Friday, December 30, 2022

A swan’s flight of fancy

Nigel Evans MP reviews The Swan with Two Necks at Pendleton in Lancashire

 

An old working farmhouse dating from 1772 that doubles up as the local tap for hardworking farming families and Clitheroe dwellers, has become, 240 years later, the Camra ‘best pub of Britain’.

 

Little could the enterprising farmer struggling to get to grips with maintaining his herd of cows and taking in events in our troublesome colony across the pond know that thousands of thirsty regulars visit this most iconic of pubs to quench their thirst on one of five cask conditioned beers and a choice of three ciders on tap, along with a couple of ice cold lagers. I should also mention the choice of  29 malts along with 3 blended ones in one of the largest choices I’ve seen in any country pub south of the border.

 

Steve and Christine Dilworth with their latest Camra award
Steve and Christine Dilworth with their latest Camra award
The Swan with Two Necks won the Camra National Pub of the Year 2013 recently
The Swan with Two Necks won the Camra National Pub of the Year 2013 recently
A selection of the beers on offer
A selection of the beers on offer

Steve and Christine Dilworth, the landlord and landlady, are in their 27th year running this treasured freehouse. Steve has been in the business all his life and such is his commitment to real ale he actually talks to the beers in his cellar.

 

It’s a relatively small but cosy local employing 15 people and sourcing its food locally. Steve heads his son Michael and young Luke in the kitchen preparing home made pies and other local favourites. A chalked board lists an impressive display of daily specials and the prices are extremely reasonable.

 

Another chalked board explains the tastes of the beers on offer. Steve maintains one constant named Copper Dragon (3.9%) but changes the others regularly offering milds and darks amongst the bitters. A bat with three small glasses ensures the opportunity to taste the beers without having to sign up to a full pint.

 

The pub was refurbished four years ago and one of their oldest regulars, Billy, cut the red ribbon to reopen it. As a mark of respect following his passing, Uncle Billy’s glass is displayed in a glass case on the wall along with two miniatures of his favourite whiskey.

 

After the reopening the pub soon started to pick up Camra awards with its latest being the most prestigious in the Camra armoury.

 

Steve and Christine support many local charities and use the pub to raise much needs funds for the likes of the mountain rescue team and local cancer charities amongst others. They even have a charismatic vicar, Roland Nicholson, conducting the locals in Christmas carols each year with free mince pies for all. This is a local that likes to support good causes.

 

The pub also has regular brewery visits, outings to other pubs and visits to the many local beer festivals including the great beer festival based in Olympia.

 

Rosie, a 10 year old cat, is the real master of the house as she roams her territory eyeing the nearest warm space, normally one of two real coal fires. The pub also has an extensive beer garden with views over historic Pendle Hill, most famous for its connections with the Pendle witches.

 

Since winning the coveted national award trade has increased markedly and the Swan with Two Necks have advertised for more staffwhich is encouraging at a time when 26 pubs close in the UK every week.

 

Whilst visiting the area, you could also enjoy a walk around the picturesque village of Pendleton or sit outside listening to the brook flowing along its way. The Swan with Two Necks is situated conveniently off the A59 not far from Clitheroe. Book if you want to savour the local fayre, but if you just want to sample the beers then there isn’t a problem. Never has beer been better kept or better spoken to.

 

Food: ££. Beer: £3.00 a pint with a 20p reduction for Camra members.

 

The Swan with Two Necks, Main Street, Pendleton, Lancashire, BB7 1PT. Telephone: +44 (0) 1200 423112.

 

Nigel Evans MP is the president of the beer group at Westminster and the Member of Parliament for Ribble Valley.

 

 

Subscribe to our free once daily email newsletter here:

     

    The Steeple Times
    The Steeple Times
    We research and background check our articles. If you believe we have made and error in some detail please get in touch, we seek always to write the truth and stand against a press owned by a self selected few. Please help us, we will accept all your likes, subscriptions and anonymous suport. The Editor and his team at the Steeple Times.

    1 COMMENT

    LEAVE A REPLY

    Please enter your comment!
    Please enter your name here

    £1 per week Supports The Steeple Times

    Help journalism to remain honest & independent. You can make a difference to the world today.

    3,091FansLike
    2,068FollowersFollow
    14,731FollowersFollow
    4,962SubscribersSubscribe

    Subscribe For DAILY NEWS

    Please subscribe, like and share this unique site, it helps us tremendously. The Steeple Times in return will send you an email at noon each and everyday, that we sincerely hope you will enjoy & look forward to seeing in your inbox.

