The Old Swan, Atherstone

The Old Swan is a nice looking black and white pub. Once inside i went into the bar which is at the the front of the pub,this was a decent sized room which is oblong in shape with the bar facing,the seating was comfy bench type and chairs,there was a TV on which was showing motor racing. There is a smaller square shaped lounge to the rear which looked very smart,there is also a small room to the front right. The pub is a Banks's tied house,there were three real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Banks's Mild which went down very well,the other beers were Banks's Bitter and Marstons EPA. This is a proper old school pub that i quite enjoyed having a drink in. Pub visited 25/10/2014

This is a large detached Banks's corner pub. The pub is larger than it initially appears, as the wonderful Tudor timber-framed section, built on a stone plinth and with projecting upper storey, is just part of the building. A white rendered front facing gable end, also with projecting upper level stands to the side and there is a white rendered rear section. All windows are in Tudor style. It looks great and worth a pint for that alone. The interior has at least three rooms. The front door takes you into a bar/lounge, with the wood panelled serving bar facing you. The decor has white walls, with white and beam ceiling and a red tile floor. It is mainly a bar, but there is a nicer seating area in the corner. There are red perimeter seats and stool and there are a couple of brick fireplaces, one at each end. The TV wasn't on and there was some soft general background music. Old photos and prints are on the walls, but there is also a more obvious collection of plates on the walls, celebrating the local coal industry, now gone. There is also a dart board. The same bar serves a small lounge at the back, which is in white, with white and beam ceiling, green seats and curtains and has a small tiled fireplace. There is also a room marked 'restaurant' served from the corridor that leads from the bar to the car-park. This room appeared to be in cream and wood panel with pictures on the walls, but was closed when i visited. The service was very good and there were a few mature locals in. Beer; usual tap sruff with Banks's Bitter and a decent MILD on handpull Summing-up, well, a great exterior, a nice traditional interior, friendly and good beer. If I had to be picky, a guest ale would be nice. One I definitely would return to.

A wonderful wood framed exterior ,this must be one of the oldest building in town and I would guess Tudor.The steep front steps lead to the public bar on the left and a lounge area to the right.The public bar is interesting with a dart board above the fireplace housing a gas affect fire,while above the bar are plates commemorating the collieries of the North Warwickshire coalfield now all closed.The dates of opening and closing are noted on each plate and is somewhat sobering,although the town does appear to have recovered from this loss of industry. There is also a back lounge reached from the car park but this was closed on my midweek visit. There was a friendly welcome and two ales available in Bank's Original(Mild) and Bitter at £2.60 .A local radio station provided the musak,and there was no sign of food.The exterior was more memorable`than the interior ,but locals make good use of it.