One of Haslemere’s finest landmarks, The Swan, is to re-open next week under a new guise and ownership.

The former Coaching Inn which has served the town since 1855 is currently undergoing a £400,000 refurbishment to return it to its former glory. Acquired last month, new owner Stonegate Pub Company has wasted no time in transforming the historic building into a classic pub the people of Haslemere can be proud of.

Led by experienced pub manager Paul Priestley and his newly appointed team of thirty two front of house and kitchen staff, the Swan will re-open to deliver the people of Haslemere with fantastic quality, freshly prepared traditional pub food, locally brewed real ales and award winning fine wines; all generously served with warm hearted hospitality in elegant new surroundings. Carefully restored, the building’s historic features of hanging peg tiled frontage and roaring open fires remain intact, whilst its new modern décor in calming muted tones, a cleverly re-designed central bar and furniture for relaxing in, brings the pub right up to date.

Paul will be welcoming Mayor of Haslemere, Melanie Odell MBE and local residents as his guests for a special VIP reception to mark the re-launch on Friday 11th December. Guests are invited to join him from 5pm for a champagne and canape reception, where the pub’s head chef Chris Kingston will be showcasing tasters from the new menu. The Mayor of Haslemere will officially declare the Swan open at 7pm, after which the celebrations really begin. Throughout the evening, guests will be entertained with music from an acoustic set from Matt Belmont; and cask ale enthusiasts can brush up their knowledge by meeting the head brewer of nearby Upham brewery and try their ales.

The pub’s menu will feature the very best in British pub favourites. Starters will include the perfect seaside fish board sharer of Severn Wye and Oak smoked salmon, wholetail scampi, king prawns and calamari. Classic main courses include Cumberland sausage and mash, fresh-baked lasagne with garlic ciabatta bread, braised calf’s liver with colcannon mash and a Madeira wine andamp; caramelised onion sauce; and slow cooked roasted lamb shank with a rosemary and red wine sauce. No meal is complete without the home comfort of a traditional British dessert and so head chef Chris and his team will be baking a seasonal crumble of the day alongside several indulgent alternatives.

The perfect Sunday lunch destination for the whole family, the Swan pub will offer a choice of exquisite roasts, cooked to perfection and served with generous portions of seasonal vegetables. Newspapers, board games, comfortable wingback armchairs and Chesterfield sofas; is there any better way to while away a Sunday?

Fresh local cask ales and craft beers will be an important element of the Swan’s offer. Six cask hand pumps will give customers a rotating choice of local – from nearby breweries Upham, Hogsback and Surrey Hills – and national ales whilst three of nation’s favourite craft beers Brooklyn lager, Meantime and Brewdog IPA will be on tap too. A wide range of carefully selected wines, including a regular wine of the month; and classic cocktails, created with flair and panache, also feature on the drinks menu. Customers can enjoy a number of great deals throughout the week including on Wednesdays, a choice of ten of the finest wines for just £10 a bottle, and two succulent rumps steaks for just £15.99 on Thursdays. Cocktails will be priced at two for the price of one every Friday from 5pm.

With Christmas just round the corner the pub is decked out ready to celebrate the festive season. Customers can enjoy a special Christmas menu, a choice of four starters, mains and desserts including hand-carved turkey breast with all the festive trimmings and Christmas pudding served with hot brandy sauce from £23.95 for three courses; or simply pop in for a glass or two of mulled wine as the winter nights draw in.

Speaking about the new pub, Paul Priestley said, “I am thrilled that we have been able to revitalise such an historic building and create an exciting new chapter in its history. The Swan’s new offer will be a world away from what is was previously and I look forward to meeting and welcoming the people of the town to the pub so they may enjoy it as it is now – a great British pub to be proud of.”

The Swan will open daily from 11am, closing at 11pm Sunday to Wednesday and at midnight on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

For further information, please contact Maureen, Suzy or Ali at Leisure PR on:

(T): 020 8893 9088

(E): stonegatepress@leisurepr.co.uk