243 Golders Green Road,
NW11 9PN
0872 148 5484
The ViewLondon Review
The White Swan is a friendly suburban gastro pub with an international twist.The VenueOn the busy Golders Green Rd just north of the station lies what may look like a run of the mill chain that one has seen so many times before. Don’t be fooled by its exterior appearance however, for there is more to The White Swan than a cheap pint and steak and ale pie. The pub itself has a sectioned bar area complete with several TV screens, a pool table and a dartboard, and to the rear there’s a large beer garden with several picnic tables.
The AtmosphereThere’s a jukebox that kicks into life every so often, but in general the days are quiet. The mainstay of the White Swan is the after-work crowd, attracted by the good food and convenient location on the way home, and as such there is a steady crowd of regulars lining the bar. The pubs offers a much livelier time on the weekend, with live sporting events drawing crowds during the day, and karaoke, live DJ’s and live music nights attracting the local crowds on the weekends.
The FoodThe menu offers what may appear to be the usual pub meals – such as chicken salad or lasagne with chips – but with an Eastern European spiciness thanks to the Hungarian team in the kitchen. The food is as delicious as it is thirst-evoking, though clearly this may not be to everyone’s taste. The meals are priced as standard for pub food, the mains coming in at under £10.00.
The DrinkThe bar is far more standard, offering the usual lagers, ales, wines and spirits that one might find anywhere, and catering well for the young to middle-aged crowds on the weekend.
The Last WordThe White Swan offers an ideal local alternative to an excursion down to Hampstead or Camden Town for a night out, and also offers visitors a welcoming stop for refuelling on longer journeys.