The Three Swans Hotel, Market Harborough

The Three Swans is a lovely building externally which has had the Best Western treatment inside. There are still original features and it's not a bad spot but you can always feel the dead corporate hand. The upside of this is that it seems to host various conference teams and so the atmosphere can get lively and there's occasionally some totty around. Two beers were on when we visited, Nobbys Guilsborough Gold and Langton Hop On. Both very local breweries and judging by the pump clips displayed behind the bar, most of the Three Swans beer comes from these two breweries. No bad thing as they both produce quaffable ale. One of the better spots in Market Harborough for a reliable pint.

Owned by the Best Western hotel chain,there is a corporate feel to the furnishing and carpets but some interesting original features to the ground floor lounge bar.The Georgian frontage has two bay windows either side of the entrance,while there is a courtyard entrance to the left for access to the rear dining room. The front lounge has two fireplaces,both coal affect gas contraptions and only one lit.The bar to the left has ornate wood carving surrounds and the cornicing looked original.Three handpumps with two dispensing ales from Nobby's and Langton which were in reasonable shape.There seems to be a Locale policy here for real ale.The larger back area the other side of the bar has quarry tiling,a flatscreen tv ,a massive banquette and appears to be the more lively drinking area,and there were a good number of punters in on a Thursday evening.There is a long internal corridor to the loos and restaurant,while the upper floors are for guest bedrooms. A safe bet for a pint,but not quite enough to warrant an extended stay.