The White Swan, Pimlico

This place looks the ticket from outside but on the occasion we went they offered us truly awful table service...

I took my parents here after a trip to Tate Britain for a 'quick' lunch one midweek afternoon in March 2010. The pub was not busy and we ordered 3 steak sandwiches, not 3 course meals etc. 45 MINUTES AND 3 COMPLAINTS LATER we eventually got our lunches.

The guy behind the bar who looked vaguely in charge was surly, disinterested and sullen when we politely asked about our order the first time. We kept getting told it would be with us in 5 minutes...which turned into 10, then 15 etc. Moreover, when the lunches eventually arrived they were not hot (as though they'd been spitefully left out lying because we complained). The barman was un-apologetic too.

We also noticed another customer on his own had exactly the same bad service, had to complain, and eventually demaded a refund and left!

I wonder if the owners of the place actually care about these bad reviews? They should do. Not sure if The White Swan and its bar staff were having a particularly terrible day but they failed on very, very basic levels of customer service. If you are a tourist (or just a Londoner!) tempted to stop by here for a bite to eat then The White Swan is a bad example of a traditional London pub, of which there are many good ones - this aint one of them!

14 Aug 2010 15:35