please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Visited last month.Cheerful and friendly as ever but since visit in 2009 the beer selection had deteriorated.London Pride and Youngs Special,which was not at all Special.
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An enjoyable option before a visit to Crawley Town's out of town football stadium - the highlight here is the beers - not Dark Star ones as we had been led to believe but a good range nonetheless including a smoked red - I'm partial to a rauchbier and this English variant on the theme was welcome. Friendly too.
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My experience was totally different to the Quafferman. I visited as a solo drinker and felt completely at home, bar staff were friendly and the Dark Star Over the Moon waxs excellent. There is no doubt this is a real drinkers pub and a real local, but none the worse for that. I would gladly revisit (and will).
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Some bar staff rude and unfriendly, beer of great choice, but variable condition, loose dogs wandering around, rough and ready clientele, would make strangers, particularly solo drinkers, feel uncomfortable.
For the locals.
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First visit to the pub on a quiet weekday lunchtime, so I will have to revisit on a busier day. First thoughts are as follows.
Decent boozer far enough from town to avoid the chav hellhole that is Crawley, good start. Interior is stripped wooden floors and lots of posters on the wall (fine by me) with dart board, pool table and small garden.
Beers included Double Header, Stout and Dark Star. Ciders included the excellent Black Rat and Old Rosie.
Pub obviously caters for bands on a regular basis, and I will be visiting again to check it out with a bigger selection of punters.
First thoughts, well worth another try in the good pub desert that is Creppy Crawley.
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Good and varying selection of real ales. Don't mistake the regulars as 'clickly' they like to be engaged and are enthusiastic about the beer. There is a pool table and juke box along with a large beer garden. The beer festivals are truly impressive. There is a small, quiet bar to one side if you just want a quiet drink. This is now the best real ale pub in Crawley.
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well i dont know who this prat is who goes by pbi but his comments are total shite ! i am a newcastle lad who worked down in crawley a couple of years ago and from the momment i went in i was made vrey welcome by all the staff, management and locals ! by the time i went home i felt like a local myself !! rob and haley run a great pub with live music and great beer !!!!!! keep up the good work !!! vaughan and woody we will be down to see yous soon ! and also rob an d haley and all our other friends !!!! take care and see yous soon !!!! john and paul !!!!!
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OK, it has to be said that the Swan is now the best Crawley Town pub by miles!
Real ale, real people and no butternut squash to be seen anywhere.
Even more amazing is the appearance of beers from a new Crawley brewery (Kissingate). I tried their Porter, and it was fabulous. There are other beers from Kissingate coming soon...can't wait!!
What an Aladdin's cave for real ale lovers, hurray!
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I have to say, this is probably the best Real Ale pub in Crawley.
The Landlord is a very friendly guy, and the range of beers is ever-changing, and fantastic! Every time I go, there is always some new beer I've never heard of, as well as 3 or 4 other old favourites.
Can be noisy at times, particularly when they have live music, but that's all good. It's incredible to think that a pub this small can have live music at all, but they manage it (and very well, too).
The beer festival at Halloween was excellent, and they've got another one coming up soon - Scottish beers this time.
I for one, will definitely be there :-)
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Well I must say that after giving the Swan such a hard time it seems that atleast the landlord hears and respondes to comments. I went back in to the Swan fri eve and well its still the same place at first look.
The I spot Dark Star Hophead �2.50 so have to have a one. A better pint can not be had, and to top it all its cheaper then in Dark Star pubs. Looking around the toilets have all been refurbed and also a see a beer fest coming up at the end of Oct with 25 + Sussex real ales ALL AT �2.50. We that is a turn around well done to the landlord and to the drinkers who have clearly helped to put this pub way out in front not only in Crawley but the rest of Sussex. One sad note I heard is that the Swan is not in the 2010 Camra beer guide. Well guys you screwed up, as if this pub should not be in there you guys need to get out more. Keep up the good work and well done to the Swan
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A small real ale pub that does rock gigs is a rarity nowadays. Well worth a visit, but it is some walk from Crawley town centre.
