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Picture of The White Swan (JD Wetherspoon)
Image posted by Graham Coombs
Submitted on Thursday, 5th December 2019
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The White Swan (JD Wetherspoon), N1

255-256 Upper Street
N1
N1 1RY
Phone: 02072889050
Correct details

Pub Type

J D Wetherspoon

Served areas

Reviews of The White Swan (JD Wetherspoon) (Average Rating: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Tris C left this review about The White Swan (JD Wetherspoon)

Recently rated the 3rd Worst 'spoons.

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Date of visit: 16th January 2022:

With Swan Yard visible to the rear, this was originally the Swan, dating back to the 19th century, destroyed along with the neighbouring Cock Tavern (rebuilt as the [Famous?] Cock), Highbury station and hotel and the end of Compton Terrace, killing 26 and wounding 150, when the area was struck by a German V1 at 12.46 pm on 27th June 1944; the current office building was built in 1962, with ‘spoons opening on 20th December 2000.
This used to be a bit of a kicking-off ‘spoons, but this seems to have been reined in, possibly due to the door staff. With the [Famous?] Cock next door, a McDonald’s, KFC and newly pedestrianised area, occupied by many of the less fortunate in life along with a mob of Deliveroo riders, this isn’t a great place at all and I only really popped in as I was busting for a pee, having studiously avoided a visit for 21 years. The interior is very large with a mezzanine, but it’s by no means the largest of the breed. It was almost empty and a bit tatty, with the descriptions below probably still applicable, certainly rather dated. A group of young drinkers was in, along with a very forlorn looking women sitting at a table, static and staring off into the distance.
The ale selection was poor too, the Greene King/Doom/Pride coven at one end of the bar, then two unused and just Ghost Ship and Sambrook’s Pumphouse at £1.25 a half and decent.
It you’re up for ‘spooning, the Coronet’s not far from here, likewise the Angel and are far better; with a short bus ride, the Rochester Castle has one of the best ale selections for quite some distance with, at the time of writing, Pumphouse at £1.99 a pint.

Rating: 3.

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A return the other night or two and the interior is still unchanged, but table clearing is now more efficient. Customers are greater in number with many younger drinkers, seemingly students but if so, from where I know not. The place is still staffed by many young girls, more interested in their phones and their perishing social network twaddle than serving customers, but an older - manageress? - was far more efficient and forthcoming.
What has changed though is the choice of ales and certainly the quality, with the likes of Sambrook's Pumphouse (nice), Windsor & Eton's Mandarin (excellent), Twickenham's Winter Warmer (excellent), Redemption's Fellowship (excellent) and Twickenham's Naked Ladies, also excellent and just £3.22 a pint, £1.40 less than at Sir Timothy's newly opened Captain Flinders and £1.60 less than at his Barrel Vault.
There has been an improvement here and this - believe it or not - with 'spoon's disposal of the nearby Coronet and Angel, has the best cask lineup in the whole borough, though not as good as N1's Wenlock, but that technically is in Hackney not Islington.
However, I just couldn't face staying here for an entire evening...

On 25th June 2024 - rating: 4
[User has posted 2155 recommendations about 2119 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Graham Coombs left this review about The White Swan (JD Wetherspoon)

Large modern Spoons with an almost seaside feel to it. The bright interior features a wavy design, repeated throughout, and a wavy balcony holding an upstairs area. For some reason they had 4 Nethergate ales on at time of visit, plus a couple of Sambrook's and the usuals. Quite pleasant on the whole, although by the time my friends appeared two of the beers had died and various of the food was off, which raises a query on the management and loses a mark.

On 5th December 2019 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3519 recommendations about 3455 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Bucking Fastard left this review about The White Swan (JD Wetherspoon)

A spoons set below a 70's office block,there is a small outside patio before entering the body of the pub.Spacious at the front,there is a curved balcony to the upstairs section and the bar also mirrors this curved design.The furniture is identikit 'spoons,while the rear of the building is a quieter section below a lowish ceiling.
Two ranks of five handpumps with the trio of doom GK IPA (doubled up),Abbott and Doom Bar leaving on my trip guests Truman Runner,Adnams Broadside,Sambrooks Junction,Westerham Olicana Single Hop (good nick) while Westerham Viceroy IPA was still clipped but I was informed had run out.Not too bad a range ,and not too bad an interior so worth popping in given that real ale option will be limited as you walk south on Upper Street.

On 18th August 2018 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2871 recommendations about 2871 pubs]


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Pub location see interactive map of local area
Map location corrected by Strongers .
Highbury & Islington, 0.1 miles, 1 min walk (show)
Highbury & Islington, 0.1 miles, 1 min walk (show)
Essex Road, 0.49 miles, 9 min walk (show)
Latest updates View all updates for The White Swan (JD Wetherspoon), N1
19th Nov 2024, 19:41
Picture submitted by Tris C deleted by owner
 
19th Nov 2024, 19:38
Picture submitted by Tris C

Pub Details

Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.

  • Accommodation : No last updated 03 August 2013 by Aqualung .
  • Bar Billiards : No last updated 03 August 2013 by Aqualung .
  • Beer Festivals : Yes - January. - last updated 02 February 2024 by Tris C
  • Beer Garden : No - Limited jetty seating. - last updated 02 February 2024 by Tris C
  • CAMRA Discount : No - JDW vouchers only - last updated 19 June 2014 by ROB Camra
  • Car Park : No last updated 03 August 2013 by Aqualung .
  • Child Friendly : Yes - Only for family dining. - last updated 02 February 2024 by Tris C
  • Darts : No last updated 03 August 2013 by Aqualung .
  • Dog Friendly : No - Guide dogs only. - last updated 02 February 2024 by Tris C
  • Function Room : No last updated 22 November 2015 by Aqualung .
  • Hot Food : Yes last updated 25 March 2014 by hondo .
  • Jukebox : No last updated 03 August 2013 by Aqualung .
  • Karaoke : No last updated 03 August 2013 by Aqualung .
  • Live Music : No last updated 03 August 2013 by Aqualung .
  • Live TV Sports : No last updated 18 August 2018 by Bucking Fastard
  • Micropub : No last updated 22 November 2015 by Aqualung .
  • Pinball : No last updated 03 August 2013 by Aqualung .
  • Pool Table : No last updated 03 August 2013 by Aqualung .
  • Quiz Night : No last updated 03 August 2013 by Aqualung .
  • Real Ale : Yes last updated 25 March 2014 by hondo .
  • Real Cider : No last updated 02 February 2024 by Tris C
  • Wheelchair Access : No last updated 02 February 2024 by Tris C
  • WiFi : Yes last updated 16 July 2013 by Dave McNally
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