The Swan Inn, Heathfield

Facebook page of The Swan Inn - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Swan Inn - www.facebook.com

Purporting to date from the 14th century, the Swan Inn is located on Battle Road in Dallington. To the left of the pub is a car park and an A-board out the front advertises take-away fish and chips weekday evenings. The entrance leads to a dark wooden floored and beamed bar area with an L-shaped serving counter on the rear wall that supports three handpumps. Two of these were unused which left Harvey’s Best as the lone ale option. I also counted nine keg fonts that were pouring a mix of standard and premium keg. The bar faces an L-shaped seating area full of thick wooden tables and in the left wall is an aged fireplace that houses a large burner. To the right of the bar is a step up to a dining area behind the bar counter. The cheeseburger is priced at £14, which seems to be standard now for this area. A door to the right leads down to the toilets and then further down to the rear garden. This consists of a lawn full of picnic tables that is enclosed behind large hedges on all sides. A strange decision as the major draw for pubs up on the Battle Road is the views over the High Weald. This pub certainly has some history behind it, but I found it difficult to get comfortable, even though the service was very polite.

Very traditional country pub located in one of the highest parts of the Weald so there might once have been a great view from the picture windows in the restaurant section and out in the rear beer garden (but not now...). The bar area at the front is all in dark wood, with hop bines, horse brasses and other bits of miscellanea as well as a wood-burner in the old fireplace. Of course, given the location, you would have your money on Harvey's being available (if nothing else) from the three handpumps, and you would be right (at £4.40) here.