    AD
    Advertisement

    Trending Now

    Shock Horror (Not)! MPs Engaged in “Sex & Heavy Drinking” On Trips Abroad

    That that ‘The Guardian’ is shocked by news that MPs – mostly Tories, it seems – “engaged in ‘sex and heavy drinking’ on trips abroad” is actually beyond bloody laughable.

    Crypto Crook’s Big Short – Will Sam Bankman-Fried Story Be Turned Into Blockbuster?

    Crypto crook Sam Bankman-Fried astonishingly gets to hang out with the author of ‘The Big Short’ in spite of being on £207 million bail and now has not only Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyer onside but also Prince Andrew’s judge to face also.

    Five Unlikely Things Famous Footballers Did Next…

    David Lennox shares the little-known stories of what five famous footballers did next after retiring their pitch time prowess – amongst them everything from novel writing to forensic detective work.

    Most Popular Articles

    Justice for James Scurlock

    Power of social media proven after senseless killing of James Scurlock in Omaha, Nebraska allegedly by a controversial bar owner named Jake Gardner who has been photographed with Donald Trump.

    Moron of the Moment – Prince Harry

    With his marriage to the woman formerly known as Meghan Markle, Prince Harry has morphed into an utter bore   Prince Harry used to be a...

    Scobie Orf!

    ‘MeGain’s’ bestie Omid Scobie deservedly gets slammed by ‘Yankee Wally’ Sadie Quinlan for getting her shut down on Twitter; this childish chap should now just ‘belt up, wrap up and shut up.’

    A Massive Media Maelstrom – McCann, Mandelson and Maxwell

    Matthew Steeples highlights how the ‘Mandelson Media Method’ is very much in play in both the case of the Prince Andrew-Jeffrey Epstein connection and the renewed interest in the Madeleine McCann disappearance.

    The Phil & Matt Show

    Phillip Schofield filmed smoking shisha with his alleged ex-lover Matt McGreevy (and pictured in bed thereafter); another image shows the pair together in photograph...

    Plane Perverted

    EXCLUSIVE – Previously unnamed 9-year-old child pictured on the lap of Jeffrey Epstein on his plane in ‘Daily Mail’ suggested to be daughter of billionaire Glenn Dubin.

    Moron of the Moment 2021 – Richard Madeley

    As the new Diana, Princess of Wales statue is mocked as looking like him, ‘Dorian Gray of Daytime Telly’ Richard Madeley pathetically claims he got PTSD due to worrying about his son’s wedding.

    Most Liked...

    Ampika Pickston

    Ampika Pickston
    Oldham born divorcee and former glamour model Ampika Pickston describes herself as “feisty, fun loving and warm hearted”. Now based in Hale Barns, Cheshire...

    Picture of the Week: The Wallies of Whalley

    Picture of the Week: A field at Whalley Arches, Lancashire before and after flooding
    Image of flooded Lancashire field complete with sign advertising it as a development site for 39 homes illustrates the perils of building on flood...

    Was Mucky Minx Meghan Markle A ‘Yacht Girl’ For ‘Randy Andy’?

    Was Meghan Markle A ‘Yacht Girl’ For ‘Randy Andy’?
    As author Kirby Sommers suggests that the then Meghan Markle likely spent time with Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein before she met Prince Harry, we again highlight the mucky, murkiness and mendacious manner of this alleged “yacht girl.”

    Unprecedentedly THAT – Scrag-End Omid Scobie’s Christmas Twitter Missive Stinkers

    Unprecedentedly THAT – Scrag-End Omid Scobie’s Christmas Twitter Missive Stinkers
    In using Twitter to share rabid rants about everything from Ribena to the royals, Omid Scobie simply shows himself as unprecedently awful.

    MeGain’s Mouthpiece’s Moronic Meltdown – Soppy Omid Scobie v Joyous Jeremy...

    MeGain’s Mouthpiece Has Meltdown Jeremy Clarkson Meghan Markle Omid Scobie
    Matthew Steeples salutes Jeremy Clarkson for expressing honest thoughts about the deviant Duchess of Sussex (and especially for causing the soppy snowflake that is ‘MeGain’s mouthpiece Omid Scobie to have a meltdown as a result).