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Believe it or not this pub looks much better than it did in the 60's.Better use of space and no more visits to what were very smelly outside toilets.Has retained 2 bar layout and the pool table seems as popular as bar billiards was year's ago.
There was a porter on from a Hertfordshire micro.Tasty but not cheap.
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Hi All
Well lets face it the reveiws for this pub are somewhat up and down.
However I do have to say that after many a good night in the Swan it has come to the stage that the price of beer is to say the least stupid.
Beer and therefore beer tax is paid on strength not name and the swan seems fine to charge just 10p less for say hophead or a mild (under 4%) then pride 4.1%. In fact you can get over 5% P...head juice for �2.95 and be expected to pay �2.80 for a 3.6% mild today!
Let face it drinkers are not pisshe.ds so why should the guy who want 4 or 5 pints have to pay for the guy who has 3 or 4 and is off his head.
Maybe the thing here is responsable drinking is lost on the swan and in fact they would rather make less from the kids and pisshea.s who want to pay less to get drunk, and at the same time punish the real drinkers.
And worse is that this pub is in the CAMRA good beer book.
Either the landlord has changed, or the guys lost it.
I am just a normal ale buyer in Crawley, but like to think I know where most of the ale drinkers drink in Crawley. Last year it was the swan, now most nights you find them elsewhere.
Come on landlord sort your prices our before you end up with no regulers drinking ale other then the ones who are barred from everywhere else or live next do.
And another tip the tax increase was just 2% thats per keg not per pint. tops 1p a pint so 5p is your fault and the customers are not stupid so dont treat them like they are! Read the threads above and do the sums yourself.
Red Hunter anyone?
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Well I must add that this pub has just jumped on the band wagon and seems to have lost the plot. I used to drink in here about 3 times a week until about nov 08. The pub seems to miss the point that people just dont have the money now, and just keeps puting the beer up 5p a time whenever he gets the chance.
I used to drink Flower and back in Feb 08 this was �2.35 a pint, which being skint was not cheap, but I was supporting a local pub.
I went back in on Sat eve only to find that now the cheap beer is Pride at �2.75 an increase of 40p in a year. This is made worse when you think pubs are closing all over the place and if they are doing so because they price themselves out of the market well tough.
Drinkers decide where to go for a pint and price in a Recession is a major factor, this seems to be lost on a pub who sticks another 5p a pint and say "its not our fault its the tax increase" come on lets be honest its just the case of rip the customers off.
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Errrrr Darkstar1 my comment was based on current times. I have only been in the swan around 10 times, yet as a real ale drinker in the year 2008 what the hell has the old landlord got to do with it now?
With so many pubs shuting there doors due to lack of customers it is a pleasent suprise to find a pub that is still making a good go of it.
As to awards well I think I am correct in saying the swan is the ONLY pub in Crawley to be in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. Again in the current times what does that say.
Lets face it, this is a beer web site, not a history lesson!
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Errrrr thumper I think you will find that the previous landlord and landlady built up that real ale trade and won several awards for it! and they kept out all the kiddies that go in there now!
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I have read all the past comments and guys and girls get up to date. Since Rob has took over this place has to be the home of real ale in Crawley.
6 diffrent beers all on the time, and at a fair price. Now becoming the home of Dark Star (ah Hophead) in Crawley where else is there to go, unless of course you want all the normal run of the mill beers. Also has a great garden with huge smoking shelters and live music at the weekends.
Like every pub it has bad points,and in the swans case it is the fact that its full of 18 to 21 year olds who think they can drink!
But come on how many pubs do you go in without any food!
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A warm welcome and well kept selection of ales, even if a bit mainstream in selection, ie Flowers, Adnams Broadside, Fullers LP, Spitfire and Bombardier. Better than most in the vicinity and definitely a "proper" pub. Slightly dingy and the toilets could do with a freshen up but overall a decent boozer. No food on yesterday afternoon.
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went to this pub friday night, it was a great night, friendly staff, excellent live music. Highly recommend this pub if you want a good night out.
anonymous - 30 Aug 2007 21:59 |
The real ale is simply not good enough for the price charged, still. I like the character of, and in, this pub but if you are here for a long session, and have any money left, then you may want to pop into the 24 hour ASDA down the road to buy something to take the taste away, and something else to settle your stomach.
