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History: Home > The Swan Inn (old entry now superseded)

Change in Pub Status

This pub has changed substantially and we are now adding visits to its new page, the The Swan (formerly Oxney Gourmet Pie & Burger Bar)

The Swan Inn (old entry now superseded) (Free House)

We believe this pub is CLOSED

Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Oakham - JHBExceptional1
Ossett - Excelsius (was Excelsior)Exceptional1
Sharp's - Honey GoldExceptional1
Westerham - Audit AleExcellent1
Great Newsome - Jem's StoutExcellent1
Edge - Brighton RocksExcellent1
Dark Star - SunburstExcellent1
Timothy Taylor - LandlordExcellent1
Rother Valley - SmildExcellent1
Otley - O-8Excellent1
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Excellent1
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)Excellent2
Goacher's - Fine Light AleExcellent3
Dark Star - Six HopExcellent1
Wagglers (in Rolvenden) - VPAExcellent1
Bushy's - Ruby (1874) MildExcellent1
Blackwater (sub-brand of Salopian) - Hip HopExcellent1
Westerham - Summer PerleExcellent1
Potton - Best BitterExcellent1
Breconshire - Rambler's RuinExcellent1
Harvey's - Sussex Best BitterGood1
City of Cambridge - Parker's PorterGood1
1648 - Mitchell's Magic StoutGood1
Skinner's - Ginger TosserGood1
Wolf - Granny Wouldn't Like It !!!Good1
Oakleaf (now see Fallen Acorn entries) - Nuptu'aleGood1
Bank Top - Dark MildGood1
Williams Brothers - CeilidhGood1
Rother Valley - AllianceGood1
Elland - Calderd AleAcceptable1
Beartown (latterly part of Manning Brewers) - White AdmiralAcceptable1
Old Bear - EstivatorPoor1
Goacher's - 1066 Old AleNot Tried0
Banks's - Ringwood FortyninerNot Tried0
Rudgate - Ruby MildNot Tried0
Westerham - British Bulldog "BB" (was 4.3%)Not Tried0
Hook Norton - Old HookyNot Tried0
Weltons - Old CockyNot Tried0
Triple fff - MoondanceNot Tried0
White - Franklins Dry HopNot Tried0
Moorhouse's - Pendle Witches BrewNot Tried0
Wagglers (Weltons) - Best Bitter DBNot Tried0
Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Original Port StoutNot Tried0
White - Franklins Exp Amber AleNot Tried0
Westerham - Oxney Ale (house beer)Not Tried0
RCH - PitchforkNot Tried0
Skinner's - Betty Stogs BitterNot Tried0
Weltons - Pinta That 2Not Tried0
York (now brewed by and at Black Sheep) - GuzzlerNot Tried0
Ridleys - Old BobNot Tried0
Loddon - HoppitNot Tried0
Rother Valley - Level BestNot Tried0
Westerham - Finchcocks OriginalNot Tried0
Greene King - Morland OriginalNot Tried0
Batemans - GHANot Tried0
Mauldons - Mid-Winter GoldNot Tried0
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Blue TopNot Tried0
Dorset Brewing Company - AdventageousNot Tried0
Royal Tunbridge Wells - Royal Best BitterNot Tried0
Phoenix - Wobbly BobNot Tried0
Hop Back - Summer LightningNot Tried0
Great Orme - CelticaNot Tried0
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Courage Best Bitter (use Marston's entry now please)Not Tried0
Picture 1. The Swan Inn (old entry now superseded), Wittersham, Kent

