please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Errr, think Loch Fyne may now not have bought this, if the shiny flyer for the pub's Xmas menu popped through my letter box last night is anything to go by!
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I like... but why is the food so continually awful
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Think Loch Fyne have bought this. They're OK Loch Fyne, but bang goes another pub......
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Paul and Sue have decided to go (and good luck go with them) so watch this space. Ye Olde Swan could have a future, given investment and integrity.
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This is an old building repeatedly wrecked by development over the years - a teardown structure on a riverside site. Formula food and shifty service - why do I always feel I have been ripped off when I wander in? Does a pint of Abbott really cost £3.90? Is it really lejit to show a customer one bottle of wine and then try to serve another? Charmless.
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chain pub basic food . very bad in fact not going there again . get some fresh honest food . very disapoint
anonymous - 1 Dec 2007 19:38 |
Nice place, friendly staff and great location.....but I always feel really disappointed by the food
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Visited on a Saturday lunchtime and really enjoyed. It's in a lovely setting with a good bitter selection (well kept), great food & reasonably priced. Definitely the pick of the pubs in the area.
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The hidden outdoor seating referred to below, is down some steps right on the river bank. I'd been there loads of times before I found this. This is quite a good pub actually and a notch above The Albany up the way which can be unpleasant at times - the Manager and the clientelle. Don't take your car though as you'll likely not be able to park. Jump on the 514/515, or walk, and have a few snifters, which will be served promptly by pleasant staff. Better in winter when it reeks of a real log fire.
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From a location point of view you can't get any closer to the river, however some of the outside seating isn't obvious at first.
Limited car parking space for about a dozen cars. There is also some limited spaces next door.
Inside the pub is 'olde worlde' as per the name! The staff were friendly and I was served also immediately.
The food was good and reasonably priced with a typical generic menu. The portions were very good. Considering it was a busy bank holiday lunch-time we didn't wait long, 15 minutes!
Overall a nice family orientated pub good for a drink and a bite to eat whilst sitting by the river on a nice summer's day.
anonymous - 9 Apr 2007 20:02 |
I found this pub to be satisfactory in every way: good menu; reasonable prices (if you get about as much as I do); friendly helpful staff; comfortable surroundings; well-kept draught beers; what more do you want. The toilets are minimal but clean (is there really only one toilet in such a busy place?). And the car park is a challenge. I had lunch there today and loved it.
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I really like going to the Swan, really good meals there for £5 at lunctime = very much enjoyed it last week - staff really pleasant - lovely in the summer to see people trying to tie their boats up - and even more funny to watch people in their 4 x 4's trying to reverse out of car park! A great pub for eating and drinking and it beats the Fox on the River, as that is so expensive for an ordinary lunchtime meal.
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I'm surprised that most of the reviews of this place are so bad. I suspect there is a probably a dichotomy of views between those who go there to drink, and those who go there to eat.
The latter have a case. The food is average to poor and very expensive. As an example, currently if you were to order cheese and biscuits for dessert it would cost you £5.55. Yes, that's £5.55 for cheese and biscuits. Yes, pounds sterling. No, I'm not dyslexic. Frankly you'd fill your stomach more quickly and cheaply if you skipped the food and just ate your coins.
But as a pub to drink in it's good. It strikes a really good balance between the seasons - lots of cosy inside space and a roaring fire in winter, and lots of outdoor benches and tables by the riverside in summer. The range of beer isn't great, but unlike the food it's quite reasonably priced, and the staff are invariably very friendly.
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Nearly £7 for a pint of bitter and a small glass of vin ordinaire.....I do not think so!!!!Pity 'cos the staff are so pleasant and helpful.Would have given this pub a much higher rating but at those prices....!
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Has the slight feel of a chain pub - but the beer is good, and the position by the river excellent. Food is much improved recently and staff are friendly. Worth a visit, though if you want that special occasion meal go somewhere else.
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I apologise as according to other comments there is outside seating near the river although I didn't notice it the day I visited.
anonymous - 15 Apr 2006 15:49 |
I have only visited this pub once and wasn't overly impressed with the food or atmosphere to be honest. We had steak which was well done and dry and haven't been back since (approx 2 years ago now).
For a riverside location it is a shame there is no outside seating available and only a car park.
anonymous - 15 Apr 2006 15:41 |
Judging by most people's comments I seem to be in the minority in not being impressed by the Swan's food. I will certainly give the place another go as there are enough positive reviews on here to make me believe I was just a bit unlucky on the day I went.
