Lovely setting, such poor food!

When arranging to meet friends in Pangbourne on 25 Sept 2011 they suggested the Swan as they had visited some years before!

Upon arrival we were able to secure a table on the terrace overlooking the Thames, on such a lovely day a real treat! It was early lunchtime and not yet busy.

We were meeting for a roast & on offer were Beef and Chicken, with veg, potatoes, yorkshire puds - all that you would expect!

Disappointing is an understatement, the beef was smothered in gravy so much so that you couldn't see the grey overcooked meat! A small floret of broccoli, a couple of very large pieces of carrot and 2 roast pots! Yorkshire must have been frozen, lacking in taste, body and no crunch! The chicken only fared better as it was a half roast with gravy in a jug!

We were still somewhat hungry after this meagre offering for £10.95 so opted for a pud! Apple pie and custard, sadly microwaved so the lovely looking pastry was now soft! 3 of us opted to share a couple of Cheese and Biscuits! A mistake! A lump of cheddar, another of Wenslydale (I think) and a Red Leicester - none had much taste! The biscuits however were crispy. I think from the appearance that these must have been plated in advance, the celery offering of a 2 inch piece was brown at both ends and was sent back - nothing was returned! The grapes about 4 loose on the plate were over cold and lacking in any nice appearance.

At about 2 the pub ran out of roasts as had sold over 60 - I think these people were lucky! The staff were disorganised, rarely enough people behind the bar and a queue rapidly formed for both drink and food orders!

Such a shame as a truly lovely location!

Not an experience that we will be having again!