CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE - West Wycombe, Swan

National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors Part One

High Street, West Wycombe, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP14 3AE

(on A40)

Tel: 01494 527031

Listed Status: Grade II

View this pub on a local map

An 18th-century pub that was refitted and extended in 1932 in what is really a very simple style. Like two-thirds of West Wycombe, the freehold is owned by the National Trust and it has been run by the same family since 1910. There are two rooms – the saloon and the public bar – set at right-angles to one another and which are extremely well-preserved indeed. The front beamed Saloon Bar is in the original building and has an old inglenook fireplace with bare benches either side and decorative fireback.; the parquet floor and brick fireplace are from the refitting in 1932. The Public Bar is accessed down the left side of building and is a bit austere with parquet floor, a fine bar back with lots of bevelled mirrored panels, a long bar counter with no dispensers, a 1930s brick fireplace with old coal stove and even a piano. Note the curtains which can be pulled across so no one in the Saloon can see who is in the Public Bar and vice versa! The gents toilet situated between the public bar and the lounge is unchanged with white tiled walls, two original Shanks' urinals and washbasin. The ladies' toilet still has the 'one penny in the slot' on it!

Another door down the left side of the building with 'Reception' on the door is the former Jug & Bottle, but now used as the entrance for anyone stopping the night - there are four rooms available. The short passage has a parquet floor, two stools, a hatch/flap at the end and an old grandfather clock on the bar side. The other door into the pub is to the Dining Room which another small room with a parquet floor and 1930s brick fireplace. This is where traditional roast lunches (the joint goes in the oven at 9.00 am!) are served on Monday to Friday lunchtimes and you are advised to ring to book as Thu and Fri lunch are particularly busy. Like a number of pubs in the Chiltern area the casks are stillaged behind the servery, something that is now quite rare in Britain (and non-existent in some parts).