Visits Details

06 Mar 2016 (ChrisE)
This pub has had a complete makeover and is now known as the Oxney Gourmet Pie & Burger Bar. Please see separate entry on this site.
BeerABVScoreNotes
20 Aug 2011 (Pedro)
Afternoon for beer festival
BeerABVScoreNotes
Sharp's - Honey Gold4.20Exceptional
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Excellent
Dark Star - Sunburst4.80Excellent
Wagglers (in Rolvenden) - VPA5.00Excellent
Potton - Best Bitter4.00Excellent
Edge - Brighton Rocks4.00Excellent
Skinner's - Ginger Tosser3.80Good
1648 - Mitchell's Magic Stout5.60Good
Hop Back - Summer Lightning5.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Eagle (formerly Wells & Young's, formerly Charles Wells, formerly Wells) - Courage Best Bitter (use Marston's entry now please)4.00Not Tried
Banks's - Ringwood Fortyniner4.90Not Tried
Westerham - British Bulldog "BB" (was 4.3%)4.10Not Tried
Rother Valley - Smild3.80Not Tried
Weltons - Old Cocky4.30Not Tried
White - Franklins Dry Hop3.60Not Tried
Wagglers (Weltons) - Best Bitter DB4.00Not Tried
White - Franklins Exp Amber Ale4.20Not Tried
Westerham - Oxney Ale (house beer)4.00Not Tried
22 Aug 2010 (Pedro)
Afternoon visit to beer festival
BeerABVScoreNotes
Westerham - Summer Perle3.80Excellent
Westerham - Audit Ale6.20Excellent
Dark Star - Hophead was 3.8% (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)3.40Good
Wolf - Granny Wouldn't Like It !!!4.80Good
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70Not Tried
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Rudgate - Ruby Mild4.40Not Tried
Hook Norton - Old Hooky4.60Not Tried
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Not Tried
Rother Valley - Smild3.80Not Tried
Triple fff - Moondance4.20Not Tried
Moorhouse's - Pendle Witches Brew5.10Not Tried
Hanlons (formerly O'Hanlon's) - Original Port Stout4.80Not Tried
RCH - Pitchfork4.30Not Tried
Skinner's - Betty Stogs Bitter4.00Not Tried
York (now brewed by and at Black Sheep) - Guzzler3.60Not Tried
Loddon - Hoppit3.50Not Tried
Westerham - Finchcocks Original3.50Not Tried
Batemans - GHA4.20Not Tried
Old Dairy (being contract brewed after it closed) - Blue Top4.80Not Tried
Royal Tunbridge Wells - Royal Best Bitter4.10Not Tried
20 Feb 2010 (Pedro)
Lunchtime visit for Winter Ales Festival - ended up having only small tasters of many of the festival beers so I could decide which to take as a carry-out
BeerABVScoreNotes
Oakham - JHB3.80Exceptional
Ossett - Excelsius (was Excelsior)5.20Exceptionalabsolutely superb - hence my choice of take-away
Timothy Taylor - Landlord4.30Excellent
Dark Star - American Pale Ale (some has also been brewed by Fuller's)4.70Excellent
Bushy's - Ruby (1874) Mild3.50Excellent
Breconshire - Rambler's Ruin5.00Excellent
Dark Star - Six Hop6.50Excellent
Blackwater (sub-brand of Salopian) - Hip Hop3.90Excellent
Great Newsome - Jem's Stout4.30Excellent
Otley - O-88.00ExcellentBut not my type of beer !
Bank Top - Dark Mild4.00Good
City of Cambridge - Parker's Porter5.20Good
Rother Valley - Alliance4.20GoodNot an alliance to my tastes though !
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70Not Tried
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Goacher's - 1066 Old Ale6.70Not Tried
Rother Valley - Smild3.80Not Tried
Phoenix - Wobbly Bob6.00Not Tried
30 Jan 2010 (Ian)
First stop on my cross Romney Marsh cycle ride. The main bar is really attractive now with a real fire and some warm wood and brewerania. Good range of beers and ales too.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70ExcellentReally good light bitter with excellent orange/tangerine fruits. Went down very easily after cycling from Appledore Station
Williams Brothers - Ceilidh4.70GoodGold, some sweet citrus fruit. Touch of peach. Dry finish, very drinkable.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Rother Valley - Level Best4.00Not Tried
Phoenix - Wobbly Bob6.00Not Tried
Great Orme - Celtica4.50Not Tried
07 May 2008 (Ian)
