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The Swan Tavern, Leadenhall, EC3
EC3
EC3V 1LY
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Pub SignMan left this review about The Swan Tavern
This is a tiny pub tucked away down an inconspicuous alleyway, close to Leadenhall Market, comprising a very narrow, single room interior and a decent amount of courtyard seating as the alley opens out beyond the pub. Inside, a compact quarry stone floored room sports three quarter height dark wood panelling with fancy wallpaper above and a dark, anaglypta ceiling. The bar is down the left-hand side and has a dark wood counter and marble top, matching bar back and some pleasant, brass lined pot shelves. A series of partly leaded front windows don't let a lot of light in due to the fact that they look out to the darkest part of the alleyway. There's a small space to the rear which acts as the only real indoor seating area, with large mirrors on the walls and a few high stools lined up along marble drinking ledges. As with all Central London boozers, the majority of customers were either stood outside or sat at one of the few garden tables and chairs in the alleyway, which eventually opens out into a small courtyard.
The pub is operated by Fullers, so their beers dominate the handpulls, with options on this visit comprising Fullers London Pride, Gales Seafarers, Dark Star Outer Haze and a guest of Twickenham Naked Ladies. A very pleasant, perky barmaid poured me a great pint of the Outer Haze (£6.10), which was a new beer for me and in tip-top condition.
I thought this was a pretty quirky pub that's not exactly built for comfort, but felt like a good spot to dive into for post work pints thanks to well kept beer, a good atmosphere and warm service. I'm not sure I'd want an extended session here unless it came with an alleyway seat and good weather, but I'll doubtless be back, as I often pass this way and liked the pub's overall vibe.
Date of visit - 6th September 2023
On 1st January 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rob Hunter left this review about The Swan Tavern
This is a small Fullers pub in an alley, as has been previously noted. Due to COVID it is currently restricted to outside seating only, with you entering the bar via one door, ordering and getting your drinks, and leaving via the other door. We were after somewhere to sit inside and escape the rain for a bit, so this one didn't fit the bill on this occasion, but I'd be interested in investigating it again at a later date if the opportunity arises.
On 19th August 2020
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 750 recommendations about 598 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Swan Tavern
The Swan Tavern is a tiny Fullers pub which is basically a bar in an alley. There is a small seating area upstairs, but one should really stand in the alleyway for the full Swan experience. The toilets area located down a very steep flight of stairs, watch your step!
During my recent Wednesday afternoon visit the four hand pumps were drawing Fullers London Pride, Oliver’s Island and Seafarers alongside Adnams Mosiac. There is also a limited keg selection. This is a well-known London pub that is worth a look.
On 27th September 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5251 recommendations about 5219 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Swan Tavern
A real City boozer occupying a small site and tied to Fullers.The ground floor Ale Bar has lots of charm and is very narrow.Lots of etched glass and wood panelling,it will be a squeeze to get past vertical drinkers to get served,although at the end of the modest room there are drinking shelves below a small flatscreen with BBC News 24 on mute.The servery is equally small and can only be sensibly staffed by a single person.The 4 handpumps here were offering London Pride,Seafarers ,Olivers Island with a guest in Lacon's Encore (tired and a bit tangy).There is a short menu of sandwiches,toasties and other snacks all under £10 but essentially finger food and there is little space to eat.Up a rickety staircase is a first floor square lounge,carpeted and with the same ale range and food menu but with a few tables so eating up here is easier.
Worth popping into the Ale Bar for vertical drinking and to soak up some atmosphere,a lot of punters will spill outside into the covered courtyard which makes a visit more feasible at peak times.
On 18th January 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Swan Tavern
Squeezed into a passageway, this aged pub has a small narrow bar at ground level, with stairs up to a (slightly) larger room above the alley which has its own bar and a drawing room sort of feel. Beers from Fuller's range with odd guests (Adnams Mosaic at time of visit). I quite liked this pub and it had a nicer atmosphere than some others in the vicinity.
On 29th January 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Swan Tavern
A tiny little pub visible from Gracechurch Street, rebuilt in 1898 making it late Victorian rather than Edwardian as claimed by the pub's website. A flagstone floor, beautiful mirror and green marble ledges to the walls with high stools, this is all the furniture you get at ground floor level, though there's another bar upstairs which we didn't visit.
Ales are a range for Fuller's and acquisitions along with Oakham Ale's JHB, very decent and so it should be at £2.20 a half.
I can't actually imagine myself coming here again as the place gets rammed and, like most city pubs, it's closed at weekends.
On 19th July 2016
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Swan Tavern
This pub is tucked away in an alleyway off Gracechurch St, and is really just a corridor of a pub. It really is so small that if someone is standing at the bar then there's barely room for someone to walk past them, and it's too small for any tables and chairs, with just a handfull of tall stools at a marble ledge at the back. It was very busy when we dropped in on Friday afternoon after knocking off time, but most punters were engaged in vertical drinking in the alleyway outside, and we had no difficulty getting served almost straightaway.
Pints of London Pride and Tomos Watkins' Last Inch (3.4%) came in at £8.50, which is not cheap, but the going rate for the City. I didn't see any food.
This is a characterfull and atmospheric little pub. I've visited it several times over the years, and luckily it doesn't seem to have changed at all. I shall probably visit again.
On 31st May 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roy Collins left this review about The Swan Tavern
Tiny bar hidden away from the main road. Good selection of ales on tap and friendly staff.
On 22nd April 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 124 recommendations about 121 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Swan Tavern
I have often stood at the bustop without realising there was a pub opposite.Quaint dinky narrow ground floor bar with 4 handpumps.3 Fullers beers and Butcome bitter.It was rammed with about 10 people watching the rugby but there is a larger room above.Nice one
On 7th February 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Swan Tavern
A teeny little place in a narrow alleyway off Gracechurch Street, run by Fullers and usually full of City suits. On entering you’ll hit (almost literally) the small downstairs bar with its flagstone floor and wood panelling. Head upstairs via the spiral staircase for a slightly larger and plusher experience with carpeting, red wallpaper, glasswork and more dark wood cladding. This week’s visit saw me in the upstairs bar where three of the Fullers range (Discovery, Chiswick and Pride) were augmented by the welcome sight of a guest in the form of Elgoods Cambridge, which was a decent pint. People often escape the interior throng by drinking outside in the alleyway.
A good, solid pub that always seems to get it right - a worthwhile visit in the City.
On 10th June 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]