When you’re planning to eat out somewhere new, it’s always useful to have a guide to refer to - whether that’s LeicestershireLive reviews (!) or long-established publications such as the Michelin Guide and the AA Pub Guide.

The 2019 edition of the latter was recently released, and among the Leicestershire entrants were three ‘pick of the pubs’ - deemed to be the best pubs in the county.

One of these was The White Swan at Shawell, which we decided to visit - lured by its steak and lobster night, where diners can enjoy two courses for £15 or three courses for £20.

It sounds like a bargain - but is it?

Venue

The White Swan at Shawell
The White Swan at Shawell

 

In the charming village of Shawell near Lutterworth, The White Swan is an attractive country pub and restaurant.

The bar is at the front and there’s a few cosy seating areas, then at the rear you’ll find a lovely bright and modern dining room - which is where we were seated.

The room is complete with huge skylight and some well chosen pieces of 'Urban Graffiti' artwork by Paul James hung on the walls.

Inside The White Swan
Inside The White Swan

Food

The White Swan offers a fine dining experience, with menus that change with the seasons.

The current a la carte menu features the likes of trio of lambm smoked ricotta, courgette flower and tomato gazpacho (£28) and seared halibut, potato terrine, hispi cabbage and potted shrimp mousse (£29).

Keen to sample the fine dining experience but for a lower cost, we were there to try the steak and lobster night (available Monday 6pm-9pm.)

The price is just £15 for two courses and £20 for three courses - the compromise being that there’s only one dish available for each course.

However, having checked out the menu online, we were more than happy with the line-up of scallop and lobster boudin, flat iron steak and apple tarte tatin.

Having informed the welcoming and efficient waiter that we would be going for the three course option, we chatted over our half pints of locally-brewed Summer Light pale ale, awaiting our starter.

The tiger prawn escabeche
The tiger prawn escabeche

However, we were surprised by the arrival of an amuse bouche - something I wasn't expecting as part of a set menu deal.

It was a delicious tiger prawn escabeche with avocado, capers and cucumber. Thanks to this and the still-warm, freshly made olive bread and homemade sundried tomato butter we were also provided with, we were wowed before we'd even got to the items on the menu.

The scallop and lobster boudin
The scallop and lobster boudin

The scallop and lobster boudin was a stunning starter, packed full of flavour and complemented by the creamed fennel underneath and shellfish reduction. Presentation was superb and the attention to detail was exemplified by a peeled cherry tomato covered in chives.

For the main course, we had four thick slices of Aubrey Allen flat iron steak.

The flat iron steak
The flat iron steak

It looked superb, and - cooked medium - it tasted likewise. Though the quality steak was good enough to stand alone, the chimichurri dressing (with parsley and garlic being the overriding flavours) lifts the dish to another level.

The accompanying triple cooked dripping chips were spot on - wonderfully crisp on the outside and lovely and fluffy in the middle. In fact, they are among the best chips I've had.

The tarte tatin
The tarte tatin

For dessert, I'd normally go for something decadent and chocolatey. However, the apple tarte tatin, served with vanilla ice cream, proved to be an excellent end to the meal, with lovely buttery pastry and sticky, caramelised apples.

We thought the tarte tatin was the end of the meal - but there was more to follow! We were treated to a petit four of peanut parfait, which was creamy, nutty and delicious.

The peanut parfait
The peanut parfait

Verdict

Wow - what a find. I really can’t fault The White Swan as we enjoyed everything about our visit - the excellent food, beautiful presentation, superb service and lovely surroundings.

This is a place that really pays attention to every little detail and has really earned its place as one of the best pubs in Leicestershire.

The steak and lobster night gives guests the ideal opportunity to sample a wonderful dining experience for a bargain price.

This is one place to which I’ll definitely be returning. 

Food hygiene rating:  5/5

Our rating: 5/5