Here with Phil Lowry and his friends. They've completely changed the interior. The split bar is still in the middle, but what was the saloon bar is now the public bar and vice versa. There is still a stillage with 4 gravity beers on and handpulls serving Goachers Light. Pool table and jukebox in public bar. The interior has more light coloured woods and feels a bit more like a modern pub than a traditional one. Still one of the better beer ranges in east Kent
BeerABVScoreNotes
Rother Valley - Smild3.80ExcellentLovely condition, great choc in the middle of the mouth, and just a very good mild finish. Excellent mild
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00GoodNice suppable pint of Harvey's.
Elland - Calderd Ale4.50AcceptableCopper colour, malt is a little syrupy, decent condition. Green apple on aroma. Bit chewy. Hops on end are pretty good with a nice hoppy bite. Bit too much green apple.
Old Bear - Estivator3.80PoorHazy pale gold with no head. Citrus hop aroma, bit floral. But not that great in the mouth, bit uncultured, not sure what is going on with the malts and I found it quite hard to finish a half.
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70Not Tried
02 Jan 2007 (Andrew)
I was in the saloon bar (I guess) that was cosy. There was a fire at one end and only 1 other customer who was sitting at the bar.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70ExceptionalFresh oranges with heathery hops. Ace
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Rother Valley - Level Best4.00Not TriedOn gravity
Rother Valley - Smild3.80Not Tried
Greene King - Morland Original4.00Not TriedOn gravity
Mauldons - Mid-Winter Gold4.50Not TriedOn gravity
Dorset Brewing Company - Adventageous4.50Not TriedOn gravity
16 Sep 2006 (Ian)
I was surprised that I haven't been to this pub for so long that I haven't even put it on this site yet. I really like this pub. Welcoming landlord and landlady and the choice/quality of beer is excellent. I got here mid Saturday afternoon and was soon joined by the brewer from Rother Valley and we enjoyed several beers whilst chatting to Ray the landlord. Must come again.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Goacher's - Fine Light Ale3.70ExcellentRay said that this was coming to the end of the barrel, but due to the turnover of beer here, this wasn't a problem. This was still spectacular though with marmalade, hop and good malt flavour. Lovely.
Oakleaf (now see Fallen Acorn entries) - Nuptu'ale4.20GoodClear gold, no head. Grassy hop, sauvignon blanc gooseberry aroma. Bit of yeast. Slightly tired in mouth, lovely gooseberry hop finish. Would have been stunning when fresh (as Ray said)
Beartown (latterly part of Manning Brewers) - White Admiral4.10AcceptableReddish brown, thin white head. Bit of diacetyl maybe? Caramel/toffee. Good malt. Nice red berry fruit. Bit too buttery for me.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Rother Valley - Smild3.80Not Tried
Weltons - Pinta That 23.60Not Tried
Ridleys - Old Bob5.10Not Tried

About The Swan Inn (old entry now superseded)

The pub sign. The Swan Inn (old entry now superseded), Wittersham, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional4
Excellent18
Good10
Acceptable2
Poor1

The pub is found in Wittersham, Kent, TN30 7PH.

Excellent pub in the village of Wittersham on the Isle of Oxney in Swan Street. The two room pub is linked by a central bar. The public bar has a pool table and a couple of hand pumps with the lounge bar having a 4 cask stillage behind it that serves an ever changing selection of beers. The pump clips on the ceiling and walls testify to the number of beers in the past. Multiple CAMRA branch Pub of the Year awards and worth finding on the Tenterden-Rye bus route. This pub then became known as the Oxney Gourmet Pie & Burger Bar.

We have visited this pub 8 times, seen 63 different beers and tried 32 of them.

Map location

Postcode: TN30 7PH