The Swan Hotel, Newbury

Listed in the Good Beer Guide, alarm bells started ringing when we noticed the large "Under New Ownership" banner outside this pub. CAMRA's website was preparing me for 4 real ales and real cider. However, there are now just 3 handpulls. With one pull unclipped and another with a turned Landlord clip, this left just Old Speckled Hen. Level Head was on keg. With no real cider either, this pub won't be in the next Good Beer Guide. The interior is open plan. There is a tiled bar area and herringbone flooring in the dining area, which is down a step. One family were eating early on a Sunday evening. Sunday lunches are served and a Golden Years menu is available featuring smaller portions on weekdays between 12-3. There is an open fire, a dartboard and a TV in the bar area. Live music, a quiz night and Christmas carols were all being promoted. To get people in the mood, Christmas music was also playing. Both dogs and children are allowed in. With a good real ale and cider range, this has the potential to be a good pub. However as things stand, it's distinctly average.

Facebook page of The Swan Hotel - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Swan Hotel - www.facebook.com

The two pubs in East Isley are a stones thrown from each other on opposite sides of the road. The Swan is the less posh of the two. It has a modern, multiple area’d interior with third-length wood panelling and modern flagstone flooring, with orangey-red paintwork. There was a wood burning stove though I was sceptical as to whether it actually worked. Some spirit miniatures in glass-fronted cabinet, plus a pub dog. Our Sunday visit coincided with a bingo session, something I’ve not seen in a pub for years. It was pretty-well attended and the locals clearly preferred this to what was on offer over the road as we found out. Two ales on, Morlands (pretty good nick) and Wadworth 6X. Not a huge amount of character but decent enough, I thought.