The White Swan at Fence, Lancashire, is a friendly, local pub with a heart-warming motto - to do everything they can, to the very best standard. From a fresh, seasonal menu using produce sourced as locally as possible, to a personable, tight-knit team (with comical profiles on the website to boot), this is the kind of place you can really feel at home and come back, time after time.
With a large, polished wooden bar, stone fireplace and black and white pictures hanging on the walls (showing off the pub's historical past), there's certainly a traditional feel here, but boutique seating and aubergine-toned carpet give the space a lavish twist.
Book a table for lunch or dinner and sample the delights of Head Chef Tom Parker who has won the venue an impressive Michelin Star, as well as three AA rosettes. Throughout the seasons, Parker continues to create set seasonal menus based on the best produce available, and as deliveries are daily, this may mean last-minute changes to the dishes on the day.
However, if you're looking for an example of what to expect online, you won't find one. The team say that not knowing what you're about to eat is all part of the fun when visiting The White Swan and even those who dislike certain foods are asked, if possible, to go with the flow. In fact, many diners have, apparently, scoffed at eating particular ingredients only to be proven oh-so-wrong later.
As well as great food, The White Swan is passionate about being the only Timothy Taylors pub in Lancashire, serving up a selection of beers that have a cult following and you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. There's also an extensive wine list and a house special fruit infused spirits, such as rhubarb gin, burnt orange whisky, blackcurrant vodka and cherry brandy.