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The Olde Swan Hotel, Chertsey
Chertsey
KT16 8AY
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Pub SignMan left this review about The Olde Swan Hotel
Taking pride of place along Chertsey High Street, this is a fine-looking pub and hotel in what appears to be an old coaching inn. You enter into a bare boarded, L-shaped room with the servery to the right and ample seating through the rest of the room. Walls have been painted in a pleasant, two-tone colour scheme that helps create a warm ambiance when combined with the muted lighting that was being used on my early evening visit. Lots of quite large tables are served by mixed chairs in all parts of the room, although every single table had a reserved sign on it, so it was extremely awkward trying to find somewhere to sit, even though no-one had yet claimed any of the tables. The bar has a nice dark wood counter with curved ends and a pleasing, traditional bar back. Decor includes a massive number of framed photographs, especially to the rear left, plus mirrors, lamps, clocks, paintings, old typewriters, radios, jugs, bottles, bed pans and much more, all dotted around the room in notable quantities. It all helps to give the pub a nice, eclectic feel, far from the sort of run-of-the-mill chain pubs you tend to find in towns like this. A lower-level space to the front right offers a few more tables, including one made from a small bar billiards table, now with a glass top, whilst a huge board game collection has been stacked up in the front window and a load of paperback books can be found next to the front door. Finally, a door to the rear leads out to the beer garden, although I didn’t venture out given how cold and dark it was outside.
There were four ales available on handpull when I arrived - Quantock Endless Autumn, Sharps Doom Bar, Taylors Landlord and Tring Side Pocket (£5.10 a pint). The Side Pocket was in very good shape, befitting the pub’s inclusion is recent editions of the Good Beer Guide, and I found the staff to be very friendly and efficient. A crowd started to gather and fill some of the reserved tables, possibly for a pub quiz night, so by the time I left, there was quite a good atmosphere building.
I wasn’t really expecting to find much in the way of decent pubs out in Chertsey, but I thought this was a great boozer, let down only by the annoying table reserving policy – understandable to ensure quizzers can have a comfortable evening here, but infuriating as a lone visitor just wanting somewhere to sit for a few minutes. The well-kept beer, friendly service and eclectic décor were all big plus points though and I’d be surprised to learn that there’s a pub that can top this anywhere else in town.
Date of visit - 12th November 2024
On 20th February 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Olde Swan Hotel
A clearly historic building with bay windows cantilevered over the pavement, the pub is also a hotel. The bar area is knocked through but has a front return area and a side section seemingly favoured by diners. This area had a wall dedicated to a large number of framed pictures and mirrors. A guitar hangs on a front pillar and oddly there are various kitchen implements on hooks towards the rear. Stained boarded flooring with occasional rugs, brick piers are painted in navy blue.
There were four hand pumps, Landlord, Tribute, Doom Bar and Tring Side Pocket for a Toad.
A chilled and pleasant enough spot handily located for Chertsey Town FC.
On 18th January 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1710 recommendations about 1683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Olde Swan Hotel
A bit twee and middle class but has a good range of ale and functions as a pub rather than as a reservations and food outlet. The interior has been whacked through a bit but there is just enough attempt at differentiation to make it feel homely. A weird decor mix of wood floor with rugs, many framed pictures, bluey grey paint and some sort of twee rustic wallpaper. For the discerning satirist, there are Matt cartoons in the bogs. GBG19 listed, there were four pumps dispensing Thwaites Wainwright, Sharps Doom Bar, Downton Honey and a good half of Tring Side Pocket. The female bar staff were engaging and the atmosphere was generated by punter chat over a faint bit of inoffensive background muzak. Given the general low standards locally, this one is worth your time. I would have stayed for a second had I not had other places to bag.
On 6th February 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Olde Swan Hotel
A refurbed hotel bar done out in an Antic pub style shabby chic kind of way, I found it to be a rather nice an comfortable place to be and best by a stretch of the three establishments visited in chertsey on the day. A slight downside for me was that the beer on offer was a little bit pedestrian for my taste, Doom Bar , London Pride and Thwaites Wainwright which was well conditioned an perfectly drinkable if not over challenging, however I quite enjoyed my brief stay here.
On 18th June 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2151 recommendations about 2118 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The Swan Inn
Had a look in and only saw a Youngs ale on so passed. May call in later this week.
On 14th November 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
amanda underwood left this review about The Swan Inn
Located in the centre of chertsey,this pub and hotel has definately changed for the better. Food is very good value, aswell as being very tasty! Staff and locals are all very friendly. This pub has been put back on the map, due to new owners, and a complete makeover. Well done guys!
On 3rd October 2007
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]