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Dirty,Dark,and Dank,situated in a run down part of Crawley,inhabited by elderly ex Biker Leather waistcoated Types and their Toothless Wives/Girlfriends..also provides refuge for the "Folk Music/Real Ale Brigade".I wouldnt Eat any Food in this Pub.I wouldnt use the Toilets in this Pub,in fact i wouldnt use this pub full stop.
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Good pub
Brilliant live music there bands never fail to impressive.
great atmosphere and good services.
the only slight downfall is the lack of space but you soon forget about that when bands like Jinn House are rocking out to black sabbeth's paranoid.
always a good night out
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I popped in here and what can I say the staff were rude un helpful and the place stank of dogs and old men! I asked for a clean glass and i was told id have to wait, avoid this place if you are in crawley.
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St Geaoge's Day was traditionally celebrated in the swan this year. When we walked in there were some really cool decorations and the landlord had put on some traditional food- steak and kidney pie, whelks, prawns, jellied eels and a mountain of eggs. Didn't get any pie but heard it was fantastic! It was just a great atmosphere and everyone seemed to have a good time. I'm definitely coming back!
anonymous - 24 Apr 2007 20:46 |
brilliant decorations for St Patricks day this year, really good atmosphere and the band rocked!Some new ales were also on so if you enjoy a good pint of real ale, this is the place to come.
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when i went there recently, towards the end of 2006 - i found this pub to be absolutely lovely, really friendly atmosphere aswell. prefer it now to my old local, the railway.
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This was the only LOCAL VILLAGE PUB left in Crawley. It was my local for many years, a true village local.
When Chris & Pat Joste (Incl the kids) had this pub it was a true local. Before the all day opening, Sundays were close the doors and sit down to super roast lunches.
After Chris died and Pat gave up the pub it just went down, down, down. Even the local Vicar and church goers went away.
If Scots (RH&DR) Johns eyeballs this, ctc via [email protected].
PS I dropped in one weekday lunch time last summer and was greeted by 'it's off, that's off etc.
anonymous - 13 Jan 2007 07:54 |
Full of Crawleys Acid Casualties,and assorted drop outs.
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I agree! Brillaint pub....Glam on this Saturday...as for the language from the bar staff and the landlay pouring beer over somebody's head...well if you don't like stay at home in your hovel and watch Corrie-sounds more like your cup of tea!
anonymous - 29 Sep 2005 18:25 |
This is fantastic and friendly pub! Perfect for those who hate those faceless, all the same theme pub/typical high street pub...although its only a five minute walk from Crawley High Street! Brilliant venue for all kinds of live music-from punk to Glam and all sorts of rock in between. They always have a changing range of real ales too...also quiz nights, competitions, theme nights (last October they had a beach party on Halloween to cheer everyone up!) and so much more. Children welcome till 8 o'clock and dogs welcome too...(canine versions...) Excellent pub! Best in Crawley!!!
anonymous - 29 Sep 2005 18:23 |
Local pub, a short walk from town. Beer is often very good. regular music nights. 1 pool table (in a small room - no long cues!!).
Owen - 2 Nov 2004 18:54 |
the lady in question is not the manager, was in charge while the landlord/lady were on holiday
stuart - 11 Sep 2004 21:53 |
I find some of the bar staff use very offensive language and last week saw the manageress pour beer over a customer. Otherwise, I agree with all the positive activity reports above.
Michael - 26 Aug 2004 05:21 |
Excellent pub, excellent beer, excellent music what more could you want. This pub is the only music venue left in crawley
fred - 24 Aug 2004 13:59 |
Excellent backstreet corner local, with a lively events program. 6 real ales served with many of the stronger variety! Pool table, dartboard and all major sporting events shown on big-screen. Live music from blues to heavy rock perfromed by local bands every Friday & Saturday. Curry night every other Tuesday, and classic rock disco every oter Thursday.
Darryl - 15 Jun 2004 14:32 |
