The White Swan Inn Reviews Summary

Staff and Service

Pros:

• "Staff were very friendly and attentive."
• "The major plus point was the staff who were all very friendly and helpful."
• "Staff were friendly and professional."
• "Service with a smile and the young woman behind the bar went above and beyond the call of duty to make my wife the winter warmer gin drink they were promoting."
• "The service was excellent."
• "All the staff are warm and friendly and we were very well looked after."
• "The staff were so friendly, nothing was too much trouble."

Cons:

• "Steak was well overcooked and chips under, I would have liked to politely give my thoughts but nobody came and when they did and I passed on my comments politely no one came back again, this has put me off from returning when I go to Pickering."
• "We have never been treated with such disdain."
• "Booked a meal for the boxing night picked a table everything fine till we got there put in a cold room menu was rubbish wasn't given table we booked told someone else had booked rubbish as we went in three days before to confirm never been so badly treated that's one place we'll never go again."
• "We called in for lunch, despite plenty of staff about, not one greeted us."
• "Waited 45 minutes for food when asked where it was we got told it’s on its way. Only to come cold and the beef uncooked it was mooing."
• "Service across the restaurant was hit and miss."
• "The waiting staff were kind, but the food was awful. The limited menu only offers 2 vegetarian options both of which most people won't like."

Food Quality

Pros:

• "The food was excellent, I must say, particularly the lamb, which we both enjoyed."
• "The food was brilliant, well cooked and amazingly tasty."
• "Food is really good."
• "The food is excellent."
• "We had 2 delicious seafood meals."
• "The breakfast was very good with delicious home made black pudding, dinner had a nice and varied selection."
• "The food we had for dinner was wonderful."

Cons:

• "The bread seemed stale - we mentioned it."
• "Roast potatoes were rock hard and reheated."
• "Steak wasn't the best and was pretty fatty."
• "The 'whole bass'... full of bones."
• "The charcoal burger was indeed overcooked and the fries were soggy."
• "Gravy was tepid."
• "Fish and chips poor chips greasy."

Value for Money

Pros:

• "The price was another surprise - excellent value."
• "Good value all round and a nice peaceful setting."
• "Children's meals good value, especially the fish and chips (lovely mushy peas!)."
• "Great food and good price and I thank the Chef and the staff for the hard work in these difficult times."

Cons:

• "Over priced for what it is."
• "£35 for a grilled sirloin that was just okay seemed criminal."
• "Again £24 for a whole boney fish is absolutely ridiculous."
• "£50 for 2 Sunday lunches and 2 drinks!!"
• "Good food but so overpriced."
• "The haddock was fresh but over priced at £15.00 and over battered."
• "With only 1/3 of a burrata this dish was overpriced as well."

Atmosphere and Ambiance

Pros:

• "The very definition of a rustic country pub."
• "Lovely bar with open fire."
• "The atmosphere was lovely."
• "We decided to pop into hear for some quick lunch and absolutely loved the cozy, quaint atmosphere in the small bar room - with fire roaring."
• "Wonderful 16th century Inn with lovely warm and welcoming atmosphere."
• "The pub has a lovely atmosphere and is very cosy especially in winter time."
• "Nice cosy hotel. Lovely fires with nice ambience."

Cons:

• "Fine for a short stay but lacks atmosphere."
• "The atmosphere was dull with most people snobs who looked down on us."
• "The hotel was dated, with a temporary bar? and small bar area, just no atmosphere."
• "All a bit gloomy in there."
• "The drinks choice is exceptionally limited and the refurbishment has transformed, what was, a comfortable, cosy place into a dotted wallpaper hell."

Accommodation

Pros:

• "The white swan is excellent, good food, good accommodation and the staff are second to none."
• "Beautiful rooms and some are dog friendly."
• "Comfortable and characterful rooms."
• "The bed was very comfortable and the room was tidy."
• "Room was good size with excellent bed and pillows."
• "Our room (the hideaway retreat) was spotless and comfy."
• "Our bothy room was comfortable, spacious, and well-equipped."

Cons:

• "The room was nice but unfortunately the bed wasn’t very comfortable."
• "The room was like a sauna even with the one window open in December."
• "Nail protruding from one chair."
• "The only complaint... was the shower. The volume was little more than a dribble and the temperature variable."
• "Rooms were very cold during the night for all of our group."
• "The bedroom was large... although difficult to get in and out when having to pay a visit in middle of night."
• "Also very noisy with what sounded like a heating/hot water system nearby."