The Swan Hotel

Quaint but not particularly comfortable

Exterior smells of the brewery and food smells from kitchen extractors seem to pervade the area.

Staff very polite and helpful. Decent choices on the menus in the Tap Room and the main restaurant, Across all area the staff were very helpful and polite - Central location with its own car park. Clean rooms. Nice relaxed stay.

the garden room; ideal for me and my dog.

the lights were not bright enough Staff could benefit from "Deaf Aware" courses

Room, breakfast

.

Loved everything

Everything just perfect

Nothing at all

The starr were brilliant as was the cleanliness. The water supply and plumbing were really fist class.

The furnishings were directed more towards style than comfort for instance the bedside table was stylish but had no storage. The table has a top but no under shelf. The food choice was limited and whilst the main ingredient (fish, meat etc.) was good, there was not much of it and, in my opinion, the veg choice was poor and limited. Just not what I expected for such a highly rated and expensive hotel

Location

Noise from the brewery and people passing by

We all enjoyed the surroundings and comfort of the hotel. The staff were fantastic us as my mum was in a wheelchair. The dinner on Saturday night was delicious and the chef even went against the rule for duck and cooked my mum's well done as she doesn't like pink. The breakfast was delicious the only thing I would say is all the bananas were over ripe and needed throwing away or used up in a cake:)

Ideal location, short walk to beach and pier. Right in centre of shops.

The Restaurant could be very noisy at times.

Staff, hotel decor, location

Dirty headboard and lumpy, sagging mattress.

Very central location with comfortable rooms and good food.

We love Southwold and also staying at the Swan, which we have done many times over the years. The staff are friendly and very helpful. The reception staff and Richard, the Porter made a very good impression. We loved room 47 as we were able to sit outside late into the evening. The staff in the dining room and tap room took good care of us, delivering delicious food.

A little more choice of meals in the Tap Room. However, I fully understand with the current economic climate, that maximising overhead costs is essential to the hospitality industry. We thoroughly enjoyed our meals.

Breakfast was excellent and service very good Location excellent too

The evening meal not to our taste and the burgers we had in the bar the second night were under cooked

The rooms and location

Restaurant is bit small

Location is superb.

Very expensive. Small and very hot room with a view of the fire escape with an ice bucket on it which looked like it had been used as an ash tray. Staff from next door shop sat outside staring up at our window.

Great location. Friendly staff.

The headboard needed replacing as was looking worn.

We had a well appointed and comfortable room. The choices at breakfast were very good and the food was of a high standard. The staff were very friendly and extremely helpful. Nothing was too much trouble.

There was some imitation pink and mauve wisteria round one of the doors at the front of the hotel and I thought this was not only inappropriate, but also lowered the tone.

👍

The Swan is is a quirky old building with lots of fascinating staircases, landings and corridors. Ideal location in the centre of Southwold very close to the sea and shops. It was worth paying a premium to have a larger room with comfortable seating area. Excellent bathroom with very good shower. and bath. Pleasant stay.

Bed was a bit soft for me but that's just my back. Breakfast was a lot less lavish than expected - hotels that cost a third of the price have more choice, especially for the buffet, which was tiny. Bedroom needs proper blackout blinds as the street outside is very bright all night.

Location was amazing for beach and town centre. Breakfast -staff were very accommodating and breakfast good. Room lovely.

Needs brighter light where u can do hair and make up. Bathroom light good for everything else but needed better for make up.

Welcoming,well organised and excellent staff.

Very good breakfast, 2nd day not as good as the first in terms of presentation and no hash browns ( or notice of the lack therof) but still great!

Great breakfast and room was wonderful and especially the roll top bath. Staff all very friendly and always ready to help.

Nothing

All good

The location. The friendly staff

Funny smell in the room

The hotel was really well decorated, cosy and welcoming. Our room was lovely and spacious with great facilities and a gorgeous claw footed bath. The staff were really friendly and did all they could to ensure you had a fabulous stay. The hotel is in a great position right near the beach and town centre.

Beautfully done up. Really friendly staff. Great location.

Tap room a bit dark and tucked away. Not really making use of the terrace. Slow service in tap room.

It’s lovely, clean, fab interiors. Lovely touch leaving a goodie bag for my child. Made his stay very comfortable

There was an event on the same evening that closed off some of the bar area

Location

The bed wasn’t made on the second day

Excellent breakfasts. Central location. Spacious room.

The seagulls

A beautiful hotel, rooms were carefully thought out. Staff were exceptional, food was amazing

Breakfast and dinner were beautifully cooked. Staff were attentive and provided great service Bed was so comfortable! Liked the "free Adnams gin" bottle in the room. Nice touch!

Our car was hit and damaged in the car park, which spoiled our stay. No note or message left at reception by the perpetrators. By the damage caused, they would have known that another car was hit! No CCTV to find any evidence, so no doubt a hefty excess and increased insurance cost will be heading our way! Getting in and out of the bath was a little challenging, as the side panel was high and probably needed grab rails to improve safety.

The staff on an arrival were lovely and helpful without being obsequious.

If I was to picky and given that you asked the question, the taps in the bathroom were over fiddly and counterintuitive.

