Swan, York

The Swan is a near-intact Thirties remodelling of a small Victorian street-corner pub and one of the best-preserved interiors of its kind in the country. It was done to 1936 plans by Kitson, Parish, Ledgard & Pyman, the Leeds architects responsible for much of Tetley's work between the Wars and who helped create a distinctive house-style for the company. A beerhouse since 1861, the Swan had been acquired by Tetley's in 1899. The design here centres on a room-sized stand-up lobby - reflecting a distinct West Riding influence on the part of both architect and client - and it has a room-off at either end of the central servery (the 'better' smoke room to the rear) each served by hatch. The unaltered layout and it’s authentic fabric like the fitted seating, bell-pushes, leaded and glazed screenwork, terrazzo flooring - even the toilet ceramics - help make this a memorable 1930s survival.

The porch has a terrazzo floor, 1930's wall tiling and set of double doors with 1930 leaded panels. The terrazzo floor lobby is served from a bar set back on the left with glazed leaded screen above, shelving on walls and a couple of small round tables. In the 1980s the lobby bar saw some changes and a dado of wood-like substance added to the counter front so it looks modern. The passage goes right to the back of the pub with more shelving at the back and leads to one of the most intact/impressive 1930s gents’ toilets with a dado tiled wall, tiled floor and 4 massive urinals.

A 1930s door leads into the front left public bar which also has a terrazzo floor, 1930s fixed seating all around with bell-pushes, and a hatch to the side of the servery. The rear smoke room has a door, dado panelling, original fixed seating with bell pushes in the panel above. There is a doorway with a flap making it like a hatch to the side of the servery and also access to the servery for staff. The Victorian-style tiled, cast iron and wood surround fireplace possibly added in the 1980s by Tetley's is one of few modern touches. As well as The Swan was given Tetley's 'Heritage' badging in 1985 and it was statutorily listed in 2010 following a successful application by CAMRA.