The Black Swan, Telford

Another riverside pub in the Ironbridge Gorge. This one is on the south side of the river and has a small beer garden on the river side of the road through Jackfield. Luckily for us, there were a few spare tables inside as most people were in the beer garden. Inside there is a single staple-shaped room with a TV at one end. The TV was off when we arrived, with music playing instead. However, the barman did switch it on in time for the Six Nations rugby match. There was a wood burner at the same end as the TV. Wifi was available and bar snacks were being served. On the bar, Town Crier & Old Prickly are the regular beers. In addition, HPA & Butty Bach were also on. Ciders were Rattler & Stowford Press.

Originally quite a small pub, the Black Swan has been opened out into one large room that encompasses not just the original building but also an extension to the side. In summer I can imagine that the two beer gardens, one across the road and one up some steps to the side, would also be in use. On my autumnal visit there was a welcome solid fuel stove to the right of the bar, with upholstered bench seating and a variety of kitchen chairs and tables. On the bar were four hand pumps (see photo for beer range) and there were a few stools beside it. At the time of my visit this pub had the character of a village local, but it must be a different sort of place altogether in the tourist months. Date of visit: 8th November 2017

Official site of The Black Swan - theblackswanjackfield.com

Official site of The Black Swan - theblackswanjackfield.com

Built in 1750 and a pub since 1787 this pub pre-dates the famous nearby Ironbridge and is known by locals as the (dirty) Duck , overlooking what was once a very busy port area on the river it is now pretty quiet and laidback . The layout and decor is as described in previous reviews . Usual keg taps , Guiness , Carling , Grolsch and Stowford Press with three of the four handpulls in use with two from Hobsons , Town Crier , Twisted Spire and Sharps Doombar , the Twisted Spire was in good form , just right for the balmy evening of my visit . Very busy on my visit , both beer gardens were rammed and the small field behind the pub full of drinkers kids playing football . Despite the pub being very busy the service from the two young barmaids was quick and friendly with plenty of banter with the customers . This is a very good pub well worth a visit if in the area .

Riverside pub with beer garden on the riverbank, the L shaped interior has a modern look to the longer left hand side and a cosier looking raised area to the right Looking at the front perhaps the left hand end is a newer extension, the great old photos in the bar don't give much of a clue (or I missed it through drunkenness!) I did manage to spot the “rules of ordering” which I must get a copy of one day. Modern type wooden kitchen furniture in the new bit matched with traditional cast iron tables which is ok. Decent beer from Hobsons plus Greene King and Everards although most punters were on Carling it being a very warm evening. It gives out those pretentious numbered wooden spoons with food orders and has taupe walls but don't let that put you off it's still a decent pub.