To get the best out of this site you need Javascript enabled. If you cannot enable Javascript, please use the menu at the page bottom to navigate around the site.
Stratford St Mary Swan
Stratford St Mary Swan
North West, 51.96861,0.97278
Cask Ale is sold here.
Lower St, CO7 6JR
grid reference TM 043 341
bar / diner, opened 1520
An attractive and lively pub in the village centre. A large modern extension to the rear of the historic lounge area is used for both drinking & dining. A new kitchen opened in summer of 2024. The former kitchen is now converted into a games room with bar billiards and darts. Some produce including many hops & botanicals are being grown on site. Plans to open brewery and distillery in late 2024/early 2025 in a new area behind a glass wall at far end of new main bar. Four cask beers are offered, as well as a good range of bottled Belgian beers and craft ales.
On the other side of the road is a Victorian pumping station close to the remains of a lock on the River Stour, which is the county boundary and was once navigable from Manningtree (in Essex) to Sudbury.
The pub has been owned since late 2012 by Sophie and Mark Dorber. The Dorbers also own and run the Walberswick Anchor.
Facilities
Beer garden or other outside drinking area
Bus stop nearby (see transport links for details)
Evening meals
Family friendly
Lunchtime meals (not just snacks): Sunday Roasts
Parking
Real fire
Separate bar
Traditional pub games available: cribbage, dominoes, bar billiards, darts
WiFi available
Gallery
Nearest railway station
Other nearby Suffolk pubs
Historical interest
The pub is shown on this old OS map from about 1902 (interactive map)
Owner/operator: Pubmaster
Dating from c 1520 but now only a third of its original size due to a fire. It does, however, retain many original features. At one time the inn provided stabling for 200 horses. Guests included King George II and less salubrious visitors in the form of highwaymen. Today there is a collection of animals in the rear paddock, while indoor pass-times include bar skittles and Ring the Bull. No food Sun. eve.
Beers: Greene King IPA; Ind Coope Burton Ale; Tolly OriginalCAMRA's 1997 Suffolk Real Ale Guide
Part of a former coaching inn and posting house.
[...] at the height of the coaching boom it had stabling for two hundred horses…
Landlords
(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)
(some old PO directory information courtesy of londonpublichouse.com)
(** information from Stuart Ansell)
(*** historic newspaper information from Bob Mitchell)
(**** information from David Pooley)
