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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 28th April 2024) with Bucking Fastard
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Swan Inn, Fradley Junction, Burton on Trent
Burton on Trent
DE13 7DN
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Swan Inn
ORIGINAL REVIEW MAY 2011.
One of the most famous canalside pubs in the country and reputedly one of the most photographed ,the pub is situated at the junction of the Coventry and Trent& Mersey canals in an idyllic setting.The interior is well described by Mr Soup,I would only add that the public bar to the right of the entrance has both a real fireplace,seperate wood burner and is where the locals and boat dwellers gather.This is where conversation manages to overwhelm the insipid musak and is the community part of the pub,free newspapers are supplied.
The biggest change from my past trips is now the clear focus on real ale,a most welcome development.On my visit there were six handpumps dispensing Abbott,Pedigree,Black Sheep Bitter,Holden's Golden Glow,Vale Brewery P&Q,and Mucky Duck Bitter brewed for the pub by Quartz from Kings Bromley and proving very popular with customers.Sadly there was no stout,porter or mild option but this is only a minor gripe.I had the Golden Glow ,with the line chiller a bit overdone but still quaffable while the Vale P&Q was in outstanding form.Real ale prices were very reasonable at £2.85 ,in what is a tourist trap area where prices could be a lot higher.Although I didn't eat ,food pricing also looked fair with most mains around £7.50.
There is usually an eclectic mix of customers and a troupe of Morris Dancers were performing outside.The pub continues to be popular with motorcyclists.If you take a walk around the canalside buildings and locks there are information points which record the history of the area.
This has now become a must visit pub for any boater who enjoys his ale,and I wouldn't hestiate to recommend The Swan to land lubbers as well !
UPDATE
Everards have acquired the pub,a new team have been installed and the interior has been refreshed but not refurbed thankfully.It retains all it's previous charm,and the vaulted cellar bar has been converted to an overflow dining area,although it was chilly and a little dank.
At the bar Everards brews will be in evidence and I would expect Tiger,Old Original,Sunchaser and Beacon Hill to be regular ales with a further two guests and keg Titanic Stout.On my latest trip the Heritage Brewing Masterpiece IPA was an outstanding guest,and the steak night (£25 for two plus a gratis bottle of plonk) produced some outstanding cuts of meat from a butcher in Atherstone.This was and still is a top boozer.
On 13th October 2017
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2730 recommendations about 2730 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about Swan Inn
The Swan, its unique setting and comfortable interior, is well described by both Mr Fastard and Mr Dragon below.
We visited on a chilly Thursday evening and were grateful for the real fire in the public bar to the right which really does throw out a fair amount of heat. It was appreciated by the mixed clientele of locals and boaters as well and the pub was busy without being overwhelming.
Choice of food is from a standard pub grub menu or specials which focus on a variety of pies. Opting for the pies, we were served with a slice rather than a whole pie accompanied by anaemic chips which were just the right side of edible. A touch disappointing for between £7 and £9.
The landlord, in conversation with customers over a pint or two, of lager in his case, is clearly proud of the pub and its real ale offer. He pointed out that without a brewery tie he has a free choice of ales. On our visit these were: St Austell Tribute, Black Sheep, Holdens Golden Glow, Abbot and a very good Pedigree. Not an inspirational selection over 5 handpumps and I suspect that it's either been chosen from a limited pubco list or that the landlord isn't a real ale buff. Probably a combination of the two.
The Swan is certainly worth a visit for its location alone and you'll almost certainly find a pint worth drinking but more could be done here and I'd consider it as a lunch stop rather than somewhere to settle in for an evening session.
On 24th October 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about Swan Inn
An idyllic location, right by the canal, this pub, white rendered in the picture, is a part of a range of brick buildings. Has a beer patio. The inside has three rooms; a larger room, where guitar and fiddle music was being played and had a locals feel. There was a smaller room, with bar serving hatch and a dining area, down stairs, in the former cellar. Decor was wood panel and white downstairs where we went, didnt really see main room. The place, amazingly, was chock-a-block with canal memorabilia! The service was friendly and the clientele a mix of boat people and locals. Beer; tap stuff, with Murphys, which is what i had and it was nice, as the two handpulls available were the Black Sheep and Abbot's Ale. A very nice place
On 27th August 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]