Our ploughmans lunch at The Swan Inn in Abbotsbury is a true celebration of traditional British pub food. This classic ploughmans lunch features home-cooked ham, mature cheddar, rich Stilton cheese, fresh crusty bread, homemade pickles, and seasonal salad. Whether you’re exploring the beautiful Dorset countryside or visiting local attractions, our ploughman’s lunch is the perfect satisfying meal that showcases the best of British flavours.
The Perfect Ploughman’s Lunch – A Proper British Classic
Ah, the Ploughman’s Lunch a plate full of tradition, pickles, and good old British charm. But where did this hearty delight come from? Was it handed down from medieval farmers to today’s hungry pub goers? Not exactly.
The name was popularized in the 1950s, when the Cheese Bureau (yep, that was real) and the Milk Marketing Board wanted to shift more cheese and encourage pubs to put together a cold meal that screamed “British.” Enter the Ploughman’s bread, cheese, onions, maybe some ham if you were lucky, and boom: a pub staple was born.
At The Swan Inn, Abbotsbury, we’ve taken it up a notch. Choose from home cooked ham, mature cheddar, rich Stilton or treat yourself and have all three. Add a fresh crusty roll, proper salad, homemade coleslaw, tangy pickle, pickled onions, and a few beetroot slices to make the perfect plateful. We even throw in a couple of cheese portions and a smile (optional but encouraged).
It’s a bite of British history, served fresh in our lovely village pub.
Why choose our ploughman’s lunch? We source quality local ingredients and prepare everything with care. The combination of sharp mature cheddar, creamy Stilton blue cheese, and tender home-cooked ham creates a balanced plate full of flavour. Perfect for lunch after walking the Jurassic Coast or visiting nearby attractions.
Available now at The Swan Inn – best enjoyed with a pint and a smug grin.