About Us

Frances & Jim Cunningham welcome you to the Swettenham Arms.

The Swettenham Arms is a delightful 16th Century Inn concealed behind the 13th Century Parish Church in the beautiful Dane Valley of Swettenham. The inn was once a nunnery and was used as a resting place for weary funeral parties. It was the custom for them to stay overnight at the nunnery and the coffin was then taken to the church via an underground tunnel the following day.

Now comprehensively geared to meet the exacting demands of the modern day customer, the award winning inn continues to provide superb home-cooked food, complemented by a range of high quality beers and wines. Proprietor owned and run by a highly skilled and professional team, The Swettenham Arms relies almost exclusively on the freshest of local produce served seven days a week for lunch and dinner, against a backdrop of old timbers and open fires. The banqueting suite is one of the most charming in Cheshire, providing an idyllic setting for a romantic Civil wedding ceremony and reception, beautifully enhanced by a newly created Lavender and Sunflower meadow (in full bloom June/July) also the Arboretum and Nature Reserve - a walker's delight.

The Swettenham Arms consistently delights however often you visit. Proprietors Frances and Jim Cunningham are proud of their reputation for providing outstanding food and high levels of service in this, one of Cheshire's most distinctive and characterful inns.

Individuality is maintained and enhanced by a 'hands on' approach which also ensures little extra touches such as fresh flowers and welcoming open fires on cold days. Although very much meeting the needs of the modern customer, the inn remains true to its character, offering a blend of traditional fare in an informal, friendly and uniquely English pub atmosphere which has lead to us winning the following awards;

Reader recommended for the prestigious "Which? Good food guide 2008" and included in that publication.

The Visit Chester & Cheshire Annual Awards 2007
Winner in the "Innovative Marketing" category.

Platinum Award For Beautiful Beer 2006 & 2007
The Swettenham Arms has just become the first freehouse in the country to gain the Platinum Award for Beautiful Beer from the British Beer & Pub Association.

Receiving Our Platinum Award For Beautiful Beer.

The Publican Awards 2006, 2007, 2008
Shortlisted for the final six outlets within the
Freehouse Of The Year category.
The Publican Awards, launched in 1991, reward excellence in pub retailing
and they represent the best possible endorsement for the industry's achievements.
The Swettenham Arms have been finalists five times.

Visit Chester & Cheshire Awards 2007
WINNER of the "Innovative Marketing Award"

And for the second year running,
we've been shortlisted for the prestigious
"Freehouse of the year" award
and also the "Marketing Pub of the Year"

"Freehouse of the Year" Highly Commended 2006
Run by the Publican Industry Awards - A Nationwide competition out of 16000 Freehouses in the Country.

"Business Person of the Year 2006" Frances Cunningham
For Congleton Chamber of Commerce.

"Voted in the Top 10 of Pubs in the UK for food"
By the Independent Newspaper Jan 2006.

The Morning Advertiser Best Pub Awards 2006
Selected as winner for the Best Pub Website category in the Granada Region.

A.A. "Pick of the Pubs" Guide 2005 - 2008
The Swettenham Arms was not only featured in the overall Top 50 Best Pubs in the country,
but when divided in various categories it appeared in the Top 10 Best Pubs with Good Food in the country.

The Northern Hospitality Awards 2007
One of only four shortlisted in the "Best Pub" category.

The Congleton Borough Business Awards 2007
One of only three shortlisted in the "Business of the Year" category.

Platinum Beautiful Beer Award 2006
Organised by the British Beer and Pub Association for all Cask, Keg, Lager and Bottled Beer
"First Freehouse in the UK to obtain this Award"

CAMRA Summer Pub 2005

Freehouse of the Year finalist 2005 and 1996

Best Dressed Country Pub in Great Britain 2005

Cask Marque Accreditation 2004-2007 (for our real ales)
To improve the quality of cask ale at the point of dispense by awarding a nationally recognized
and respected Marque to the licensee when quality standards have been met.

Good Beer Guide 2004 to 2007

Catering Pub of the Year Finalist 1999

C.A.M.R.A. "Summer Pub (Macclesfield and
East Cheshire. 1998, 2005"

Cheshire Life "Pub Food of the Year 1998"

Owd Abbot Cask Ale Pub of the Year 2008
Shortlisted in the last 18 pubs Nationwide and the only pub in the North West. Winner to be announced shortly...

The Independent Newspaper
The Swettenham Arms has appeared in an article featuring the 50 Best Pubs in the national newspaper,
the Independent's "The Information" magazine on 14th January 2006.'

Frances and Jim Cunningham, Proprietors of The Swettenham Arms, take great pride
in receiving such fantastic accolades for this award winning, characteristic
and historic inn.

We hope you enjoyed your visit to The Swettenham Arms and we look forward to seeing you again soon.

Winter Opening Times:
11.30am - 3pm and 6.30pm -11pm Mon to Saturday. 11.30am - 11pm Sunday

Summer Opening Times:
11.30am - 3pm and 6.30pm -11pm Mon to Friday. 11.30am - 11pm Saturday and Sunday

For more information on The Swettenham Arms please contact us on
Telephone: 01477 571284 or Email: info@swettenhamarms.co.uk