A fairly predictable pub with a traditional meets contemporary look, the White Swan is popular with after work drinkers.

The Venue
Situated on Vauxhall Bridge Road, amidst the offices that dominate the area, the White Swan is relatively busy at most times of the day. It has a traditional pub exterior but the classic look has not replicated inside. The tone is similar, using warm woods and reds as the base with flashes of blue and gold, but the décor has been given a modern twist to appeal to the professional eye. There’s plenty of seating inside, with high, low, large and small options, plus there are a good few pavement tables for when the weather permits. There are a few quaint touches to overrule the general blandness, such as gilted mirrors, old sepia photos, antique clocks and lights, all of which help give the place some vibrancy. However the unfortunate stale smell that seems to linger around the place does put a slight damper on the venue, but after a few minutes and a pint this is no longer an issue.

The Atmosphere
There’s a general flow of customers throughout the day, with mostly local office workers popping in for a break during the day or enjoying post work drinks, but there’s a scattering of residential locals, Tate visitors and art students to balance the clientele ever so subtly. There’s a distinctly masculine tone to the atmosphere, with men of all types from suits to jeans enjoying laddish banter, which is encouraged by the large TV screens showing sports and the pool table. The staff are more reserved and stick to functional rather than friendly service.

The Food
Offering an expected pub selection of largely British dishes, such as pie and fish and chips for under £10, the service is relatively speedy. Most of the dishes are very heavy and stodgy, but the flavours are nice and you get what you pay for. The Great British classics platter, consisting of fish, chips, scampi and sausage bites is very filling but has a good mix of classic flavours to satisfy hungry customers. And for those counting the pennies, on Thursdays from 12pm-5pm, two main meals can be bought for £10.

The Drink
With a wide range of beers on tap such as Stella, Fosters, Kronenbourg, Guinness, Young’s and London Pride Ale, most of the male contingent find something they like for around £3-£4 a pint. The bottled beer and cider selection offers Corona, Stella, Peroni, Budvar, Budweiser, Scrumpy Jack’s and Bulmers at a slightly more expensive price range. A small selection of wine, from £4.50 for a large glass, is no more than to be expected from an average pub, and fans of spirits can double up for an extra £1.25.

The Last Word
For a lively atmosphere at most times of the day, head to the White Swan for a fuss-free pint.

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