In the heart of the Wiltshire market town of Devizes, the Black Swan is a 17th Century coaching inn owned by local brewer Wadworth. But it’s Kevin Chandler who owns the kitchen. Having worked with some of the nation’s top chefs, including Rick Stein, he has brought his own passionate brand of cooking to this historic pub and hotel.
Aiming to rustle up “something a little different” he has developed a close relationship with suppliers to deliver the best possible produce to the plate. They include butcher Walter Rose & Son, wholesaler Lovejoys, a hub for fruit and vegetables grown on local farms, and New Wave Seafood, which makes daily deliveries to the door.
Wadworth’s ales are also a special ingredient. Beer battered spring onions with cashew hummus and green tahini are among the tempting nibbles, alongside pulled pig’s head, nduja and lemon mayo.
Mains feature dry-aged steaks with triple-cooked chips, portobello mushroom and slow-cooked tomato, and curry roast cod with sag aloo, braised fennel and apricot puree. But make sure you leave room for the banoffee pavlova or a Lacock Dairy ice-cream sundae.
