The Swan, at Marbury cum Quoisley, near Nantwich, has been named North West Pub of the Year at the National Pub and Bar of the Year Awards.
Left to right are Swan general manager, Charlie Holden, owner, Jerry Brunning, and group head chef, Matt Marren
“The Swan is a stunning country pub, presented immaculately inside and out,” said Tristan O’Hana, editor of Pub and Bar magazine. Overseen by passionate operators, the food is home-made, thought through, and executed perfectly, no matter which dish is chosen.
“The team are friendly and, importantly, very knowledgeable about the food and drink on offer. It is an excellent operation and has done the North West proud by winning a regional National Pub and Bar Award.”
Charlie Holden, general manager of The Swan, said: “I am over the moon for the pub to have won this award! The team work so hard to make sure customers have the best experience at the Swan. To receive this award must show we are doing something right.
“We aim to provide the best food and drink to customers, from our pies to our rums. As long as the customer is happy, that’s the main thing.
“Being made general manager is a dream come true. Starting at the Black Bear, I fell in love with pubs and how they can be a central hub for a community, and I am a big believer that they are a meeting point for those that love what we do.”
The Swan is owned by Pubs Ltd, headed by hospitality entrepreneur Jerry Brunning, founder of the Chester-based Brunning & Price pub chain. It made a major investment in The Swan with a sympathetic restoration, bringing it back to life at the heart of picturesque Marbury as both a village local and destination pub for south Cheshire and north Shropshire.
This latest award adds to a string of accolades since 2018: Cheshire Pub of the Year at the Taste Cheshire Awards, 2022; one of the top 40 Sunday lunch venues in the UK by Sawdays Guide in 2021; best new pub in the UK in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2020; and South Cheshire CAMRA Summer Pub of the Year in 2019.
“The Swan was the first venture for Pubs Ltd and we faced a major challenge to give this wonderfully historic venue a new lease of life and build business,” said Jerry Brunning.
“This well-earned award is a marvellous tribute to the team. Charlie has been a valued member of the team and, as the new general manager, I know he is looking forward to the challenge of building on this top award.”
A cask and craft beer venue, The Swan boasts five handpulls with ales from local brewers in Cheshire, North Wales, and Shropshire, alongside exclusive house pale ale JPA and a range of ciders from independent producers. It also offers its own tap-dispensed house wines, blended exclusively and imported from Bordeaux.
A modern menu mixes traditional classics with contemporary dishes. With an attractive patio garden for al fresco dining, inside there are wood-burning stoves and book-lined rooms offering a relaxing and cosy experience.
