at The Swan, from start to finish all staff were polite and cheerful, the room was beautiful, we had a garden room (I’d recommend ) so we were able to sit outside and enjoy the lovely garden and sunshine. The breakfast was delicious with plenty of choice and definitely worth having. I would love to return.

Second time we have been and even better than the first time , service was just right attentive and with recommendations, duck starter was amazing and quite possibly the best burger I have ever eaten ( and I have eaten a lot !) Also highly recommend the cocktails super strong . We enjoyed this much more than the Crown where we were staying

Amazing food. The cheese starter to share was delicious, followed by the monkfish and chips. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable, really enjoyable evening.

Ordered lamb at celebration meal. Inedible. Three out of four tables sent this meal back then rude manager added to issue

Dined in the courtyard, despite three servers standing outside not one greeted or approached us. No staff explained to scan the QR code on the table to bring the menu up and order. It was a mistake several other diners made as it looked like the NHS Track & Trace QR symbol. A very long wait for our food, yes they were busy. We had our 2 dogs with us and one of the servers kept trying to squeeze past them cutting through a small gap between the end of our table and a raised flower bed... I stopped at the reception desk inside when I went inside to use the toilet before we left and passed my feedback to the young lady there. As I returned from the WC to leave I was approached by a young lady who introduced herself as the assistant manager asking me what issues I had as I had been rude to the young lady on the desk! I think not! In fact I take exception to being accused of being rude when I was impeccably polite. When I challenged this description of my conduct by asking how I was supposed to have been rude I was asked to go and sit in the lounge area to discuss further which I declined. I was told that the young lady on the desk had been on the receiving end of many customer complaints that day and it had all taken a toll. Not my problem. Sort your neglectful service, your woefully trained staff and your attitude and you will fare better with returning customers! We had little intention of returning but after being slandered by being accused of ill manners we have zero intention of spending our money here again!

We had dinner outdoors on May 8 in The Swan's Covid-friendly tepee. A really excellent evening! Great space, an impressive meal, interesting house cocktail, and live music at just the right volume. Our experience was considerably enhanced by our delightful waitress Issy, who was friendly, professional, and lovely to deal with. All in all, a wonderful relaxed evening which we hope to replicate indoors at The Swan in the near future.

Our booking was cancelled within 4 hours of our reservation because of potential rain. Told there were undercover tables but we couldn’t have one despite having booked 3 weeks in advance. Staff surly, unhelpful and rude. Shan’t go back.

We were called a few hours before our table booking to say they'd cancelled our booking. They didn't give a reason but just said they'd made a decision. When pressed they admitted they had overbooked and decided to cancel our booking. They did say that they had tables allocated for 'first come first served' basis. We asked why we given one of those tables but were told that they couldn't do that.

Just popped here for couple of pints really in the tepee outside due to Covid regulations. The beer and cider was fine and to a normal quality. We decided to have brunch my wife had pancakes with black currant and cremate fresh when it came out there where 2 pancakes about the size of a tea cup in circumference. There was also a spoonful no more of blackcurrants totally juiceless. There was meant to be cremate fresh which had been forgotten the waitress quickly got some. This cost £8 and was very very poor for the price and ridiculous. I had sour bread with chorizo which was very poor burnt underneath and cold this was £10 and very disappointing for this or any price given the quality. We decided not to complain as wanted to get on with our day. I always prefer to leave a positive rather than negative review but that would not be fair in anyone else thinking of eating there. Staff were all polite which is a plus point beer and cider good food abysmal at any level.

Really enjoyed our lunch in the garden which is a lovely setting. Food & service were excellent. We shared a Cote du Boeuf which was perfectly cooked. And washed down with a smooth Doura red wine. Lovely desserts and good value for money.

We had a fantastic Christmas lunch-everything perfect-great service too. We were feeling down in the dumps after the Government changes which meant our Boxing Day plans were scuppered and our business had to shut too. Everything hinged on this-and it did not disappoint. Thank you for making our day! Great bottle of champagne too..

We were staying at the hotel and as a group of 6 ate in the restaurant. This has a modern edge to the design which I think works. The decor is nicely done, creating a decent bistro dining ambience. Drinks beforehand in the lounge are an important part of the experience, a real fire setting the scene. Wine list is the Adnams generic list, which for me is fine. The menu was a good choice, I had a burger as a main, which was the right choice for a cold October evening. The service here was great,,,slightly surreal in masks in these extraordinary times.

