The White Swan Hotel

Stunning location—but a truly disappointing dinner. We were drawn in by a friend’s recommendation to try their signature “steak on stone,” the only steak option on their menu. So we ordered four of them, expecting that sizzling presentation—only to receive our steaks on plain plates. When we questioned it, staff offered to move the meat onto hot stones... but it was already cooked perfectly. This transfer would have compromised the texture, which thankfully never happened—but the steaks turned out over-seasoned and far too salty. What really stung: there was no true acknowledgement of this culinary misstep. Instead of offering a meaningful discount, we were offered a single free drink at the end of the meal— as we were leaving shortly- we refused. When we asked for a price reduction to reflect the experience, the manager refused—and even added that she’d rather not have us as customers again. This was truly our worst dining experience, and we’ll never return. AVOID this place

If I could offer less than 1 star I really would. We were in here for 2 hours. Starter came out swamped in oil with no flavour, we then waited an hour for 4 steaks on the skillet, never asked once how the meal was or if we wanted any drinks. My husband had to go up to the bar 4 times as we had no garlic butter for the steaks, and his skillet wasn’t hot, my husband wasn’t able to eat his meal. Overheard a member of staff stating they finished at 6 however stayed over to help as the manager was cooking the food there was no chef! A table of 6 walked out and a table of 3 had no food! Absolutely disgusting, offered half price on the meal, the manager was on her phone for an hour. Absolutely appalling service will never return here again!

This place is fantastic and we were looked after very well from start to finish. We arrived pretty late and were greeted by Adam who showed us to our rooms and sorted us out with some drinks before we went to bed.||The pub itself was buzzing with a great atmosphere, friendly locals, and really efficient bar staff.||The room was well appointed, spacious, and clean. The shower was fantastic and the towels were fluffy.||This is an old building so expect character - it doesn't have the mod cons you might expect from a new hotel but that is because it is not a new hotel.||The company who owns it takes great pride in looking after the building so when we arrived there was scaffolding in some areas and people working on outside walls. the areas they have finished look fantastic.||In a world where 50 pubs are closing weekly, it's great to see some businesses continuing to invest, growing their estate, and bringing old buildings back to life.||Thanks again.

The White Swan Henley in Arden |If you are thinking of staying in this hotel don’t. It is the worse hotel experience I have had in a long time. First it is an old quirky building thus a lift is not an option, fair enough. It does have many flights of steps to be negotiated. More importantly they do ask you to use a flight of metal steps at the back of the hotel, which in my view, are potentially very dangerous. So if you have any mobility issues don’t even think of booking. The ensuite bathroom in our room was generally adequate but without an adequate towel rail for wet towels and no glasses for tooth brushes etc. Our room was small and did not have a wardrobe in order to hang clothes. In fact the double bed occupied pretty well the whole of the room. You could not open the windows and thus in the morning there was much condensation. The windows were single glazed and the room overlooked the pub courtyard and thus we were kept awake by a great deal of noise including the staff clearing the tables quite late at night.|There are certain basic things one expects from a hotel in this day and age which includes WIFI in the rooms. No such luck. Obviously there was no phone in the room. By the way despite what a previous reviewer said breakfast is not included. |Henley in Arden is a pretty town well worth a visit. It appears the White Swan is the only hotel which is a pity cause its tired lost in the past. The manager gave me the impression she wanted to be elsewhere. It needs a refurb and brought into the 21 century starting with decent WIFI.

We stayed here for a wedding and had a whale of a time. We were looked after by Adam and team from start to finish and they couldn't do enough for us. Our room was spacious, clean and well appointed. The atmosphere in the pub was brilliant. Friendly people working and drinking. Thank you for looking after us so well.

I would so like to recommend this place to you. But it’s just too inconvenient - and a bit odd.|Let’s deal with the oddest thing first. They don’t do breakfast - and that’s absolute fine: there’s a lovely bakery and caff just a few doors down they have an arrangement with. Breakfast is from 8.30. That’s not the odd thing.|The odd thing is that you can’t exit the area from the bedrooms until 9am - well, you can, but it’s down the fire escape. All the doors in the bedroom block slam, so all your fellow residents will be departing down the fire escape, banging the doors as they go: that started at 7am when we were there. So you won’t sleep after that - but you can’t get out till 9. It’s all a bit weird, and you can’t help feeling it’s organised for their benefit, not yours.|It’s beautiful old building in a beautiful little town; the people there are charming: it’s got so much going for it. But the route march to the bedrooms up and down innumerable steps, some rather tired interior decor, and this odd business about leaving makes it impossible.|Sorry.

I had a steak, it came on a stone server and was really very good (a 5). |It came with a tomato, two smallish mushrooms and chips - not the greatest portioning and was pretty much just dumped on the plate.|The peppercorn sauce only turned up when I was halfway through the meal. Apologies were made but with no apparent feeling.

Great location! However... The policy of the hotel group is to not provide soap in the room's en suite bathroom. Neither was there any warning of this before we arrived (at least, none that we spotted). Shower gel is provided in the shower -- unfortunately it is difficult to reach from outside the shower. Especially as the floor of the shower is permanently wet from a bad leak in the shower plumbing, even when it is switched off. The en suite floor is large tiles. Unfortunately, the central tile, which is the one that you mostly stand on, rocks up and down as you move.