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The White Swan (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Excellent4
JW Lees (see also Lees) - Founder'sExcellent1
Kirkby Lonsdale - Crafty MildExcellent1
Leeds - Leeds PaleExcellent1
Oakham - Scarlet MacawGood1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Dark ConspiracyGood1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - HPA Hoppy Pale AleGood1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7Good1
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - SeasiderExcellent1
St Austell - Proper JobGood1
St Peter's - Plum PorterExcellent1
Adnams - BroadsideNot Tried0
Blindmans - Mine BeerNot Tried0
Burton Bridge - Damson PorterNot Tried0
Irving - InvincibleNot Tried0
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5Not Tried0
Salopian - 1000 yard-stareNot Tried0
Picture 1. The White Swan, Reading Street, Kent
Picture 2. The White Swan, Reading Street, Kent
Picture 3. The White Swan, Reading Street, Kent

Visits Details

05 Oct 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Only one in the public bar for early afternoon visit but others in the separate saloon. Warm friendly welcome received for my 2nd visit ever to this old-fashioned pub full of toby jugs on shelf above the bar.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider4.30ExcellentVery refreshing with a good head and lacing and after my walk from The Magnet. A fruity mouthfeel with a dry, moreish and lingering aftertaste in this Gadds' Amber Ale.
31 Aug 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
No doubt that this one was the highlight of my day's visits. A fine old pub and now independently owned and run, I was told by the local family also serving. 2 totally separate bars, public and saloon, and only accessed by going outside the front, and also a very cheery rear garden. For the first time all day so far the sun came out to shine on this lovely visit. The old 1966 price list was still up in this former Tomson and Wotton pub when a bitter was one shilling and nine pence here or two shillings and a penny for the best bitter. Two real ales on today and slightly more in price than they would have been nearly 60 years ago! A group of others in as well while I then toured around the saloon to have a look. Homemade burgers and sour dough toasties on but will save myself until follow-up visits for trying these.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - HPA Hoppy Pale Ale3.60GoodVery fresh tasting with frothy head. Low in sweetness which I like, was this fine pale made from East Kent malt and Goldings hops.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Seasider4.30Not Tried
21 Sep 2022 (Dosser)
Two beers on. Gloombar at £3.80. No thanks.
BeerABVScoreNotes
St Austell - Proper Job4.50GoodQuite good. Very lively and top ups needed. £3.60...less than gloombar.
09 Nov 2019 (Dosser)
3 ales available on a very quiet Saturday afternoon here
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - Dark Conspiracy4.90GoodNice pint.
07 Jan 2019 (Dosser)
Good afternoon crowd and 5 beers on
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Excellent
St Peter's - Plum Porter4.60ExcellentExtremely lively. Can't remember the last time someone asked me to take a sip so they could top up the pint
03 Jan 2019 (Dosser)
Lunchtime visit. 4 beers on and a few drinkers in.£3.36 a pint in cheap bar.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70ExcellentNice beer.
Oakham - Scarlet Macaw4.40GoodPleasant enough
22 Jul 2018 (Dosser)
Sat in the garden.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Excellent£3.36 a pint in the cheaper public bar. Best pint of APA ive had for a while. Even if it might be on blanket pressure??
13 Jul 2018 (Magnus Greel)
Was in the area so decided to do a couple of new pubs for me, late afternoon visit not long after 5pm opening and fairly busy already. Despite pondering the many reports on here we decided to sit outside in the private garden area which is only accessible via the road and an anonymous gate, drinks being replenished via a serving hatch from the rear of the pub.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70ExcellentSlightly chilled and full bodied, superb
Leeds - Leeds Pale3.80ExcellentRefreshingly chilled in superb condition
Burton Bridge - Damson Porter4.50Not Tried
Irving - Invincible4.60Not Tried
22 May 2018 (beery steve)
Lunchtime visit. Funeral party in posh bar so decanted in public bar.
BeerABVScoreNotes
JW Lees (see also Lees) - Founder's4.50ExcellentExcellent Bitter.
Kirkby Lonsdale - Crafty Mild3.60ExcellentExcellent
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 54.40Not Tried
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Not Tried
17 May 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Early evening visit. ChrisE's visit report yesterday reminded me this house was on my bucket list. Tried both bars and they have a very much different feel. The meals being served in the saloon looked superb value, one piece of beef seemed to me to look like a small football! The 4p price difference between beers is quaint. The juiced up large Fremlins elephant on a high shelf and the 4 gleaming Tomson & Wotton brass wall plaques are items to covet.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 73.80Good
Adnams - Broadside4.70Not Tried
Blindmans - Mine Beer4.20Not Tried
Salopian - 1000 yard-stare5.20Not Tried

[More Visits]

About The White Swan

The pub sign. The White Swan, Reading Street, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional2
Excellent28
Good27
Acceptable16
Poor1

The pub is found in Reading Street, Kent, CT10 3AZ.

A street fronting pub, opposite the church, in an attractive village setting in the Reading Street district of Broadstairs. Still carries external signage from its Tomson & Wotton days. Still retains separate pricing for public and saloon bars. Very good value home cooked meals served primarily in the saloon bar. 2 handpumps in the public bar and 4 in the saloon.

We have visited this pub 42 times, seen 98 different beers and tried 63 of them.

Map location

Postcode: CT10 3AZ