Old Swan Inn (Ma Pardoes), Netherton, Dudley

A destination visit. Mrs M asked what I wanted for my birthday. You to drive me to Ma Pardos was the answer. First visit and it lived up to expectations completely. Pumps are unlabeled but I did notice a chalk board and saw that there was Original or something else unremembered. Looks like I should have ordered by numbers. Now I know where it is, I will be back!

Famed in real ale circles as one of just four brew pubs still in existence when CAMRA formed in the early 1970’s, this superb Victorian pub is also home to one of the finest public bars I have ever had the pleasure of drinking in. The main entrance leads you straight into this well preserved room with a long, original bar counter stretching across the rear wall, under a grand bar back with an impressive etched glass ‘Old Swan’ mirror as its centrepiece. An old sign for the pub to one side of the bar proclaims the purity of the home brewed ales and next to it is a blackboard listing the present day ale options – an essential addition as the pumps are all unclipped. The ceiling is perhaps the room’s greatest asset, boasting some highly unusual enamel panels with decorative touches and a nice image of a swan in the centre. Banquette and low stool seating either side of the front door, under a mix of red panelled walls and modern wallpaper, makes up the majority of the seating here and there is a very unusual drinking ledge created by the safety cage around a large stove in the middle of the room, the flue of which can be seen running up to and along the ceiling, exiting through the left hand wall. Decor is rounded out by a few old local photos, some landscape paintings, an old clock, a nice painting of the pub, an upright piano and a Victorian weighing machine. A door to the right leads out to a rather plain corridor, possibly the old bottle and jug entrance, which in turn runs through to a small snug behind the servery with basic bench seating and on again to the Smoke Room with a fine etched glass door pane, comfy bench seating down two sides and an attractive fireplace on the end wall, with the space decorated in slightly dated floral wallpaper. Another corridor emerges to the rear which leads through to the adjacent property (formerly Bennett’s Wool Shop) which was incorporated into the pub as the lounge/diner back in the 1980’s. This room is split into front and back areas, each on different levels and with their own section of curved dark wood servery. The top section has banquette and chair seating under anglypta covered walls with lots of old pictures and photos on show. The bar boasts a decorative canopy decked out with a good collection of brassware items. The lower rear section of the room seems to be more set up for diners, with modern floorboards around the bar area and carpet in the seating area to the left. The focal point is a most impressive Hammond organ which must absolutely rock when it’s played, although it’s unclear if it is in working condition. There is a nice fireplace to one side with a collection of kettles on top of the stove helping to give the room a cosy, lived-in feel. The pub effectively ceased brewing between 1987 and 2000 whilst it was variously owned by the Hoskins, Wiltshire and Pitfield Breweries, but today the brewing operation is very much back on, using a lot of the original equipment. Four ales were available on this visit – Old Swan, Dark Swan, Old Swan Entire and Bumble Hole – and I tried the Old Swan, a light mild that the local’s refer to as ‘Original’. This was a lovely pint and a bargain at just £2.30. I really loved this pub, from the quality homebrew to the friendly locals and stunning interior, with the only drawback being that buses out here in the evening are a bit limited so I had to vanish after just the one pint. This place is the quintessential Black Country boozer and a pub that everyone should try and find their way to at one point or another. This was the highlight of my time in the Black Country and, to my mind, stands out as one of the finest pubs in the country.

A classic and a must visit which has already been well described. We sat in the public bar at the front which clearly hasn't changed in decades and where a few friendly locals were enjoying a beer on Tuesday afternoon. The barman also extended a welcome and was a good source of knowledge on both local ales and those as far afield as Reading. Beers on were all Old Swan and all listed on the board behind the bar as pump clips still don't feature: Old Swan, Dark Swan, Old Swan Entire, Bumble Hole and Pardoes NPA. The NPA was very good. So much so that I wasn't tempted to try anything else. Not to be missed.

For me this pub will always be "Ma Pardoe's" after the owner in the early days of CAMRA. This was the only time I had previously visited getting on for forty years ago. I parked myself in the original public bar with the noted green and white tiled ceiling. All the features in the reviews below are still in place in fact I subsequently discovered that the old weighing machine (now holding a water bowl for canine visitors) is mentioned in the 1978 Good Beer Guide. In the early CAMRA days just the one beer was brewed which I suspect was the same recipe as the current Old Swan Original. Even then it wasn't an exceptional beer but that wasn't the point, it was only available at this pub. Today they brew four regular beers plus the odd seasonal brew. On my visit the seasonal one was just called NFA. I went through the regular range from the other four hand pumps Old Swan Original (£2.20), Dark Swan (£2.40). Entire (£2.70) and Bumble Hole Bitter (£2.90). All were in excellent condition but I was particularly taken with the Dark Swan and Bumble Hole. These are old school Black Country beers so won't satisfy any craving for hops but are still very worthwhile. I was concerned that according to What Pub this place is owned by Punch Taverns but needn't have worried. After the death of Ma Pardoe in 1984 it went through a rough spell, a Black Country beer guide from 1994 says that it is "a mere shadow of its old self in the home brew days". After the restoration in 2001 the glory days are back.

A wonderful Black Country boozer with its own range of excellent beers - strengths to suit all tastes. Front bar full of character (and characters), several "snugs", and a comfortable dining room at the rear. But what has happened to the menu? No fish and chips last Saturday, no real pub food at all except faggots - the remainder of the menu in the £14 - £15 range. Is it a real ale boozer or a gastropub? Surely the usual clientele wold prefer good plain food at proper pub food prices - mains between £5 and £8 say.

I agree with everything in previous reviews. When I visited in mid January 2014 there were at least four real ales. However I have to point out that the food is awesome also. Home made faggots are the best you will get anywhere - don't leave without trying!

I visited the Old Swan Inn on a Friday afternoon a month ago whilst on a seventeen strong PubsGalore pub crawl of the cream pubs in the Black Country. This pub with its various rooms and two separate bars was up there with the best, although there were some unsavoury characters chatting yam yam and dealing little packets of penny sweets in the beer garden at the rear?!! The hand pumps on the bar were badgeless, but a chalkboard behind the bar listed four Pardoe’s beers which is not surprising as this is their tap. I sampled a couple that were recommended which I found to be very nice. This is an interesting place with good beer that is well worth a visit.