The White Swan (Free House)
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Visits Details
16 May 2018 (ChrisE)
Early afternoon, the Saloon Bar had a number of people enjoying their home cooked food, whilst I used the Public Bar because it is 4p per pint cheaper in there. The barmaid told me that this is now one of just two pubs left with differential pricing but could not tell me where the other one is except that it is up North somewhere. I was very impressed with how highly polished the Tomson and Wotton brass trays were, they put mine to shame.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 | | |
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 4.70 | | |
Adnams - Broadside | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
Blindmans - Mine Beer | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
Upham - Tipster | 3.60 | Not Tried | This ran out. |
22 Aug 2015 (Dosser)
Had a meal here but the portions were tiny. Tidy rebel cutch had just gone off
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 4.70 | | |
04 Jul 2015 (ChrisE)
I dashed up here to get here before afternoon closing to find that the pub opens all day on Saturdays. I was looking at the décor wondering whether it was late sixties or early seventies, the landlady told me that it was done by Whitbread in the very early seventies soon after they had taken over Tomson & Wotton of Ramsgate.
XT Brewing - No. 8 Dark Roast | 4.50 | | |
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
Milestone - Lion's Pride | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - She Sells Sea Shells | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
06 Jun 2015 (ChrisE)
I decided to come here after reading Dosser's report that this pub still retains differential pricing between the saloon and public bars. I had never been here before and was impressed by the Tomson & Wotton sign outside. I was told that this may have to come down as it is causing damp in the side wall, but am assured that it will go back once the necessary work has been done. The barmaid told me that there were some nice Tomson and Wotton trays in the saloon bar and moved my pint in to the other bar at no extra charge so that I could see them. I was then introduced to the landlady who kindly switched the Fremlins nodding elephant on for me. She told me that she found this wonderful artefact in the cellar and the local fruit machine company restored it for her. I was also impressed with the nice clean and polished glassware, no nasty glasswasher residue in here. Definitely a pub that I will return to even though I was told later in the day that they use a cask breather, well I didn't notice.
Burning Sky - Plateau (was 3.5%) | 3.40 | | I had two of these, one for £3.16 in the public bar and one for £3.20 in the saloon. |
Oakleaf (now see Fallen Acorn entries) - Pompey Royal | 4.50 | | |
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 7 | 3.80 | Not Tried | |
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - She Sells Sea Shells | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
Great Newsome - Finkle | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
30 May 2015 (Dosser)
Excellent find. 6 real ales at £3.20 in one bar and £3.16 in the other. Excellent value food. Decor like a 70s throwback.
Acorn - Eldorado | 5.00 | | £3 a pint or £2.96 on Wednesdays. |
24 Jun 2012 (Blair)
Pub was full of locals in to watch the England game. Good banter flying around as well as a lot of free food! Great atmosphere and a good selection of beer available.
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's) | 4.70 | | Fantastic beer in great condition. |
Loddon - Summer Snowflake | 4.10 | | Good beer. Light in colour with a bit of hop and sweet malt. |
Rudgate - Special | 4.00 | | Bland, a little malt and fruit but certainly nothing special about this one. |
Inveralmond - Duncan's IPA | 4.40 | | Not what I'd call an IPA. Little fruity with a bit of malt but not any hops. Meh. |
Adnams - Broadside | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
Itchen Valley - Hampshire Tigers | 4.60 | Not Tried | |
14 Dec 2009 (Blair)
I just can't seem to find a pint of stout or porter anywhere in Thanet at the moment! This is still a nice, friendly local, the sort of pub that really needs to be protected.
Derventio - Winter Solstice | 5.00 | | Spicy, grassy beer. Almost a little like a wheat beer. Lots of cinnamon, nutmeg and coriander. Unusual. |
Inveralmond - Santa's Swallie | 4.30 | | Tasted a lot like London Pride, only with a hint of cloves. Alrightish. |
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 5 | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
Adnams - Southwold Bitter | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
Adnams - Yuletide | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
09 May 2009 (Blair)
It was a friends birthday so a large group of us trundled up here already a little tipsy from the homebrew I'd made for the occasion. In hindsight it wasn't a great idea to bring a group of 8 drunk young men to a pub like this. Left after one pint, headed over to Ramsgate to a more suitable venue.
Inveralmond - Ossian's Ale | 4.10 | | Fruity with a light hoppiness. Very drinkable golden ale. |
Mauldons - Black Adder | 5.30 | Not Tried | |
Adnams - Southwold Bitter | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
25 Feb 2009 (Blair)
Needed a pint so came here hoping the beer lineup was an improvement on last week. It was a slight improvement but still disappointing so we left after one and headed to Ramsgate.
Ramsgate Brewery (Gadds') - No. 3 | 5.00 | | This is one of my favourite of the Gadds' range. Smooth and very refreshing with a fruity pineapple flavour to it. |
Marston's - Bass | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
Elland - Beyond the Pale | 4.20 | Not Tried | |
17 Feb 2009 (Blair)
I was looking forward to this as I haven't been here for a couple of months. Extremely quiet even for a tuesday evening. The beer lineup was less than exciting as well. All in all a bit od a disappointment.
Springhead - Sweetlips | 4.60 | | Not as good as I remember. Maybe served a little too warm. A little cloying and left me very thirsty. A little bit of fruit and malt. Nice enough but not what I remembered. |
Rudgate - Marston Moor Brewers Droop | 5.00 | | Buttery and malty with a little fruit. Alcohol not hidden too well. Very flat and lifeless. I wouldn't have this again. |
Wadworth - Henry's Original IPA | 3.60 | Not Tried | |
Marston's - Bass | 4.40 | Not Tried | |
Crouch Vale - Amarillo | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
Adnams - Southwold Bitter | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
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