The Dorbers and team welcome you to The Swan At Stratford St. Mary

A warm welcome to the Swan At Stratford St. Mary
With a history stretching back to the 16th century, The Swan is a truly authentic village pub with restaurant in the heart of Constable Country by the leafy banks of the river Stour.

The Swan is a timbered riverside sanctuary in the Dedham Vale. Imagine an iconic old inn, replete with open fires, inviting spaces to either side, under low ceilings and wrapped cosily by walls that have heard plenty over the centuries. This scene is set against a backdrop of verdant rolling landscape a mile or so upstream from Dedham in the warmth and history of Stratford St. Mary village.

Set foot in our passionately-run freehouse pub-restaurant and on offer is heart-felt food from local, seasonal produce, fascinating craft beers and cask ales, as well as top class wines. This combination - all just a two-minute drive from the A12 in either direction, readily situated between Colchester and Ipswich - is presented with great thought, and with passion in abundance behind the highlights on your plate and in the glass. For the option of both brimming with goodness, or for just a drink or to eat, what destination could possibly be better for a few hours’ simple indulgence…?

Award-winning publicans, Mark and Sophie Dorber, are the Swan’s owners. They also boast the acclaimed Anchor pub at Walberswick not far up the Suffolk coast, ranked in the authoritative 2014 UK’s Top 50 Gastro Pubs list at No.36

The Swan is in the hands of Mark’s sister, Jane Dorber..  While Jane and Simon are front of house, in the kitchen our chefs work their magic, and together they welcome you to what is a refreshing pit-stop for any journey, not just an inviting retreat for locals, but happy to welcome those travelling from further afield.

Please do take time to escape to the Swan, our stylish little bolthole offering some of the lovelier things in life. To borrow further from some who have already visited: “a peaceful relaxed oasis”, “refreshingly different and special”, “charming and impassioned but unpretentious to boot”...

On behalf of Sophie and Mark, we look forward to meeting you
Jane, Simon and the team.