My husband and I rather apprehensively ventured into The Black Swan Inn last Friday just before 6pm after an attempt to eat at another local restaurant ended in a failure to launch. We were welcomed by a gentleman barman serving his own helping of high spirits, and a side of good cheer. We decided to lay our hat here, The Black Swan Inn, would be home for the next couple of hours and that’s exactly what it feels like – warm, relaxed, just on the right side of casual. The dining room is made up of a mixture of booths and tables keeping it cosy but adhering to the boundaries of personal space, unlike several chain restaurants where a table-for-two equates to sitting in the lap of the stranger next to you. I believe they call it intimate. I call it intimidating. Little touches of fresh flowers and tealights add to the romantic ambience but it’s up to you to bring your own company! The menu feels vast and yet not overwhelming, one side of A4 plus a separate A5 specials sheet. There is something for everyone’s palates, and appetites, from nibbles and starters, tapas plates, sharing platters, to the main courses which range from salads to steaks, burgers and pies. Our waitress was friendly, had good knowledge of the menu and was happy to make recommendations. I have food allergies which the waitress handled both efficiently and with confidence.... My husband and I rather apprehensively ventured into The Black Swan Inn last Friday just before 6pm after an attempt to eat at another local restaurant ended in a failure to launch.

We were welcomed by a gentleman barman serving his own helping of high spirits, and a side of good cheer. We decided to lay our hat here, The Black Swan Inn, would be home for the next couple of hours and that’s exactly what it feels like – warm, relaxed, just on the right side of casual.

The dining room is made up of a mixture of booths and tables keeping it cosy but adhering to the boundaries of personal space, unlike several chain restaurants where a table-for-two equates to sitting in the lap of the stranger next to you. I believe they call it intimate. I call it intimidating.
Little touches of fresh flowers and tealights add to the romantic ambience but it’s up to you to bring your own company!

The menu feels vast and yet not overwhelming, one side of A4 plus a separate A5 specials sheet. There is something for everyone’s palates, and appetites, from nibbles and starters, tapas plates, sharing platters, to the main courses which range from salads to steaks, burgers and pies.

Our waitress was friendly, had good knowledge of the menu and was happy to make recommendations. I have food allergies which the waitress handled both efficiently and with confidence. The food is fresh and made on the premises therefore the waitress could check with the kitchen with reference to all the ingredients in my selected meal choice, unlike the previous restaurant we had attended that night.

To start my husband selected the soup of the day, Cauliflower Cheese, which was served with a warm roll, which to his joy was still steaming when he pulled it apart. I selected the Ham Hock Cakes dusted with Pork Crackling and Apple Sauce off the Specials. Firstly, the value for money is incredible, the portion sizes were enormous. My starter comprised of four, yes four, ham hock cakes which were roughly the size of four large scotch eggs. I could easily have shared this with my husband. The ham hock cakes were simply delicious, I could pull them apart with a spoon, the meat was unctuous, melt-in-the-mouth with a hint of spice, and the pork crackling dust gave a lovely crunch. The apple sauce on the side was homemade and the apple was soft but still had a little bite and was cut in lovely big chunks, so you got the perfect ratio of apple to ham hock on your fork.

We had both chosen steaks for our main. My husband opted for the Fillet with fries, peas and a peppercorn sauce whereas I chose the Sirloin with sauteed potatoes, seasonal vegetables and the garlic butter sauce. The portion size again was so incredible there was hardly enough room to put everything on the table.

I was excited to see my griddled steak with its perfect crosshatch of dark char lines and the smoky smell of coal emanating from it. I ordered it cooked medium rare and it was blushing a beautiful pink inside. It had a gorgeous mouth feel combined with that insane garlic butter sauce. I felt like I was being extremely self-indulgent for 6pm on a Friday night. The sautéed potatoes were also beautifully cooked, skins on, and I easily could have eaten a whole plate of these with that sauce. For me, the seasonal vegetables although vibrant and a rather extravagant selection (broccoli, leeks, peas, carrots and enough for two people) were perhaps a little steamer shy? I like my veg crunchy but these were a little raw. I would opt for peas next time. My one niggle on the dish, and this is personal preference, were the onion rings, I felt they were unnecessary and overkill. To put something battered and deep-fried on this plate of divine loveliness seemed a bit beneath the plate, a bit Little Chef dare I say.

After two courses we were slipping into a food coma and reluctantly had to call it a day without dessert. You will want three courses but with these generous portion sizes I think two is the limit.

If you’re looking for a date night or somewhere to go with another couple for casual dining this would be a great choice. For anyone visiting Norfolk and staying in Norwich, or by the airport (as were we), this is a picturesque setting, really pretty location, with ample parking, great to get away from the hustle and bustle of the City and its many chain restaurant options but not too far to feel like its in the middle of nowhere.

This is our “great little find” that we shall be visiting again. More

  We always go to the black swan for family reunions when my parents are over from Spain (see my previous review) and usually it’s lovely. Today however it was awful and totally spoilt our reunion not only was the food cold but the service was horrendous - 3 girls in attendance or rather not in attendance as not one of the 3 asked if our food was ok, then we had to actually ask for our plates to be removed, ask for the dessert menu and then they left it so long that quite frankly we had had enough of the poor substandard service we asked for the bill without having had dessert or coffee. Throughout all this the empty glasses on our table remained uncleared whilst all 3 girls stood and chatted at the bar area! Very poor service indeed given the price of a Sunday roast £12.95 for one course. Unlikely we will be returning again when my parents are over from Spain again. Thanks black swan for ruining our farewell lunch. More

  I have been an infrequent visitor of the Black Swan over the years when visiting my Dad in the area. Recently however have stayed twice once due to a local wedding and yesterday sadly for my Dads wake. We chose due to the locality to the crem and my Dad loved a meal there.
I have to say our first stay for the wedding was faultless, staying in room 10, but this time our family of 4 were given room 3. There were co webs everywhere, in all the light shades, not something I usually care about until standing in the shower with a very low ceiling and literally face to face with a filthy extractor vent. Breakfast was sub standard.
I was not asked anything at all by a single member of staff during the wake..spending almost £700 + £130 for the room...no one asked if everything was okay...nothing...very disappointed with a hands off approach to customer service during such an occasion. Food and the room for the wake was perfect though, hence 3 stars and not 2. More

  Very modern decor in public areas and rooms also very clean. Missed dinner but it was still busy when I arrived On a Sunday night, a few tables had been eating, breakfast was lovely and there was a wide choice some dishes you don’t get in the big chains. A couple of new staff getting trained but all done very well. More

  Held my father in laws funeral wake here yesterday. Lovely venue, close to at faiths cremetarium. we were seated in the new extension. It was very clean and modern the food,beverages and staff were very nice. Would recommend!

  Staying in Horsham St Faiths for a family wedding. Needed somewhere to eat the night before that catered for a large family group with mixed dietary requirements. The Black Swan came up trumps. Lovely atmosphere, friendly knowledgeable staff, good choice of menu including dairy free and vegan. Absolutely delicious relaxed happy family meal in lovely surroundings looked after by friendly staff.