The Swan, Wolverhampton

In the attractive suburb of Compton, the Swan is a perennial Good Beer Guide entry. It is a Grade II listed building with loads of character. There is a main bar area with a cosier side room off one of the corners and a corridor at the opposite corner leading to the toilets, an outdoor area and a further room. We restricted ourselves to the main bar, where there are plenty of things to admire on the walls. This is a Marston's pub and the ale selection stays fairly constant with Banks's Amber Bitter, Mild & Sunbeam & Marston's Wainwright & Old Empire. They all feel like similar bland beers. If only they brewed a stout or a porter. We even looked longingly at the Jenning's Sneck Lifter pumpclip on the wall. Probably the best beer that was part of their stable and one that they decided to scrap when they closed the Cockermouth brewery. One corner housed an impressive collection of Wolverhampton Wanderers memorabilia alongside a TV. Baps were available behind the bar and proved to be a worthwhile purchase for half time in the football match later. I really liked this place as a pub. It's just a real shame that it's owned by Marston's.

1780 Coaching house and a wonderful front bar, that is conducive to conversation. A Marstons house in the Good Beer Guide initially took me by surprise - but I've had to re-adjust my opinion based on how good the Wainwright was. Favoutite pub of 4 visited today in West Wolverhampton.

Swan page at the Marston Taverns site - www.marstonstaverns.co.uk

Swan page at the Marston Taverns site - www.marstonstaverns.co.uk