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Image posted by Will Larter
Submitted on Friday, 6th February 2026
With picture contributions to 12766 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (35 more images)
Detail Pages
The Swan in the Rushes, Loughborough
Loughborough
LE11 5BE
Served areas
Reviews of The Swan in the Rushes (Average Rating: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Swan in the Rushes
Was a traditional Castle Rock pub when I last visited some 15 years ago, but recently repurposed by Punch as a Unity Social sports-type pub of no particular distinction. Retains a central bar serving two main rooms on either side of the entrance plus a small back room, all refurbished in unsympathetic style that makes nothing of the few remaining heritage features. Just a pair of handpumps on the larger counter these days, offering 'brewery fresh' Wainwright Gold and Five Points XPA Five Points XPA (£3.40) as a guest.
On 9th February 2026
- rating: 6
[User has posted 9063 recommendations about 9063 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about The Swan in the Rushes
This pub was bought by Punch in March 2025 and was refurbished in December, reopening just in time for a celebration of some sort. There is now just one cask beer on, with another hand pump serving a Wainwright Gold brewery conditioned beer from a keg (boo!). The pub's GBG status is therefore under review, as should be its heritage interior, though to be fair I didn't do a thorough survey in the short time I was here towards the end of a pub research trip, and reading the description suggests it was fairly low quality anyway.
My half of Five Points XPA was nothing like the beer I've had in London or at Kirkstall Brewery pubs in Leeds (NBSS 2.5, £3.20/pint), in fact it reminded me of their Best Bitter which I had at the Pembury Arms back in the days when they thought you just put the beer in a cask and then put the beer on the bar. In other words, this beer was green. The pub's Facebook page is full of comments from people bemoaning the change in ownership and emphasis, but to be fair, Castle Rock must have had their reasons for giving it up. It must be hard trying to sell cask beer at a reasonable price when there's a Wetherspoons directly opposite.
On 6th February 2026
- rating: 5
[User has posted 4673 recommendations about 4282 pubs]
Quinno _ left this review about The Swan in the Rushes
No change here. It’s a scruffy and disappointing pub in my view – we were the only customers on an early afternoon. Luckily my Charnwood Outfoxed was in good form (NBSS 3.5) so someone is making an effort to get the ales prepped. Whether it would have scored that an hour later, who knows? Castle Rock really are missing a trick here by not spending a few quid on tidying the place up a little.
November 2022
Was looking forward to this one as a Castle Rock run CAMRA National Inventory pub but sadly what I got was a down-at-heel place. There’s a bit of heritage over the two rooms off an impressive entrance porch. The lounge was deserted but in the public bar were a smattering of punters. Quite shabby here with the banquette fabric worn to the quick and scuffed magnolia woodchip wallpaper. Tinny modern music to detract further from the ambience. Three Castle Rock beers and a guest in the form of Charnwood Vixen which was in good shape (NBSS 3.5), saving the visit a bit. The brewery need to pull their finger out of their shive and spend a few quid getting this place back up to muster. It’s GBG’22 listed. Rated 6
On 19th June 2025
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5992 recommendations about 5971 pubs]
View more reviews of The Swan in the Rushes (15)
Evening walkabout by Michael Boyes
Loughborough by train man
Loughborough by train man
Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
- Official site of The Swan in the Rushes - swanintherushes.com
- Facebook - Swan InThe Rushes
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Swan in the Rushes - whatpub.com
- Historic Pub Interiors - pubheritage.camra.org.uk
Barrow upon Soar, 3.63 miles, 1 hr 10 min walk (show)
Sileby, 5.6 miles, 1 hr 48 min walk (show)
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 : No last updated 19 November 2022 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 19 November 2022 by Quinno _
- Beer Festivals : Yes last updated 19 November 2022 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : No - upstairs tterrace - last updated 04 December 2016 by Aqualung .
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 19 November 2022 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 19 November 2022 by Quinno _
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 19 November 2022 by Quinno _
- Darts : Yes last updated 05 February 2026 by Will Larter
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 19 November 2022 by Quinno _
- Function Room : Yes - upstairs - last updated 04 December 2016 by Aqualung .
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 04 December 2016 by Aqualung .
- Jukebox : Yes - Free on Sundays - last updated 05 February 2026 by Will Larter
- Karaoke : No last updated 19 November 2022 by Quinno _
- Live Music : Yes last updated 04 December 2016 by Aqualung .
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 05 February 2026 by Will Larter
- Micropub : No last updated 19 November 2022 by Quinno _
- Pinball : No last updated 19 November 2022 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : Yes - Free on Sundays - last updated 05 February 2026 by Will Larter
- Quiz Night : Yes - Monday & Thursday (see Facebook) - last updated 05 February 2026 by Will Larter
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 19 November 2022 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 19 November 2022 by Quinno _
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 04 December 2016 by Aqualung .
- WiFi : Yes last updated 04 December 2016 by Aqualung .
