Welcome to The Black Swan … and The French Place. We hope you’ll enjoy it here.
We have been here a long time. The Black Swan has been in my family for nearly two hundred years. First as a coaching inn, then a railway tavern and now as a pub. And a restaurant. It’s a honour and a privilege to be here. How long that continues is anyone’s guess.
People come and go. Some stay a long time. Some stay longer than they intend. Some are here only very briefly. Everyone is welcome.
Yes and some people write things down which is how we know all about The Black Swan. There is a history to be told. But history isn’t straightforward. It’s not always as simple as it seems.
Some people like to tell the truth, some don’t know whether they’re telling you the truth or not. And some just like spinning a yarn.
Whether what follows is history, truth, memory, or something else entirely … is left to the reader to decide.
What follows is not a finished account, but a work in progress; fragments, observations and musings on life, history, a good pint and the perfect meal.
Begin with the latest entry
OR
Begin at the beginning
The choice, dear reader, is yours.
Jack Rhymer
01 April 2026