Nestled on a hilltop with views across a sparkling crystal blue mere, the village of Marbury is one of the most picture perfect in Cheshire. Black and white timber framed houses are clustered around the village green where Marbury's historic pub proudly looks out across rolling fields.
The Swan has just been named one of the UK's best pubs at the National Pub and Bar Awards, one of five in the north west that makes the prestigious list and the best in Cheshire. The Swan is the hub of the tight-knit community here, who hail Marbury "the loveliest of places with the loveliest people".
The village sits at the southern edge of Cheshire, near Nantwich, and just a mile from the Shropshire border. There are a wealth of pretty walks to and from the pub, including one across three miles over fields where you can walk right into Whitchurch.
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Naturally, staff at the family-run The Swan pub have been delighted with news of the award, which was announced last week. The pub was given a full refurbishment when Jerry Brunning (formerly of Brunning and Price) took it on in 2019, and the large interior boasts a quirky décor, packed with books and ornaments.
There's even a wall of books that people can choose to buy from on their visit, all from another local business, Barn Books, in the neighbouring village of Norbury, which specialises in second-hand and antique books.
Pub manager Tom Morgan-Wynne, said: "It feels like it's own little corner of the world here. It's like an escape from the real world.
"The pub was designed to feel like you are in someone's front room rather than a traditional pub. The staff here have a genuine love for the pub, and they love the customers.
"Because of the pub's location here it gives it a certain charm. When you come around the corner it reveals itself and then you see the local church, it feels all connected like in old times."
Tom, 28, said the village may be small, but it has such charm that visitors from across the north west flock there on sunny days and weekends to explore. The pub has created a list of walks for people to try on their website.
He said: "I grew up in Whitchurch and we used to visit Marbury and have picnics here by the Mere all the time. We do our own little walks, we've got four walks we've designed on our website and they take you round some of the beauty spots of the village.
"There's one that walks you the whole way to Whitchurch to our sister pub the Black Bear, while one walks you up to an old war monument and another down the canal.
"There's so many beauty spots in the village. It's a really a stunning place to visit."
The pub also boasts a sun trap terrace with seating for up to 70, as well as conservatory areas at the front of the pub that are popular on sunny days. There are also plans in the pipeline to turn an old farm barn next to the pub into holiday cottages too.
There is no village shop here, but there are quirky businesses nestled among the houses, farms and barns in the area. That includes Soil and Fleurs flower school, run by Sofie Paton-Smith, 47, at her home in Marbury.
Sophie, originally from Sweden, moved to Marbury 10 years ago where she lives with her husband in the farm on the former Marbury Hall estate. She grows pesticide-free flowers to sell to the public and for use at events and weddings.
She says of Marbury: "It's the loveliest of places. It's how village life used to be, with phenomenal people and people looking out for each other.
"It's incredibly beautiful, but it's the people that make it more so here. There are many beautiful places but not many quite like Marbury."
Sophie holds regular flower classes, as well as events to pick your own blooms from her garden of over 250 roses, 70 peonies and 300 dahlias. Next weekend, on April 22, there will also be a charity 'open garden' event for visitors to walk through the blooms in her walled garden and get a piece of cake and coffee for £5.
The village is also a popular place for dog walkers, with staff at The Swan organising regular dog walking events called 'Barry the Pooch Takes You on a Mooch'.
Pub manager Tom explains: "We try to organise a dog walk once a month. One of our chefs has a dog called Barry and when we get the time we plan a little route, we do free bacon sandwiches in the morning and try and raise a bit of money for charity too.
"It's very much a community event and for people to meet other people. And naturally, for them to pop into the pub afterwards as we're very much a dog-friendly pub."
The pub's inclusion in the National Pub and Bar Awards sees it sit alongside 93 other pubs in the UK and in the north west with pubs including the Crown and Kettle in Manchester. It will join the other winners at a grand final ceremony in London on June 28, where the best regional pubs and overall UK winner will be announced.
Marbury sits just off the main A49 Tarporley Road in Cheshire, and is around eight miles from Nantwich. It's 50 miles from Manchester which takes around an hour and 20 minutes if you're driving.
It's not to be confused with Cheshire's other famous Marbury, in Northwich, where you'll find Marbury Country Park.
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