BITE user comments - sir_stout
Comments by sir_stout
Crony?
Kenbabs, I think you need to get your facts straight before you start accusing people of posting negative comments about the pub. I know the disgruntled former employees (there are more than one) and I can assure you that none of them are a member of this site. They have made their opinions know by not working or drinking there. Its funny that you were approached by the new owners in regards to the refurb and not one of the many regulars were. When you say approached, do you mean lunched with the owners as they are your friends? Hey, if I had had some input and the result is what has happened there is no way I would admit to it.
21 Jun 2010 16:43
Ha ha ha, all-bar-swan! This great British pub is no more. After drinking in the Swan for 20 years I will now be spending my money elsewhere. There are no locals drinking there, no characture, just bland corporate manufactured nothingness. Wanted to have a drink on the balcony last night only to find it reserved for a child's birthday!! Where there was a back room with the history of the rugby team and decorated with rugby shirts from all over the world there is now pictures of... Delon Armatage???? Why? He's never drunk there, not a local boy and not even first choice for England. Where there were pictures of the locals on new years eve, burns night and raft race (some dating back over 30 years) there are now cartoons of 'old' pub jokes????
To the owners: if you are going to sit in the garden and laugh at how worked up the "alchoholic locals" are getting on this website may i suggest that you make sure those said locals are not sitting on the table behind you.
To the management company: your tag line is "passionate about the great British pub", all-bar-one is not a British pub and certainly not great.
To nickthefish: I agree, the pub has gone the way of this country, run by rich boys.
My rating was 8 and is now 0.
20 Jun 2010 16:31
To The Wicker Man (review below) you are absolutely right on every front. I don't think i can put it better myself, but will try.
Being a local for the best part of 20 years, I along with every other local was very pleased to hear that the pub was going to be bought by a small group of people living in the local area and managed by an equally small management firm. Brilliant!! The pub will get the TLC it has needed for so many years.
I do not want this to be a whinging, whining review so first off the good points. The best view in Twickenham, family friendly, dog friendly, great range of locals from builders and gardeners to lawyers to film makers and everyone in-between. Roaring log fires in the winter along with a good local band on wednesday night playing gypsie folk music. Lovely atmosphere on rugby days (although very very busy) with great banter, as well as sponcering a local rugby team. A great range of well kept real ales. Food has been ropey of late but a new chef is in and although the menu is basic (and probably going more up market in the future), its very good value e.g. big hot beef sandwich on crusty bread with chips and salad - �5! Summer see's good BBQ's on the balcony but again very very busy when its hot. The charity raft race is one of the highlights of the Twickenham calender. The staff are great, friendly and efficient with a whole range of personalities, age and tastes. I do not know of another pub that has retained some of the same bar staff for 3, 4, 5 years and in some cases much longer. This shows the staff are loyal, treated well and care about where they work. And last but not lease IT IS A OLD FASHIONED BOOZER!! and doesn't pretend to be anything else. It is one of very few around now.
And now for the bad, it is now �3.50 a pint which might not sound too expensive to some but of the 8 closest pubs to the Swan it is considerably more expensive. (to pay �3.50 a pint in a plastic glass to sit on a pavement in the summer seems a bit excessive). Maybe the prices have had to rise to pay for the new uniforms?? People go to the Swan because it feels locally run, not commercial or part of a large soulless chain. I do not object to black tops although back in the day the staff wore polo shirts with the swan logo on which seemed far less corporate, it's the all black waiter uniform including the daft looking aprons that has people miffed. This is a pub not a resturant, please let the staff (within reason) dress to reflect the unique personality and style of this great British pub.
After all this I wouldnt want to deter anyone for visiting, it is one of a dying breed and well worth a visit be it for the heaving masses who frequent it on summer afternoons and rugby days to the quiet, wet, cozie nights of winter.
30 Mar 2010 15:25
The White Swan, Twickenham
Very slow and grumpy service of very expensive warm beer, very expensive warm wine to be drunk in plastic glasses sitting on the pavement listening to shirtless chavs shout at their kids running up and down the road. This used to be a little gem, now a steaming turd.
23 Apr 2011 12:59