Swan Inn, Union Street, Stroud - Gloucestershire Pubs

The original Swan Inn stood on the south side of the High Street, opposite the Shambles. Together with the nearby George Inn, the Swan was one of Stroud’s prestigious early coaching inns.

The Swan Inn had closed by the early 19^th century and, by 1822, the Swan Hotel had opened nearby on the east side of Union Street. It was built on part of the site of the old George Inn.

Gloucester Journal, 19th May 1883:

SPOOF HOGG AGAIN. Thomas Hogg (Spoof) was summoned for being drunk and disorderly on licensed premises, the Swan Hotel, on the 10th inst.

P.C. Packer said on the night of the 10th inst. About 1030, he was in the Swan Lane in company with P.C. Coleman. They heard a disturbance inside the Swan Hotel, and the door was opened, and he saw the defendant with his jacket off and his sleeves turned up. He went inside and he saw the defendant was drunk, and he was challenging a man named James Webb to fight. Defendant’s face was bleeding. Mr Baker, the Landlord of the Swan, was endeavouring to quiet the defendant, who said he should not go out for him. Mr Baker said if he did not go out he would have him put out, and he said he would be d—d if he’d go out for anyone. Mr Baker asked witness to see him out, and he tried to get him out quietly. He would not go and said if the two b-s, meaning himself and Coleman, touched him he would give it to them. Mr Baker said it was all right in a few mingles, and than witness left. In a few minutes he saw defendant come out, being led by another man.

P.C. Coleman gave corroborative evidence. Mr Philpott said he had two other witnesses if they were required, and the Bench decided to bear them after the defence, if they were necessary.

Defendant said he was in the Swan with other men and some women. One woman tore his hat off his head and put it on the fire, and then she threw a cup at him, Two or three others pitched into him, and another cup was thrown at him. A man named Webb challenged him to fight and he did not retaliate. He had to have his eyes tore out and his brains knocked out, and he could not return the compliment. He was as sober and as solid as a judge, but it was always him who got into the row.

John Bowerman said he was in the Swan Inn on the night of the 10th and saw Hogg there. Two woman came in, one named Mrs Hill of Bowbridge, and she said that Hogg had hot her husband’s hat on his head. She ran at him, took the hat off his head and put it into the fire, and then she scratched Hogg’s face. The other woman threw some cups and glasses at Hogg’s head. Hogg got out of the chair and struck Mrs Hill, and then the two women and a man pitched on him. There was a scuffle, and Hogg pulled his jacket off, and wanted to get at some of them. The landlord came in and the two policemen just after. Mr Baker had ordered Hogg to be taken into custody, and witness said he did not think it defendant’s and that he ought not to be taken. He did not think that Hogg was drunk, and before the women came in he was quite quiet.

The chairman said they were of opinion that it was a very proper case for the police to have brought forward, and considering his antecedants it was not at all likely they believed he was drunk, but they thought from the last witness that he was not drunk but very exasperated, and they gave him the benefit of the doubt, and dismissed the case.

The above information and research courtesy Dr. Martyn Beaufort

Its most distinctive feature was the gallows sign which spanned the street.

The beam holding the Swan Inn sign read ‘Stroud Brewery Co’s Ales and Stout.

Stroud News & Journal advertising feature, Wednesday 3rd March 1999 – A new look at the Swan: Drinkers who step through the doors of the Swan Inn in Stroud are greeted by what almost seems like a new pub after a facelift taking the popular hostelry into the new millennium. The Swan Inn, in Swan Lane, part of the Cornhill shopping complex in Stroud, has been a favoured watering hole for well over 200 years. Now the pub has been updated and modernised to bring it right up to date while still keeping the traditional feel that has given The Swan its famous warm character.

The lighting has been greatly improved, making the inside look larger and airier than before, and the overall feel of the pub is one of a modern and friendly place to drink. The freshly painted walls have been decorated with rock and pop memorabilia which gives an added attraction for drinkers at the pub. Where the pub used to be on two levels, it is now on three, using the space of the pub to its fullest so that punters never feel crammed an can enjoy a relaxing pint in comfort.

