This is terrible news. The Swan was an oasis in SE7 and I really admired their community offering. I hope the staff can find work elsewhere.
It leaves the River Ale House as the only top venue near the ground. More pre-match trips to Greenwich, Deptford and Blackheath, I guess.
I cancelled two short breaks this morning for this weekend - one to Majorca this weekend to watch football (La Liga now to be played behind closed doors) and another to Paris at the end of the month. On top of the disgraceful shenanigans at CAFC, we now find that The White Swan has closed.
This is a dreadful shame, and will certainly affect the Saturday "football ritual" for many Addicks. I hope the museum exhibits are safe.
Yes the Swan is busy on match days, and no doubt the other events have brought in high numbers of customers, but like many other pubs I suspect it is very quiet and not covering running costs at other times, especially if the rent is high.
Add to that the very real prospect of people, quite reasonably, deciding to keep away from busy public places over the next few months due to the threat of covid-19, then for a business already struggling to keep profitable it is easy to see why they have decided to close now. I doubt if they will be alone.
We took a car full of framed pictures and memorabilia to the Swan. The landlord was thrilled to have them. None of them are of historical importance but some framed signed shirts which are worth a few bob. Bigger things to worry about today. A great shame to be losing another Charlton pub.
This is terrible news. The Swan was an oasis in SE7 and I really admired their community offering. I hope the staff can find work elsewhere.
It leaves the River Ale House as the only top venue near the ground. More pre-match trips to Greenwich, Deptford and Blackheath, I guess.
I cancelled two short breaks this morning for this weekend - one to Majorca this weekend to watch football (La Liga now to be played behind closed doors) and another to Paris at the end of the month. On top of the disgraceful shenanigans at CAFC, we now find that The White Swan has closed.
I've certainly had better days.
Swan had a good vibe, instilled by Geoff, who also runs the Pelton and Shortlands Tavern.
River Ale House too small to cope with extra demand. We could hardly get through the door after game a few weeks ago.
Pilot, on the peninsula, almost ran out of handpumped beer after Boro game: only Oliver's Island, which is too citrussy for comfort. Loads of punters heading for the O2. Atrocious bar management for a Fuller's tied house.
Even Ronnie & Reggie have died - the resident iguanas at Rose's in Woolwich...
Am sorry to learn of this. The splendid A Roving Folk Club , hosted by Isobel and Jim Kimberley (The Kimberleys / Bruise ) took place there on a Monday evening. Bruise performed a lively set at The Swan at the first CARD fundraiser. Roving Folk also occurs at The Swan's sister pub, The Shortlands Tavern, Shortlands, Bromley. I hope that the latter can continue. Bromley Extinction Rebellion meets in the function room upstairs. The video for Squeeze's excellent single Nirvana was filmed there.
Damn the greedy people that realise the closure of decent, community-minded pubs.
The company that own the freehold... Mendoza Ltd.....have a history of this.
I use to drink in a fantastic traditional pub in Spitalfields called The Duke of Wellington, the pub was always bust and their beer excellent, Mendoza apparently used dirty tricks to ensure the pub was longer viable.
It wont become flats overnight, it may not even be granted a change of use. I'm fairly sure the owner has to market the property for at least 12 months. Of course they could charge ridiculous rent and price the world out.
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Bugle will get mobbed..........
It leaves the River Ale House as the only top venue near the ground. More pre-match trips to Greenwich, Deptford and Blackheath, I guess.
I cancelled two short breaks this morning for this weekend - one to Majorca this weekend to watch football (La Liga now to be played behind closed doors) and another to Paris at the end of the month. On top of the disgraceful shenanigans at CAFC, we now find that The White Swan has closed.
I've certainly had better days.
They just want to turn the pub into flats and build new housing in the garden.
It's about maximising their profit and to hell with the community.
It's not just here. Where ever you live, it's near you too.
Yes the Swan is busy on match days, and no doubt the other events have brought in high numbers of customers, but like many other pubs I suspect it is very quiet and not covering running costs at other times, especially if the rent is high.
Add to that the very real prospect of people, quite reasonably, deciding to keep away from busy public places over the next few months due to the threat of covid-19, then for a business already struggling to keep profitable it is easy to see why they have decided to close now. I doubt if they will be alone.
River Ale House too small to cope with extra demand. We could hardly get through the door after game a few weeks ago.
Pilot, on the peninsula, almost ran out of handpumped beer after Boro game: only Oliver's Island, which is too citrussy for comfort. Loads of punters heading for the O2. Atrocious bar management for a Fuller's tied house.
Even Ronnie & Reggie have died - the resident iguanas at Rose's in Woolwich...
Awful times
The splendid A Roving Folk Club , hosted by Isobel and Jim Kimberley (The Kimberleys / Bruise ) took place there on a Monday evening.
Bruise performed a lively set at The Swan at the first CARD fundraiser.
Roving Folk also occurs at The Swan's sister pub, The Shortlands Tavern, Shortlands, Bromley. I hope that the latter can continue. Bromley Extinction Rebellion meets in the function room upstairs. The video for Squeeze's excellent single Nirvana was filmed there.
Damn the greedy people that realise the closure of decent, community-minded pubs.
And when they are thwarted and forced to keep the building as a pub, charge huge rent in order to make the place unprofitable.
No doubt there'll be a new planning application to convert into flats and build new housing in the garden. It's happening every where.
Mendoza Ltd.....have a history of this.
I use to drink in a fantastic traditional pub in Spitalfields called The Duke of Wellington, the pub was always bust and their beer excellent, Mendoza apparently used dirty tricks to ensure the pub was longer viable.
Mendoza have done this to countless pubs.