The Swan Inn Midhurst (W.Sussex)

“We love tradition & all things old. Our vision behind The Swan was to bring the past up to date. Bringing at [sic] 15th century coaching inn in to the 21st century.” Nice sentiments, but when many of us think about bringing ‘the past up to date’ we don’t expect that to include supplicating yourself to the shooting industry and the archaic and out of date ‘hobby’ it supports. Disappointing then to see a whole section of the Swan’s website given over to ‘Shooting’ which says “If you are visiting the area to shoot, we are perfectly equipped to look after you. If you’d like us to tailor a weekend especially for you, please get in touch, we’d be happy to help.” Such a jarring phrase – “if you are visiting the area to shoot’. Impossible to imagine any other destructive noisy activity that involves weaponry and taking life being pitched for in the same way. As the supporter who mailed us wryly put it: ” ‘All our rooms come completed with a 3 gun cabinet, dogs are welcome & gun cleaning is also offered.’ Wow, most hotels have a kettle in the room or an overpriced minibar but this gaff has gun cabinets! Indeed…