Pub Guides: The Swan, Bushey

Address: 25 Park Road, Bushey, Hertfordshire, WD23 3EE

 

Opening Hours: Mon – Sat (11:00am – 11:00pm), Sun (12:00pm – 10:30pm)

 

Tel: 020 8950 2256

 

Tucked away on a residential street resides an intriguing looking pub, although relatively small in size for a boozer, it ticks all the boxes as a quintessential community local. Built in 1867 by local entrepreneur Jane Farmer, the building was originally a beer-house for local brewer Thomas Wild, since then the pub has since changed ownership a dozen or so times, although uniquely for the area it is still a free house. The pub’s mid-Victorian interior has largely remained unchanged since it was built, the embossed windows, wood panelled walls, double fireplace and bar counter are all original, enough to award this place one star by CAMRA’s historic pub interiors scheme, yet its despite its historic status it is not a listed building. As you walk into the pub, it is quickly noticeable that its rather small and compact, no larger than an average sized living room; a mishmash of dining and small circular tables line the vicinity all closely packed together, and a row of stools line the bar for extra seating, despite all this when the pub gets busy, it can be rather on the crowded side. Despite this the pub has some rather intriguing features that help give its unique character, the walls are adorned with the photos from the pub’s illustrious past that includes an extensive collection featuring the pub’s long running Darts league and the Cricket team, along with old snaps of the building and the local area in general. Also featured is a collection of army insignias, club ties, scale models of ships and air balloons, along with a wide array of Breweriania, that includes jugs, beer bottles, embossed mirrors and a slew of posters featuring the likes of Guinness, Glen Spey, Timothy Taylor and former local brewery Benskins, on the later note there is a large array of Benskins related memorabilia, indeed this was the location where the very last pint of Benskins was served in 2002. Dotted along the shelves resides a mini-library of books that include past CAMRA Beer Guides, local history books, Cricketers almanacs, pub walk guides and even a Bradshaw edition, that would keep any bookworm engrossed for hours on end.

 

To add to the list of ecclectic features, there is an extensive pub garden at the back which is almost as large as the pub itself, that allows for extra seating during the Summer months; a wide selection of TV monitors stacked closely together continuously showing an array of sports and a Darts area towards the back of the building, which sits precariously between a selection of neatly stacked board games and the entrance to the Gents toilet. Rather curiously and if not unsurprisingly for a pub of this size, the Ladies’ toilet is unusally situated outside around the back with no access from within the pub. For the discerning drinker, the pub has a small variety of cask ales on offer that have relatively remained unchanged over the years, including the likes of Landlord (4.3%), Abbot Ale (5%) and London Original (3.7%) which were available that the day, The pub also sports a large range of keg beers, and a hand-pull for Real Cider, there is additionally a large range of wines available and an extensive collection of spirits, some of which are seldom found in most pubs. However this pub does not feature a restaurant menu as such, although it does serve hot meat pies and toasties on request, and intriguingly it also features the largest and most eclectic range of bar-snacks that I have yet seen in a pub, including a wide variety of crisps, pork scratchings, r jerky, Pepperami, olives, pickled cockles, beef jerky, rice cakes, Bombay mix, pickled eggs, giant pretzels and every type of nut, that the pub proudly exclaims. You certainly won’t leave hungry whenever you visit this pub.

On the whole, despite it being diminutive in size, this pub more than makes its up with its treasure trove of features that are dotted around the vicinity. This place exudes a charming, warming and inviting atmosphere, whether your local or new to the place you’re always greeted with the same warm welcome that encourages one to visit this place time and time again. It is easy to why the pub has featured in the CAMRA Pub Guide on more than several occasions, and was notably voted pub of the area by the local Watford and District CAMRA in 2002, this pub is essentially a classic example of a community local that has been much revered by generations of customers. If you’re ever passing the area, this pub is definitively one to visit.