please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Busy pub, popular with local workers. Very small choice of cask beer, but not had a bad pint. Pleasant enough, but could do with a bit more atmosphere. Tennis themed menu today - apparently there's a well known tournament on.
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This is a great little pub. It is, as has been said, very busy at lunch and for post work drinks, but a little later in the evening it's the perfect place for a drink if in the area. Definitely one of my favourites in the City.
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When this was the Mucky Duck in/around late 2000, this was the location where the ubiquitous "panel" was formed. During the final of a routine game of spoof, Orf and Reilly went head to head. It was clear Orf had lost, but in a last minute attempt to escape the penalty, he feigned a distraction (by pointing at the ceiling) and dropped one of the coins from his hand to the floor, cushioning the coins fall with his feet. He nearly got away with it but Buzzard saw it. To decide the consequence from the bluff, the panel was formed, consisting of Rat, Swan and Buzzard. The penalty issued is lost to history, as too (these days) is Orf.
Now called the White Swan (and not connected to the panel member Swan), this is a nice quiet little boozer, certainly one for ladies as they have a good wine selection.
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This isn�t the biggest pub, but it is done up well with a nice bar and balcony area as can be seen from the picture above. Pride, Adnams and Broadside were all available on my visit along with a selection of premium lagers and Carlsberg.
There were a couple of groups of blokes in whilst I was there that acted and spoke like they were big cheeses and it is the first time a barman has called me darling without mincing away to get my pint.
This place is a little too expensive and pretentious for me and I won�t be rushing back.
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Went there for the first time today with 4 business colleagues and am compelled to leave instant feedback.
Despite this appearing to be a pub, upon entering barman demanded to know whether we would be eating or just drinking. If only the latter he would be requisitioning the table for diners.
We decided to eat. Menu looked good, not cheap, but clearly some thought had gone into it.
3 x fishcakes (�11.50 each), 1 x Aberdeen Angus Burger (�10.50), 1 x Cheese Ploughmans (�7.50).
The four hot dishes were excellent and tasty. Advice for future customers - never order a Ploughman's. It was the most miserable, meanest, excuse for a dish ever seen. 2 modest pieces of cheese, half an apple, various pickles and HALF yes HALF a slice of bread.
Unbelieveably, when pointing this out to same barperson he said that despite this appearing on the menu as a main couse, as it was nearer in price to starters this was reflected in the portion size!!! We asked if more bread could be made available. Certainly but this would be charged as an extra.
Whilst a fascinating insight into their pricing/portion control procedure the general demeanour of the barman was pretty unpleasant/abrasive and did rather spoil the overall experience.
Times are tough for the pub/restaurant business. Judging by previous postings it looks like we are not the only ones who would not return.
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Serves a good pint of Guinness and has an interesting interior. On the down side it is expensive, even by this area�s prices and the atmosphere and clientele can feel a little stuffy.
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Gets busy after work when the service can't cope. Fine when it's quiet, otherwise dreadful
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terrible service - I finished up pouring the pint myself, no-one battered an eyelid.
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I was rudely turned away at the door by the bar-staff when I tried to go in there with my family over lunchtime. If you don't want my money, fair enough, but there's no need to be unpleasant about it. As a consequence I refuse to go there at all and if invited for lunch, I will suggest another venue.
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This smart gastropub is a sister pub of, amongst others, the Gun at Docklands and the Well at Clerkenwell. I'd been for a quick drink in the smart ground-level bar before - which does two or three real ales. Recently lunched in the upstairs dining room - the food is restaurant quality (if restaurant prices as well). Only partly a pub really, but still a good place.
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Preferred it when it was still a dump. Whatever happened to Mike the landlord?
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The White Swan has got it all. It retains all the charm of an old City pub downstairs, but still manages to be smart. It also has great beer, an amazing selection of wines and spirits, and fantastic food. Upstairs is a beautiful dining room. It's a vast improvement on the Mucky Duck. Certainly the best pub in the area, if not the whole of London.
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Another one bites the dust - The Mucky used to be a retreat from the boredom of office life, with a friendly landlord and a relaxed atmosphere.
And now, it is a vile 'gastropub' full of Hooray's. Utterly ruined.
Chris Turner - 7 Apr 2004 12:42 |
Looks very smart and has a dining room. A few doors down from the Printers Devil.
anonymous - 13 Jan 2004 22:19 |
It's now almost fully fledged into The White Swan. Opening very imminent by the looks of it.
congokid - 10 Nov 2003 15:11 |
This pub is now closed for a refurb and is going to be re-named. Gutted. Lovely pub, friendly staff and the best Macaroni Cheese in the world!
Paula - 7 Nov 2003 16:49 |
The last pub of it's kind in EC4, this has to be the finest pub in all of London.
Rhodri - 31 Jan 2003 09:58 |