The location was great.

There was not anything that we didn’t like.

The room was large and well appointed with comfortable chairs to relax in. The bed was large and comfortable. There was a nice view over the roof tops to the sea. The hotel was very well situated in the middle of the town. The breakfast was excellent with plenty of choice and freshly cooked food. Dinner was also very good.

It was difficult to step into the bath to shower as the sides were very high and there were no handles to hold onto.

Breakfast was excellent with lots of selection on cooked or continental. Very nice room and ensuite, with lots of high quality toiletries. Free gin :-) . Nice range of cocktails in the bar and staff go the extra mile if you have an offf menu request. Staff are EXCELLENT!! - Beach very nearby, clean with lifeguards. Very pleasant.

Not the biggest room but well furnished. Cupboard doors on unit housing fridge did not close due to fidge being to big.(doors should probably be removed from unit). No aircon in our room. Faint noise from an aircon unit outside when windowwas open due to summer 2026 extreme weather conditions.

The friendliness of the staff and the professionalism the breakfast was delicious. The location is excellent also.

The shower was sometimes a bit temperamental.

Great location in centre of Southwold and nice decor

Food was extremely disappointing especially breakfast. Overpriced at £300 a night for what’s essentially a pub

Fabulous hotel, great location and lovely staff

Well equipped room and lovely breakfast

All good!

A gym would be much appreciated and a pool, but I realize space is limited.

Friendly, knowledgeable staff who were happy to go the extra mile. Really comfortable bed and delightful room overlooking the main square. Outstanding food and the best, plumpest kippers for breakfast that we have ever eaten. The Southwold Lighthouse tour was interesting and worth climbing 113 steps. The Gin Distillery tour and tasting was fun and informative. Thank you Ron.

A straight back chair in the bedroom was requested for ease of laptop working. Promptly delivered. Thank you.

Dinner excellent as was breakfast

Room very warm with only a small fan. Got second on request but not enough. Bathroom sink plug did not work so filling the sink difficult.

Property was clean, welcoming & friendly

N/A

Excellent

Nothing

Friendly staff with nice relaxed atmosphere.

A lovely Hotel close to everything

Great breakfast. Staff so helpful. Nothing too much trouble

Nothing

An excellent breakfast. Very friendly staff, couldn’t have asked for more.

There was nothing I didn’t like but initially I thought it was booked for two but I traveled alone so I thought there might have been a reduction as there as only one breakfast each day.

restaurant dinners were excellent, service was warm and efficient. Rooms were very comfortable and stylish and location is just excellent.

It is pricey. But not too pricey.

The location and the ambiance. The staff were attentive too and quick to fix an issue with the one of the taps in the shower.

Room was lovely

Nothing

Beautifully appointed, spacious rooms and such lovely staff throughout. Cooked breakfast was great especially with the continental options too. Check in process very smooth too.

We ate in the restaurant for lunch and service was quite slow and the food wasn’t great. Felt very at odds with the rest of our stay Absolutely not the fault of the hotel but the seagulls scream all night long, every night, into and through the early hours of the morning! Be warned!

Bathroom smelliest, lovely Beer.very good food.

A nasty stain on the bed headboard needs to be removed. Barman needs to smile much more, always seemed to be under pressure.

We have been several times, it’s such a great location and the staff are wonderful.

The amazingly comfortable bedroom and luxurious bath with incredible water pressure.

The cocktail bar could have been so much better

The staff were outstanding, from reception, housekeeping, restaurant

The seagulls and pigeons

Location is great. Staff are excellent

Dinner was good. limited vegan option. Quite expensive. Breakfast was good except they had “run out” of vegan sausages

The double bed had two separate single mattresses with different depths. This gave an uncomfortable nights sleep. Reception staff didn’t really seem to care.

Clean and comfortable

Over priced drinks

Great staff in all areas

Seagulls

Everything ! The location, our room , the hotel was stunning, staff amazing ! The breakfast was lovely and staff very friendly and attentive.

Could not fault it. !

The position of the hotel is great. The new chairs and tables in the courtyard really brings a Luxurious feel to the outside area. The staff are so friendly and helpful.

2 tiny issues, the headboard needed a good clean or replacing and the mattress was a bit lumpy.

The position of the hotel and the staff are exceptional. We have stayed multiple times and have never had an issue.

Just 2 small things, the headboard needed a good clean and our mattress was a little lumpy.

The hotel is located close to the beach and central to the shops and restaurants in the area. The hotel is beautifully decorated with very friendly and attentive staff. We stayed in the garden room with our dog and we were really pleased with the extras that were put in place for her stay as well as ours.

There are no negatives to this hotel in my opinion.

Location- easy access to key points in Southwold.

Lovely hotel in the centre of Southwold. We stayed in a garden room with a patio. Excellent staff, very comfortable and great location.

Maybe some nuts and seeds with the breakfast, but otherwise nothing. The cooked breakfast was really good.

Breakfast was excellent. A great choice, something for everyone.

In our bathroom I felt there should have been a shelf on the wall for personal toiletries as there wasn’t anywhere suitable to put our own toiletries before and after use. Our room was absolutely fine and the facilities of the kettle and tea/coffee options were most welcome especially first thing in the morning.