Having had to cancel a larger party due to take place in the Reading Room due to COVID-19 restrictions, the hotel were able to seat 5 of us in the Juniper Room to celebrate my parent's 50th wedding anniversary.It was lovely to have the private space to ourselves and the staff were very friendly and attentive throughout. Was lovely to see that that there was a full menu and every dish was presented beautifully (see photos) and all but one were executed well and delicious. The one slight disappointment was the twice-baked chocolate souffle pudding. It has been over-cooked and was rather eggy tasting.

I’ve been wanting to try afternoon tea for ages and it didn’t disappoint. It was really nice to have slightly more substantial options in the savouries as it was basically my daughters dinner! The cakes were fab and a lovely selection.

We ate here two nights in a row whilst staying at the hotel. Good food and friendly service. Slight problem with one menu item and we received a discount without any hesitation.

Excellent service it must be said. In these difficult times, ordered the food through the Adnam’s app and paid at same time. We were eating outside as we didn’t book in time. However, food came out piping hot which was made better by hot plates, condiments all coming first, so no waiting whilst your food goes cold. Excellent steaks, cooked to perfection and lovely triple-cooked chips, nice pint to boot so all in all great walk-in meal!

We’d been before and had a lovely meal and room. The room this time was fine but the food and service were really disappointing. We stayed the Sunday and Monday evening and it all felt a bit underwhelming - staff were friendly but not really focussed - it’s not an inexpensive stay and frankly you expect more - rather a shame but I guess we won’t be going back.

From the very moment we stepped in, to the moment we stepped out, we joined this teams very own special bubble in time. Bradley showed us to our room, a young confident guy with great presentational skills often and seen in many places in the hotel. Leanne had control of the restaurant, a great character with proper old fashioned hotelier skills. Liliane is the GM and runs The Swan who drops in and out of service to support the team in the heat of service. We have been fortunate to stay in many hotels across the world and without doubt this team works very hard to makes you feel at home, behind the named personalities I’ve mentioned above are a full team who make this place work. We had a great time with this team. Come to relax and not to judge and you will enjoy the fun of this team and their unique bubble.Thank you x

Visited twice last week, lovely meals both times. Tasty and great presentation. Staff lovely and application of Covid rules good. Recommended.

Clean and social distancing in place Food was top notch , hot and quickly devoured Prices seemed reasonable. Staff are friendly , our waiter Samuel was efficient friendly and very professional

Often eat here with family, it never disappoints. First class fine dining with interesting seasonal ingredients. Highly recommended.

We usually try to avoid eating in the hotel we stay at but the restaurant had a very appetising menu. We were not disappointed, the food was fantastic and of course they have great beers and gins.

My wife and I have just arrived home following afternoon tea at the Swan, it was superb. All necessary Covid safety measures were properly observed.The food selection was unexpectedly different, in part, to the typical afternoon tea you would expect at most venues. It included some representative flavours of this traditional seaside town including a small paper cone of fish, chips and mushy peas, cinnamon dohnut balls and an ice cream cone. We loved it, so thoughtfully creative, beautifully presented and quite delicious.We struggled to eat everything provided. The lovely staff presented us with a box to take what we couldn’t eat away with us. Our son was most grateful.We throughly recommend the Swan afternoon tea.

Amazing friendly service, and unreal beef roast dinner! Come with all the trimmings for £19 including cauliflower cheese. Didn’t feel rushed throughout the lunch at all. The only roast dinner they offer is the beef. They have chicken and lamb as other options on the menu, however this isn’t accompanied with roast potatoes etc.

I honestly cannot praise their customer service enough. Due to COVID-19 you order via an app, but due to the menu choice I had selected I needed a member of staff to manually adapt part of my order (a burger to come bun-less as I am Gluten Intolerant). Without any problem a member of staff came out to take our order and was extremely helpful. My burger, ordered bun-less as I normally would at any other restaurant, arrived as a surprise encased in gluten free bread as an alternative to the bun! This was so thoughtful and was the cherry on top of the cake to our experience! Highly, HIGHLY recommend!

We had a wonderful lunch in the sunshine. Amazing fish and chips my son said the best he’s ever had !! Chips were amazing to. As a gluten free person they could accommodate no problem. Environment very Covid safe to.