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Swan, Southwold

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Completely refurbished over nine months in 2017, this Grade 2 listed building offers 35 guest bedrooms and two restaurants, the Still Room and the Tap Room (the latter is also the bar). Guests can also take afternoon tea in the Drawing Room and enjoy private dining for groups in the Reading Room or Juniper Room. Across the courtyard to the rear is also the meeting point for tours of Adnams Brewery.

Historic Interest

An advert placed in the Ipswich Journal in July 1805 states that Henry Meadows at the Old Swan Inn, Southwold, would like to thank his many friends for their past favours & was hoping that they would continue to favour him in the future. He added that he had laid in a fresh assortment of the best wines & liquors & had made great improvements to his bed chambers. He ends with a note informing his friends that as there are two Inns called the Swan in Southwold his is the one opposite the market cross. In 1823 two entries are seen - one for an old Swan & the other for a new Swan (probably now called the Crown) - each listed with an innkeeper. In 1839 & 1844 called the Old Swan, Royal Hotel & Posting House In 1900 described as "good coffee rooms, public & private drawing rooms, billiard & bath rooms, liberal table, carriages for hire. Bus meets all trains. Lawn tennis; sanitary arrangements perfect”. In 1912 described as: "two minutes from sea & golf links; with sea view(?), good coffee & public rooms; liberal table; moderate charges; electric light, cycle accommodation, large up-to-date motor garage; cars for hire & petrol supplied; stabling & carriages; omnibus meets all trains." A paperback book published in 1969, called "Inns of the Suffolk Coast" by Leonard P Thompson contains the following extract: “The Reverend James Woodforde, compiler of The Diary of A Country Parson visited Southwold in the Spring of 1786 & was unimpressed by the Swan. He wrote 'We got to Southwold about 12 o'clock & there we supped dined & slept at an indifferent Inn, but very civil Landlords, at the Old Swan, kept by one Berry, late servant to Sir Thos. Gooch';"An auction was held at the inn, in 1750. Lot 94, "A parcel of Hay Broom & furs" was sold to Robert Jacques of the Old Swan Inn. He committed suicide by hanging himself on August 20, 1778. Southwold records contain an entry for 31st March, 1801 when an amount was paid to Mr Meadows at the Swan. In 1857, Elizabeth, widow of Thomas Bockenham married J.E.Child. A yard in the Market place is still known as Child's Yard, from the iron-founder & inventor of the gasometer. In 1896, the proprietors were Adnams & Co, who now also owned the defunct Centre Cliff Hotel. The Swan Inn, like the Sole Bay Hotels' Anchor at Walberswick, has some well-planned & nicely appointed garden houses looking on the the Swan's 200 year old bowling green”. Photographs of this pub and more historical information about it can be found at suffolkcamra.co.uk/pubs/pub/872

Information for this venue is provided by the North East Suffolk Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
New Swan; Old Swan; Royal Hotel
Local Authority
East Suffolk District
Last updated
05/06/2025
Last surveyed
04/06/2025
Leasehold owner
unknown
Freehold owner
Adnams
Pub ID
WAV/872
Asset of Community Value
Monday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Tuesday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Wednesday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Thursday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Friday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Saturday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Sunday
11:00am - 11:00pm
Monday
Noon - 2:30pm & 5:30pm - 10:00pm
Tuesday
Noon - 2:30pm & 5:30pm - 10:00pm
Wednesday
Noon - 2:30pm & 5:30pm - 10:00pm
Thursday
Noon - 2:30pm & 5:30pm - 10:00pm
Friday
Noon - 2:30pm & 5:30pm - 10:00pm
Saturday
Noon - 2:30pm & 5:30pm - 10:00pm
Sunday
Noon - 2:30pm & 5:30pm - 10:00pm

TasteMatch

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Current beers

This Pub serves 2 changing beers (2 seasonal Adnams ales) and 3 regular beers.

Regular and recently seen

Adnams - Southwold Bitter TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Adnams - Southwold Bitter
Adnams - Southwold Bitter Session Bitter • 3.7% Spotted once.
Adnams - Southwold Bitter
Adnams - Southwold Bitter

This beer is served regularly and Spotted once. at Swan, Southwold.

ABV 3.7%
Dispense Handpump
Style Session Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Adnams - Broadside TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Adnams - Broadside
Adnams - Broadside Red Ale • 4.7%
Adnams - Broadside
Adnams - Broadside

This beer is served regularly at Swan, Southwold.

ABV 4.7%
Dispense Handpump
Style Red Ale
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Adnams - Ghost Ship TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Adnams - Ghost Ship
Adnams - Ghost Ship Premium Pale Ale • 4.5%
Adnams - Ghost Ship
Adnams - Ghost Ship

This beer is served regularly at Swan, Southwold.

ABV 4.5%
Dispense Handpump
Style Premium Pale Ale
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Source: Local


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Facilities
Lunchtime Meals Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals Evening Meals
Family Friendly Family Friendly
Accommodation Accommodation
Function Room Function Room
Restaurant Restaurant
Separate Bar Separate Bar
Features
Cask Ale Cask Ale
LocAle LocAle
Quiet Quiet
Transport
Close to bus routes (322m)
Ordnance Survey Reference

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