Swan Hotel, Stafford

A lively town pub popular with Brewood's younger generation. There were two ales on draft, both in very good condition. As many dogs as humans seemed to be present. Very much a local atmosphere, though we were clearly welcome. No food was being served, though we weren't sure if that was just that evening. I'd be very happy to come back for a few beers next time I'm passing.

Much hard detail below which I'll aim not to repeat. The Swan appears to be the place to gather in Brewood for an evening drink judging by how busy it was when we visited on Thursday evening. By 7.30 all the seats in the main bar had been taken and we slipped into the quieter, but no less comfortable, room to the left. By the time we departed at around 10 there was standing room only. The Swan stands on the corner of the market square, opposite The Lion, and is an imposing and traditional coaching inn. Inside is comfortable and atmospheric, helped by being busy on our visit. Despite this we never had to wait any time for a drink as the young, attractive and friendly barmaids were very efficient at spotting those waiting around the crowded bar. Beers: Regulars are: Wye Valley HPA, Directors, Theakstons Black Bull and Deuchars IPA with the two guests on our visit being Tribute and the excellent Salopian Hop Twister. It's a pretty dull line up of regulars that and with a number of quality breweries locally could be significantly improved but maybe the incumbents appeal to the locals. I'd certainly head back to The Swan if in Brewood but it would be with happier heart if the regular beer line up were improved.

Superb traditional coaching inn (The landlord told me that the building is around 400 years old) which is a free house. As you enter there is a public bar with an L shaped bar counter in the middle of the room that has antique brass cask taps and a musket nailed to the beams above the bar, there is a warming log fire on the left which has several awards for the pub displayed above. To the left of the bar is a small lounge that has a large inglenook fireplace with a log fire, brass kettles, stone ware beer jugs and photos of old Brewood on the walls, to the right of the bar is a very small snug with horse brasses and more old photos on the wall. Regular ales are Theakston Black Bull Bitter, Courage Directors Bitter, Caledonian Deuchars IPA and two changing guest beers usually from smaller breweries in Staffordshire or neighbouring counties (GBG2010). I should also mention that they have Theakston Traditional Mild on keg (shame, but its still very nice) A fantastic olde worlde traditional ale house with loads of character, if you enjoy real ale and interesting traditional pubs then you should try this place out, especially as Brewood has a couple of good pubs (The Bridge and The Rodney). The frankly strange witches mentioned in the review below have gone as the previous land lady who they belonged to has moved on.

Black beam and white rendered exterior, as well as beam framed, quirky shaped wooden interior. The pub has a wierd collection of witch dolls that hang down in the bar area - not seen uglyness like that since the Shakespeare in Scarborough Great choice of beers; usual taps plus Theaston's MILD and bitter, with several guest ales; Slater's Top Totty, Courage Directors and Oast House Gold. I had the MILD A great place, like the Rodney and Bridge in Brewood