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The Swan Stafford: Brasserie & Restaurant
- Thread starter Andreas Rex
- Start date
ChrisLewis
Well-Known Forumite
Morning - apologies for not responding earlier to your question, happy to say the answer is yes (but you can't use it in conjunction with any other offers)
tek-monkey
wanna see my snake?
I think my voucher expired, was it for 4 weeks? I also had a 25% off one that expired the week before I'd planned to use it, just been too busy lately to go out 
proactive
Enjoying a drop of red.
ChrisLewis
Well-Known Forumite
Looks like we'll have to do a forum offer soon, so you can have a nice new fresh voucher!I think my voucher expired, was it for 4 weeks? I also had a 25% off one that expired the week before I'd planned to use it, just been too busy lately to go out
ChrisLewis
Well-Known Forumite
7 days to go! We are exactly a week away from the reopening of the brasserie, and today we introduce Mark our bar manager. Book your table now to be part of the opening night by calling 01785 258142. Why not make a night of it, and join Mark and his team for a few pre or post dinner drinks in the bar.
jacs
Well-Known Forumite
Just a review of my experience at the Swan on Thursday night (17th).
Being positive to begin, I have to rate the food, particularly the fish pie and its amazing potato topping. My husband also enjoyed his lamb, though felt more veg was needed as the meal was a bit unbalanced.
The service however left me somewhat disappointed, particularly as it was my first time there and my birthday. Firstly, we were seated on a round table for 4 people with our seats next to each other and facing the other diners, so rather than the romantic birthday meal we had envisaged (and my husband had stated it was my birthday when booking) it felt more like a night at the cinema but with food. As there were groups of 4 on tables for 2 pushed together it seemed odd that we were placed on such a big table, and that it was set up as it was. And on enquiring whether we could move to one of the couple of remaining tables for two we were told they were waiting for guests to arrive... which no one did for at least 20 mins...
Secondly, upon being given our menu we were asked what drinks we'd like so ordered a glass of wine each. Having never been before we werent aware that the fish night menu came with a bottle of wine. Had we been made aware of this when being seated we wouldve opted for this and not ordered the glasses of wine. We did mention this to the waitress when she arrived with the drinks but were told that as they'd been poured we couldn't change our drinks order. It seemed a waste to go for the fish night menu now we already had drinks.
I'd also like to query the lack of a drinks menu? I don't know whether this is standard or we just didn't receive one, but I like to know a bit more about the drinks on offer (country, alcohol content, bit of a description) rather than just whether its sweet, medium or dry, and I dont like feeling I have to rush to decide.
Finally, the parking. We initially tried to park on the hotel car park but on entering found it to be full. This meant my husband had to go in and get a token so we could get through the exit and park elsewhere (making us late for our reservation and not helping my bad leg having to walk - the reason we drove in the first place). This seems a really silly system. I can understand it during the day to stop just anyone parking tbere and going elsewhere in town, but at night when parking in town is free anyway it seems a bit pointless, and frustrating when you don't know its full until its too late to get out!
In conclusion, we understand it was the start of Easter weekend so very busy, but we were left a tad disappointed especially after reading all the good reviews on here which made me want to visit for my birthday!
Being positive to begin, I have to rate the food, particularly the fish pie and its amazing potato topping. My husband also enjoyed his lamb, though felt more veg was needed as the meal was a bit unbalanced.
The service however left me somewhat disappointed, particularly as it was my first time there and my birthday. Firstly, we were seated on a round table for 4 people with our seats next to each other and facing the other diners, so rather than the romantic birthday meal we had envisaged (and my husband had stated it was my birthday when booking) it felt more like a night at the cinema but with food. As there were groups of 4 on tables for 2 pushed together it seemed odd that we were placed on such a big table, and that it was set up as it was. And on enquiring whether we could move to one of the couple of remaining tables for two we were told they were waiting for guests to arrive... which no one did for at least 20 mins...
Secondly, upon being given our menu we were asked what drinks we'd like so ordered a glass of wine each. Having never been before we werent aware that the fish night menu came with a bottle of wine. Had we been made aware of this when being seated we wouldve opted for this and not ordered the glasses of wine. We did mention this to the waitress when she arrived with the drinks but were told that as they'd been poured we couldn't change our drinks order. It seemed a waste to go for the fish night menu now we already had drinks.
I'd also like to query the lack of a drinks menu? I don't know whether this is standard or we just didn't receive one, but I like to know a bit more about the drinks on offer (country, alcohol content, bit of a description) rather than just whether its sweet, medium or dry, and I dont like feeling I have to rush to decide.
