29 Market Street, Tamworth, B79 7LR
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11-13 April 2025
23 Haltwhistle Road, South Woodham Ferrers, CM3 5ZA
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Grade II listed building dating back to the 17th century, once a coaching house and mentioned by the diarist Samuel Pepys.
An Irish-theme bar for many years, the pub was thoroughly refurbished and partly re-fitted as a traditional pub by Nicholson's, opening in May 2012. There is now a light and airy 1st floor restaurant with table service, and the ground floor bar has been considerably lightened and improved compared with the old Mucky Duck - a dark traditional market pub. It does get busy, as does any pub in Covent Garden, and background music may be little overpowering at times. TVs show muted rolling news or sports.
The White Swan was formerly a Hoare and Co. house, controlled by the bankers of Fleet Street, of the Red Lion Brewery with a reputation for stout and sparkling ales in Lower Smithfield, that closed in 1934, and there's a magnificent mirror with their name at the entrance.
Historic Interest
Grade II listed, Historic England ref 1224986. It is said that Dorothy L Sayers featured the White Swan in her 1933 Lord Peter Wimsey mystery 'Murder Must Advertise'. A keen reader (chapter XII 'Surprising Acquisition of a Junior Reporter' should you wish to check) would follow in the footsteps of the said reporter from the office of the Morning Star and Evening Comet, no longer finding a 3 a.m. breakfast of grilled sausage, coffee and rolls in Fleet Street, and be surprised to find any pub in Covent Garden open at 4.15 am. The days of the Market are long gone, along with the early morning hours for the market porters, but this particular novelised pub is more likely to have been the White Lion in James Street. Sayers' characters favour Guinness (one florid person in evening dress insisting on a double Scotch and not too much bloody soda) for the most part and no comment is offered on the ale on sale.
This Pub serves 2 changing beers and 3 regular beers.
White Swan, London
Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals
Family Friendly
Restaurant
Wi Fi
Real Ale
Real Cider
Love Cask Beer?
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