The White Swan Inn – Pickering, North Yorkshire

The White Swan Inn – Pickering, North Yorkshire

The White Swan Inn
Market Place
Pickering
North Yorkshire
YO18 7AA
UK
Tel: 01751 472288
www.white-swan.co.uk

Situated in the market town of Pickering, this recently re-furbished Inn has had a long and illustrious past. Originally built in 1532 as a four-room cottage, it was soon extended and pressed into service as a coaching inn for the York to Whitby stagecoach. The White Swan Inn has been open for business as a rest house more or less since the 16th century.
 

Upon first appearances the hotel itself is unassuming. However, after driving under the archway to the rear car park, one is struck by the full force of the hotel’s quintessential English charm. Still visible today at the side of the old stone building are the joist stones that once supported an aerial walkway. It went from what is now bedroom 2 across the alley and into the small entrance next-door, also still visible. According to the legend, when the Excise man came looking for salt and was busy searching the cellars, the smugglers used this route to transfer the salt next door.

The hotel has been family run for over two decades, which is reflected in both service and attention to detail- attributes which are increasingly defunct in the world of chain-led holiday accommodation.

We were personally taken to our room and later shown around the premises, which made for an altogether more pleasant welcome after a long stint up the M1. The old coaching stable houses the hotel’s most contemporary rooms, which with their white-wash walls and heated stone floors, provide all the mod-cons you’d expect from a hotel of this calibre. However, if it’s authenticity that you’re after, go for the rooms located in the main building as they still retain the original features of a cottage built during the reign of King Henry VIII.

Breakfast is a traditional affair and wouldn’t be so without a Yorkshire full. In any case, it prepares you well for a day’s exploring of postcard-perfect Pickering. For the more adventurous, the hotel can arrange a vast gamut of activities which range from Llama trekking to Quad biking to hunting. Culture vultures will be suitably gratified by a visit to Pickering Castle- an 11th century earthwork motte and bailey fortress, founded by William the Conqueror.

The White Swan’s restaurant is a destination eatery in itself and achieves what most Gastro pubs only do in press releases. Ingredients are sourced from local suppliers whilst head chef, Clemmit hand picks over 80% of ingredients which hail from sunny Yorkshire. Practically everything that can be home made, is. And this includes bread, ice-cream, chutneys, conserves and, um, ketchup. Tuck into hearty dishes such as chargrilled rib eye of Longhorn beef, proper home cut chips, ‘Pickering’ watercress salad & béarnaise sauce (£19.50) or Ssow roasted Tamworth belly pork, red cabbage, mustard mash & Bramley apple sauce (£15.95)

Oenophiles and beer-enthusiasts get a look in too. The present owners purchased the property for, amongst other motives, the property’s wine cellar. The White Swan Inn has become known for its specially imported house wines and for its fine wine list which dates from 1963 The White Swan Inn also attracts a devoted following for its real ales and speciality beers.

Katherine Culliney