Cygnets At The Swan Inn - Wrexham

We spent three nights near Pontfadog in late October 2019 while on vacation from the US, and spent two of those evenings enjoying dinner at The Swan. If we lived around here, we would gladly join the ranks of the obvious regulars that inhabit the bar area. Even as visitors, we were warmly welcomed. The bar isn't huge but is well provisioned. There was an adequate selection of beers and ales on tap, including several local and regional choices. The wine list also focused on quality and value rather than extensive selections. The food choices ranged from your pub classics like fish and chips and shepherd's pie, but also included a variety of special dishes. Everything we tried was spectacular, but the absolute highlight of our meals there were the pies. There is always a pie on the menu, but what's in the pie changes week to week. On the night, the pie was smoked pheasant and leeks. Absolutely amazing! A generous serving, it still left room for a bit of sticky toffee pudding with custard. Rich and moist and swimming in a bath of caramel and custard, astonishingly good. A group of ladies at the next table were watching our pudding come to the table, and were trying to be inconspicuous as the watched and listened to us rhapsodize over the first few bites. But I noticed that several of them also ordered the pudding! This is a wonderful little place, where even complete strangers feel like locals. The kind of place where people talk to each other from table to table. The kind of place I wish we had around the corner from our home here in the US.

We ate hear on one of the nights we stayed at the Mulberry Inn about 20 minutes walk away. We had had a good day on the hills around the area and had earned a hearty meal. This pub did not disappoint. The food is good honest pub grub. With well cooked very generous portions and a varied menu. The atmosphere was busy and the staff were very friendly despite being very busy. For a starter we shared the daily special main which was a collection of battered King Prawn, scampi, squid rings etc on a bed of courgette. It sounded more exciting on blackboard but was perfectly fine. For mains my wife had fish and chips with mushy peas which she said was very good. Made with good quality fish that was well cooked. I had a Steak and Kidney pie with chips and peas which should have fed 2 and could feed 4 at a push but I ate the lot myself. : After that neither of us had room for pudding. We had a nice bottle of NZ Sauvignon Blancthat was very reasonably priced.

We booked a table for the New Year’s Eve dinners, we were served Fantastic food and drinks, very very tasty and presented lovely. The restaurant was busy and has a good atmosphere. I would recommend to anyone in the area. The bar has an open fire and a snug, which was warm and cosy.

Great meal and lovely evening at the Swan. Nice beer, friendly staff and a really excellent meal. Couldn't want for more.

Visited with another family for Sunday lunch we were staying at a campsite up the valley. This is a “proper” British pub lovely old building, welcoming atmosphere, decent ales, and hearty, well cooked food. With three 13 year olds in tow, we asked whether the kids portions would be suitable they definitely were. Will be coming back.