Finally, the parking. We initially tried to park on the hotel car park but on entering found it to be full. This meant my husband had to go in and get a token so we could get through the exit and park elsewhere (making us late for our reservation and not helping my bad leg having to walk - the reason we drove in the first place). This seems a really silly system. I can understand it during the day to stop just anyone parking tbere and going elsewhere in town, but at night when parking in town is free anyway it seems a bit pointless, and frustrating when you don't know its full until its too late to get out!
In conclusion, we understand it was the start of Easter weekend so very busy, but we were left a tad disappointed especially after reading all the good reviews on here which made me want to visit for my birthday!
John Marwood
I ♥ cryptic crosswords
There are a pair
Both beautiful
They have covered their eggs
And are feeding on fresh grass across the Sow
The Marsh cygnets should be along soon
Both beautiful
They have covered their eggs
And are feeding on fresh grass across the Sow
The Marsh cygnets should be along soon
John Marwood
I ♥ cryptic crosswords
Drinks Menu
The Wetherspoons in Uttoxeter maybe more to your taste
It has a drinks menu
Under World Drinks appears the ever exotic Newcastle Brown Ale
Enjoy
The Wetherspoons in Uttoxeter maybe more to your taste
It has a drinks menu
Under World Drinks appears the ever exotic Newcastle Brown Ale
Enjoy
tek-monkey
wanna see my snake?
So did you ask the waitress and she refused to find more info on the wines, or did you say nothing?
Feed The Goat
Well-Known Forumite
Sounds a disappointing night which could have been easily sorted had there been a desire to sort it.
Firstly if you asked to be moved because you were unhappy with the table, this should be done.
Secondly, the wine could have been taken back or wiped from your bill if you were opting for the all in fish menu.
If the car park is full, then so be it, but I doubt you would have been bothered had your evening not been so disappointing.
Firstly if you asked to be moved because you were unhappy with the table, this should be done.
Secondly, the wine could have been taken back or wiped from your bill if you were opting for the all in fish menu.
If the car park is full, then so be it, but I doubt you would have been bothered had your evening not been so disappointing.
ChrisLewis
Well-Known Forumite
In reply to jacs feedback, apologies if you didn't enjoy your recent visit to The Swan
Thanks for the feedback on your meal, much of your review appears to be about our fish evening menu, however the lamb dish is taken from our main menu and I'm unsure if you actually had the fish evening menu, as the fish pie is available on both menus that were available that night.
However many thanks for such a positive rating of the food.
With regards your table we will always move a guest to the best available table or a table of that is more to their liking if possible, having looked at the night in question I believe the only reason this was not possible was due to previously booked tables who had specifically requested tables, unfortunately this resulted in a table change being difficult - so sorry we didn't get this right for you. For future reference we are always happy to book and "Lock" your booking to a specifically requested table for special occasions, our booking app or online system doest give you this option, however if you phone us we will do that with pleasure for you 01785 258142
I take on board your comments about the fish menu and advising customers that it includes wine, the menu does state it, as does all our advertising that it is a two course menu for two people inclusive of a bottle of house wine, but as you say possibly we do need to explain the promotion better on the night to our guests, so as to avoid any confusion.
With regards a drinks menu - the fish menu does state what the wine is, this hasn't been an issue with our fish or for that matter our Steak or vegetarian night, plus if required we have a full and comprehensive wine list, but even that doesn't give a full description or abv, just a guide to the style of wine.
Finally our car park, I note that you may find our system pointless and frustrating, apologies if this is the case, however we have 30 spaces and 31 bedrooms, 120 seats in our brasserie and a coffee shop plus bar so some form of management has to be put into place, from your reply on the forum your frustration at not getting a parking space is obvious, needless to say if you are a hotel guest visiting the area for the first time and have just successfully managed to navigate the Stafford one way system and then find our car park full you can imagine that we have then to deal with a level of frustration far greater, hence our car parking is allocated as follows:- residents, disabled spaces for diners or guests, then to our brasserie and finally to our bar and coffee shop customers.
This system may appear pointless and wrong but over the years it has proved to be the best system, if you trawl through the forum you will find that I have in the past challenged forumites to create a better system - unfortunately non has been forthcoming.
With the imminent closure of both the Riverside carpark and Kingsmead car parks whilst development works are progressing in town needless to say the town centre car parking situation will not be improving and a free for all doesn't seem a great idea
Many thanks for the feedback, I have attached a copy of the Fish Menu which is available every Thursday night
Kind Regards
Chris Lewis
Thanks for the feedback on your meal, much of your review appears to be about our fish evening menu, however the lamb dish is taken from our main menu and I'm unsure if you actually had the fish evening menu, as the fish pie is available on both menus that were available that night.
