Swan Template

History

The Swan at Marbury is a traditional English farmhouse pub with a history going at least as far back as 1740 (the earliest known licensee) - and probably even earlier.

The farm itself was ideally placed between the market towns of Nantwich and Whitchurch, and sat on the cattle-herding route between them. In the nineteenth century the farm-owners saw an opportunity, and turned a large upstairs room into a dormitory for herders and shepherds, while resting their livestock in the paddock opposite the building. Of course, herding is thirsty work..

Gradually, the farm's hostelry business became more prosperous than it's traditional line of work; from a single tiny bar, downstairs living rooms were converted and opened up. Eventually even the dairy was closed and knocked through to make more space for appreciative imbibers of local ale. The farm was finally closed and its various assets auctioned off in April of 1933 (there are photos of the original auction on the walls in the bar). Since that time, The Swan has continued in the tradition of a farmhouse pub, complete with all the beautifully-wrought old outbuildings.

After her huge popularity in the 1980's and 90's under the auspices of George and Anne Sumner, The Swan was sold and re-sold to various breweries and ‘pub companies’, resulting in ever-increasing leasehold rent prices. A few brave souls came and went - some briefly, some even more so - making their mark or not, as their case might be. Inevitably, after a ten-year period of decline,and having been pushed from pillar to post, The Swan was closed in 2004.

It wasn’t until June 2005 that Rob Adam and his erstwhile business partner took over the few remaining keys to The Swan from the most recent pub company. Having agreed a tenancy contract which would give them space to build an effective business, Rob et al spent six weeks redecorating and re-ordering The Swan.

This was no six-figure revamp. This was about paint (lots of it!), and steam cleaners, and more paint, and industrial-strength jetwashers. Yet more paint. Local heroes cleaning drains and painting windows. Chest freezers full of rotting meat which had to be cleaned out and THEN condemned. Fridges emptied of year-old milk and even older packaged meals, then scrubbed and THEN decommissioned. Hard labour. Pure graft. Deals done and promises honoured.

In short, The Swan at Marbury, as she’s now known, was raised from her sorry demise into the beautiful, grand old lady she always was - on a shoestring complete with charity, favours, and good old English community spirit. Have a look at the photos in the Gallery - but beware, some of them are not for the squeamish!

The Swan at Marbury was reopened on July 19th 2005. May she never close again.