Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 15th March 2026) with trainman
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Swan, Hammersmith, W6
W6
W6 0DZ
Pub Type
Nicholsons (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about The Swan
Visited 02/03/26. Visited previously 02/08/23.
Cask six handpumps providing Rosie's Pig Rhubarb cloudy cider, Doom Bar, Adnams Ghost Ship, London Pride, TT LL and Nicholson's Pale Ale. Keg comprised Mondo Road Soda, Budvar, Jubel Peach, Madri, Peroni, BT Lunar Haze hazy IPA, Pravha, Camden Hells, Camden Pale, Lucky Saint, Guinness, Henry Weston's Vintage cider, Neck Oil,
Prominent Nicholson's corner pub opposite the Broadway exit of Hammersmith tube. There is seating around the frontage of the venue, almost pleasant on a quick early evening revisit. Inside the venue is bare boarded with a mosaic tile skirt around the bar counter which is in the front middle part of the venue. There is tall table with unbacked stools immediately in front of the bar counter, which has limited stool seating on is sides. There is some ledge seating in the front window and some tall stool seating to the left-hand side of the bar counter. Over on the right-hand side just inside the entrance are a few more tall tables initially served by tall stools then another served by a leather banquette. The bar counter is very ornate wooden and the ceiling, arches, pillars, and the colourful leaded glass tops to the large street facing windows are very impressive. There is a further seating area round the left-hand edge of the bar counter with regular tables served by regular chairs and red leather studded banquettes. Lighting is very ambient largely provided by suspended candle housing chandeliers. There are a few screens around showing Sky Sports News absent sound that provided by a rather loud but easy listening soundtrack. A regular quiz is hosted and there was further seating upstairs along with a separate dining area. An impressive venue and you can't knock it for hosting six cask ales, just a shame there wasn't anything interesting in the range.
On 9th March 2026
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1340 recommendations about 1323 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Swan
On the street corner and right next to the 'spoons this fine Victorian Nicholson's house has impressive internal features.The main body of the pubs has been opened out but has a fine staircase to more seating ,lots of carved wood,a decorated high ceiling and a rear seating area with an impressive vaulted mirrored inglenook now used for seating,and red leather benches. What let it down are numerous flatscreens,at least on mute but distracting all the same when there is no live sports action.The menu was pub grub style and the smaller section of the bar holding the handpumps was offering on my trip a Rosie Pig cider,Lees Plum Pudding,Nicholsons (St Austell) Pale,TT Landlord and Adnams Ghost Ship ,NBSS 3.
I was in during a busy lunchtime ,the interior would have been more appreciated at a calmer time,worth a squint however.
On 3rd January 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3126 recommendations about 3126 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Swan
An imposing Victorian Nicholsons pub close to the station. It has a central bar with some ornate woodwork, six handpumps with a choice of Proper Job, Landlord, Pride , Nicholsons Pale and Rosies Pig Cider, craft keg options were from Deya, Beavertown and Camden etc. One of the better options in a lacklustre part of town.
On 23rd July 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2291 recommendations about 2255 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Delboy 20 left this review about The Swan
Probably the best pub around Hammersmith station occupying a great corner position. Good choice of ales with 6 on when I called. I had an excellent pint of Black Sheep Respire. Well worth a visit.
On 3rd May 2023
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1938 recommendations about 1794 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Swan
A landmark Nicholson's pub with an imposing and excellently-restored interior, including many interesting features from wood carvings to arts and crafts fireplaces. Several different rooms and areas provide corners to retreat to and we found a couple of nice leather armchairs in the sun by a window, which were almost too pleasant to leave. An acceptable range of ales, with Long Man Old Man, Ghost Ship, London Pride, Hobgoblin and the house brew from St Austell in good condition. well worth a visit.
