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Swan, York

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Choosing this historic Grade II listed Tetley Heritage pub you’ll enjoy eight cask beers, including two darks and a house blonde, with four regulars and an ever-changing variety from across the UK. The range of taste and styles of high-quality beer means there is a mini beer festival every day. A haven for regulars and newcomers, you can take a seat in the front or back room, the traditional West Riding-style drinking lobby or in the partially covered beer garden. Wherever you sit, quality beer is guaranteed. This pub is rated at three stars on CAMRA's National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors.

Information for this venue is provided by the York Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Local Authority
York (B)
Last updated
03/03/2025
Last surveyed
09/04/2022
Leasehold owner
unknown
Freehold owner
Heineken UK
Pub ID
YOR/168
Asset of Community Value

Three star - A pub interior of outstanding national historic importance

Listed status: II

The Swan is a near-intact Thirties remodelling of a small Victorian street-corner pub and has one of the best-preserved interiors of its kind in the country. It was designed in 1936 for the Leeds brewers Joshua Tetley & Son by architects Kitson, Parish, Ledgard & Pyman, also of Leeds, who were 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).

Their design here centres on a room-sized stand-up lobby, one of the best surviving examples of its kind and reflecting a distinct West Riding influence on the part of both architect and client. Two rooms lead off (the ‘better’ smoke room to the rear), each served by hatch from opposite ends of the central servery. Modern touches, like the smoke room's fireplace, are few in number and, as well as the unaltered layout, it is authentic fabric like the fitted seating, bell-pushes, leaded and glazed screenwork, terrazzo flooring – even the toilet ceramics – that help make this a memorable little 1930s survival. The Swan was given Tetley's 'Heritage' badging in 1985 and statutorily listed in 2010 following a successful application by CAMRA.

General information about historic pub interiors

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.

General information about historic pub interiors
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Monday
2:00pm - 10:30pm
Tuesday
2:00pm - 10:30pm
Wednesday
2:00pm - 11:00pm
Thursday
2:00pm - 11:30pm
Friday
Noon - 11:30pm
Saturday
Noon - 11:30pm
Sunday
Noon - 10:30pm

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Current beers

This Pub serves 4 changing beers and 3 regular beers.

Regular and recently seen

Timothy Taylor - Landlord TasteMatch Prediction

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Taylor's  Landlord Pump clip
Timothy Taylor - Landlord Session Bitter • 4.3% Spotted once.
Taylor's  Landlord Pump clip
Timothy Taylor - Landlord

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

ABV 4.3%
Dispense Handpump
Style Session Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Tetley - Tetley Bitter TasteMatch Prediction

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Tetley - Tetley Bitter
Tetley - Tetley Bitter Session Bitter • 3.7% Spotted 4 times.
Tetley - Tetley Bitter
Tetley - Tetley Bitter

This beer is served regularly and Spotted 4 times. at Swan, York.

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

Half Moon - Dark Masquerade TasteMatch Prediction

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Half Moon - Dark Masquerade
Half Moon - Dark Masquerade Mild • 3.6% Spotted 22 times.
Half Moon - Dark Masquerade
Half Moon - Dark Masquerade

This beer is served regularly and Spotted 22 times. recently. Last spotted 3 days ago at Swan, York.

ABV 3.6%
Dispense Handpump
Style Mild
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free Yes

Marble - Earl Grey IPA TasteMatch Prediction

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Marble - Earl Grey IPA
Marble - Earl Grey IPA Flavoured Speciality Beers • 6.8% Spotted twice.
Marble - Earl Grey IPA
Marble - Earl Grey IPA

Spotted twice. recently. Last spotted 6 days ago at Swan, York.

ABV 6.8%
Style Flavoured Speciality Beers
Colour
Vegan Yes
Gluten Free No

Sunbeam - Black Forest Gateau Porter TasteMatch Prediction

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Sunbeam - Black Forest Gateau Porter
Sunbeam - Black Forest Gateau Porter Session Porter • 4.9% Spotted once.
Sunbeam - Black Forest Gateau Porter
Sunbeam - Black Forest Gateau Porter

Spotted once. recently. Last spotted 3 days ago at Swan, York.

ABV 4.9%
Style Session Porter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No
Changing

Changing beers typically include: Brass Castle (varies) , Half Moon (varies) , Settle (varies)

Source: National


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Facilities
Garden Garden
Dog Friendly Dog Friendly
Games Games
Real Fire Real Fire
Separate Bar Separate Bar
Smoking Smoking
Features
Cask Ale Cask Ale
Real Heritage Pub Real Heritage Pub
LocAle LocAle
Transport
Close to bus routes (100m)
11, 26
Nearby Station (900m)
York

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Grab a copy of the Heritage Pub Guide for Yorkshire

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