The Swan, Buxton

The Swan has a central bar with counters that serve the left, right and rear. To the left is a tartan carpeted seating areas with green banquettes that run along the front and rear walls until they meet either side of a fireplace on the left hand wall. The walls in here are adorned with different flavours of Tartan so there’s most certainly a Scottish connection. In the right-hand side is a snug with blue banquettes, another fireplace and a dartboard. At the rear is where the local crowd had gathered on red banquettes. I noted a third fireplace and advertisements for Sky Sports, although the television was off during my recent late midweek afternoon visit in favour of some background music. Premium keg is available and there are five hand pumps across the counters, but only TT Landlord and a very nice Bass were available. I thought the service was friendly and I liked the surroundings so I’d have no issue returning.

Facebook page of The Swan - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Swan - www.facebook.com

Went to Buxton for a weekend, stayed at the premier inn just out of town. Had a meal in the Cheshire Cheese the first evening, which was ok and beers ok. Second night went to The Swan, great local pub, still traditional inside, apparently they had a revamp the week before so everything looked very clean and tidy. I had the bass and it was perfect! lovely pint. The other ales on were twin coast, wife had a half and said it was nice, however pale ale. She moved onto the bass and agreed with me. The pub was serving bacon baps the next morning so popped back for one. Pub full off locals. Really nice atmosphere overall. Will return soon to another pint of bass!

This is quita a nice old, multi-room pub just a short way down from the Market Square. You enter into a porch with a nice stained glass door for the taproom to the right, although it appeared to be locked, forcing punters through the plain glazed door for the lounge to the left. This bar is a nice space with tartan carpet, dark wood beams, whitewashed walls and the servery to the right. The bar has a smart dark wood counter, an attractive leaded glass canopy, but no bar back to speak of, as the servery looks straight through to the right and rear rooms. One unusual feature is a collection of tartan swathes on the walls, all in different styles and each displaying various Scotish themed bits, such as portraits of famous Scots, maps, regimental crests, whisky mirrors and so forth. There's a small brick fireplace on the end wall with what looks like a closed dartboard cabinet above, and seating comes in the form of comfy banquettes around three sides, with low stools in support. A huge TV screen can be found here too, suggesting live sports is a regular feature, although it remained off throughout my stay. Moving through to the rear room, you find more banquettes, a nice pub mirror and some old charts and maps on display. The taproom was empty, and seemed to be a more spartan space with a dartboard on the side wall. Tunes were playing quietly in the background and there were only a couple of locals in during my stay - "Welcome to the Mary Celeste", said the barman to one local upon arrival! Just the two handpulls in action, and only one ale, with Storm Isobar IPA available alongside a Westons Cider. The IPA was in reasonable condition and the barmaid who served me was friendly enough, but the place did feel pretty dead compared to some of the other pubs I visited around town. This felt like a decent pub lacking a clear vision and failing to pull people through the doors as a result. I liked the quirky decor and thought it was quite an interesting building, but it's definitely lacking in a few areas and with just the one ale to go at, isn't going to challenge some of Buxton's top ale houses. Date of visit - 17th January 2024

Multi-room old pub, three separate bars, three pulls and a T-bar in each of the the front bars and just a T-bar in the rear one. Each bar has a different theme, Scottish regiments in the front left room, darts and telly in the right hand room with a screen and nautical theme in the back. The rear bar has its own external door. Lots of banquette seating, leaded glass and darker wood. Interesting interior, beer from Storm, just one cask beer and not hugely inspiring. Cash Only.

Three room heritage pub arranged round the full height island servery constructed of dark wood and leaded glass. One rom in blue, one in green and one in red with comfy fabric banquettes. The left-hand room has lots of Scottish regimental paraphernalia, retained from the previous long-serving landlord’s tenure. One cask, an under-par Storm Brewing Frost (NBSS 2) served-up by an amiable governor. Worth a visit for the interior.

Situated opposite the Cheshire Cheese, the Swan is much more of a locals' pub. There are 3 small and fairly basic rooms with a central bar serving them all. One is to the left, as you enter, one to the right and another at the rear. A few people were asked by the friendly barmaid if they were there for the bingo, as they entered. Tuesday afternoon seemed like a strange time for a game of bingo, but it hadn't kicked off by the time we departed and we weren't asked if we wanted to play. We obviously didn't look the bingo types. Just the one real ale is served here, which was an easy drinking Storm Isobar Session IPA. This was my first time visiting Buxton and I only had chance to visit the one, as we were moving onwards. However, I look forward to a return visit in the next few years to what looks like a pleasant spa town.