http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/york/bar-pub/1b5138f/the-old-white-swan <b>The Old White Swan</b><br />York, 80 Goodramgate, YO1 7LF, United Kingdom en http://trustedplaces.com/uploads/placepics/trustedplaces.comaPlacePic['name']}.140.jpg http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/york/bar-pub/1b5138f/the-old-white-swan http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/york/bar-pub/1b5138f/the-old-white-swan/1s4m87
Review by cmmort

Rating: 2.00
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Sad to say I can only add a solitary spark of upbeat encouragement and great deal of nodding to the previous reviews of The Old White Swan.

I generally wouldn't dream of going for a drink in this pub (nevermind eating) - despite the recent refurb it still (or already) smells of pub faves urine and vomit, always seems overcrowded, and as mentioned by others the overcrowding is mostly loud drunk people watching big screen sports.

HOWEVER, the one glimmer of hope on the otherwise 'avoid at all costs' horizon is Big Ian's Music Quiz on a Wednesday night. He's great! You can get a decent glass of shiraz for £2.50 and a table if you turn up at 8ish. Surround yourself with a goodly supply of wise friends and bob's your uncle - how to have a good night out at The Old White Swan!]]> Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:57:27 +0000 /review/uk/york/bar-pub/1b5138f/the-old-white-swan/1s4m87441221243 cmmort 53.960567013615 -1.0809161175747 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/york/bar-pub/1b5138f/the-old-white-swan/1359p7
Review by oogywawa

Rating: 2.00
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I revisited the "Mucky Duck" after a pretty damning review after its big refit and although they actually had beer this time, and to be fair a big choice & well kept beer, there were still the niggling disappointing negatives that remain.

First the postives - they have really got their beer choice and quality right. All the beers we tasted were excellent.

What a real shame then that they continue to get so much wrong. The staff were averagely attentive - easily distracted by internal jokes and gossiping and we needed to catch their attention twice to get served.

The atmosphere was lairy as well, with a lot of people much the worse for wear and a child still in the bar at 11pm !

The point I'm making is the leadership & authority is just not apparent. Gone is the previous long serving landlord & to save money they've put a 2O-something in charge and it shows - M&B have given him the "run a pub" textbook and forgot all about the streetwise experience & gravitas that is as important. So the staff got no direction, they seemed to let more or less anyone in, glasses remained uncollected and the toilets, newly refurbished, were in the same appalling state as "Woodstock" on the last day...!

What a feckless waste of a truly great building...]]> Mon, 26 May 2008 22:32:39 +0000 /review/uk/york/bar-pub/1b5138f/the-old-white-swan/1359p7409551478 oogywawa 53.960567013615 -1.0809161175747 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/york/bar-pub/1b5138f/the-old-white-swan/1s98c7
Review by mazphd

Rating: 1.00
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Less swan than ugly duckling, this venue is for those who want over-priced with the taste of watered down beer, and vicinity for sports sports sports on the numerous tvs that surround.

The w/e crowd are the larger than life whatever is the sport of the moment supporters. Loud with a pint glass in one hand and the other free to make air jabs of success/support or hide mortification of being 'down one nil again' game watching.

If your idea of fun on a saturday afternoon is being surrounded by drunks, burly doormen and tv's turned to over-LOUD then this is your crowd. In need of a decent pint, and to be able to talk and to hear your neighbours? i'd avoid.

Still great fun if you're on a stag do !

Recently had a re-furb, so smokers are now 'out back' rather than out front. something for everyone then. ]]> Wed, 07 May 2008 09:29:59 +0000 /review/uk/york/bar-pub/1b5138f/the-old-white-swan/1s98c71482164902 mazphd 53.960567013615 -1.0809161175747 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/york/bar-pub/1b5138f/the-old-white-swan/1s4878
Review by oogywawa

Rating: 2.00
Tags:
They've "refurbed" the "Mucky Duck" - they're clever guys these M&B experts. Take an old pub - chuck a load of dark wood and soft furnishings at it, rip out the Sky screens and dim the lights. Pack out the substantial front yard with tables to bring in families and bob's your fathers brother. They'll come in their droves

What do you mean a well stocked bar...? How's that relevant - as long as they come and buy plated meals and soft drinks with their 1000% markup what's the harm !!!!!

These guys are the living exemplification of "The Dunning-Kruger" effect. We see it in every facet of life, most alarmingly in high places, often in the very highest such as Government: people who have little knowledge tending to think they know more than they do - i.e. unconscious incompetents.

Please tell me - when you open a substantially refurbished public house in the centre of the European City of Tourism on a busy Bank Holiday - is there any possible way you can ever justify the tectonic mistake of running out of beer?

The hapless bar steward bleated that they had not ordered enough beer and that was why they had NO CASK BITTER in any of their 6 pumps and both premium lagers were not available either. So I returned 2 days later - the same pointless excuse. Anyone knows that you can supply a pub with a new full cask within 2 hours - The York Brewery is just 2 miles away for goodness sake...!!!!!!

It's so utterly transparently obvious - sheer, unadulterated avarice meant that M&B opened this pub in unnecessary haste and the public can put up with what's available until they get their act together. I'd be surprised if the handpulls are even plumbed in yet as the standard "we've run out" excuse was as readily trotted out by staff as a bunch of suspects getting their stories right.

So I'm having a rant - too right I am. When there are pubs within 100yds doing their level best to get things right and serve the public great food and drink and you have incompetence and cynicism on a scale this grand you can't help wanting to howl at the moon.

Little wonder that M&B have recently lost £274 million and effectively put themselves up for sale...]]> Wed, 07 May 2008 02:59:36 +0000 /review/uk/york/bar-pub/1b5138f/the-old-white-swan/1s48782001798238 oogywawa 53.960567013615 -1.0809161175747