please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Gone downhill.
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Hello there.
I'm looking for an old friend called (Barney) Robert/Bob Barnett who does drink or did drink in this pub, can anyone tell me if they know him or where he might be now.
I'd really like to get in touch with him just to see how life's been for him since we last met in the mid-seventies.
Thank-you for your help in advance.
D Mac
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Top class pub food in the restaurant at rear of pub, and a lively atmosphere in the front bar make for a welcoming place.
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Anybody can deliver a pint of tasteless �lager� (HAH!) but it takes a proper landlord to deliver cracking pint of real beer and that�s what I have had on all my (too infrequent) visits to the Swan. I don�t visit that often as I don�t live within staggering distance, simple as that.
The pub has multiple rooms and uses them well. Some are geared towards those who are more concerned with eating and the front room can get a bit �lively� but none the worse for that.
IMHO the landlord is a pro and always keeps an eye on how things are going. He doesn�t look like the kind of chap who would let things slide.
I like it.
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Cheers!
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Swanlord, sorry my mistake. Excellent pint of Fosters yesterday lunchtime though !
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Sorry Bluenosemally, but our most expensive draught pint is �3.20 (Guinness or san Miguel). Did you buy Magners?
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Decent enough boozer, but 3.30 a pint ?
Probably priced to keep out the traunch of Chavs and Pikey's that prevail in Iver, but also in grave danger of sending the locals back to Langley......
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Sorry "Gristy", that you had such a poor experience of The Swan. The current decor was inherited when we took over 1 year ago. A pub of this size is always "a work in progress" and as funds become available, we will attempt to improve the general "ambiance" of the interior as we already have acheived externally.
(By the way - your accusation that I "pump myself up with false reviews" - no no no no no - never have and never will. Anyone who knows me, will know I'm not that self important. If anyone eats here and wants to post positively on this, or any other site - fantastic! If their experience is not so good - even better - gives us a chance to alter our methods (see next comments).
In answer to "anonymous" (are you?), we thank you for your comments and have ditched the "factory" bread for better quality, freshly baked - much better, we agree. With regards to the service times - point taken - they will be as advertised under all normal circumstances.
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The Swan continues to evolve though not always in the right direction. I fear that the owners have already become slightly complacent with ever reducing portion sizes and inconsistent opening hours. Initially the Croque Monsieur for example was an impressive dish as were the sandwiches (chunky fresh bread etc) now reduced to factory made bread and looking like poor value for money. They perhaps need to use smaller plates as they are now filled with salad rather than substance. We have visited twice recently when the restaurant has been advertised as open only to be told by mystified staff that there is no food available! From mediocre to excellent and back again in the same timeframe! Shame but it happens all too often...
anonymous - 1 Oct 2007 08:18 |
If this was your second visit in as many weeks, why was your first posting done in the first person as a method statement for the pub and the second was as a third-party "punter"? If you are going to pump yourself up with false reviews, at least have the nous to not link yourself to previous posts...
Visited around 8.30pm on a quiet Thursday night. Bare pine boards, pine tables, pine high-back stolls and pine window blinds...too much like a Swedish bistro restaurant and nothing like a pub, I'm afraid. One real ale on, London Pride, nothing wrong with it, but won't be hurrying back.
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2nd visit in as many weeks! My friend and I arrived at The Swan and enjoyed a drink in the decked garden area prior to going into the restaurant. Although not very busy the atmosphere was serene, the decorated tables and crisp linen napkins hinted at the quality of food and service to follow. As my friend normally only has a main course when ever we dine out, it was only I that opted to try the flat mushroom with mozarella and bacon, a delightful twist on the staid and now predictable potato skins which thankfully weren't on the menu! The starter arrived inside 10 minutes and was a goodly size, adequate in fact for my friend to share without me feeling I'd been robbed!
For main course my friend opted for the Duck, I chose the fillet of Pork. Both were presented splendidly and piping hot. The Pork came with roasted apples and a bubble and squeek mash, simply delicious and very filling! Being a perfectionist I might have had the Pork slightly more pink but that is the only thing that could have improved the dish from a personal perspective. My friend was delighted by the Duck which was beautifully tender and served with dauphinoise potatoes and mixed vegetables of the day, the carrots were particularly good apparently!
All in all we couldn't find fault with The Swan. The main dishes at �12.95 might be a bit more than you'd pay in an average pub but this isn't average in any way and it is well worth the extra couple of pounds! The menu is comprehensive, encompassing many home-made dishes of both English and Italian influence, we'll be back to try something new that is for certain! Well done to everyone involved!
anonymous - 3 Aug 2007 10:36 |
With nearly half the area of the pub being a dedicated restaurant, we are committed to providing more than just "pub grub" (which we do, in actual fact, serve all afternoon until 7pm). We dislike the term "Gastro Pub" as much as anyone else, and it is not our intention to provide "Gastro Food" which is sometimes (but not always) a euphemism for "small portions, overpriced". On the other hand, we absolutely refuse to serve the cheap and cheerful microwaved cr*p that you can find in hundreds of other pubs. Our intention is to serve quality food for a fair (and, for us, an economically viable) price. It's not possible to please everybody all of the time, but we hope that the vast majority of people who dine with us have a positive experience.
anonymous - 25 Jul 2007 13:59 |
Ate at The Swan Iver on Saturday July 7th 2007. I had the starter of avocado and mozarella with tomatoes and pesto which whilst hard to get wroing was simply divine with just the right balance of pesto and adequate portions of both the cheese and avocado. I followed that with the moules marinara which again was quite delightful and the garlic ciabatta that accompanied it was the best I have ever had in my life. Well done to the new(ish) owners Gary and Sari, an excellent job executed well. I will be back for sure.
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Yes this pub was "gastronised" but now has new owners who have made the atmosphere more pub like . Still a little on the expensive side but the food is excellent and there is a patio/decking area out the back for barbies and the smoking ban. Only generally one real ale (London Pride) though.
anonymous - 25 Jun 2007 18:27 |
This is yet another attempt to turn one of our village pubs into a "Gastro" pub, we know to make money you need to sell food, many do by selling good pub grub (visit the 3 Horse Shoes in Marlow Bottom) as and example of how it can be done. This is the secound attempt by new owners, and again it failed. After 30 years of using the lovely Old Swan it is farwell from oyr gang of 5 Old Timers.
anonymous - 12 May 2007 13:12 |
cold uninviting pub �10.20 for two glasses of wine ?
anonymous - 18 May 2006 09:27 |
Looked nice from the outside, and it was comfortable within. Things continued to impress when I saw that they were serving Grand Union beers, one of the best of the micro breweries. Then I tasted it. Awful.
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Have been here twice. The first time during the Xmas rush for lunch. Service was best described as stretched and under pressure. Teo diners had to send their fish back because it was still raw in the middle.
The second visit the staff messed up orders, the owner claimed we had changed our minds and were therefore lying, customer service was non-existent. Finally got a refund for the food that didn't turn up - obviously at a lunch-time you can't wait 40 minutes for the correct toasted sandwich to be delivered.
Wont bother again.
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This is a nice pub these days. Food is great and beer and wine are good too - Over priced though- it doesnt make for a reasonable night or afternoon out.
If you overlook that or your wallet can take it, then head on down there for a nice sunday afternoon with great food.
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This pub has recently become a Bistro Pub. The food is really outstanding, a great deal of care and attention, from presentation to the taste of the food. The menu changes frequently too. The staff are very pleasant and happy to help. The tables are not too close together either, light & airy. Great selection of wines, which I understand change regularly too, its a must try!!!
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