On 30th October 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3890 recommendations about 3822 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Swan
A Grade II listed building built in 1901. This pub certainly ticked all the boxes for me, I thought the interior was stunning. Eight pumps on the bar, all in operation on our Saturday lunchtime visit. So we went for the Phesantry Golden Turtle and a Plum Porter.
On 23rd June 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3745 recommendations about 3745 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Swan
This is a large, ornate pub close to Hammersmith tube station and handy for the Hammersmith Apollo. The pub is currently run by the Nicholson’s chain and in keeping with many of their London pubs, a good job has been done in retaining the character and historical details whilst still being able to cater for a contemporary market. You enter into the large main bar area with a high decorative ceiling and large ornate pillars through the centre supporting a series of broad arches. The servery is over to the right and has a typically traditional dark wood counter and canopy plus a smart mirrored bar back. There is a lot of high stool seating in the centre of the room with comfier banquette and chair options around the perimeter. Windows along two sides have some really good semi-circular stained-glass panes which I thought looked particularly good with the light flooding in from outside. Several TV screens were showing a live rugby match which had drawn a pretty large crowd on a Saturday early evening, but the sound was off, so the intrusion was fairly minimal. The pub runs through to a plainer rear room beyond the far end of the servery, which has exposed floorboards and a few standard tables and chairs. Large display cabinets full of glass ware and topped with old editions of the Good Beer Guide take pride of place back here and there was another Tv screen showing the same match, this time with the sound on, although ironically, no-one seemed to be watching it. A few more ornate pillars, bits of stained glass and other bits of nice trim could be found back here, but the effect was diminished having come from the far more splendid main bar. A great staircase leads up to a first floor dining room, although I didn’t get to have a proper look up there.
The bar supports a wide ale range, far surpassing the offerings in many Central London Nicholson’s pubs. Options on this occasion were Fullers London Pride, Hog’s Back TEA, Rudgate Instant Pleasure, Hobson’s Mild, Sharps Doom Bar and Nicholson’s Pale Ale. I tried both the Mild (excellent) and the Instant Pleasure (middling) and we also decided to grab a bite to eat here and found decent portions of traditional pub fayre.
This is a pretty nice pub that is worth a quick look round just to enjoy the interior, but merits a longer visit thanks to a good ale selection. The pub will remain on my radar thanks to its prominent location but must rank up there as one of Hammersmith’s finest pubs regardless.
On 17th July 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3387 recommendations about 3387 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Swan
Rebuilt in 1901, this is an enormous late Victorian/early Edwardian edifice, named after former brewers Stansfeld & Co's Swan brewery in Fulham. Indeed the pub's exterior is bedecked with S & Co roundels and stained glass. Cavernous inside with arches of a wide span and partitions along with a grand staircase - this really is a gin palace.
Largely packed on our visit and very noisy indeed, the very friendly barmaid served me with a very good half of Koma's Off The Wall. I forget the price but I'll be it wasn't cheap. There were many other interesting ales but it was too busy for me to record them.
This place is worth a look just for the interior alone, but it's packed and noisy. It's also not in a great place as the area outside tends to attract many who are less fortunate in life.
On 22nd April 2016
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2307 recommendations about 2251 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Swan
Previously the anonymous Edward's, this pub has now reverted to being the Swan with a tasteful refurbishment of the interesting by M&B's Nicholson's chain. Ten handpumps in the busy main bar (which features various different seating and standing areas separated by glazed screens), plus another three in the slightly more relaxed upstairs bar / restaurant (with intermittent table service and annoying tea-lights on the tables). Real ale sometimes served in traditional 'jug' glasses. Some intersting choices as well as the usual NPA, Pride, Doom Bar and Windsor & Eton Knight of the Garter. Beer quality now seems fine after a bit of a shaky start.
On 19th February 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 9063 recommendations about 9063 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Swan
This is the best pub in Hammesmith for beer choice.Nicolson seasonal range but always something drinkable. Can get very busy after work but worth the hassle.
On 20th February 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]