The Swan has kept its juke box full of the latest chart music and established classics and its pool table and runs a number of pool teams each week playing in the Stroud league. Darts teams and a quiz team are also run from the pub and there are quiz nights on Tuesdays for anybody wanting to test their general knowledge.

The Swan, managed by licensee Mark Greenway, is a Whitbread pub partnership scheme serving a wide range of cask ales, lagers and ciders, as well as bottled lagers from around the world and a selection of spirits.

Stroud News & Journal, 17th May 2000 – Just what Mark ordered: A Stroud landlord has helped name a new beer, recently launched by the Berkeley Brewing Company. Mark Greenway, landlord of the Swan Inn in Stroud, came up with the strapline ‘Just What the Doctor Ordered’ for the new oatmeal stout Jenner’s cure.

Stroud News, 14th July 2010 – The Swan is back ‘with a bang’ after refurb: Popular Stroud pub The Swan Inn boasts new entertainment and locally sourced produce after undergoing an overhaul. Saturday nights will now see live music on the bill at the pub, which will host a regular selection of guest ales on tap, including Stroud Brewery beers. Real ciders on tap and locally produced bottled ciders will be another new feature, alongside classic pub grub meals and door-step sandwiches prepared by new head chef Mark Robinson.

A new Stroud farmers’ market ploughman’s is also available to enjoy in small and large sizes and customers with a taste for anything specific in the ingredients can order it from the market through the pub and pick it up at a later date.

A host of Stroud businesses were invited to a grand unveiling event before bands The Johnny Memphis Trio and Superjuice kicked off the first weekend of live music. “We really wanted to bring back a town centre pub with a bit of a bang,” said new pub manager Ali Coates.

The Citizen, 20th January 2011 – Pub calls time: The Swan Inn, in Union Street, has suddenly closed.

Stroud News & Journal, 19th November 2014: The Swan pub in Union Street, Stroud has been sold for £175,000. New owners Four County Inns, viewed the pub on a Friday, exchanged contracts on a Monday and completed the purchase a week after viewing. The company plans to refurbish the pub.

Stroud News, 25th January 2017 – Studio flats planed for vacant town pub: A vacant pub in the centre of Stroud could be partially transformed into a group of seven studio flats. A developer has submitted a planning application with Stroud District Council to renovate the residential area of the empty Swan Inn, just off the High Street. Onion Properties Ltd wants to turn the second and third storeys of the building into bedrooms with communal kitchens and living rooms. There are also plans to fit the new seven-bedroom house off Swan Lane with solar panels. The ground floor of the pub will be separated and kept available for let for commercial uses, such as shops.

The building adjoins the Woodruffs Organic Cafe and lies opposite Jrool Bistro in narrow pedestrianised Union Street, right in the heart of the town centre. A planning statement from the developer said the refurbished property would add to the “viability and vitality” of the town centre.

Stroud News & Journal, 7th November 2018 – Pub Changed: Retrospective planning permission has been given for the redevelopment of The Swan Inn into shops. work had already started on turning the Stroud pub’s ground floor – unoccupied for four years – into two retail units, with a deli already opening in one of them in September. Stroud District Council gave the go-ahead for the redevelopment last week, with a council officer arguing there was no demand for a continued community use for the premises given marketing evidence submitted by the landlord.

Licensing Details:

Owner in 1891: Cheltenham Original Brewery

Rateable value in 1891: £47.0s.0d.

Type of licence in 1891: Alehouse

Owner in 1903: Stroud Brewery

Rateable value in 1903: £30.0s.0d.

Type of licence in 1903: Alehouse

Closing time in 1903: 11pm

Landlords at the Swan include:

1814 Francis Pickard (listed as labourer. See Weavers Arms in 1830)

1830 George Warder

1851,1861 Stephen Chapman (Swan Inn, Old Chapel Street)

1856 H. Browning

1883,1891 Henry Baker

1902 George Simmons

1903 George James Castle

1906 George James Cole

1919 John Nash

1927 Mrs Mary A. Nash

1939 Lawrence William Rose

1999, 2000 Mark Greenway (manager)

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