New head chef appointed at the Swan at Lavenham Hotel and Spa

A new head chef has joined the Swan at Lavenham Hotel and Spa while the 15th century hotel has refreshed its two restaurants ready for summer dining.

Olivier Bertho (pictured above) took up his new position after spending 18 years working with Woburn Enterprises, where he held various posts including executive chef, prior to which he spent two years as head chef at Mallory Court Country House Hotel, Leamington Spa. He moved to England from France in July 1993.

At The Swan the 52-year-old will be working with a large team providing food for a variety of different guests and tastes from afternoon teas to formal dining as well as catering for special events, weddings and corporate meetings.

Guests can choose to dine in either the beamed and vaulted Gallery restaurant or more informal Mess Call 487 restaurant, overlooking the courtyard gardens. Both restaurants have had a facelift plus comfy new chairs; there’s also more space between the tables giving diners greater privacy and ensuring social distancing.

You can order dishes from three menus; the fine dining Gallery menu features more complex dishes such as corn fed chicken supreme with pea and ham croquette, sweet corn purée and edamame beans, while the Mess Call 487 offers simpler, classic food, maybe a grilled sirloin steak and beer battered cod fillet and French fries.

The Menu Cygne has been curated by Olivier to bring his French roots to The Swan and might include moules a la crème or salad niçoise for starters and  pan fried skate wing with capers, lemon, shallots for mains. Oliver also has some innovative ideas for developing the hotel’s afternoon tea offer.

On warmer days you can also enjoy lunch, tea or cocktails in the gardens and hidden courtyard, while the Swan’s Airmen’s Bar is full of Second World War memorabilia from the United States Army Airforce who were stationed nearby.

For a private party book one of the private dining rooms such as the McCallum which features a vast open fireplace and vaulted beamed ceiling. The hotel also has a civil wedding licence.

Both restaurants and the Airmen’s Bar are open to overnight guests, day visitors and local residents but pre-booking is essential either online or by telephone.

For further information and to book a table or hotel stay call 01787 247477 or visit www.theswanatlavenham.co.uk