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The Swan, York
York
YO23 1JH
Pub Type
Punch TavernsReviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about The Swan
With a CAMRA citation of *** and a Tetley Heritage Inn, my notes are thin but imagine that little if nothing has changed since the last reviews.
There are multiple rooms and a terrazzo floor.
Eight pumps, my half of Half Moon Dark Masquerade was very nice.
Absolutely worth a visit.
On 21st July 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2266 recommendations about 2218 pubs]
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Swan
Another heritage pub (3* CAMRA ) with a corridor servery,,mosaic tiling with a glass canopy above, a very traditional public bar to the left with a small servery,flatscreens thankfully off,and darts board in another room and folk distributed around the large interior.There are many features to admire and the ale range on my visit was Half Moon Dark Masquerade,Tetley's Original Cask,Verdant x Woodshedding This House Pale (NBSS 4),Settle Old Smithy Porter,Ossett Excelsius,TT Landlord,Brass Castle Pacer and Swan Session Blonde.A very decent range with a mix of styles and a pub that should be on any crawl list around the city.
On 21st July 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2997 recommendations about 2997 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Swan
I prefer this pub to its sister The Slip down the road as it is has a more traditional interior and has at least as good a range of beers on, including the occasional 'foreigner' from outside Yorkshire. I freely admit I would happily spend time in either though. On this occasion I had the Pennine Palenka Plum and Brandy Stout, which was ok but not as pokey as the name might suggest.
On 19th August 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3742 recommendations about 3677 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Swan
Final one of 6 today in York. This is a blue plaqued, Tetley Heritage pub and the interior is unchanged and perfectly pubby. A snug, corridor leading to bar and back rooms.
TT Landlord has made me question by proclamation that the Bolt Maker I had in the Slip inn is the best from this brewery.
Great beer.
On 13th October 2020
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1655 recommendations about 1632 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The Swan
Enjoyed our visit to this 2019 Good Beer Guide pub last month, as were a lot of lads dressed up for York races and giving everyone a bit of a sing song. We sat in the comfy back room and enjoyed our ale choice of Revolution Word up and Imperial Nah Then.
On 12th August 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Swan
I didn’t encounter the couple of obnoxious locals and even if I had I wouldn’t penalise this lovely pub just because it let a couple of grumpy sods through its front door, especially as the locals I encountered in the back room were perfectly fine.
I do like these traditional 'West Riding' layout Yorkshire Pubs with the Public Bar at the front, Smoke Room at the rear and central servery in the side corridor.
Very good varied ale choice on offer, but had to go for the Northumberland Fifty Shades of Ale just because of the name. Fortunately it was a good beer.
Will definitely be bringing the good lady wife back here when next in York.
On 4th May 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2279 recommendations about 2135 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Swan
The Swan consists of a right hand corridor that connects front and rear rooms. The front room contains seating and a dartboard with an oche that protrudes diagonally into the centre of the room. This means that when darts is being played this room is effectively out of action. This room is served by a small section of bar, as is the larger rear room where more seating can be found. The main part of the bar is found centrally in the corridor where there is a table. For busy periods a beer shelf runs the length of the corridor. Out the back is a beer garden with some covered seating to the left and some picnic tables to the right.
I counted eight hand pumps plus some standard draught fonts. This pub does not open until 16:00 during the week and midday at the weekend. There is an extension until 23:30 on Thursdays and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
Our group was twenty strong so we phoned the pub before our visit to make sure that it would be OK. “No problem” we were told. Unfortunately some of the locals had different ideas and I felt as welcome as a pig at a bar mitzvah. Some of the behaviour was outrageous and I was surprised that nobody was decked.
This is a nice pub; it’s just a shame about some of the carnts that drink in it.
On 26th April 2015
- rating: 5
[User has posted 6168 recommendations about 6131 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Swan
Doesn't look very remarkable from the street, but the compact historic interior features in Camra's national inventory because it retains a traditional 'West Riding' layout with a Public Bar at the front, Smoke Room at the rear and central servery in the side corridor (with a few stools and seats). Six hand pumps, offering a decent choice of real ale including Northumberland Fifty Shades of Ale and Sonnet 43 #23 Moments to Remember (£1.75, half). Well worth seeking out.
On 26th April 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8813 recommendations about 8813 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Swan
Despite not looking overly alluring externally this is a lovely traditional boozer (Grade II listed), two rooms off a large drinking lobby. A 1930’s refit - there’s a tap bar feel to the front room with the rear ‘smoke room’ being the lounge, replete with bell-pushes in the seat backs and serving hatches in both. The stained glass pub name above the door looked lovely, as did the terrazzo flooring. Darts and daily papers spotted. Six ales and two ciders on at the bar, a good selection. My choice of Sonnets was in good nick. The two grumpy old locals who didn’t like their pub being busy somewhat took the edge of it a bit, still the self-appointed guardians of small-minded Britain have to be encountered occasionally. It must also be said that the rest of the pub patrons were more friendly! Bags of character and well-worth the walk out of town. Note: pub doesn’t open until 4pm on weekdays.
On 7th April 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5657 recommendations about 5638 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Swan Inn
This pub is both a Grade II listed building, and on the CAMRA National Inventory of pubs with unspoilt interiors, mainly because everything from a 1930s refit (multi rooms; corridor with serving hatch; attractive glazing; bell pushes, etc,) still remains in situ. An attractive feature is the stained glass depiction of the pub's name above the front door.
I liked this pub a lot. It pretty much had everything going for it - comfortably furnished, attractive features, decent beer, friendly staff. I would be delighted to have the opportunity to visit this one again.
On 6th April 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2607 recommendations about 2521 pubs]