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Old Swan Inn (Ma Pardoes), Netherton, Dudley
Netherton
Dudley
DY2 9PY
Pub Type
Punch TavernsReviews (Current Rating Average: 9 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Old Swan Inn (Ma Pardoes)
I’d bigged this one up to my companions and after two pretty ‘meh’ places beforehand I was banking on this place lifting the spirits, but it didn’t really deliver. Now, the interior is the same as it ever was – lovely. But the atmosphere was weird, with few customers on a late Saturday afternoon; the oddball barman with an air of unwarranted arrogance didn’t help matters as did the pervasive cold and the lack of cobs. Five of their homebrews on. A mixed bag (we were warned by the old boys at the Lamp that things weren’t going brilliantly) and whilst the dispense quality was lower-end GBG standard - Dark Swan (NBSS 3), NPA (3.5), Entire (3) - nobody really enjoyed their beers much. We initially were going to sample the range but decided to shove off early. Feels like it has lost its way a bit…worth sampling but not the “do at all costs” place I had it slated as prior to this visit. I still like it, but there's caveats now. 7.5
November 2012
A pub that really can be described as unique - from the gigantic tiled swan on the ceiling of the public bar through to the home-brewed beer of the Olde Swan brewery which is enjoyable and stupidly cheap too (and in the Black Country, the word 'cheap' is a whole different concept for someone visiting from Berkshire). Known locally as ‘Ma Pardoes’ after a previous licensee, there are number of separate rooms which each have a bar or serving hatch to the main bar. The pub looks fairly bland from the roadside, being part of a long terrace but the fun starts as you enter the main front bar which is a riot of green tiling, swan mosaics and old stoves. Four Olde Swan ales are usually on; the pumps are unclipped and the list of what’s available is chalked up on a blackboard. Your pints are best drunk in the cosy rear snug (a particular favourite of mine with a real feel of 1930’s homeliness), after a ten minute tour taking in all the CAMRA National Inventory-listed fixtures and fittings in the front where furnishing is fairly basic and functional. Food is classic Black Country fayre – cobs and home-made scotch eggs. A definite must-visit pub. Rated 10
On 30th December 2021
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
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Delboy 20 left this review about Old Swan Inn
I suppose you could say that I am biased as I am lucky enough to live within walking distance of "Pardoes" but I still say it is one of the best pubs I have ever been in. No need to describe it as the reviews below cover every aspect. All I have to say is great pub and great beer. If you haven't been, you should and if you have been you will return!
On 3rd September 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1656 recommendations about 1556 pubs]
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Nick Davies left this review about Old Swan Inn
What can I say that hasn't already been said about this wonderful living musuem. It's one of those the National Trust would buy if it needed preserving. As it is I doubt the planners would dare lay a finger on it. A 'see before you die' place, pehaps at a quieter time when there's no danger of a Camra beardie's outing. Oh and the beer's alright too.
On 1st February 2018
- rating: 10
[User has posted 567 recommendations about 559 pubs]
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Ian Mapp left this review about Old Swan Inn
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!
On 11th August 2017
- rating: 10
[User has posted 277 recommendations about 276 pubs]
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Pub SignMan left this review about Old Swan Inn
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.
On 4th April 2017
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
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Thuck Phat left this review about Old Swan Inn
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.
On 7th July 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
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Aqualung . left this review about Old Swan Inn
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.
On 13th April 2015
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
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John Bonser left this review about Old Swan Inn
Update - September 2014
A short September break in the West Midlands gave me the opportunity to revisit a few old favourites - and where better to start than here ?
Pub is as described by previous reviewers and as by myself on my previous visit in September 2009. The backwards clock behind the bar is still there as is an old currency conversion table on the wall, reminding us that 75p used to be 15 shillings in old money.
The usual 4 beers were on with prices ranging from £ 2.20p for The Old Swan Bitter up to £ 2.70p for The Entire and £ 2.90p for the Bumble Hole, the latter two being in fine form. Still no pump clips - look at the blackboard for beers on, including gravities and prices
The pub was very quiet on my Tuesday afternoon visit, with, in the old original front bar, the lively atmosphere and friendly banter enjoyed on my previous visits being noticeably absent.
However, this is still definitely one to seek out when the opportunity arises - I do hope it isn't another 5 years before I get round to coming here again
ORIGINAL REVIEW - SEPTEMBER 2009
Another famous Black Country institution this - and a must for the first time visitor to the West Midlands.
Older drinkers may recall that, in the early 70's when CAMRA was formed, there were less than half a dozen home brew pubs active, of which the Old Swan was one. Whilst it has not brewed on site continuously since that time, it does now, having recommenced in 2001. The pub sign now bears the name - "Inn Business" - not sure who they are.
The pub is situated a couple of miles outside Dudley - on a frequent bus route incidentally - and has been expanded into the building next door on the left since my previous visit in the early 80's.
The pub features in CAMRA's National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors for its unspoilt public bar, featuring an enamelled swan - motiffed ceiling, old fittings, a stove and an antique "try your weight" weighing machine. Above this weighing machine is an enamelled sign telling us that "the Ales brewed at this establishment are the purest in the borough" and that they are "brewed by a medalist and certificated brewer". Of note also, although probably more recent, is a back to front clock over the bar. The public bar is where beer and conversation rule and, on my recent Sunday lunchtime visit, the atmosphere felt akin to that of an old style Scottish "drinking shop".
Round the back behind the public bar are several cosy snugs, served via a hatch from the public bar, which are traditionally furnished, comfortable and much quieter. A corridor - the walls of which bear framed certificates awarded to the beers at CAMRA festivals - leads to an outside drinking area at the back with a smokers shelter behind the newer part of the pub.
On the real ale front, there 4 pumps, all unclipped, but the home brewed beers are detailed on a blackboard and range from Old Swan Bitter ( 3.5% at £ 1.80p ) through to Bumblehole ( 5.2% at £ 2.40p ) . I found the Old Swan Bitter rather thin and bland, but both the Bumblehole and the Entire ( 4.4% at £ 2.20p) were excellent tasty pints in good condition. The pub has been a GBG regular in recent years.
Do make the effort of visiting this one when you can.
On 6th January 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]
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Godfrey Eland left this review about Old Swan Inn
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.
On 25th February 2014
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
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Dafydd Williams left this review about Old Swan Inn
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!
On 25th January 2014
- rating: 10
[User has posted 13 recommendations about 12 pubs]