Great location, beautiful boutique hotel

No issues with the property, slightly disappointed to be told the bar restaurant closed at 8.30 - we therefore arrived at 8 to be told they had stopped serving food!

Great service and lovely rooms

Nothing!

Excellent

Hot room

Garden room was great

Nothing

comfortable beds, friendly staff, good location, very good breakfasts.

Overhead lighting in the room was poor - very dim.

We had a lovely garden room which was very clean and comfortable with lovely soft pillows

Quality hotel great location staff couldn’t be more helpful

Nice location

Had the image of a Bentley but with the running gear of a Morris Minor. Food was terribly cooked and even an English Breakfast was oily, sausages tough, bacon obviously warmed up as under the oil you could snap it. Not just my views but of the many others we overheard.

The general ambiance, decor and vibe

too hot in the bedroom - ac would be amazing and give this hotel full marks. Seagulls crapping on the car - its an issue that the hotel cant control, they provided a bucket of water and sponge though :)

Excellent in particular the porridge was so good and very creamy

Room was very warm but this was to be expected in the heat wave

Quality of dinner and breakfast was excellent. Easy car parking. Location perfect. Staff very friendly and excellent.

No comments that are negative.

would have prefered room in main building

The Swan is a lovely and historic hotel in an excellent location, in the middle of town, not far from the beach. The staff are very friendly and the rooms are generally comfortable, with a comfortable bed, a walk-in wardrobe and a dresser/cupboard that hides a fridge, a TV, tea-making facilities etc. There was a small free bottle of gin to drink or take home. The bathroom was very clean, if a bit small. The water pressure was fantastic. Some features of the 'old' Swan Hotel have been kept and are recognisable by those guests who like us have been coming for years - which is lovely. The bar is very inviting and an easy and quiet place to eat. The lounge is very inviting with colourful decor and a good place to have afternoon tea.

The restaurant is very noisy, especially when larger groups are dining. There is one complaint about our bedroom: no bedside-table on one side of the bed. Instead, there was a tall chest-of drawers of polished wood which was not at all suitable for putting things on which you may need in the night, for example, a glass of water. A member of staff told me that the chest of drawers hides an electric socket in the wall - which you need for charging your mobile phone during the night. I didn't find it because it was behind this heavy piece of furniture. This set-up is irritating and not very guest-friendly!

Lovely and old but decorated so beautifully!

Bless! The seagulls. That’s all and part of the character I guess

Stunning hotel . Loved everything about it . Food staff and location..

Loved it all .

Food - excellent

Great location ! Lovely beds and it is our favourite place to stay when we visit Southworlds. Nice breakfast.

Depending on who’s on reception!?? I’ve been put off going when people on the desk are rude and very unfriendly! It’s an expensive hotel you should always be welcomed with a smile even if you have got a last minute cheeper deal ! It doesn’t mean you’re any less important !? The tables are very close to each other in some parts at breakfast it’s like having breakfast with strangers joining you at some tables . But other than that it’s a beautiful hotel

Stayed here many times, it’s one of our favourites. Every moment there is exceptional. Will be back again in a few months

Rooms could do with air-conditioning. Although fan provided.

Breakfast was great with both hot food and cereals and pastries Dinner was excellent too in main restaurant Staff are very friendly and helpful and couldn't do more or you

Unfortunately hottest few days and no air con. So windows open and lots of noise too. The outside furniture could be a bit more comfortable, as difficulty sitting on benches.

Location - heart of town , nice relaxed vibe with a very good restaurant

Step in shower over bath

The staff were excellent, very friendly charming and went out of their way to be helpful The decor was stylish and elegant, the good and drink were a reasonable price and all very nice

Very little could be improved on, we had a garden room and whilst it was lovely I would have liked to have been given a choice even if on booking. The only disappointment was the walk to recursion the car park and the outside bar area as they felt very public and not very 4 star

Staff were welcoming and accommodating. Rooms were comfortable in spite of the heatwave. Location was fabulous.

Nothing

The location was excellent. We had a garden room and it was enjoyable to look out on to an actual garden. The drinks in the bar were very reasonably priced. Breakfasts were very good with lots of choice. Staff were very friendly

Dinner in the restaurant was disappointing due to poor service.

Everything

We didn't stay for longer

Excellent staff especially the unexpected addition of a butler Excellent breakfast menu Excellent room quality and very nice hotel lounge area

Having to choose a time slot for breakfast at check in Reception staff often on long phone calls

The garden rooms are a good size and you can sit outside

All but one of the garden rooms are a shower inside a bath which is difficult as you get older

Everything

Nothing

We had a garden chalet love room and outside area

Loved everything

This is a fabulous hotel in the heart of Southwold. The dinner in the bar area was very good. Plenty of parking for guests in a private car park

nothing

The location was perfect and great to have car parking at the hotel. Hotel staff were very helpful and friendly.

The room was very spacious and very comfortable. All the staff were friendly. Having free carparking on site was added bonus. Food was excellent.

Not a great view from our bedroom windows.