Cheese Ploughmans
The Swan and Royal

The Swan and Royal

The Swan and Royal Hotel Castle Street Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 2BX, United Kingdom

Cafés • Steak • Hotels • Seafood


"On holiday and parking was difficult, compounded by our chosen venue being closed as were kitchens in other pubs. Literally leaving 30 minutes before we could have received a fine we asked if we could have a meal in that time. Not only did they agree but also had no problems in offering alternatives to the menu. Sadly we had to question if the food would take much longer on one occasion, but the fault was all ours with the restricted time we gave. When it arrived it was clearly freshly cooked. My own choice of steak and Guinness pie was among the best I've had being rich and full flavoured. The crust was a very delicate puff pastry and chips were fluffy and golden and on a par with the best I've ever had (in Plymouth) We shared a spring roll starter, which again is highly recommended, with the quality matched by the presentation. It was table service and both members of staff (two ladies) could not have been more apologetic for delays although had we not been in such a rush timings would have been more than perfect. Liking to try new local ales when I'm on holiday I was slightly disappointed with the choice, although the Wainwrights was in excellent condition. It would be churlish to mark a venue down owing to an irrational personal trait though. Considering we never expected to be dining here the staff were really helpful and the quality of the food and drink excellent. We would return if in the area again."

The Chancery

The Chancery

90 Bromley Rd, Beckenham United Kingdom, United Kingdom, BR3 5NP

Wine • Steak • European • Bar-lounge


"This is a pub with a bit of an identity crisis. The restaurants area is still sharing space with the pub and you’re not quite sure where you are. The staff were really friendly. However I’m a bit disappointed that when booking 3 days prior, we weren’t offered the Christmas menu, but instead found out it was preorder only when we arrived on Boxing Day. To be honest, we wouldn’t have booked if we had known that. Sadly the food was rather a let down. The beef croquettes were quite honestly the strangest and least appetising thing I’ve ever seen on a plate. They seemed to be just puréed beef, deep fried. A croquette should be mainly potato. These had none. They were really quite awful. Mains. Chunky chips seems like an easy thing to muster up? Nope. My partner and friend received a bowl of about 6 mammoth potatoes each. I don’t think you could even describe them as wedges. They were stupidly large chunks which inevitably where undercooked in the centre. My salmon was actually cooked quite nicely! However the strange imbalance of overly thick cream sauce and raw cherry tomatoes left it pretty much inedible. Finally, the acoustics in the dining room really were the nail in the coffin. A large table with multiple screaming children behind us meant that we literally couldn’t have a conversation with each other, despite being face to face. Such a disappointing experience."