White Swan at Fence

 Gastropub as it should be

John Dory, dashi, maitake

One of my favorite thing to do when traveling across the UK is without a doubt stopping by at a local high-quality gastropub. From my recent visit to Manchester, I made a special trip to head north a little bit more for a dinner at White Swan at Fence, which is not far from Burnley. The Michelin-starred gastropub is owned by a local brewer called Timothy Taylor’s brewery so you can bet they offer a great range of classic British beers. The pub also came 35th in the latest National Pub of the Year award by the Restaurant Magazine. For dinner, it offers a fixed short 5-course tasting menu in the manner of modern British cuisine, with an optional cheese course on top which is sourced mostly from the UK.

Bread and liver tart

Slow-cooked egg, smoked eel, pancetta

Fallow dear, celeriac, blackberries

The fish course of John Dory looked so elegant but the chef went over the top with the seasoning. It was a shame as the fish was cooked to perfection and the crispy maitake mushroom acted almost like chips and it accompanied the fish so well. Fallow dear was an exceptional dish that won't look out of place in a 2 stars restaurant, it had a very tender texture and was finely seasoned. The blackberries and thyme offered a touch of deep fruity and aromatic flavour which worked so well with the dear, as was the salted baked celeriac. It is crazy to see such a high-level dish could come out from a pub.

Cheeseboard

Tarragon ice cream, rhubarb, blood orange

William pear, ginger and apple

I really enjoyed my visit to The White Swan, the lively pub vibe in a rustic, traditional British pub setting is just what I seek when dining at a gastropub. The food was also really great, head chef Tom Parker's cooking modern British cuisine in an elegant way that would be just good, if not better than many fine-dining restaurants out there. The collection of beer and wine was also impressive, White Swan ticks all the boxes for me as a proper high-quality gastropub, I just wish I would have such a neighborhood pub like that near where I live.

Food 4/5


Average cost without drinks and services:
£60

300 Wheatley Ln Rd, Fence, Burnley BB12 9QA

https://www.whiteswanatfence.co.uk/