When owner Rob Greacen spotted The Swan in the heart of pretty Wedmore, its historic grandeur was sadly faded. Harnessing the talents of a local interior designer and a first-rate architect, he spent a year remoulding and furnishing the imposing white Georgian building to perfection, and it finally opened its doors to drinkers, eaters and sleepers.
For those who want a relaxed rural break in the Somerset Levels, it’s a perfect base. Downstairs it's an easygoing haven of wood floors, leather chairs, local ales and an open fire. Upstairs, the quirky rooms are exactly what you'd want: stylish and calming yet unfussy and practical. Walls are painted in soft neutrals or stony grey, and natural fabrics are offset with splashes of colour from cushions or pictures, and intriguing pieces of furniture skilfully foraged from eBay and auction rooms. But the heart of this place is the kitchen, led by Tom Blake from River Cottage. His gutsy country cooking, with its scrupulously sourced ingredients, has really put The Swan on the map. The result is a genuine community hub with a loyal local clientele and lashings of atmosphere - a rare thing indeed.
Highs
- Great West Country food: Tom cures his own hams and bacon, fresh fish is delivered daily from Brixham, ciders and ales are locally produced
- The gorgeous rooms are more hotel than pub: claw-foot bathtubs, Bramley toiletries and each uniquely decorated
- Cycling through the flat Somerset Levels, hiking in the Mendip Hills and watching incredible murmurations of starlings: this is a beautifully peaceful part of England
- Fantastic value. All booked up? Try their nearby sister properties The White Hart Somerton and Timbrells Yard
Lows
- When we last visited we thought some of the rooms were looking a little tired
- The Medium and Small Rooms have bathtubs only (rather than showers)
- This is a busy and popular pub, so don’t expect total silence in the rooms; Large and Loft Rooms are the quietest
- The food is a little pricey, but it's delicious and you're paying for the expertise of a former River Cottage chef
- On subsequent visits, we have found service to be patchy at times
Best time to go
Great at any time of year: fires and a cosy atmosphere in the winter, alfresco eating with views of the Mendips in the summer. Musical fans may want to coincide their visit with the village’s bi-annual opera event in July. Other key events include Harvest Home in August (traditionally when farmers put on a meal with cider to thank the workers for bringing in the harvest, but now a day of village jollity), a beer festival in September, and Wedmore by Lamplight in December.
Our top tips
Location
The Swan is set in the handsome village of Wedmore, in the rural Somerset Levels, southwest England.
By Air
Bristol (27km) and Exeter (90km) are the nearest airports. Both have good links from other cities within the UK and Europe, but if you're coming from further afield you'll probably arrive at London Heathrow (227km).
By Car
Bringing a car is the easiest option; The Swan is 45 minutes' drive south of Bristol and around 2.5 hours from London Heathrow. See our car rental recommendations.
By Train:
Bristol and Bridgwater are both around 26km away, and have good links from Exeter, London Paddington and other UK cities - see Seat 61 for more details. London Heathrow is linked to London Paddington by the high-speed Heathrow Express rail line.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to the UK and getting around
Airports:
- Bristol Airport 27.0 km BRS
- Exeter Airport 90.0 km EXT
Other:
- Beach 15.0 km
- Shops 0.5 km
- Restaurant 0.5 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 2 independent reviews from i-escape guests
A small problem with the room was well dealt with by the staff, I would certainly go back.
This is a gorgeous little inn in a delightful village set in some of the most beautiful countryside. The rooms are very generous and superbly equipped. The beds are super comfy. Staff are welcoming and friendly. I went in a group of 6 (3 couples) and we all agreed that it is excellent and that we would be very happy to stay again.
There were a couple of minor gripes. The kitchen service is very slow - both at dinner and at breakfast. Also, the roast potatoes let down an otherwise really good dinner - they were definitely re-heated from earlier. But we were the last diners on a Sunday evening so perhaps that explains it - but it's not a great excuse.
There's lots of lovely walking in the area - the Somerset Levels are a delight. I also recommend a visit to the truly rustic Wilkins Cider Farm.
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape