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 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The White Swan, Henley-In-Arden Town, Henley-in-Arden
Henley-in-Arden
B95 5BY
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Real Ale Ray left this review about The White Swan
We got a good welcome from the young barman on this visit and I thought the main bar area had a lot of historical charm, with the low beamed ceilings, open fire and leaded windows. I was asked if I was dining today, to which I replied only if they had chilli con carne. A nice surprise to find it was their daily special at £12. I have to say it was one of the best chilli con carnes I've had for a long time. This was washed down with a decent pint of Hancocks HSB ale from Wales. The two other beers were TT Landlord and Doombore.
I didn't like the way the staff were told to ask if you'd like another drink as soon as you had finished your drink. A guy at the bar even said to the young barmaid are you trying to get us drunk.
On 8th March 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3645 recommendations about 3645 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The White Swan
Old coaching inn where you enter through the passageway and can admire some fantastic old doorways with doors that are so crooked that you wonder how they still open. From the passageway a left turn leads you to the hotel reception area, from where you can also access the public bar at the front of the building, or a steak restaurant to the rear.
We made a beeline towards the bar at the front, which seems to have a loyal following of locals. Just Doom Bar & Tribute on the real ale front, but I thought this was quite a decent and atmospheric place with a fair amount of history attached to it.
On 5th November 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Delboy 20 left this review about The White Swan
Another attractive pub well described below with 5 ales on offer. Doom Bar, Tribute, Horizon, Purity Gold and Purity Bunny Hop. We tried the 2 from Purity which were fine. Happy to have called in.
On 23rd January 2020
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1821 recommendations about 1692 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The White Swan
One of many attractive old buildings along the High Street, this one features a 'L'-shaped bar at the front, a separate 'Stoneaged' restaurant at the back and a function room across the covered entrance-way to the rear yard. All very traditional inside, and there are small rear patio and raised decking areas towards the back. Five real ales on handpump: Doom Bar, Tribute, Wadworth's Horizon and a couple from Purity - Bunny Hop and Pure Gold (£3.65).
On 21st September 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The White Swan Hotel
Good Beer Guide 2019 Entry.
Annoying Gastro pub. There is a large separate dining room, which is half full - but most of the diners are in the bar - leaving no free tables for drinkers.
The drinkers are all sat along the bar on high stools - making access and service tricky.
This probably explained the surly demeanour of the bar staff. Awful service.
The black sheep - £3.60ish - was superb - so there is a reason for its entry!
Visit blogged at https://mappiman.blogspot.com/2018/10/271018-heart-of-england-way-stage-19.html
On 27th October 2018
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1563 recommendations about 1543 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
General Staal left this review about The White Swan Hotel
This looks like a Victorian pub that has been 'Tudorified'. It would not surprise me if there was a more ancient building at its core. There are two entrances, a glass door to the left of the buildng, and an entrance along what looks like the entrance to what would have been stabling.
Inside, the room is smallish and open plan, with the bar in the centre. It looks like it was originally three rooms, one behind the bar and two in front of it. There are two fireplaces in the wall opposite the bar. At the back is a largish function room.
The interior is done out in stripped wooden beams, giving the impression of a Medieval, or Tudor Hall. The chairs are leather, or leather effect and seem like 'thrones'.
The bar staff on when I visited were 'pretty girls' in the usual black that bar staff wear, but they could not be faulted on efficiency or politeness and remembering what your last order was, and the nature of and quality of the beer they were serving.
The beer was the usual stuff, although I didn't see any sign of Guinness. Real ales on sale were Sharp's Doom Bar, St Austell Tribute, Black Sheep Bitter and a beer by Purity.
I tried all four real ales were quite lively and a tad warm. The barmaid said they were suffering from the high temperatures - my car thermo had read 30 degrees in Henley. They did go flat quickly and, as I said, were a bit warm, but they were all palatable. I couldn't stand the Purity, but that is my personal taste, not necessarily the beer. I am not keen on Purity, but gave it a go nevertheless.
We sampled the food - beef and horseradish, and prawn sandwiches, which were delicious. The cooked food others ordered looked and smelled delicious. It was all reasonably priced.
I would definitely go back and revisit this pub.
On 26th June 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 142 recommendations about 125 pubs]