The White Swan, Charlton, SE7

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Roger Button left this review about The White Swan

This traditional looking pub in Charlton Village was built in 1899 during the golden age of pub building although there is frankly little of its Victorian splendour intact.

The open plan L-shaped interior has a large public bar section to the right containing a pool table and darts area. The lounge bar section has a general feel of untidiness not helped by such unsightly bare floors. The pub is on the whole very plain although the stained glass windows depicting White Swans amid the rushes are worthy of note. Other than that it is quite dull, featureless and lacking anything that to make it stand out. At the rear is a reasonable sized but not particularly appealing beer garden. There are a couple of basic TVs and tolerable piped music as well as quiz nights on Wednesdays and poker evenings if that’s your thing.

The beer selection is equally unimaginative with 5 pumps but just London Pride and Greene King IPA available. The Pride I had on my recent visit was, to be fair, very good quality and at £3, probably about par for the area. A series of blackboards that are precariously balanced on the back of the built in bay seating advertises a selection of wines, teas and food specials.

Unsurprisingly, it gets crowded before Charlton matches but otherwise it doesn’t appear to be a place that attracts the crowds and it must be said the general customer base can be a bit coarse and offputting to those of a gentler disposition.

It certainly isn’t a pub to visit by choice but it covers the basics and I have been in a lot worse.

On 21^st September 2010 - rating: 3
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