The Black Swan / Dirty Duck, Rugby

Not much has changed since I last visited here about 5 years ago. Inside the pub has low beams and a rustic feel, and a lot of TVs showing sport. A smallish bar area, with unfriendly service as my last visit was a long time back. A few regulars propping up the bar on my midweek visit.4 handpumps on offer, 3 of which were different flavours of Rosie's Cider, the other being Pedigree which I had and it was fine. Ok for a quick pint but I'd say there a better options round here, The Merchants being one of them.

A fairly decent pub. Its modernised out and is now an open plan place. There were 5 handpumps on the bar with a selection of localish beers on. I assume the afternoon clientele differs from the evening/weekend crew. A few tellies were showing horsey stuff. As the beer I asked for was sour the barman gave me a free selection so added points there.

The Duck has long been a mainstay of Rugby drinking and although much has changed from the days of open fires and an open roof in the Gents, interesting on a snowy evening, it retained some of the quirkiness and character as well described below. That has now all changed as it has undergone a major refurbishment which has seen a complete remodelling of the interior with the bar being moved further back and the decor and furnishings now calling to mind something between a low rent cocktail bar and a 'spoons. The walls are adorned with screens which were showing indeterminate footy on my early evening visit. There is a large outside drinking area with various heaters for the winter smokers. Beers on were Deuchars IPA, Doom Bar and Byatts Golden Imp and Coventry Bitter. My 5 point rating is all for stocking these two beers from a local, Coventry, brewery. Prior to the refurbishment the pedestrian beer range had long since rendered my visits irregular at best, given the better alternatives in town. I don't see that altering.