The Swan Inn, Rugeley

This pub is the shabbiest pub I have ever drank in. It is run by a couple who tend to spend most of their time propping up the bar drinking the beer than serving anyone. Soup Dragon's comment about it feeling like a working mens club is fair, and most of the people who drink in there work at Armitage Shanks. As a female, there is no way I would ever drink in there with female friends as men outnumber women by 10 to 1. The locals are fairly friendly but it is certainly not a very nice place and desperately needs some money spending on it.

Large detached corner pub, white rendered, with conservatory and a nice beer garden at the back The interior is open plan, the decor being hard to tell, as it was so dark, but looked like red, yello and cream walls, with a grey or dark green wood panel. Decoration was supplied by a couple of nice tiled fireplaces and some old posters (reduced size) on the walls. A mix of modern and traditional that is fine, as there are no sofas or terrible arty pictures that are turning so many pubss into soulless places. They do have twigs in a vase - on which they shine a light that changes colour every few seconds - but i found this amusing rather than annoying. The service was fine and the clientele mixed, as it was open mic night and the conservatory had been turned into a stage area - far better than a karaoke (they do this on another night, as well as a pretty full programme on other days for music and comedy - good luck to them. There was Sky TV and a dartboard, though you would have to shift a few tables to play. Beer; usual tap stuff, with Banks's MILD, Bitter and Pedigree on handpull. The MILD was fine, the pedi was a little more so-so. When i first took a seat i didnt think i would like it, but it grew on me and having visited before on a few occasions, there seemed to be more life. I would always go the Dragon down the road first, but this is a decent enough place, i will be back and i wish them good luck.

The pub is a large white painted, but shabby looking detatched pub, with a few benches outside. The part of the interior that i experienced was like a working men's club from the 60s; it is open plan with a dart area (with jukebox and TV) and a pool table area. The decor was a thick artex of peach and red on the walls, some of it peeling, the memorabilia consisted of a few collage pictures of photographs taken of regulars and pub days, as well as some tat mirrors. A locals pub, where the smokers gave a guard of honour right outside the front door. Service was function but the pub was reasonably attended. Beer; tap tosh, with no MILD, Pedigree on handpull, which was okish. Needs a major spruce up. Needs some beer choice. Cant see myself visiting again