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Well, I often go to the Swan for lunch and find the food is good, the portions good, the service good, the beer good, and, apart from the unfortunate necessity of having a car park between pub and river front, the location and ambience are good too.
A far cry from ten years ago, when it was a hole and going downhill fast ....
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Inglenook fireplace is nice. But it failed to make the over-priced Sunday lunch worth it. The puddings were a let down too I'm afraid. £7.95 for the carvery and we got the meanest portions ever with only a couple of slices of meat, 2 potatoes and completely over cooked veg that turned to mush as we dripped it onto our plates. The cauliflower cheese had no cheese and more water than sauce. Won't be eating here again. The fireplace is nice though, and parts of the building date back to the 13th Century.
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Been a few years since the last visit and it's changed. Much better and more suited to the local population (middle class commuters).
Decent food, staff were ok, good Sunday lunch.
Beer is ok and plenty of seating.
Car park is shockingly bad and it's not a place to take young kids - too easy to get into the river.
anonymous - 29 Sep 2005 13:33 |
Once enjoyed the largest ice-cream ever known to man at this pub. I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing.
An old favourite this, haven't been back recently but would recommend it on past glories. Fantastic location, nice atmosphere. The car park's a bit of a nightmare, though. Best to park down the road and walk.
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It's mint, foods delicious and people are very friendly and enthusiastist. Waitress's are very good looking whcih always helps!
Vicky - 11 Sep 2004 09:39 |
I went to this pub in August this year and i thought the pub and atmosphere were lovely sat beside the river at night what more can u ask for....delightful
Mrs S Broadbent - 22 Aug 2004 16:23 |
Pony in my opinion. More restaurant than pub, bit of a shocker.
Scotty boy - 24 Jun 2004 08:27 |
glynny and emma showed me some very messy times at this pub. loads of fun, especially the snowball fights at christmas. nice pub
Joel - 24 Jun 2004 05:26 |
the swan is the best place for food, beers and sitting down by the river. the service is great and really friendly. the new menu of 2 meals for £10 from mon to thurs is cool. this is the place o go.
Col p - 21 May 2004 18:50 |
I used to work there and it was OK back then. Sunday roast gave all the staff a headache. As the former kitchen chef I could recommend lamb leg in mint sauce. Deliciousssssssssss .....
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Soulless pub, no atmosphere, poor service. Food orientated and if you like Berni Inns this may be to your taste
Martin - 9 Mar 2004 12:04 |
You will love the landlord and landlady, really nice family. Food not too bad considering and a good place to have a party!
Michelle - 27 Feb 2004 22:40 |
Really great pub - excellent location on the river, cosy in winter with open fires, friendly staff and good food!
Jo - 27 Feb 2004 16:34 |
I really like this pub .. ignore all the bad comments! Although the parking is quite bad! Its nice in the summer and the food is good! I've never seen a any Gippos .. what are they?
Atmosphere is tops!
Emm - 12 Feb 2004 12:55 |
Good location and the riverside decking area is good in summer. Food is ok, but nothing special. Same for the beer. Probably a good alternative to the Fox on the River if you actually want to get served in less than an hour.
Big inside, with a function room. Not really a tourist destination, but you'd be ok if you did go there.
Parking is terrible. Walk !
anonymous - 5 Jan 2004 17:34 |
worst meal I have had in decades today 30th December 2003. poor service no contact with customer to allow acomplaint to be registered - unbelievable for something with a superb location
roger spedding - 30 Dec 2003 21:48 |
NO!!! Terrible pub. The managment are all d****eads they overcharge you for everything and will attempt to bar you at every possible oportunity.
jim2 - 10 Oct 2003 12:10 |
Spacious pub, good portions of good pub grub. Not particulary expensive either.
Jan Ferreira - 3 Sep 2003 16:12 |
nice in summer - although it does tend to attract Gippos.
michael - 3 Sep 2003 15:44 |
great place. dont sit outsisde in the summer at night - swarms fo insects!!
otherwise great place - big, by the river, newly fitted
jim - 23 Apr 2003 14:55 |
Food is very nice but not cheap.
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Dodgy , but pretty !
Steve - 17 Aug 2002 23:51 |
Watch out for the barman from NZ, he's a dodgy one
Grant MacDonald |
