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Ye Olde Swan, Thames Ditton
Thames Ditton
KT7 0QQ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Ye Olde Swan
The pretty riverside location had certainly brought the crowds out on a sultry summer day with the large riverside terrace teeming with people drinking and eating.
The pub itself is clearly of great age and would appear to be formed from a number of buildings, probably cottages, knocked through. It is a rambling place, despite being on the road clearly with a main aspect to the river. The bar area has a stone flagged floor, boarded elsewhere, but with many modern furnishings which feel at odds with the building. A side room to the left of the bar had sofas, bucket chairs, a wall mounted TV and paintings for sale of iconic London landmarks. Around to the right are two more rooms, one with old wooden beams and posts and a low ceiling, exposed brickwork and an inglenook fireplace then up a few steps to a more formal restaurant section with a wood burning stove.
As you might expect, food is important here, plenty eating outside where surprisingly the outdoor barbecue had not been fired up on a hot day. Weekend specials included a 16oz T bone steak with all the trimmings for £18.99. rack of ribs £10.99. Unusually there is an ice cream fridge in the main bar which unfortunately was a source of a couple of tantrums from over-tired, too hot toddlers.
This is a Greene King outlet but one with a guest beer policy, there was IPA, OSH, Abbot plus 1648 Brewery Signature, Oxfordshire Ales Pride of Oxford and Red Squirrel Legally Blonde. Beer quality was good.
A pleasant if rather busy spot on a hot afternoon, entertainment provided gratis by some foolhardy chap deciding to dive fully clothed into the river off the adjacent footbridge. Thankfully without any harm occurring.
On 20th July 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Ye Olde Swan
Part of Greene King Old English chain, however benefitting from an enthusiastic (and friendly) manager who has brought in a constantly-changing and interesting range of SIBA beers alongside the GK regulars. As described below, it is a splendid rambling old building with a good riverside area. Parking can be tricky however.
On 14th July 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Blue left this review about Ye Olde Swan
Quite a foodie Greene King pub by the Thames, as at last night serving St. Edmunds as their seasonal ale along with the usual regulars. Drinks service was helpful and efficient. They have also installed an ATM that doesn't charge the customer, something I've not seen in a pub before.
Since my last visit they have turned most of the rear car park into extra seating, so there is now a lot of outdoor seating all the way from the back of the pub to the river boardwalk. I get the impression they are trying to corner more of the outdoor riverside custom locally. I hope they succeed in this, not least because they do seem to be better than others in the area in terms of maintaining a genuine pub feel and real ales, albeit from GK, rather than just concentrating on the food side. A good place for a drink by the river on a warm day, in my view.
Above review was on 15th June. Been here again twice since, and eaten here - again good service, and our meals were very nice. They have also added Ruddles County as a guest on one of their 6 handpumps, at £3.00 good value for the area.
On 3rd August 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 271 recommendations about 270 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about Ye Olde Swan
This is apparently a Greene King house, with the usual offerings available (OSH, GKIPA, Abbot), but with a GK ale I hadn’t seen before called “Phoenix”. This turned out to be a ruby red autumnal style ale, at 4.2% ABV, and not too bad at all, although it did perhaps predictably have that distinctive Greene King taste.
A sign outside claims that this is a 13th Century inn. I have my doubts that any part of the current building is that old, but the current Grade I listed building certainly is very old, and perhaps even as old as the early 16th Century Hampton Court Palace that Cardinal Wolsey built over the river. It’s quite conceivable that there has been an inn on the site since the 13th Century, however. It is claimed that Henry VIII was a frequent visitor, presumably to quaff the odd flagon of meade to see him through his other various exertions. The current building has clearly been extended over the years. They’ve added a flat roofed extension at the rear, and it’s subsumed the two old house to the left of the pub and expanded into them as well. The pub interior is a maze of a series of interconnected drinking and eating area on different levels – perhaps as a result of the expansion into the adjoining properties – containing various nooks and crannies. At the far end is what looks like a separate dining area; at least when I was in all the tables were set for diners, but there was a sign saying that it was reserved for a private function, so maybe it is different at other times. At the back is a car park, with some picnic benches around the sides. A few steps down towards the river is a boardwalk, with more picnic benches at river level. There are excellent views along the river and over to Thames Ditton Island. The food is reasonably priced, and they do a “two meals for £9” deal.
There is no doubt that this a historical old pub set in an area steeped in history. I have to say that notwithstanding the age of the building I found the interior a bit disappointing bearing in mind the incredible historical associations that are claimed for it, mainly the presence of the one armed bandits and games machines. I don’t like them in any case, but they do seem a bit out of place in a 13th Century Grade I listed building. In my view this is a destination pub for those wanting a half decent pint and a reasonably priced bite to eat in a superb riverside setting.
On 18th May 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]