The Old Swan — Restaurant in England

Looking for a dog friendly pub restaurant for us to enjoy Sunday lunch I phoned on the Saturday to book a table for four (plus dog) for 1pm. Unfortunately there was no answer so, as instructed, I booked via their online system. I added a note that we would require a dog friendly area of the restaurant & subsequently received a confirmation of the reservation by email.

Sunday arrived. I checked my email at 11am to see a message from the pub stating they could no longer accommodate our dog (fair enough if they’ve no room), that they had saved our reservation & would I please let them know if we would still require the table. I replied straightaway explaining our holiday accommodation did not allow pets to be left unattended & advising that the table booking should be cancelled.

At 1:20pm I then received a call asking why we hadn’t honoured our booking. I explained that i had replied to their email but the guy just kept saying they had kept our table & I should have let them know!

Surely if a restaurant insists on using an online booking system then it should be checked regularly to ensure the booking can be honoured rather than cancelling just a couple of hours before the reservation.

If they have a problem with the booking then they should also have the courtesy to phone the customer rather than email (it was lucky I checked my email or we would have had a wasted journey & been turned away at the door).

Similarly, if they significantly change a booking by email & request a response then they should check their email to pick up the reply!

We were left having to find an alternative venue for Sunday lunch at very short notice which was inconvenient. I was also less than happy at being accused of being a ‘no show’ - something which I...

We first came here back in 2022 when they reopened on the way home from the lakes. We sat in the sun and had the most amazing sunday dinner we've ever had . They have honestly ruined us for the most amazing pub food I have EVER eaten. The best colliflower cheese of my life. Amazing lamb which normally I don't like. Amazing turkey, fab beef but the real prize is their roast veg. Parsnips, carrots & swede to die for. + brocoli, sugar snap peas & cabbage + beyond delicious roasties and home made giant Yorkshires.

It is just simply - the best.

We have made a biannual trip to the Old Swan over the years (driving an hour from east leeds just to visit this pub) and the food has never faltered. It is always top tier food.

The staff are welcoming and lovely - the bar staff have helped me put together orders which aren't on the menu (such as veg only roast dinner + colliflour cheese - which funnily is now on the menu us a main!). The waitress staff are always friendly, happy to see my dog. Some staff even recognise us and we feel very at home here.

We are sad to learn that the pub will be changing hands and therefor changing menu, we hope the next pub will be just as excellent and high standard. We are fortune to have had one last visit before it closes, and even on a reduced menu - the food was still amazing. Good...

N Ice surroundings and then it all goes down hill from there. We went to bar and was told take a seat and choose your food and come to bar to order. We did just this. Ordered drinks 2 tonics one glass and that’s exactly what we got. Do it yourself attitude. Paid upfront for what I can only describe as water and fish with mash for my fish pie(should of guessed when the waitress brought me a soup spoon to eat it with) It was tasteless and disappointing having waited 26 mins for our food. My partners duck was just ok but came with no veg just baby potatoes and pickled onion. No very exciting. Other people on other tables were unhappy with their food but chose not to say anything. Anyway I gave them my food back and said I didn’t want anything else. The manager then came over and asked if I wanted anything else and I said no. She came back later with money back and said sorry the food was not to my taste. Tbh I dont know who’s taste it would be. Its a lesson learnt don’t eat in chain food pubs. They don’t get...