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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by David Walton
Submitted on Monday, 15th July 2024
With picture contributions to 997 other pubs
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Detail Pages
The Swan at Hay, Hereford
Hay-On-Wye
Postal town: Hereford
HR3 5DQ
Served areas
Reviews of The Swan at Hay (Average Rating: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about The Swan at Hay
Visited 13/07/24
The Swan is a classy hotel, last visited for a stay about 10 years ago. There are two hotel bars - though can't believe that is because there is much demand as both times i have stayed there i think i was the only customer (wife excepted) and they were end of the evening nightcap type situations. This time a late afternoon visit as a non- staying thirsty punter. The 1812 Bar is comprised of two rooms with carpets and comfy sofas and bar (keg only) along one wall. There is a log burner which felt like it should be lit as it was a pretty cold July afternoon. The other bar is the Market Bar, which is a rectangular room with bar at one end, carpeted with TV on bar. Some large booth tables down the side by the door, with three or four other tables with nice leather dining chairs.
The Market Bar had two hand pumps offering the two Wye Valley Brewery stalwarts of HPA and Butty Bach. I had a pint of the latter, and it was in good nick. Keg was Peroni, Grolsch and Flagon Cider from Robinsons and which were the beers available in the 1812 Bar also. After not having seen Grolsch in a pub for quite a while, suddenly seem to be bumping into it frequently in quite divers places!
Whilst there is a lot to like about the venue, the bars in this hotel feel a bit clinical and soulless. Saying that decent cask, notched to average for me.
On 15th July 2024
- rating: 5
[User has posted 631 recommendations about 631 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Delboy 20 left this review about The Swan at Hay
Hotel with a bar open to the public. Much like Soupy below I wandered through to the back room where I was the only customer! There was one other person in the bar. Wye Valley HPA and Butty Bach on offer. I went for the HPA at £4.80 (high for the area but Hotel prices I expect!)
A one time visit for me with much better options in the town.
On 17th April 2023
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1821 recommendations about 1692 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about The Swan At Hay
Large Georgain styled stone facade, it is in fact a hotel, with a 'Bistro' door (behind the blue van), which is in fact locked, so you have to go through the main door, to the reception and ask!
I was funnelled along a corridor into the Bistro's back room, the Bistro wasn't open and there was nobody behind the bar, so the bloke at reception had to serve me and clear off back. The bar room i found myself in had a pool table and old style jukebox, with wood stall seating. The decor was red. There was a bit of background music to keep me entertained, along with a few old cartoon/caricatures on the walls. Serve was hurried and had i wanted another, i guess i could have poured it myself and not paid, or gone back to reception. There was no other clientele.
Beer; usual tap stuff with Wye Valley Butty Bach and Dorothy Goodbody - which was fine.
I just felt like i was on the moon - if i died there, would i have been discovered by Christmas? There is nothing wrong with the place and it may simply have been because it was in the day - yet the Kilverts was rammed. What a waste really.
On 11th October 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3067 recommendations about 3062 pubs]
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- Official site of The Swan at Hay - www.swanathay.co.uk
- Facebook page of The Swan at Hay - www.facebook.com
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Swan at Hay - whatpub.com
Llandrindod, 20.53 miles, 6 hr 36 min walk (show)
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Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : Yes last updated 16 January 2024 by Tris C
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 16 January 2024 by Tris C
- Function Room : Yes - According to Twitter - last updated 21 July 2015 by Dave McNally
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 11 October 2009 by Will Larter
- Jukebox : Yes last updated 11 October 2009 by Will Larter
- Micropub : No last updated 16 January 2024 by Tris C
- Pool Table : Yes last updated 11 October 2009 by Will Larter
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 11 October 2009 by Will Larter
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