The Swan Inn — Restaurant in East Devon

I read in yesterday's paper that the great British pub that had been on the ropes was showing some signs of recovery albeit a recovery fueled by fashion and the current financial crisis - in short, pubs stocking a larger selection of "craft ales" and dropping food/restaurant services (to save cash, which is ironic since they've been told for the last 2 decades if they want to make money then sell more food) have been dodging the receivers and making some cash. Which brings me to The Swan. A pub stuck in the middle. Let me explain. We'd just eaten elsewhere (pub in centre of Sidmouth clearly set up for the tourist looking for quick, hot, cheap pub grub and they were clearly nailing the past 2 decade's advice) and looking for a change of scenery, i.e. a pub to drink in with a bit more character. Now The Swan has this aplenty (genuine Eastender-type characters storming out of the pub cussing their latest clinch, a darts tournament, grumpy locals who make you feel like you've just immigrated to a new land during the 1930s, etc.) but character alone don't cut the mustard. There are pubs that still manage to hold on to their communities and I guess the local feel in here could mean this place falls into neither "eatery" nor "hipster den" category, but it does food (though some other reviews suggest not so well) and it boasts a CAMRA approved real ale selection so you have to assume it's a bit of a Jackyl and Hyde place - tourists by day and locals by night. Striking the balance though is critical - tourists often stay the week and if they get a frosty evening they'll be less likely to return in the daytime sunshine with their holiday pockets having holes burned in them. So, stuck in the middle - keeping your regulars happy without hacking them off because you know tourists are self-selectingly present in your town on holiday to spend in your pub. This is, without doubt though, what a traditional pub always did especially in towns like Sidmouth, serving the community, making money off the incidentals passing through. It's a modern attitude that uses reviews to slate a place though rather than just tell the landlord what's wrong with your pint so he can pull you another. If you want your pubs characterless keep moaning and they'll keep closing. Else otherwise mine's a double. And I'll be back in the summer to actually eat because I...

Wouldn’t allow an 18 month old into the pub on a cold Sunday afternoon when there was quite clearly plenty of room. Was told we could “sit outside”. It’s January. There’s ice on the floor. Never known such a welcome 😅 And before the landlord comes at me for “not checking social media or seeing the sign on the door” (as appears to be his go to response), I have checked your Facebook and having scrolled back as far as august 2021 there is zero mention of children. Yes your website does state your archaic rule but having never experienced anything so bizarre in my 18 months of being a parent I didn’t feel the need to check. And no I didn’t see your sign on the door, I was too busy trying to establish if you were open considering how dead the place was. If I could give a zero rating I would. It seems from other reviews that we may have dodged a bullet anyway as it appears anyone from out of town are treated as though they have the plague anyway.

ETA - it was not sub zero temperatures (it would have been overnight but I certainly wasn’t going for a Sunday family stroll in -2°!!) but even if it had been my child would have been appropriately dressed and cared for. By all means defend your pub and its ridiculous rules. By all means stalk my social media to establish I’m married (Loveridge and Chandler are not the same surname!). But DONT YOU DARE come for my parenting abilities.

Ps. My husband’s...

I went here with some friends last friday. After having a disagreement with the lady who served me about change, the landlord stepped in, told me he didn't like my attitude and told me to drink up and leave. We had just arrived and so this was really frustrating and ruined my night. I just felt that some empathy and emotional intelligence woudn't go amis here. I'm not the kind of person who looks to pick fights etc, or likes a ruck, I just dont. So this really shook me. I would not recommend and will not be back. The impact of these customer service exchanges and how they are handled is so important to any business......... Unless they just want to maintain a very select local crowd of clients. Which may be the case here.

26-3-19.. Having now read the owners response, I feel the need to state that I certainly did'nt call anybody a stupid girl! Neither was the young lady visibly upset. I can understand your need to try to defend the business, but don't think that blatant lies are the best way to do this. I now feel that my character has been misrepresented which...