please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Swan appears to have gone downhill since my last visit. The pub still has a nice interior. But the ale range is diminished and didn't encourage me to linger long. Sharp's Doom Bar is a fixture alongside St Austell Nicholson's Pale Ale. Guests were St Austell Trelawny, Black Sheep Best Bitter, Adnams Ghost Ship & Camden On-Sea & Brew York Turtle Eclipse of the Heart. There were no dark beers on offer. A little disappointing.
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Given the paucity of decent pubs in Shepherd's Bush, this has become a venue of choice before any visit to Queen's Park Rangers and it's a solid if unexciting choice. I was lured by the promise of Thornbridge's Jaipur but was instead met with the usual array of national chain beers - Doombar, Landlord etc. All were well kept and they had Adnams' winter 'sloe' offering too. Handsome in its Victoriana, the food just abut edged above the average in the shape of a sausage sandwich.
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After performing at the nearby Odeon on his 1967 Uk tour , legendary jazz trumpeter Miles Davis was barred from this pub. After far too many light ales , Davis insisted on standing on a table in the middle of the bar , telling filthy jokes. He was kind of blue.
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This is an attractive pub, but feels as if it was once beautiful and classic before falling victim to chain homogeneity. Good range of ales and my pint of 'Knight of The Garter' went down rather well. A solid 7 out of 10.
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Very handy location, just across the street of both Hammersmith tube stations. Visited shortly before closing time. Had St. Austell Nicholsons Porter, which was less than impressive, but a few more ticks had been available for me, if I had come earlier.
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I stop in for a pint from time to time after visiting my brother and family who have lived nearby for some 10-15 years. Generally it's been fine - reasonable beers kept quite well - and the renovation several years ago was good. Last night though was a bit of a disappointment when I chose the Nicholson's IPA. Described by Nicholson's as packing 'punchy grapefruit flavours. Balanced and super drinkable, this festival exclusive - we've got just 240 casks across our 76 pubs, so enjoy it while you can - defies its 6% ABV.'
I was disappointed - a slightly sourish edge and what condition it had was lost quickly. I wasn't going to be there for long anyway so took it back, commenting to the barman about it. He turned the pump clip around and apparently offered an alternative, pulled it, but then asked for payment. I eventually complained to the manager who also quibbled, said that there was nothing wrong with the beer, and eventually rather sullenly did offer a replacement without charge. That was the Nicholson's Pale Ale which was very good. May be it was an isolated incident - I'll be back again probably in a month or so. And might be rating the pub higher.
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My second visit to the Swan last night and it wasn't quite as good as the first. There's still no real cider and this time the beer selection was not quite as good. The location is still excellent (unsurprisingly) and the interior is fine. I still think it's the best pub in Hammermsith. But it didn't quite hit the spot this time. Beers on were Ilkley Wit Marie, Peerless All American, Great Heck Treasure IPA, Castle Rock Sheriff's Tipple, Robinsons Optimus, Windsor & Eton Knight of the Garter, St Austell Nicholson's Pale Ale, Stroud Organic Ale, Fullers London Pride & Sharps Doom Bar. The best cider was Aspalls.
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Had 2 pints in here. A typical Nicholsons affair with the usual range of beers/lagers and prices to go with it.
We did not eat but I had a few drinks. The Aspalls was very nice and chilled as was the Guinness.
Would return if I was in the area BUT purely for convenience as it is right across the road from the tube.
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Enjoyed NEARLY two pints of Windsor and Eton Knights of the Garter. What is it with short measures in this pub? Changed my rating purely based on this rip off.
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When you're a Nicholson's pub you don't have to try very hard to get into the GBG. Just serve reasonable beer and make sure anyone who might be a local CAMRA member isn't kept waiting; you'll be fine.
The Swan's not that much different from the rest of the chain. You get a good range of beers (albeit at a price), service was fine and they seem geared up for busy spells. Particular thanks go to the waiter who let me stay in the dining area after I inadvertently strayed there while looking for somewhere to sit - one of the advantages of getting old. I suppose that if Spoons are the Travelodge of the pub industry, Nicholson's are Premier Inn .
