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Submitted on Thursday, 22nd September 2011
With picture contributions to 101 other pubs
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The White Swan
Leeds
LS1 6LW
Served areas
whiteswanleeds
We have some very special Duvel in, tripled hopped with a Japanese Sorachi ace as the final hop flavour, 9.5% - not for the faint hearted!
8:30 PM May 18th from web
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(⇐) H8 The HeadrowReviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Old Boots left this review about The White Swan
Located at the rear of the City Varieties theatre this Leeds Brewery pub plays on the theatrical link in its décor. The outer walls have pictures of film and theatre stars while the inside walls are liberally coated with theatrical posters, getting slightly more risque as you descent the stairs to the toilet area. Conventionally furnished with tables and chairs the only outstanding feature is a grand piano in one corner. A long counter runs across the back wall and is home to 12 handpumps, which may be 6 too many judging by the beer quality, although two different poor beers were exchanged without question.
On 7th October 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1024 recommendations about 998 pubs]
Quinno _ left this review about The White Swan
A Leeds brewery outlet situated down a narrow street and is part of the City Varieties theatre building. It hasn’t been open long and the fairly stark interior attested to that, wood block (or was it laminate?) flooring and a mix of pale teal and white painted walls. Some old theatre prints, polyester flowers on the tables and a couple of strings of half-hearted fairy lights hardly did enough to lift the atmosphere. Despite the promise of riches at the bar in the shape of 12 ales, it soon transpired that the quality and cellarmanship was poor; two of our party’s beers were so woeful they went back and a clipped pump of Belle was also revealed to be unavailable. Staff seemed generally uninterested but at least exchanged the duff beers without complaint (though I noticed failed to take them off). You really would expect better given who runs the pub. The only high point was the presence of grand piano in the pub; a shame I can’t play a note else I’d have bashed out a tune to liven the place up a bit. “Applause begets applause in the theatre, as laughter begets laughter and tears beget tears.” Not much applause from me for this one...
On 28th August 2012
- rating: 4
[User has posted 1509 recommendations about 1505 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about The White Swan
According to the blue plaque on the wall outside, the theatre was built in 1865 on the site of the old coaching inn, the White Swan. A slightly different history is given on the Discovering Leeds website (www.leodis.net ):
"The White Swan had a singing room, where various types of acts, though not drama, were put on while people enjoyed their food and drink. In 1857 Charles Thornton became the licensee of the White Swan. He rebuilt the singing room, to a design by George Smith, and opened it in 1865 as 'Thornton's New Music Hall and Fashionable Lounge.'"
The modern pub has the feel of a theatre bar, a reversal of the truth! The description given below is very accurate, so I'll just add that on my visit all 12 hand pumps were available, just half of them with Leeds Brewery ales, the others included two from the local Cottingham Brewery. I tried one, which showed no sign of having been excessively cooled, so things seem to have improved on that score.
Toilets are downstairs (turn left past the piano) for general use, but there is a ground floor toilet which is designated for disabled persons.
On 31st July 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 648 recommendations about 634 pubs]
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- White Swan site - www.whiteswanleeds.co.uk
