I’ve forgotten what a holiday abroad feels like, but this weekend, I learnt that a holiday abroad isn’t always the answer.
After having several holidays either postponed or cancelled during the pandemic, I, like many, began to lose hope of a hot sunny holiday. Cue the rise of staycations, an option that’s continuously rising in popularity, and now I know why.
Described as a ‘classic British inn’, The Swan at Tarporley in Cheshire is a former coaching house full of character and charm. With individually designed en-suite bedrooms, six of their 16 rooms are located in their recently converted Coaching House in the courtyard, which I was lucky enough to stay in.
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They have a selection of double, twin and single rooms as well as family rooms and suites, and dogs are also welcome. With the inn comes a cosy pub offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, which is conveniently located about five steps away from the Coaching House.
The location was peaceful
You’d think that staying practically outside a pub would be loud and somewhat uncomfortable, but this was far from the case. The evenings in the room were quiet and peaceful, with the warm glow of the vintage golden lights and the bells ringing from the church opposite when an hour had passed.
I’d never visited Tarporley before, but I was amazed at its quaintness and array of shops, ranging from clothing to wine and cheese. There was also a great selection of pubs and restaurants nearby, meaning you didn’t have to travel far at all for some good food.
Perhaps the one thing that stood out to me the most was the amount of dog walks close to the inn. Considering I had brought my troublesome one and a half year-old pup with me, I was thrilled that there was plenty to keep her busy.
On Saturday we embarked on a 10k ‘Beeston Castle’ walk which was a circular trail that took us right back to The Swan for a well deserved drink. It was great to switch off during the walk and really soak up some good old British countryside, something I often take for granted everyday.
The Inn was cosy and comfortable
I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect because I’d never stayed at an inn before, but I was really impressed. The room had a large double bed, a good sized LG TV, a kettle with plenty of Teapigs tea and even a bath!
It was such a treat to be able to have a bubble bath with the miniature Molton Brown products provided before popping over the road for dinner. No hassle, just relaxation.
For those that enjoy total silence when sleeping, I’d say to be wary of the thin walls that could be due to the age of the building, as I could hear a few footsteps above from time to time. It didn’t affect my sleep though, which ended up being comfortable on the soft squishy bed provided.
Little things like the fresh bottles of still and sparkling water and top ups of tea bags and towels are what really added to my stay. I didn’t have to think about a single thing, and just enjoyed my surroundings.
The tabled area outside the Coaching House was quiet on a morning, making it the perfect spot for a cup of tea on a chilly spring morning. On Sunday, the sound of the church bells filled the car park and really added to the ambiance, even my dog enjoyed them!
The food was beyond delicious
We need to talk about the food, because it absolutely blew me away. On Friday night we chose to have a meal at The Swan pub and the menu was beyond impressive.
I opted for the ‘baked garlic & rosemary camembert with garlic bubble bread’ to share, and it was an absolute dream. The camembert was perfectly gooey and the garlic bubble bread was a perfect accompaniment to scoop up as much cheese as possible.
For mains, I went for a dish from the ‘winter mains’ section which was ‘black sticks blue & spinach chicken’ with butternut squash puree, blackstick & chive sauce and sweet potato fries. The meal was absolutely delicious, freshly made with good locally sourced ingredients, it was actually one of the nicest meals I’d had in a long time.
On our second night we chose to visit “Little Tap” which was right opposite The Swan, a lot of the tables were booked elsewhere, but luckily there was one 8:30pm slot left. Considering this was a last minute decision, I was shocked at how incredible the small plates were.
In terms of breakfast at The Swan, my only criticism would be the fact that there was quite a long wait to be served. I do believe this was down to the amount of staff, which of course, can’t always be helped especially during these times.
The breakfast itself was spot on, with once again, locally sourced ingredients and some beautifully crunchy hash browns if I say so myself. You don’t always get a double whammy of a good stay with delicious food to match, but The Swan at Tarporley has certainly raised the bar.
The verdict
For somewhere just 30 minutes away from my house, it was amazing how easy it was to switch off during my visit. Surrounded by beautiful countryside, quaint little shops and delicious food, I’ll definitely be returning to this classic British inn.
It was the small details like a bath with luxurious bath products, a convenient kettle and the close proximity of food and drink spots which really made my stay worthwhile. Not to mention the abundance of dog walks which gave me a chance to explore the stunning Cheshire countryside.
You can book a stay or a meal at The Swan here.
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