Only stopped in for the ales, but the menu looked appetizing, and the web ratings seem good. Those who were eating seemed happy! Great old building. Good experience. Update: It’s now a Nciholson’s - so Cask Marque, very clean, and many many beers. May have to visit the several bars to see them all. Food was excellent, and good value.

A pleasant old coaching inn with eight hand pumps, eight keg taps and the usual bottles to be found in Nicholson’s pubs. Although the Old White Swan is a Nicholson’s pub it feels much less corporate than many of their places. It’s in an interesting collection of old buildings entered through a small glass covered courtyard. The “stagecoach bar” has a rather low ceiling with very solid looking beams but then it opens out into what feels like a small mediaeval hall complete with a huge brick fireplace and gallery (without a balustrade, so not in use). I think this is known as the Tudor bar and, on the opposite side of the courtyard, is the Georgian dining room. We were there on a Sunday afternoon and all eyes were on the rugby so, although we were able to find a table away from the melee, it’s difficult to know what the atmosphere is usually like. (Visited 26 February 2012).

Crowded pub, offers several ales on tap. Good selection.

Very good food, good beer range. Appallingly slow service. Very nice pub other than that however. 3 3 11 8 8 15 Rerate: good food, good range. 3 5 10 7 7 13

Classic styled english pub with the odd bit of historic paraphernalia nailed to the walls. Didnt try the food but it looks like decent pub grub, they seem to specialise in sausages which is fair enough for a pub. Beers about 8 real ales on tap, mostly good brewers, Thornbride, York, few others. All in all quite decent.