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Detail Pages
The White Swan, Whitechapel, E1
E1
E1 8DA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The White Swan
Dating from the early 19th century, this pub was built on the site of the old Half Moon theatre; Half Moon Passage is to the rear. I don’t know if the left half of the pub is of this vintage, but the right half is housed in a very modern office building; once inside though, you’d be hard pressed to see the join.
It's a very brown and traditional pub, with dark wood wainscoting and a gloss chocolate brown Anaglypta ceiling. Furniture is traditional, with some studded fawn banquettes, but otherwise it’s a typical Victorian interior, original or not. Customers were some loud hipster types and noisy ladettes along with a handful of solitary older drinkers.
Despite being a Neame pub, there were just the two ales on: Whitstable Bay and Spitfire at a rude £2.80 a half and in barely drinkable condition.
This is probably one of the better places locally, certainly better than the Black Horse, but the poor ale range and quality are a disincentive to making a return visit.
On 21st April 2022
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1982 recommendations about 1949 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The White Swan
Once a traditional narrow bar but now also expanded into more modern premises next door with the bar counter running between the two rooms. Similar furniture and decoration in both parts so much less difference inside than one might expect. As a Shepherd Neame house, I found Master Brew, the original Spitfire (£4.55) and Whitstable Bay Pale as the choices from a total of eight handpumps.
On 21st September 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The White Swan
A single but divided one room Sheps pub, basicly decorated ,I found rather austere. Despite boasting ten handpumps only three ales were available,Spitfire,Whitstable Bay and Master Brew, the latter being no great shakes.
This pub did little for me.
On 9th August 2016
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The White Swan
The original pub has clearly expanded into the modern building next door, effectively doubling its size. There was a mix of seating types, including a fair few high tables. Wood flooring and some wood panelling to the walls, decor includes B&W photos of the area and City and a series of pictures of some Scotsman messing around with golf clubs. There is a TV in the newer side, showing some news channel yesterday with subtitles, while background music played. I saw a sign advising of additional seating upstairs but I didn't take a look. Food looked to be good value basic fare such as sandwiches, burgers, soup and sausage and mash.
Shepherd Neame beers, Spitfire, Kents Best and Whitstable were on. Cheery service and a bit of a buzz about the place but the pub certainly doesn't stand out from the crowd.
On 25th September 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The White Swan
Was on my way from the Dispensary to the Hoop and Grapes and thought I’d pay a visit to the White Swan as I hadn’t been in before. Fairly inoffensive Shep Neame pub set up to service local office workers, especially as I noticed it is not open at the weekend. Internally two areas with a crème and burgundy colour scheme, leather seating in the right hand area and half wood panelled with window seating in the left.
Three hand pumps on the main bar area with the usual SN brews of Master Brew, Spitfire and Early Bird, and the Early Bird was in good nick.
Comfortable enough pub but nothing memorable about the place and can’t help agreeing with the previous comment about it being largely characterless. Won’t be bothering to detour again when in the area and I’ll leave this one for the local workers.
On 5th June 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The White Swan
Basic, ok Sheps pub near Aldgate. Beer is ok, though as you may expect rather Southern in distribution.
On 11th October 2009
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
James London left this review about The White Swan
Typically Shep's. Worth breezing through if you're in the area.
On 6th August 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 17 recommendations about 17 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The White Swan
Not a bad little place (‘little’ being the operative word) that I popped into on a whim during my crawl of the City hinterlands. The Shepherds Neame beers were fine - three in total (I think) plus the Oranjeboom lager which is unsurprising given the small size of the place and its 'off the beaten track' quality. The interior was clean and orderly, with a slant towards the faux-Victorian in terms of nik-naks and stylings. The punters were mainly office workers, though less annoying than the City average stereotype. I found it relatively busy (although I was in there at the fag-end of Friday lunchtime) so getting a seat was tough. Note that this place (like a number of City pubs) is not open on weekends.
Not a bad place - worth a stop if passing but it's hard to get too excited by it.
On 9th February 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The White Swan
This is a Shepherd Neame pub, with the usual range on offer – plus a porter, which you don't see everywhere. The service was fine. A not unpleasant, although unusual, smell of coffee pervaded the pub. I also found this pub to be smart and clean, but rather characterless, and more like a wine bar or hotel bar than a pub. I have no gripe with the place; it does do some decent beer after all. It's just that I prefer somewhere a little less clinical. But don't let me put you off - I have been to many worse places in the City.
On 6th February 2009
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The White Swan
The White Swan is a decent looking pub on the left side,the pub is a short walk from Algate East tube.
Once inside the pub was quite nice in my opinion with part carpeted and the newer side bare boarded,the seating was fairly comfortable and the pub was fairly quiet on my Thursday dinner visit.
This pub is a Shepherd Neame tied house and there were three real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Master Brew which was a really nice drink the other beers were Spitfire and a seasonal.
I always enjoy going in Shepherd Neame pubs and i found this pub to be quite nice.
Pub visited 10/2/2005
On 10th February 2005
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]