please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The ale was terribly kept - I have never drunk ale that was so sour and acidic. The bar staff were incredibly reluctant to replace the pint, and even then, the replacement was definitely on the way out.
The management have really let the place go. The food is really very pleasant, but the beer - the former biggest attraction of this pub - is truly disappointing.
I cannot recommend this establishment. Walk to the George and Dragon for really lovely staff and much more acceptable beverages.
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Very nice place although the staff were mainly surly young blokes, verging on plain rude, don't expect any customer service but great ales and lots of excellent places to sit.
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Lovely situation, ,pretty nice pub also, by an arm of the river and with several good beers. And decent bike parking! Though like the front entrance you have to go round the side (towards the river frontage) to find it.
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Located in a quiet part of Thames Ditton with a large patio area facing the river. There is a large lounge which extends around the bar which includes some excellent beer from the Old Dairy Brewery. Despite its location, it is reasonably priced. Beautiful location and well worth a visit.
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Aspall's cider, but from a keg. Customer moorings.
Nice riverside garden but I don't see why the location is praised that much - all you see is a narrow backwater and a row of bungalows on the other side.
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Had a lovely lunch yesterday. Good pub grub , fantastic location and pleasant staff.
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Arrived here today after a cold walk Unicorn beer was good, service was friendly and helpful.the food was good.The only problem was a cold table by the door but it was busy so no choice,The toilets were well maintained and clean.If another table had been available this would have been a perfect visit.So please dont go there so i can get a warm table,only joking.Keep up the good work a friendly excellent place.As opposed to a certain snooty inferior establishment on the river near by.
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Been coming in this place since moving to TD in 2006 when it was easily the best pub in the area, it went into a mini decline about 3 years ago but i'm pleased to say that since the new LL, Mike, took over about 18 months ago Ye Olde Swan is now back, if not even better than before.
The beer is always well kept, especially the Abbots and the food consistently of a good standard. Service is very good and Mike is always attentive, taking the time to have a chat with the customers, whilst running a tight ship.
We had a party for our 1 year old there recently, which we intended to have outside, however, the weather beat us. We were accommodated, without any fuss whatsoever in the back room - needless to say we were looked after brilliantly...thanks to Ye Olde Swan
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we went last night for the first time and really enjoyed it - increadible location, nice enough food (lamb shank and madras), friendly staff, nice wine and pleasant surroundings. I'd definitely recommend it.
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Took the Memsahib there for lunch yesterday and was very impressed (with the pub, not the Memsahib). Arrived early as parking is always a pain. Menu was varied and reasonably priced, quality was fine and service prompt. It did fill up around 1pm, and cannot say how the service would stand up. The Landlord was welcoming, as was his assistant, and I felt that he was doing a good job, even if he does come from Leeds. Despite the lounge at the front I don't see this place as a pub any more - its somewhere to go to eat with peaceful views of the river, both from inside and from what was the car park, now an expensively furnished patio. There's a big investment in this place, and we will certainly return.
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Have to disagree with the last 2 posts. I have been to this pub a number of times. It has recently been renovated with much better layout, decor and more seating outside. Overall the pub is a good place for a few beers in the evening, or a meal out. The quality of the food has improved, but this is a pub. You are going to get pub grub, and at that level it is fine. If you want cordon bleu, go to the French Table. Have to say that the service is very good, and have no problems with the Manager who has always been friendly. If you need to make a complaint, its how you do it that counts - assertive not aggressive.
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can only agree with the last comment. the new landlord of this pub has ruined the place with his aggressive attitude. he was extremely rude to us on a recent visit (and, it also seems, drunk again). we'd only asked about our food. green king should refurbish the management as well as a the pub because its a lovely place and the drinks/ menu were fine. we wont be back
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Took my parents to the olde swan for dinner. What a complete and utter disaster from start to finish. The staff were nice and pleasant when we arrived. But from then on the whole experience was down hill all the way. The glasses were dirty the food was pathetic and over priced and when I asked to see the manager he was as pathetic as the food; rude, arrogant and drunk. We were shocked and very disappointed.
We won�t be going back to the olde swan, ever.
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As a local I've being going to the Swan for some years now. It's a nice relaxing pub on the river, with a good selection of beers and not too pretentious. The pub is definitely beginning to creak a bit now and is well over due a makeover, which I believe the new management, has plans for.
However having taken some friends here for dinner recently, mainly a fault on my part as I was unable to book a table elsewhere! I could see why this is not one of the more popular places to eat in Thames Ditton! The food is probably comparable to a Weatherspoons, only with table service.
