The Swan Restaurant and Take Away — Restaurant in Sefton

Love this place and so did my great grandmother and her sister from Bacup. Everytime her sister would visit for a few weeks they would go to southport for a day out each week and would go to the Swan before they went home. Was a bit disappointed in it today. Chips were good but large cod dinner was not really large and one small slice of bread and butter (come on it looked pathetic on a plate) should be at least 2 slices. I decided to have a pudding of apple pie and custard. The apple pie pastry was all soggy and not tasty at all. It had obviously been microwaved and just tasted awful. The custard is usually a favourite but this was cheap nssty stuff. Won't be going back in a hurry even though I love this place usually and would usually have the home made steak pie. I was also a bit concerned as it is a small restaurant and although customers are not required to wear a mask as they are eating I do the the staff need to wear a mask. They had covid measures in place with a one way system etc and a hand gel station but they were not telling customers to use it. The staff did ask me to fill out a small contact form with name telephone email and date but then didn't ask a table of 2 people or a table of 7 women to complete them. I was also a bit worried as although they "STERILISED" the table they didn't sterise the ketchup vinegar salt tartar sauce etc which they were switching between tables and guests. So again without staff wearing masks or guests not wearing masks because we're eating is it really safe to handle ketchup after many...

The Swan is a nod back to time when the fish supper was special and was celebrated for the humble beautiful treat that it was once a week. This is a place that will charm you from the moment you enter the restaurant. All of a sudden you feel transported back via the smell of none brewed condiment vinegar and suddenly feel like a kid again and in the knowledge that you are in for a treat.And you are, the flavours in the fish and the levels of subtlety in each of them is like being hugged by the warmth of a long lost friend. You know it is lovely to meet them and you can't wait to meet them again soon. The staff speak to you with such true old fashioned virtue that it is as though you are being treated like nobility. The staff will even remember you're name if you become a regular customer and it's hard not to be. The Swan is very much like a ballet of the taste buds in a lake of flavour. Visiting the Swan is a homage to a time long since past yet like all great memories it is wonderful to be able to revisit it and not be...

I only heard about this place from an article on sky news by Mark birchall the chef from Moor Hall restaurant. We had chips and gravy a month or so back which were fantastic, the gravy not being the same old gravy you get at most chippies. So a week ago we thought we would dine in. The cod was really nice with good batter around it. The homemade steak pie though was superb. I think I preferred it to the fish. The chips and mushy peas were great. We didn't have time for dessert which included homemade cherry crumble and custard so I was gutted about that. The meals came with a drink and bread. The prices are not expensive at all. My only tiny gripe would be that the size of the haddock and plaice look huge compared to the size of the cod. However we...