The Swan, Faringdon

An unusual Victorian building in the middle of the town, the pub reopened a couple of years ago as a brewpub and freehouse. It has no garden or car park, which in some ways contributes to its being an excellent local without the hassle of annoying families. Inside, there are two rooms: the bar has a woodburner in the chimney breast and a couple of tables, leaving plenty of standing room for socialising and vertical, drinking. Down a few steps is a lounge with no bar counter, just some functional tables and chairs, a TV screen (switched off during this visit) and a piano, also mercifully mute. There is a selection of board games which, apparently, are brought out on special games nights. The atmosphere was very welcoming indeed, convivial yet relaxing, the music – which was enjoyable – kept at a volume which enabled normal speech. Dogs are welcome, and there are free dog biscuits available from a bowl on the bar. There is a selection of gins and different tonics for those so inclined. Six handpumps on the bar, two had ciders on alongside Otter, Ramsbury's Grand Slam, Bingham's Vanilla Stout and Courage Best, all in perfect condition and served with a very pleasant smile by the landlady. A truly excellent pub, a definite for a town crawl and one to which I shall surely return.

An unremarkable boozer externally with an unremarkable but comfortable interior. Don’t be put off and head here first if in Faringdon without any expectation of needing to move on. The welcome from the staff is friendly and the governor knows his ales, especial the local ones, well. On when we visited were: XT4, Stonehenge Danish Dynamite IPA, Barn Owl Brewery Black and Piet Porter. The Danish Dynamite IPA was so good that I stuck with it all evening and everything tried by the assembled was in top condition. A great find in Faringdon.

The go to pub in Faringdon ,and it proved so good that no other hostelery was tried in town.It sits on the corner of a bend at one end of town,the interior is split into two levels.The bar area has fitted benches with velour coverings in a lounge feel,while the lower section has a collection of wooden chairs and tables.There is a good looking decking externally to the side. The handpumps were offering Courage Best,Barn Owl Black Piet,XT4 and a very good Stonehenge Danish Dynamite,along with 3 real ciders.The barman was very friendly and chatty and was very knowledgeable about his real ales and the local drinking scene.It fully deserves its 2018 GBG listing.Most punters inside were quaffing,it is a welcoming boozer and I will most certainly return next time I'm in the area.Two miles uphill from the Thames at Radcot.

Official site of The Swan - www.swanfaringdon.co.uk

Official site of The Swan - www.swanfaringdon.co.uk

The Swan is a small walk away from the Market Square in Faringdon up Marlborough Street, but it is well worth the trip as it is head and shoulders the best pub in town for the real ale drinker. Firstly with six ale pumps on the go, double any other pub in town, it provides the most choice and secondly it is home to the Faringdon Micro Brewery, a tiny one barrel operation down in the basement. We visited three times during our weekend stay in Faringdon and at least five of the six pumps were in operation on any visit. As well as Folly Ale and PGA from the Microbrewery, Youngs Bitter, Spitfire, Otter Bitter and an excellent Gloucester Brewery Gold were available and sampled, especially as a trio of third pint glasses in a wooden holder are available for £3.40. One open space internally in two sections the pub retains a traditional feel with the large ceiling beam between the two sections festooned with dried hops and a collection of beer mats. The main half panelled bar area is a very comfortable place for either seated or vertical drinking and then the second smaller section down some steps from the main bar is quieter and has a good collection of The Swan pub signs and a functioning bar billiards table. With good ale, good service levels and friendly locals I did not find anything not to like about the Swan.