The White Swan

Alright, I’m keeping it straight to the point on this one:
It’s a Whetherspoons — that franchised pub that nobody really likes but everyone’s been there. I can proudly say I’ve been to many Whetherspoons in my life time and I’m disappointed in the service of this one.
Okay, nobody goes to Wetherspoon for their service. So why am I talking about it? I was appalled with how their waitress and deputy manager treated us this past weekend. The waitress had put a chili-​con-​carne dish on our table and my friend began eating it. We had ordered Nachos with Chili-​con-​crane, but made an assumption that the food was this bad here — this must be the dish.
Shortly after, they came and said we’ve made a mistake, taken our dish away and gave us the actual dish. Once we finished the Nachos, the waitress came over and demanded that we pay for the first dish as well. The dish that we had taken 2 bites of, and then they gave it to the man who actually ordered it. The man had already paid for it.
I thought I’d try to reason with them as this was obviously a miscommunication not only on our part but theirs as well. The deputy manager came over and just said if we don’t pay, then we need to leave. There was no reasoning with her. I then said I don’t think this is fair and I would like to make an official complaint with and actual manager. I asked her for her name and she refused to give it to me.
Her exact words were: «No, you cannot have my name. I did not ask for yours.»
So at the end of it all, we were just so upset that we left. It’s upsetting to know that the service level can be this bad at Whetherspoon. I don’t expect great service however, this was just bullying. Just a sad experience really.

Just around the corner from The Garage (great alternative music venue), this Wetherspoon’s is a great place to start your evening… unless Arsenal have been playing, then it’s packed to the rafters!
It’s within spitting distance of the Tube station so even the most boozy legs can still get home!
Plenty of places to sit, and they have a family friendly area so people can enjoy meals with their children.
It can get busy during the evening, even when there’s no football, so be prepared for a short wait at the bar.
Great prices (which is why it’s better to have a few drinks here before going elsewhere!), nice clean loos, and friendly staff. What more could you want from a pub?!

This place situated round the corner from Highbury & Isilintgon Tube Station, I was quite impressed with the modern wood pattern tiling running the interior décor of this pub, will also say it is a fair size definitely one of the best internal looking Wetherspoons I have seen in London. Anyway, straight to the food I had Steak it was okish but will say a stingy potion, for size than other Wetherspoons I have been too, also with the lager with the Steak meals you was restricted to more the lower end lagers range which is not the case with other Wethespoon pubs I have been to. Staff were friendly and helpful enough. I would steer clear of this boozer on Match nights as this quite a local for Arsenal Fans but is still worth a place to drop in for a pint or two I’d say…

Wetherspoons is like McDonalds. It’s clientele spans all demographics and social classes. If you’re not too snobby, you’ll appreciate the cheap food and drink, nice staff and clean premises.
Whilst I’ve ever only been to this branch for food, the many students here before a night out is testament to the cheap drink.
This particular branch is quite large and spacious, with little trouble finding a table, unless visiting around dinner time during a supper club night of which they have quite a few.
Yes, a lot of the food is microwaved and agreed the quality is not top notch, but for he price, what were you expecting! How many other places get you a Beer, Chips and Burger for £5!

Cheap food
Good offers
and for a JDW has (in common with all Wetherspoons) a really well designed interior and décor

One of the largest JDW establishments I’ve been to in London. It’s big, and that combined with the seating arrangements reminded me of a school cafeteria. It’s clean though, which is good. There were about eight to ten casks plus all the regular JDW kegs and bottles. Cheaper prices than more central London. A decent option if you’re in the area. Just a short walk from the Union Chapel (perhaps London’s best live music venue).

Difficult review to give really, Good food done cheaply, so GOOD VALUE for money, service is slow, building is dated, its more of a BOOZERS pub than a food pub!!, Its loud inside not really suitable on a date for two more for socializing with friends as drinks are cheap.

Very untidy, used glasses all over the place, so, typical ‘Spoons. Choice of ales miserable, hence Erdinger.

I’ve never really wanted to come to this particular Wetherspoons. I don’t mean to offend anybody but whenever I’ve been past this corner, the unwashed masses gathered outside here (and to a lesser extent the nearby Mcdonalds) have always caused me to quicken my step somewhat. Lots of dodgy characters.
But come here the other night I did. Cheap food, decent never before tried ale, named after a former pub that was nearby yada yada yada (sorry but this is something that can be said about a lot of ‘Spoons).
There was a group of kids that can’t all have been old enough to drink though, surely?
There are better Wetherspoon’s not too far away. I’d go to one of them if I felt the need again.

The White Swan is a wheaterspoons. End of review.
No, not really. It is a good place to meet friends in and around the Highbury and Islington tube station. I used to use this as a pre gig meet up place before going to gigs at the garage or upstairs at the garage, but I am not sure what is going on with that venue now.
The Famous Cock pub at the station gets very busy and s much smaller, where as the White Swan is much cheaper and only a minutes walk from the tube. You do have to put up with the weridos you find in a ‘spoons, but all the light blue tiling makes up for it as the place feels rather bright and not too dingy.
I have eaten here too and it is pretty good for a spoons, but really it is price and almost always getting a seat due to its size that make the White Swan rather good. Yes, you can even get a pew on an Arsenal FC matchday.