The Bear and Swan

We were really impressed by the food, service, and setting. The only minor drawback was having to park some distance away on a wet winter evening, but the great night out made that small inconvenience worthwhile. Thank you to everyone involved!

The pub is cosy, and the village is beautiful. We had afternoon tea. The loose-leaf tea was lovely, and everything looked nicely presented. The staff were friendly, too. I wouldn’t come back for afternoon tea, though the main menu dishes looked much better as they went past, so I might return to try that instead. The scones were warm, lovely, and generously sized. There was a long hair in my jam, which wasn’t great, though I know these things can happen. The sandwiches were soggy, and we didn’t like any of the flavours. Of the savoury items, the sausage roll was fine, but one dry ball, a bit like arancini, tasted very fishy. There was also a tiny, hard, dry bread or scone-like item with no flavour. The brownie was okay. The lemon cake had a good lemon flavour but was chewy and dry. The little profiterole-looking pastry with jam and custard filling was divine, like trifle. It would’ve helped to have someone explain the items or a menu on the table reminding us what everything was.

The sides went really well with everything, and it was all served just right. We both had the côte de boeuf, cooked perfectly, incredibly tender, and packed with flavour. You could really tell the meat was excellent quality. It’s up there with the best roasts I’ve had, a standout meal we’ll definitely return for. Highly recommend!

We were lucky to find a parking spot, as there isn’t much room. Inside, it was busy, with a lovely crowd and a welcoming fire. The afternoon tea was a delight, with two scones each, and the toilets were very nice and clean. The pub is in a lovely village, just 8 miles from Pensford Viaduct and a small church worth visiting. I’d certainly go back and surprise another loved one with a treat.