Swan, Stourbridge

The Swan pub and restaurant in Hagley Road, Stourbridge, stands out as one of the best of the many revamped and restyled pubs in the town.

Based on the outskirts of the ring road it is a now a popular choice among lunching workers and offers a selection of light snacks or hot meals.

Having missed breakfast and after a busy morning I decided I would join the afternoon crowd.

I needed a decent meal and opted for the steak in pepper sauce with chips while my friend went for mussels with salad. The waitress was very helpful.

Having ordered our food we did have to wait a little longer than expected. But by the time it did arrive at the table it was obvious the wait was because the food is freshly prepared and it had certainly been lovingly laid out and I felt very spoilt for what was a lunchtime meal.

My steak was nestled in an attractive pepper sauce with a sprig of parsley perched on top.

And after a few mouthfuls I was suitably impressed with the chef’s efforts and promptly devoured the rest of it. My friend complimented her mountain of mussels and salad, which was again nicely presented and tasted equally good, I was told.

And to top it off the chef even emerged from the kitchen to see that everything was okay with our meal, a nice touch I thought.

Along with drinks our total bill came to £19, which is probably a little steep for an everyday lunch - but we were choosing from the evening meal menu after all, which is not bad.

The Swan also has its lunchtime menu of light-bites which are more reasonable for those just looking for a smaller, cheaper snack to fill a gap.

The shining white plates and spotless cutlery were a plus point, as was the decorative retro surround of the place, which transforms into a favourite spot among revellers.

But despite the fact there are regularly crowds of drinkers crammed into the place over the weekend it still retains its sleek look during the day.

The Swan has its own marquee section at the back for diners and drinkers to escape to, or seats at in the window for those who like to people watch while they eat.

All in all a great place to dine out.

ADDRESS
The Swan, Hagley Road, Stourbridge
Tel 01384 373300
By Ben Lammas