The Black Swan pub in Gweek near Helston reopened this Winter with a dramatic new look thanks to a £124,000 investment with Punch Pubs & Co.
The traditional country pub, which has stood for hundreds of years, has undergone a full refurbishment. The project focused on retaining its character while adding a contemporary twist inside and out.
Publicans, Damian and Miranda Knight, have been at the helm of the pub since July 2025, and welcomed the proposed investment by Punch, which would see them make use of unused spaces, while preserving the pub’s traditional roots.
Since reopening earlier this month, Damian has been delighted with the changes and was proud to show off his pub’s new look.
He shared: “We’re thrilled with the changes at the Black Swan, and even happier to have received such positive feedback locally. This investment has given the pub a new lease of life, without taking away its beautiful characteristics.
“Visually, the pub looks different, but the sentiment here will always be the same. We’re a traditional country pub, with a cosy and welcoming atmosphere, where we pride ourselves on being at the heart of our community. Thanks to the investment, we can continue to do what we do best, but under a new, modern, and tidier look.”
The investment by Punch has modernised some areas of the pub while bringing other corners back to life. Visiting guests will be sleeping in renewed comfort thanks to a renovation of four of the pub’s letting rooms, while others will be able to soak up the pub’s new aesthetic downstairs.
The Black Swan’s former restaurant space has been swapped out to become a games and social area – featuring a new darts board and pool table, and soon, guests will be able to catch up on the world’s sporting action with the addition of Sky Sports too.
Damian, who operates two pubs with Punch, says running a pub isn’t a job, it’s a vocation. “I like people, being around people and being a part of the community,” he added. “I’m completely aware of what pubs offer to the wider community, and for me it’s all about making friends and experiences. When something goes right, you’ve got a busy pub and a brilliant atmosphere. I don’t think there’s a better job in the world. If I can add a little bit to the pub’s history, I’ll be proud to see it continue for another hundred years to come.”
Part of the investment with Punch paid homage to the pubs’ local roots, including commissioning a local signwriter to reinvent the Black Swan’s external signage.
Throughout the pub’s investment, guests turned to social media for updates and sneak peeks of their new look pub, with many praising the transformation and rejoicing that their beloved local had reopened its doors again.
With its refreshed look and renewed sense of community, The Black Swan is set to remain a cherished local hub for years to come.