Quick info
About Black Swan Inn
On High St in Swanage, the Black Swan Inn is a traditional pub with an open fire and exposed beams, in a building that was once a quarry man's pub. A French head chef leads the kitchen, which pairs comfort food with real ales. A daily specials board runs alongside the regular menu, and the dishes include a sardine main course and pork shank. The Sunday roast is a mixed meat plate of lamb, beef, pork and chicken. The pub is open daily and reservations are required. Dogs are welcome.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree parking lot · Free street parking · Usually somewhat difficult to find a space
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention french head chef, daily specials board, pork shank and sardine main course.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention french head chef, daily specials board, pork shank and sardine main course.
Customer Review Summary
Diners most often praise the cooking, especially the daily specials board, which is popular enough that several choices ran out during one visit. Named dishes include the pork shank and pork belly, a venison burger, Korean ribs where the meat fell off the bone, sardines one reviewer calls the best they have had, and a Sunday mixed meat roast with lamb, beef, pork and chicken. Reviewers credit the French head chef, and describe plentiful portions, reasonable prices, quick food and friendly, efficient staff. Many call the pub busy, and several advise booking, with one noting every inside table was reserved on their visit. One reviewer felt there was little room for eating inside, so the garden with its heated awning gets used, though the canopy retracts when it is windy. Another, sharing a mixed platter, notes the little cubes on it are butter, not cheese.
Customer Review Summary
Diners most often praise the cooking, especially the daily specials board, which is popular enough that several choices ran out during one visit. Named dishes include the pork shank and pork belly, a venison burger, Korean ribs where the meat fell off the bone, sardines one reviewer calls the best they have had, and a Sunday mixed meat roast with lamb, beef, pork and chicken. Reviewers credit the French head chef, and describe plentiful portions, reasonable prices, quick food and friendly, efficient staff. Many call the pub busy, and several advise booking, with one noting every inside table was reserved on their visit. One reviewer felt there was little room for eating inside, so the garden with its heated awning gets used, though the canopy retracts when it is windy. Another, sharing a mixed platter, notes the little cubes on it are butter, not cheese.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“The Black Swan Inn is the venue I always take our family or friends for evening meals. I can't call myself a regular but we normally have dinner there five or six times a year. I normally order the pork shank or the pork belly and my husband will try different dishes from the daily specials. On August Bank holiday Sunday we went there with my friends and her young son for early sitting dinner. Among five of us we order other dishes plus the Jurassic Feast., all beautifully done as usual. I have been dinning there for some years now and I never had a bad meal. If people moan about the sauce or quality of food they are really looking bones from an egg. This is the restaurant I would only recommend in Swanage if you are looking for seafood ,meat or vegetarian dishes with outstanding cooking. Both the cooking standard and the food hygiene is high. I don't normally chat to people easily but I found their staff very efficient and polite. All and all we are lucky to have this lovely eating venue in Swanage. I look forward to visiting it later of this month again with my husband.”
- Google user
“One of the best pub meals I've had . Both of us really enjoyed it . Can see why you have to book.”
- Google user
“After a great day hiking myself and a friend decided to pop here for some dinner. Every table in the restaurant was reserved (so book if you want to sit inside) but the friendly bar staff said we were welcome to sit outside. The heaters were very welcome as despite it being June, it was cold! The food was delicious and ample portions! I had the venison burger which was really good and my friend had the halloumi and mushroom burger which she thoroughly enjoyed too! Desserts looked good but we were stuffed! Highly recommend a visit if you are after a hearty, tasty meal.”
- Google user
“Booked here for Sunday roast, food was tasty, hot and plentiful. Great service and all at a decent price. Had the mixed meat roast which included lamb, beef, pork and chicken. Recommend if you're this way.”
- Google user
“A stunning pub with a rich history this used to be a former quarry man's pub. Stunning interior matched by a superb and attentive team without being intrusive. The pub's head chef is French and is understudy who cooked for us yes is fully trained and has learnt from a master. The food was rich in flavour, plentiful and at a fantastic price. The welcome is warm and the general manager is brilliant. My partner was delayed in arriving for dinner, he dealt with issue with elegance ensuring that she had a wonderful meal to come to even though it was very late. A wonderful place. Don't miss it.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“Real ales and comfort food in a traditional pub with open fire and exposed beams, plus patio garden.”
- Great beer selection
- Great wine list
- Live music
- Live performances
- Popular for solo dining
Amenities
- Free parking lot
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
- Dine-in
- Food at bar
Show more amenities
- Cozy
- Beer
- Food
- Table service
- Live music
- Solo dining
- Offerings· 4
- Alcohol
- Cocktails
- Hard liquor
- Wine
- Facilities· 1
- Restroom
- Planning· 1
- Reservations required
- Highlights· 3
- Great beer selection
- Great wine list
- Live performances
- Parking· 2
- Free street parking
- Usually somewhat difficult to find a space
- Dining options· 2
- Outside food allowed
- Seating
- Atmosphere· 1
- Casual
- Crowd· 2
- Groups
- Tourists
Location
Bars near Black Swan Inn
- The Portsmouth Hoy4.67567.3 mi awayWheelchair accessible
crab sandwich, board games, live music
- Rope & Anchor4.69367.3 mi awayWheelchair accessible
pie and mash, sunday roast lunch, pan seared cod with chorizo
- Kings Arms Wareham4.56878.5 mi away£10–20
sunday roast, burger, well-kept ales
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Swan InnReservations · Outdoor seating | 4.61,249 | — | £20–30 | french head chef, daily specials board, pork shank |
| The Portsmouth HoyWheelchair accessible | 4.6756 | 7.3 mi away | — | crab sandwich, board games, live music |
| Rope & AnchorWheelchair accessible | 4.6936 | 7.3 mi away | — | pie and mash, sunday roast lunch, pan seared cod with chorizo |
| Kings Arms Wareham | 4.5687 | 8.5 mi away | £10–20 | sunday roast, burger, well-kept ales |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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