So as to hide our embarrassment to such a poor selection of venue we did manage to dig into their much better Chilean Merlot that seemed to make our guests forget about the poor tucker.
Let's hope that the new landlord and Greene King decide what they�re going to do and breathe life into this once great pub so once again in becomes a Thames Ditton favourite.
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This pub has 3 good things about it .
1 The beer is quite reasonable
2 the bar staff are frendly
3 the location is good .
unfortunately at least 3 awful things as well
1 the food is only just about average . If you are lucky.
2 Parking is a nightmare.
3 The managers need some customer relations classes... may just their heads banging together . Greenking get your act together !!!!
What could be a nice experience is just spoiled by those in charge .....
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great location and good beer but food here is average and service very poor. we won't be coming back
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Reading all the comments below, I think something big must have changed recently.
End of January 2010, my partner and I arrived at the pub at 2 on a Sunday afternoon. It was busy, but still a couple of tables free. I had a nice pint of ale, and we ordered from the extensive menu. I had the cavery roast, and my partner had fish. Both were very tasty, and even though they filled us up, we tried the deserts: the cheesecake of the day and a plum crumble. Both were exquisit.
Couldn't fault the food or the service.
We are definately going to go back there
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It's interesting reading the food reviews here
I went in a few days ago to sample the food myself and I have to say I'm in total agreement with all the comments below. It's simple awful.. and this is a real shame
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My wife and I visited this pub last night (Thurs 5th June) with others. They wanted to eat there because last time they ate there in summer 08 the food had been good. Here's my personal opinion...
The menu looked nice, I chose a prawn cocktail which was meant to have king prawns, lettuce, cherry tomatoes etc. When it arrived in 2mins it was clear it had been in the fridge waiting, had no king prawns just some normal ones in a sauce with the salad, and 2 slices of thick, stale, dry bread which was obviously ready to go. Not great for what it cost.
Main course I ordered what sounded like a nice steak and ale pie with chips and veg. What came up was a 3rd of a chunk of very over baked, chewy, hard pie with very thick indigestible pastry and very dry filling. It had probably been frozen and reheated. It was thrown onto a plate of what I am almost sure were McCain Home Fries Oven Chips - yes OVEN CHIPS!!!! With this was some very undercooked mixed vegetables including huge bits of carrot that obviously the "chef" couldn't be bothered to do more with and undercooked broccoli that my child couldn't swallow. With this came a pot of what tasted like Bisto with onions in.
It was horrible. I'm no food snob, but have had some really nice pub meals in the past - maybe the management should see how this meal should be done for �8.40ish at some other pubs in 2009.
To top it off I was on the toilet at 2.30am this morning - and i'm still not better yet. Whoever is doing this food must be absolutely laughing at the prices they are charging to unsuspecting punters like us as it's by far the worst i've ever had in a pub.
I would never, ever eat in this place again - even if it was free!
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Came here on a sunny Saturday morning 2 weeks ago - sat outside by river - peaceful morning watching swans and ducks swim past - ruined by dreadful music coming out of speakers alongside our table (person on next table went in to ask if music could be turned off ) - terrible food - My mothers Ploughmans consisted of ropey old piece of ham, 1 piece of stale sliced white bread, 1 whole apple, few pieces of lettuce, and lump of cheese !
My 2 fried eggs and chips inedible as eggs were raw on top - apparently pub is under new management - Won't be back ! Neither will the couple behind us.
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Nice place for a beer by the river but have to say the Albany is better. Grotty food though - which is a real shame
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Just read last review and realised we were the people on the next table suggesting the couple get a free drink for moving. This was an unfortunate incident, and could have been handled better, but in general the staff are friendly. The quiz is on the first Weds of each month is fun. This pub comes into its own in the summer, and its a very pleasant pint by the river. There is a relatively new manager here and after a slightly dodgy start on the food front (bad chef poss) it is now much better. Worth a visit.
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i really love this pub the food is really nice! but last night my partner and i went to have food at the swan which we enjoyed, but then the pub started to fill up with people for the quiz night which we didnt mind. we did not want to take part in the quiz but we carried on drinking after we had eaten. but then the girl running the quiz came over and asked if we would move (she was not very poliet) from our table to make room for people taking part in the quiz! when we asked where she wouldlike us to move she said anywhere out of the bar area. when we looked there where on other tables except near the toilets (we where sitting by the sofas). we thought this was very rude! we had just spent �30 0r more on food and drink and wewhere kicked out! even the people sitting at the table net to us said we shouldhave been offered a free drink for moving!my partner and i just left never to return!!!!!!
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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 |
