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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat on the Pub Forum

The Swan, Wantage

Market Place
Wantage
OX12 8AE

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Swan

This place looked deserted when we first arrived. The large front room was empty. We caught a glimpse of the barmaid behind the bar before she promptly disappeared. It gave us the opportunity to peruse the cask ales - Vale VPA & Black Beauty & Courage Directors. Beavertown Neck Oil was on keg. Ciders were Stowford Press & Somersby Blackcurrant.

We soon spotted a sign telling us we needed to order at the rear bar. Venturing around the bar, we found that the rear room was where all of the customers were - around 10 of them. We approached the bar and it soon became apparent that the other guy standing our side of the bar was ready to take our order. I'm not sure if table service is the order of the day here, but he invited us to take a seat and he would bring our drinks over.

We duly did that after an elderly local greeted me like a long lost friend. I had to do a double take, but decided I didn't know him from Adam! A child and a dog were both running loose. There is a pool table at the very back and strangely there is a pinball machine to the side. A couple of TVs were off, with music playing instead. There's bare boards but very little character.

A bit of an oddball place this. As Quinno said back in 2017, it was listed in the Good Beer Guide. It hasn't made an appearance since. My beer was fine, but there are undoubtedly better pubs in this town.

On 2nd March 2025 - rating: 5
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Quinno _ left this review about The Swan

Backstreet pub that the casual visitor to Wantage won’t find despite it being seconds from the main market square. Situated opposite a church graveyeard, it looks like it could well be a winner as you approach. Internally it has been knocked-through a bit and retains little character with wattle walls, black beams, red ceiling and brick-front bar but essentially it’s a fairly dull, functional space. Oddly, there is rope twined around the pillars, not sure of the significance of this. GBG17 listed, there were four on; Brakspear Oxford Gold, Marstons 61 deep, Doom Bar and Thwaites Wainwright's. Unfortunately my 61 Deep wasn’t much to write home about. Despite the plus points, I struggled to really warm to this one; too spartan, as mentioned below. 5.5

On 22nd April 2017 - rating: 5
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Old Boots left this review about The Swan

Low whitewashed brick building opposite the church, obviously quite old. The kind of look that promises much. Sadly the interior is formed of one long, spartan, half timbered barn with little charm and a mix of furniture. The customers are largely yoof and chav, most with as little charm as the pub. Four handpumps of three mediocre beers from Marstons and a cider on the other, there is a collection of clips behind the bar but most are Marston's related. Bored staff and little to offer, not the worst pub in town but close.

On 9th October 2010 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 3599 recommendations about 3279 pubs]