The Black Swan, Melton Mowbray

Like the nearby Generous Briton an old building with added stone fittings on the lower floor but much fancier and better executed. There’s a sculpture of a black swan above the door. A double fronted building the interior has been badly mauled in no doubt many refurbishments, bare and club like would sum it up. The now standard L shape with the counter taking up the front short arm, there’s a remaining alcove at front right with tongue and groove and furnished with modern leatherette covered banquettes at square metal tubed base wood covered tables, similar banquettes, low and high, are available in the long arm of the L. A couple of T-bars, a couple of solos provide a usual keg choice, two hand pulls are at one end, one unclipped and yes they still haven’t got a proper clip for the Greene King IPA, it’s still hand written paper one stuck on the back of an Old Speckled Hen clip. The IPA itself was actually quite good for the watered down version but the Greene King taint is there. The counter is covered in varnished strip wood and there’s more on one wall plus some other woody wall treatments. As Quinno says there’s darts, toilets and a snug further back and a games room with two pool tables and darts right at the back. To the side is a beer garden / yard. NB opening hours appear not to be not as Camra suggests it’s certainly not open till 14:00 midweek, Google looks more accurate.

Facebook page of The Black Swan - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Black Swan - www.facebook.com

An attractive old school exterior gives way to a thoroughly modernised interior. It's actually quite well done and the bar does look good with its 1970s style wood boarding. Good quality dartboard and a pool room further within. Busy, mainly with the more earthy side of the town’s inhabitants. A solitary pump in the far corner with a paper font proclaiming GK IPA, which was utterly middling but just about drinkable (NBSS 2).