The Swan at Forest Row

I only meant to get out of the weather. I was riding my bike back from London, soaked because I’d worn the wrong clothes, and thought a drink might see me through the next hour. The locals and staff gave me a warm welcome, and you can tell this is a place they come to. Then I found out it had boutique rooms. Ben, the manager, was a real asset. I explained my predicament and he quickly found me a room. Since it was Monday, I was very lucky one was available. I paid, and within minutes I was shown upstairs. I hadn’t eaten, so I asked for a menu, and the food was a delight. It’s an excellent bistro pub, and my fish and chips didn’t disappoint. A portion goes to charity, so of course I chose that. I was full to the brim and wobbled up to the room with one of their brilliant bottles of wine. They have Balfour wines from the vineyards at Staplehurst, and I was given a taste. Excellent British wine, along with brilliant ciders and beers. The staff were outstanding, and nothing was too much trouble. When I needed my phone charged, someone took it straight to the office. My room had on-point decor, lots of free refreshments, and a bed I didn’t want to leave. After dinner I booked breakfast, it would have been silly not to. Fate brought me here, but everything else will bring me back. Thanks to everyone for the warmth and exceptional service. I almost don’t want to share this place, but it’d be a travesty not to.

The Sunday roast was enjoyable, with nicely cooked, tender beef. The desserts were flavoursome too, though the spoons felt uncomfortably large for the ramekins. The Swan is handy for shops, restaurants, and takeaways, and has a good-sized beer garden with plenty of tables. The room was a good size, and parking is a plus in this area. The mattress felt reasonably firm and comfortable, the WiFi seemed reliable, and it was only a few steps from the ground floor to the rooms. Small details could be better: it’s a room for two, so why was there only one breakfast tea bag and one chair? Staff were friendly and attentive, though it felt like they could have used a couple more people on duty. Breakfast starts around 8:00 am, which was late for me. An on-the-go option would be nice, as I had to leave before service began.

The food looked like it had been prepared for a photo shoot, and tasted just as good. Great food, great service, and the guys were attentive and polite. We slept comfortably and the facilities were clean. Five stars across the board. We took good memories back to Germany, many thanks.

We didn’t have a booking, and it was really busy, but the staff still found us a table for Sunday lunch. The chorizo Scotch egg was so good, I’m definitely ordering it again. We also had the beef and gravy Pie of the Day, which came with mash. They were happy to swap one serving of mash for sweet potato fries, and those were delicious too. Definitely coming back!