Swettenham Arms

Established country pub recognised for its food having won several local and national awards. The beer changes regularly with a minimum of 3 real ales on at any time often including beer from the local Wincle Brewery. Nestling peacefully in the Dane valley, this large yet cosy pre-17th century country pub sits in an area rich in history. The building itself was once a nunnery and was an overnight resting point for funeral parties before they took the bodies through a (now blocked) passage to the church. Suitably, there are legends of ghosts. The countryside around was the site of much prehistoric activity. The Swettenham Arms is made even more attractive by the profusion of flowers in summer, and is well-illuminated by night. The pub itself is heavily timbered, with a long single bar and several areas in an open-plan style. There are wooden settles, heavy iron tables, a sofa, piano and a real fire in a large stone, copper-hooded fireplace surrounded by interesting copper and brass contraptions (guesses on a postcard...)! There is a separate restaurant. Plenty of outside seating is available on the front patio (overlooking the enormous car park) and in the garden during sunny weather. The 'Quinta' arboretum, behind the pub, is well worth a visit too. This was once one of Clive Wincle's pubs. He owned the Saxon Cross brewery in Buxton, closed many years ago after a rat infestation! Others pubs he owned at the time were the Plough at Eaton and the Mow Cop.