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Ok before gig, Aspalls cider was lovely, service fast....
Bit messy though probably cause it was so busy.
Went back after, but the lager, (Carling)? smelled and tasted of piss !!
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Absolutely heaving possibly with other people going to Hammy Odeon to see Gotye. Superb range of beers on from goldens to stouts during a beer fest they had on. Didn't eat. This sort of pub really brings home how times have/are changing and a great many other pubco directors whose companies may not be doing too well could pay these sorts of places a visit and see how to draw the crowds. Get the beers right and most else will follow especially customers. BTW the staff were superb at "next to be served" spotting.
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Someone recommended I come here as I was going to a concert at Hammersmith Apollo, and I'm thankful for the recommendation.
It was busy when I first went in at 4.30pm but I got served straight away and had a pint of Hop Daemon Brewery Green Daemon, a strong but hoppy 5%abv ale. I sat in a room at the back and watched a bit of the tennis then went and dropped my bag off at my hotel.
I returned to the Swan 2 hours later and the place was heaving. It appears it was a popular pre-concert drinking venue for everyone going to Faith No More gig at the Apollo. It was so busy that punters were stood on the street outside the pub with their drinks.
Despite this I got served straight away (a pint of Addlestones cider this time) and I squeezed into the room at the back again.
I managed to go to a couple more pubs in the area before the gig at the Apollo but this was the best.
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Been here twice recently and the first time although there were several beers on they were not replaced too quickly and the quality was a bit slack. Second visit the quality was much better, (Jaipur, Proper Job, Doom Bar, Nicholsons Pale Ale, Caledonian Golden Ale and more) bar staff very friendly, food looked good too although no idea what the prices were like as I didn't eat.
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Impressive Nicholsons pub in a very convenient location in between both Hammersmith tube stations. The interior is every much as impressive as the exterior and the ale range is just as good. Jennings Cumberland Ale, Thornbridge Jaipur, Roosters True Grit, Top of the Hops Golden Ale, Adnams Bitter, Summer Wine Barista Espresso Stout, Sharps Doom Bar, Hook Norton Hooky Bitter, St Austell Tribute & Fullers London Pride were all on during my early Saturday afternoon visit. Sadly, the only drinkable cider on offer is Aspalls. Service was friendly. Definitely one to recommend in Hammersmith.
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Not a bad pub, excellent selection of ales, food was pretty good. Bar staff could be a bit more enthusiastic.
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ok pub only had half,a pub i used to use 20+ years when i saw a few groups at hammersmith odean
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A large Victorian pub opposite Hammersmith underground / bus station. It is very impressive on the outside and equally impressive on the inside with high ceilings, copious amounts of polished wood, etc. Remanants of (original?) partitions divide the space into various seating areas and there is a fine upstairs bar / dining area reached by a superb winding staircase. Most impressive, from my perspective, are the ten handpumps dispensing a range of standard Nicholson's regulars - Pride, Timothy Taylor's Landlord, Adnam's Broadside, Sharp's Doom Bar, etc. as well as guests. With this pub on the corner, why on earth would you go to the dingy William Morris 'spoons just along the road?
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I love this pub, great choice of ales and ciders, and the staff are frendly, and good food too. My only gripe is that they don't have a disabled toilet downstairs for people who need one, but on the whole a nice pub.
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Fantastic pub forthe area, and one of the more packed pubs to back up that fact...
As previously said, the interior is lush and quite cavernous. The service is friendly and pretty prompt, and the range of ales is very good
Theres food upstairs if that takes your fancy, though maybe a wait involved
A favourite stop off when going to see acts at the Hammersmith Apollo
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Good pub with a lovely exterior that makes you want to go in and an interior that makes you glad you did! Called in between tube stops for a change and was impressed. Good bitter and food.
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Excellent choice of reasonably priced real ales... and deservedly packed!
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Good choice of beers, Attentive staff. But the music is TOO LOUD!
