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Approving photos with rpadam
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Will Larter
Submitted on Thursday, 30th May 2013
With picture contributions to 11515 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (9 more images)
Detail Pages
The White Swan, Leeds
Leeds
LS1 6LG
Served areas
Reviews of The White Swan (Average Rating: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The White Swan
In spite of Leeds brewery having flogged off its pubs the Swan still has their core four beers on two of the three banks of four pulls, the others with Yorkshire beers (Brass Castle, Saltaire) plus one from present owners Camerons and a seasonal; again from Leeds (Pumpkin Ale so definitely avoided). Nowt else has changed, a few good European beers in the fridge and no hint of fishy smells even on a Friday. Beer cold but decent if not special.
On 10th November 2018
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3209 recommendations about 2920 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The White Swan
I have experienced this on a few occasions now and it puts me off a place instantly. We walked in here mid Saturday afternoon and the pub was busy. Now for my gripe, the whole pub had a strong smell of cooked fish, which was tainting the air. They had a good choice of ales on the bar, unfortunately I didn't enjoy my Ossett Silver King, because of the strong fish aromas. I do eat fish, it's just when it smells a place out puts me off.
On 2nd December 2013
- rating: 5
[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 Leeds Brewery house is apparently built on the site of a former pub of the same name and is incorporated into the famous City Varieties theatre. The pub has a large, split level interior, with the servery running along the rear wall decorated with pump clips and origami swans. Most of the room has bare floorboards and walls painted in pastel shades with lots of standard tables and chairs filling out the main space opposite the bar. To the right of the entrance is a carpeted lounge area of sorts with sofas and comfy chairs in front of a baby grand piano. At one point, a member of staff approached the piano and my hopes of a performance were briefly raised, only to discover that she was just lighting some candles to place on top of it. There are plenty of old City Varieties posters papering the walls and the end wall allows you to see directly into the theatre’s entrance. To the left of the front door there is a raised seating area which seemed to have attracted diners on my early evening visit. The menu certainly sounded tasty, with most main meals around a tenner. A few hardy souls were determined to sit outside, where a few tables with umbrellas have been arranged along the narrow street under the front windows.
Leeds Pale, Best, Midnight Bell, Yorkshire Gold and Hoptober were all available on handpull alongside guests Wharfebank VPA, Staffordshire Knot Crown Ale and West Berkshire Maggs Magnificent Mild. I’d had my fill of pale hoppy beers by this point, so I went for a pint of the Midnight Bell, which was probably quite nice, but unfortunately it was served far too cold to be able to properly appreciate it. An interesting keg range is provided with very few mainstream brands in evidence and I noticed a few tempting bottles in the fridges as well.
I thought the ‘theatre bar’ theme was a nice idea, although I’m not sure they’ve entirely pulled it off and I thought the place fell just the wrong side of the characterful/contrived divide. I wouldn’t mind returning to this place but there are some much better options not too far away.
On 25th October 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]
View more reviews of The White Swan (7)
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- White Swan site - www.whiteswanleeds.co.uk
- Facebook - The White Swan, Leeds
- Twitter - The White Swan Leeds
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The White Swan - whatpub.com
Burley Park, 2.1 miles, 40 min walk (show)
Headingley, 2.91 miles, 56 min walk (show)
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.
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 25 October 2013 by Pub SignMan
- Car Park : No last updated 25 October 2013 by Pub SignMan
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 25 October 2013 by Pub SignMan
- Pinball : No last updated 25 October 2013 by Pub SignMan
- Pool Table : No last updated 25 October 2013 by Pub SignMan
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 31 July 2012 by Will Larter
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 25 October 2013 by Pub SignMan