The Swan is Going Swimmingly!
in Things to See & Do
The whole village is delighted to see our local, The Swan at Kingston, reopen and doing well, sharing a guest review like this one is a real pleasure.
“Following a rest over lockdown, it was a delight to see the village pub finally open again. And with an enthusiastic new landlord to boot.
The Swan in the heart of Kingston St Mary is a picturesque traditional seventeenth century pub, renowned for its friendly service and delicious home cooked food.
In these socially distanced times, it benefits from its pretty garden to the rear which currently boasts outdoor tables, some protected under a marquee, some in full sunshine and some neatly sheltered by one-sided wooden shed structures, which has enabled the owners to roll out a tasty garden menu.
As sunny as Somerset is, you can’t always guarantee good weather, after all, so it’s great to have table options for both sunny and inclement days.
We dropped in for Sunday lunch and enjoyed a superb roast – we had the pick of pork or beef and there were also vegetarian options. The meal came with perfectly roasted potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, a wide variety of garden vegetables and an extra jug of gravy.
Sitting in the sunshine surrounded by the burble of chatter and clatter of cutlery it was easy to cast aside the memories of lockdown.
The staff is extremely welcoming and worked hard to ensure we enjoyed our meal. All expected social distancing is in place, including spaced out tables, face masks for staff and plenty of hand sanitizer as you enter.
The one way system takes you down the steps from the car park to the back door, where you are greeted and shown to your table. Guests are asked to exit through the little garden gate which leads back into the car park.
Aside from the Sunday roast, The Swan is also currently serving a garden lunch menu and also evening meals. Recommended dishes include fish ‘n’ chips, steak and ale pie and chicken curry. There’s also a tempting pudding menu. It’s advisable to book fairly early in the evening as the weather is still a little chilly when the sun dips behind the hills.
But on a Sunday lunchtime, the lawn was a veritable sun trap, sheltered nicely from the spring breeze.
Future plans include transforming the skittle alley to the rear of the pub into a café and small shop, which it’s hoped will open towards the end of May. There are also plans to turn a further outbuilding into a muddy boots bar over the winter.
We can’t wait for indoor service to resume in the cosy bar with rumours of a special gin bar. Enjoying a G&T by the stone fireplace, sun streaming through the windows, is an evening to look forward to indeed.
In the meantime, we can thoroughly recommend a lazy al fresco lunch or supper accompanied by a local cask ale or relaxing glass of wine.”
Carolynne Dear, April 2021
Thanks for visiting!