However many thanks for such a positive rating of the food.
With regards your table we will always move a guest to the best available table or a table of that is more to their liking if possible, having looked at the night in question I believe the only reason this was not possible was due to previously booked tables who had specifically requested tables, unfortunately this resulted in a table change being difficult - so sorry we didn't get this right for you. For future reference we are always happy to book and "Lock" your booking to a specifically requested table for special occasions, our booking app or online system doest give you this option, however if you phone us we will do that with pleasure for you 01785 258142
I take on board your comments about the fish menu and advising customers that it includes wine, the menu does state it, as does all our advertising that it is a two course menu for two people inclusive of a bottle of house wine, but as you say possibly we do need to explain the promotion better on the night to our guests, so as to avoid any confusion.
With regards a drinks menu - the fish menu does state what the wine is, this hasn't been an issue with our fish or for that matter our Steak or vegetarian night, plus if required we have a full and comprehensive wine list, but even that doesn't give a full description or abv, just a guide to the style of wine.
Finally our car park, I note that you may find our system pointless and frustrating, apologies if this is the case, however we have 30 spaces and 31 bedrooms, 120 seats in our brasserie and a coffee shop plus bar so some form of management has to be put into place, from your reply on the forum your frustration at not getting a parking space is obvious, needless to say if you are a hotel guest visiting the area for the first time and have just successfully managed to navigate the Stafford one way system and then find our car park full you can imagine that we have then to deal with a level of frustration far greater, hence our car parking is allocated as follows:- residents, disabled spaces for diners or guests, then to our brasserie and finally to our bar and coffee shop customers.
This system may appear pointless and wrong but over the years it has proved to be the best system, if you trawl through the forum you will find that I have in the past challenged forumites to create a better system - unfortunately non has been forthcoming.
With the imminent closure of both the Riverside carpark and Kingsmead car parks whilst development works are progressing in town needless to say the town centre car parking situation will not be improving and a free for all doesn't seem a great idea
Many thanks for the feedback, I have attached a copy of the Fish Menu which is available every Thursday night
Kind Regards
Chris Lewis
Goldilox
How do I edit this?
I was in Friday afternoon, and I'm afraid I found some of the staff a little jobs-worthy.
We were perusing the bar menu in the beer garden at around 5.28 when a lady asked if we had finished with our menus, we explained we were about to order and she warned us food was only served until 5.30, so I dashed to the bar post haste where I was made to wait 4 1/2 minutes, only to be told it was "5 minutes ago we stopped serving food".
Had there been any apology offered, or even any attempt to explain that a barbecue would be available as part of the beer festival (which I'm only aware of because another friend who joined us later spoke highly of his burger), we might have stuck around a little longer and spent a bit more money with you. As it was we finished our drinks and went to find somewhere that did want to feed us.
It's a fairly subtle difference between, "No we stopped serving food 5 minutes ago" and "I'm really sorry, you've just missed the kitchen by 5 minutes", but it would have made a significant difference to my experience.
We were perusing the bar menu in the beer garden at around 5.28 when a lady asked if we had finished with our menus, we explained we were about to order and she warned us food was only served until 5.30, so I dashed to the bar post haste where I was made to wait 4 1/2 minutes, only to be told it was "5 minutes ago we stopped serving food".
Had there been any apology offered, or even any attempt to explain that a barbecue would be available as part of the beer festival (which I'm only aware of because another friend who joined us later spoke highly of his burger), we might have stuck around a little longer and spent a bit more money with you. As it was we finished our drinks and went to find somewhere that did want to feed us.
It's a fairly subtle difference between, "No we stopped serving food 5 minutes ago" and "I'm really sorry, you've just missed the kitchen by 5 minutes", but it would have made a significant difference to my experience.
ChrisLewis
Well-Known Forumite
Goldilox,
Many thanks for the feedback & apologies that we clearly didn't get it right on this occasion, I totally agree with all you have said and yes the subtle difference makes such a significant effect on your experience, needless to say I have passed your comments on to the team leaders at The Swan so this scenario can be avoided in the future.
Again please accept my apologies
ChrisLewis
Well-Known Forumite
Enjoy the summer evening and our Swan Live entertainment tonight in the Courtyard
Feed The Goat
Well-Known Forumite
Looks to be a great evening. I will be in at half seven. Chilled Stella Black on a warm June evening with live entertainment, you can't beat it.
Gramaisc
Forum O. G.
Feed The Goat
Well-Known Forumite
I've checked it out without the beer goggles on and its not too shabby.