The Black Swan Ockham - Cobham

All our usual haunts for Sunday lunch in this area were full at short notice apart from the Black Swan which still had tables available We booked online on Sunday morning for 2 covers at 12.45 and arrived just before. Our meal was not delivered until 45 minutes later after asking our server, Diana, if there was a problem in the kitchen and only then to find out that she had been told by someone that we had a reservation for 4 so presumably was waiting for the remaining 2 although that was not clear. She should have asked us directly and we can only conclude she was not really focused. The pub was still not that busy at that time, or so it appeared. The roast arrived quite soon after that and although the vegetables were good, the beef was mediocre with gristle and not very tender. The Shere Drop beer I ordered was excellent although the small glass of Merlot wine my wife ordered was very average. Indeed when the bill arrived we could see she had been served a 175ml medium size not a small 125ml measure as ordered which was yet another negative point. All in all not a wonderful experience which did not encourage us to consider an early return! Certainly the car park was very full when we left so this venue is clearly very popular with some.

Although I havent been here for a couple of years, I have been here many times before and would have previously agreed with the website description A delightfully eclectic eatery the pub restaurant I therefore booked a table for 4 to meet with 2 senior family members who were visiting from Denver US for the 1st time in over 10 years where the Black Swan used to be their local pub and eatery. In my mind a perfect place to relax, meet, talk, reminisce and catch up with a nice convivial restaurant dining experience. Reality was so far from this. Yes the food was mostly OK although the crab burger was awful, lots of fried greasy tempura and little crab. However the overall dining experience was horrendous. The restaurant was quiet with only a few diners for a Friday evening, however there was a large party of what seemed like 40+ people or more who were occupying the bar area and had a extremely loud disco music at high volume which drowned all areas of the restaurant and pub areas. Even sitting at the far end of the restaurant we found it difficult to relax and hear ourselves speak and that was early evening. Our restaurant ambience evening was completely spoilt and we left at 9pm. I didnt say anything as we left as didnt want to make a fuss in front of my family guests. Clearly the management were only interested in taking our money and had ZERO concern for service and customer experience. Surely if you were planning such an intrusive event you would have had the decency to inform your dining customers who was booked (my booking done weeks before) to make them aware and give them the opportunity to change their booking BEFORE they arrived. Worst customer restaurant experience in recent memory and left me feeling I never want to return. Beware !!

We had not visited the BS for a number of years but arranged to meet friends there. We had a lovely evening, food was really good, well presented, good sized portions and tasty. Service was excellent too. The pub itself was really inviting and very comfortable. The outside area looks really good for when the weather improves. We will definitely return. Thank you.

The food was well below par to be honest. Too much batter on starters and mains, and cheap nasty quality fries. it was a 30% off night., but noooooo thanks we won’t he returning here,

A friend and I walked in on a busy Saturday night, pub was full of locals. No food, but we had some hot tea. One of the locals was telling a hilarious joke about a plane that was so funny one of his friends spat his beer out ! Anyway, I mentioned the five pointed star on the wall and everyone was so shocked that a man playing darts missed the board, which apparently he’d never done. We thought we should leave but another local helpfully advised us to “ beware the moon lads “ as we left, not sure what he meant really. Perhaps it was just another hilarious joke.