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The White Swan, Covent Garden, WC2

14 New Row
Covent Garden
WC2
WC2N 4LF
Phone: 02030771129

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Pub Type

Nicholsons (Mitchells & Butlers)
Page: 1 2

Reviews (Current Rating Average: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Will Larter left this review about The White Swan

A Nicholson's pub that had been experiencing delivery problems, evidenced by the eight hand pumps on the bar featuring only two ciders and one real ale: Northern Monk Eternal IPA 4.1%. It is quite small for one of this chain, and fairly busy at lunchtime. I had to climb through two storeys of quite a substantial building to reach the toilets - those unable to achieve such feats will find themselves out of luck: there are no wheelchair accessible toilets. Although my beer - the only cask ale on offer - was in good condition, it was of that style of modern beer that I normally avoid, tasting overwhelmingly of lemon. I've been in many better Nicholson's pubs than this, not to mention better supplied.

On 2nd February 2022 - rating: 5
[User has posted 3700 recommendations about 3439 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about The White Swan

This is a grade II-listed building, dating from the 17th century; indeed, much of the timber toward the front room does indeed look old, but I can’t work out if this was originally a pub prior to joy it was as a branch of O’Neill’s. It does though seem that this was coaching in and Hoare’s house, which closed in 1934; an impressive Hoare & Co mirror can be seen in the hall.
Otherwise, it’s a typical ‘Victorian’ Nicholson’s affair with all that entails, though the panelling to the rear looks more modern, the floor is along with the pine bar back. Customers were few in number, which isn’t unexpected on a Sunday evening.
There were eight pumps with little to excite, being Rosie Pig, Old Rosie, Proper Job ‘coming soon’, Landlord, Ghost Ship, Doom, Pride and Nicholson’s Pale Ale at £2.70 a half and good.
This place is ok for a drink, but the Harp is round the corner and for those with weak knees, the lavs are on the third floor.

On 15th November 2021 - rating: 5
[User has posted 1956 recommendations about 1923 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Bucking Fastard left this review about The White Swan

A Nicholson's house,quite small with the usual dining room on the first floor.A traditional curved frontage,the open plan tap room is modest with a few tables by the front window,drinking shelves around the bar area and a square rear seating area,with a large round table with stools in the centre,bench seating to the side.There is wood panelling,a low ceiling and some period charm,but when busy it's hectic.The muzak was very loud but at least the BT Sport/Sky screen were off.
There are 8 handpumps but some were reversed,other unclipped leaving a choice of London Pride,Doom Bar,Old Rosie cider,Bedlam Turtle Recall and Sadlers Peaky Blinders Black IPA (NBSS 3 ) which saved my visit.
I assume the local CAMRA branch saw 8 handpumps are so awarded this pub 2020 GBG entry.With just 2 guest beers this is hardly a real ale destination,keep going to The Harp nearby if that's what you want.Little reason to revisit.

On 9th November 2019 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2709 recommendations about 2709 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Ian Mapp left this review about The White Swan

Now a Nicholsons....

An unexpected pint of Orkney Dark Island. Decent too.

Not many in as we got close to the ungodly hour of 10:50.

A typical LDN pub experience that didnt stand out in any way, despite being a GBG entry.

Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2kkezym

On 2nd February 2017 - rating: 5
[User has posted 277 recommendations about 276 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Blackthorn _ left this review about The White Swan

A traditional and attractive looking pub, it is perhaps slightly less appealing inside than might be suggested from the outside appearance. It has an old wood strip floor and a black painted ceiling, along with some dark wood panelling on the walls at the front of the pub, but other than that there was little of any note. The door at the front of the pub had Saloon Bar etched in to the glass. A plasma screen was showing a sports channel whilst the music was playing perhaps just a tad too loudly for easy conversation.

First impressions on the beer front looked promising with plenty of beer mats tacked on to the wall behind the bar and a bank of eight hand pumps. However, closer inspection revealed that no less than five of these had either run out or were coming soon, leaving just Truman’s Runner, London Pride and Pedigree. The solitary cider was a rather disappointing Aspall’s Suffolk, although there was also a hot mulled option.

On 26th January 2016 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1937 recommendations about 1850 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The White Swan

Fairly narrow and tapering bar with further seating beyond a partial screen at the back. Traditional-style furniture and decor, as you would expect from a Nicholsons. Upstairs dining room (never visited). Row of eight handpumps, usually dispensing a reasonable selection of real ales, with seven in operation on this visit and NPA, Pride, Bombardier, Ghost Ship, Hobgoblin, Truman's Runner and Windsor & Eton Conqueror (£4.30) on offer.

On 21st November 2015 - rating: 7
[User has posted 8066 recommendations about 8066 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Danny O'Revey left this review about The White Swan

Small Nicholsons pub near market. Dark & moody on the inside with a room to the street that thins to the back as it passes the bar. Dark & light wood panels, its a smart Nicholsons offering with usual menu & 7 real ales.

On 25th November 2014 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]


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Moby Duck left this review about The White Swan

Nice enough but typical Nicholsons pub,the beer range on my visit was a little ordinary, and my Nicholsons (St Austell) Pale was very average,had a taster of the only beer I wasn't familiar with, Peerless Dark Matter, a zero hopped beer, unfortunately it was sharp and sour, totally off, told the barman but didnt see the clip removed. I would say the pubs worth a look but wasn't over impressed.

On 3rd August 2014 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1868 recommendations about 1841 pubs]


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Real Ale Ray left this review about The White Swan

A decent pub this one and have to say we enjoyed our visit here. I was surprised to see Fullers London Pride on handpump in here, what with the Roundhouse a Fullers pub across the way. There were 9 ales to choose from on our visit, so still enough variety. I went for the Brewsters Decadence, a very good golden ale.

On 13th January 2014 - rating: 8
[User has posted 3378 recommendations about 3378 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Pub SignMan left this review about The White Swan

This is a relatively new Nicholson’s pub, having converted from an O’Neills a year or so back, with a prime location between Leicester Square and Covent Garden. The pub has a straightforward single room layout with the servery down the right hand side. There’s loads of dark wood, on the floor, walls and servery, which works well in the dimly lit interior to create a warm, cosy environment. There is a small, open area at the front with a few standard tables and chairs, before the pub narrows as it passes the servery, allowing just enough room for some small tables and drinking ledges. The nicest area is to the rear, past some semi partitioning where high tables and stools can be found with a padded banquette along the right hand wall serving a couple of tables. A couple of TV screens were on during our visit, both showing muted rolling news whilst music played quite loudly over the sound system, although it was late on a Friday night, so perhaps that is to be expected and it certainly wasn’t as loud as in the Roundhouse over the road. There is a dining room upstairs, strictly for those wanting food only, so I didn’t bother to explore.
A long bank of hand pumps offered Daleside Old Leg Over, Adnams Lighthouse, Great Heck American Classic, Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted and Fullers London Pride. Three more pumps had clips that were turned 90 degrees and looked like they might still be available, but when I ordered one of them, I was told they were all off, although no attempt was made to turn them fully around. The barman helpfully offered us tasters of a couple of the available options without prompting, and as a result we came away with an outstanding pint of the American Classic, so credit to him for that.
I imagine this place gets packed out at times, thanks to its location as much as anything else, but judging by this visit, it deserves to be popular in its own right. For my money, it is one of the better pubs in the Covent Garden area and I’m sure return visits will be forthcoming.

On 6th October 2013 - rating: 8
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]

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