Harden's survey result
Summary
This “terrific outpost of José Pizarro’s empire” – his first outside central London and his first gastropub – brings “a little bit of Spain to Surrey”, with “wonderful tapas, attentive but unobtrusive staff and a relaxed ambience”. The Spanish chef bought the pub, near Esher Common, three years ago from Claude Bosi of Bibendum.
Summary
“Esher needed a really good restaurant and this is it!” – star Spanish chef José Pizarro took over this “very smart pub” near Esher Common in March 2019, purchasing it from Bibendum’s Claude Bosi, and replaced its menu of pub classics with “wonderful, new Spanish tapas fare”, plus some Hispanified British dishes. For parties of 8 or more, you can order a ‘feast’ of suckling pig or turbot.
Summary
“Esher needed a really good restaurant and this is it!” – star Spanish chef José Pizarro took over this “very smart pub” near Esher Common in March 2019, purchasing it from Bibendum’s Claude Bosi, and replaced its menu of pub classics with “wonderful, new Spanish tapas fare”, plus some Hispanified British dishes. For parties of 8 or more, you can order a ‘feast’ of suckling pig or turbot.
Summary
Owned by Claude Bosi, this old inn (with rooms) near Esher Common serves a menu bearing little resemblance to Bosi’s creations at Bibendum, but its selection of ‘classic pub and comfort food favourites’ is “always first rate”; “smart” interior too.
For 31 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at José Pizarro at The Swan Inn Esher?
Restaurant details
José Pizarro at The Swan Inn Esher Restaurant Diner Reviews

"The food seems to get better every time we visit. Not cheap but worth it. Nice reasonably priced wine list with some interesting Spanish wines to try."
Prices
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Wine per bottle | £24.00 |
Filter Coffee | £2.50 |
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Service | 12.50% |
2 Hare Lane, Esher, KT10 9BS
Opening hours
Monday | 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
Tuesday | 7:30 am‑3:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
Wednesday | 7:30 am‑3:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
Thursday | 7:30 am‑3:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑10 pm |
Friday | 7:30 am‑10:30 am, 12 pm‑10 pm |
Saturday | 7:30 am‑10:30 am, 12 pm‑10 pm |
Sunday | 7:30 am‑10:30 am, 12 pm‑6 pm |
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