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Welcome back the Swan! Thank you Nicholsons for turning this back into a real pub again. GOOD BEER SELECTION, good service.Ba ckgr music can get too loud though
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Went in there last night for the first time - looks initially to be an decent choice but the quality was woeful.
First pint was Aussie IPA (Morrisey & Fox) was poorly conditioned and extremely bland. Second pint was Midnight Bell from Leeds - decent condition but slightly vinegary - not quite enough to send back.
Third and final pint was Landlord which was just like drinking water. Not off but just didn't taste as it should - what are they doing to their beers?
We gave up and went next door to the Spoons where we got an excellent pint of Westerham Target - two pints for less than �4 so you've saving money too.
In their blurb Nicholsons say "You'd be hard pushed to find a finer real ale pub in Hammersmith London, or even in West Kensington, Barons Court and Fulham. In fact, we believe The Swan is unrivalled in its choice of quality cask-conditioned beers". If all their beers are like this then let's hope they're unrivalled...
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If you want away from a pint of Youngs or Fullers and don't want to go in a Wetherspoon, you could do far worse than here. It's typical Nicholson's with good beer, decent grub and a well presnted interior despite a horrendously steep hike up to the toilets. Well worth a try.
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Visited the Swan on numerous occasions now and just dont get what Nicholson's are trying to achieve here.
The decor now beautiful and a mass improvment on the old Edwards look posts a suggestion that this pub is far better than it is. Dont be fooled by what you see as the service, atmosphere,beer and food dont reiterate the same standards.
far better on offer from a host of its neighbors in king street
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Prominently situated at the junction of King Street and Hammersmith Broadway opposite Hammersmith Tube Station, The Swan is an imposing Victorian pub that has, pleasingly, now come into the Nicholsons stable.
Previously a typical town centre "Edwards" pub appealing to the less discerning and more youthful pubgoers, it has now reverted to its original name of The Swan. Do take the time to look high up on the outside of the building and note the splendid swan depiction on the decorative brickwork. Note also the date shown in the plasterwork - 1901.
Inside the pub, the usual Nicholsons framed information print tells us that an earlier pub - a coaching inn known as The Old Swan , functioning as the first stop for horse drawn coaches from the City of London in the 18th Century - had to be demolished when the railway arrived, and that this pub, close by, is its direct replacement.
In true Nicholsons style, their restoration has brought out the best of the pub's Victorian heritage - high ceilings, several solid looking arches, impressive pillars, chandeliers and some frosted stained glass mini-windows up above the main tall plain glass windows. There's polished wood in abundance, which enhances the traditional feel of the interior, although I suspect that much of it is not original. There's a number of different seating areas, including an attractive carpeted room around the back of the main bar area. Upstairs is a "Bar and Dining Room" , although the downstairs bar is obviously used for dining and condiments were on most of the tables.
On the real ale front, there's 10 handpumps downstairs, of which 9 were in use on my recent Sunday lunchtime visit. Beers on were Wadworths 6X, Brakspears Bitter, London Pride, 2 Timmy Taylors beers ( Landlord and Best ), Adnams Broadside, Sharps Doom Bar, Cropton Dutch Wink and Castle Rock Harvest Pale Ale. The Brakspears was not particularly good, but the Castle Rock HPA was in excellent form. Both beers were priced at � 3.10p.
There's a certain similarity here with The Falcon at Clapham Junction - both externally impressive Victorian pubs occupying prime street corner positions at busy road junctions, yet, until "rescued" by Nicholsons, neither being particularly good pubs at all, if the truth were known.
The Swan is a very welcome addition to the West London pub scene
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Previously the anonymous Edward's, this pub has now reverted to being the Swan with a tasteful refurbishment of the interesting by M&B's Nicholson's chain. Ten handpumps in the main bar, plus another three in the slightly more relaxed upstairs bar which features intermittent table service and annoying tea-lights on the tables. Real ale usually served in traditional 'jug' glasses. Some intersting choices as well as the usual Landlord, Black Sheep, etc. However, as is so often the case with Nicholson's, the beer is not always in the finest condition (which is odd as the turnover must be fast enough in a busy place like this).
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