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Summary of reviewsThe Swan Taphouse in Ironbridge is widely acclaimed for its excellent location, heritage charm and overall welcoming atmosphere. Strategically nestled in the heart of Ironbridge, it provides guests easy access to key attractions, museums, shops and beautiful walking paths along the River Severn, making it an ideal base for exploring the rich history of Ironbridge Gorge. The serene river views from the rooms add to its appeal, offering a picturesque and tranquil retreat.
Guests frequently praise the breakfast experience, described as superb and delicious with a diverse menu served at the nearby sister pub, The Malthouse. The friendly staff and generous portions enhance the overall breakfast experience, making it a standout aspect of the stay. Dinner at The Swan Taphouse is also well-received with an American BBQ style menu that impresses guests. The food is consistently described as excellent, plentiful and great value for money with a vibrant dining atmosphere often augmented by live music on weekends.
The rooms at The Swan Taphouse are commended for their spaciousness, charm and comfort, featuring unique historic elements like glass floors and exposed beams. While some guests noted minor issues such as dim lighting or outdated bathrooms, the overall consensus highlights the excellent value for money and the homely atmosphere of the rooms. Cleanliness is generally well-maintained, though certain public areas and exterior spaces could benefit from better upkeep.
The staff at The Swan Taphouse are frequently highlighted as one of the establishment’s greatest assets. Guests describe the team as friendly, helpful and professional, often mentioning specific staff members who go above and beyond to ensure a pleasant stay. This high level of service creates a welcoming and hospitable environment that enhances the overall guest experience.
While the free WiFi is noted as a welcome feature, its availability and strength vary with some rooms experiencing poor connectivity. Beds at The Swan Taphouse receive mostly positive feedback for their comfort, contributing to a restful night's sleep, although a few guests mention occasional issues with bed quality.
The historical charm of The Swan Taphouse is a significant draw with its beautifully renovated old building maintaining many original features that transport guests back in time. The preservation of historical elements coupled with modern updates ensures a comfortable stay while immersing visitors in the heritage and character of the property.
Overall, The Swan Taphouse is highly recommended for its strategic location, culinary delights, charming rooms and exceptional staff, making it a delightful destination for those looking to explore Ironbridge and enjoy a comfortable stay with historical charm. Show more
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Categories
Cheap Bed & Breakfast
The Swan Taphouse in Shifnal, Telford, offers bed and breakfast accommodation, providing a cost-effective lodging choice. It is ideal for travelers seeking a simple and affordable overnight stay.
Historic Bed & Breakfast
Small Bed & Breakfast
Room Types
Family Room with BathroomThe family room offers a private entrance, a wardrobe, as well as a private bathroom featuring a bath and a shower. The family room features a TV, an electric kettle, a carpeted floor and heating.
Double Room with BathroomThe double room features a private entrance, a wardrobe, as well as a private bathroom boasting a bath and a hairdryer. The unit has 1 bed.
Single RoomThe single room features a wardrobe, an electric kettle, as well as a private bathroom boasting a hairdryer. This single room has a carpeted floor, heating and a TV. The unit has 1 bed.
Twin Room with ShowerThe twin room provides a wardrobe and an electric kettle, as well as a private bathroom featuring a hairdryer. This twin room features a carpeted floor, heating, a TV and river views. The unit offers 2 beds.
Guest Reviews
8.1
Very Good
Location
Nestled in the heart of Ironbridge, The Swan Taphouse boasts an enviable location that consistently wins praise from its visitors. Guests frequently highlight the hotel's central position, just a short stroll from the famous Iron Bridge and surrounded by charming museums and historical sites. This convenient setting makes it an ideal starting point for those looking to explore the rich heritage of Ironbridge Gorge.
Perched beside the river Severn, the hotel offers lovely views from the rooms, adding a serene charm to the stay. Many comments underline the beauty of the river view and the pleasant walks along the picturesque riverside, which enhance the overall experience. The easy access to the town's attractions, shops and eateries is another perk that guests appreciate, particularly when combined with available off-street parking.
The Taphouse itself is described as a cozy and quirky establishment, featuring traditional rooms with historic character. Despite its central location on a main road, the atmosphere remains quiet and tranquil, providing a restful retreat after a day of sightseeing.
In summary, The Swan Taphouse's superb location, right in the middle of Ironbridge with stunning river views and close proximity to key attractions, makes it a favored choice for visitors keen to delve into the area's cultural treasures.
Breakfast
Guests rave about the breakfast experience linked to 'The Swan Taphouse', describing it as excellent, superb and delicious with a variety of choices. Although breakfast is served at the nearby sister pub, The Malthouse, just a short walk away, this detail doesn't seem to detract from the overall positive experience. The breakfast offerings are diverse, catering to a range of preferences from traditional Full English breakfasts to lighter, healthier options, all praised for their generous portions and high quality. Guests find the food well-cooked, hot and consistently tasty. Additionally, the friendly and courteous staff at The Malthouse enhance the breakfast experience, ensuring it is enjoyable and memorable. Despite minor grievances about the occasional wait time or lack of information in rooms, the overwhelming consensus is that the breakfast is a standout aspect of their stay with many highlighting it as a great value inclusion, making the visit to 'The Swan Taphouse' well worth it.
Dinner
The Swan Taphouse consistently receives praise for its dining experiences. Guests frequently highlight the quality and taste of the food, often describing it as excellent, delicious and amazing. The menu features a notable American BBQ style that many diners found delightful. Pub food, alongside the more formal restaurant offerings, also garners positive feedback for being well-cooked, plentiful and excellent value for money.
Evening meals, whether in the restaurant or the bar, are often commended for their taste and presentation. Breakfasts also receive favorable mentions, ensuring that guests start their day with satisfying options. The ambiance is often enhanced by live music on weekends, contributing to a vibrant dining atmosphere.
While most reviews are positive, a few guests did mention occasional inconsistencies regarding service and the range of menu options. Despite this, the overwhelming sentiment leans towards a highly enjoyable dining experience that combines great food with a welcoming atmosphere. The restaurant's proximity to a tap room and smokehouse adds to its appeal, making it a popular choice for those staying at the hotel and visitors alike.
Rooms
The Swan Taphouse impresses guests with its spacious and charming rooms, many of which offer stunning views of the river. Cleanliness and comfort are consistently praised with several guests noting the large, comfortable beds and well-decorated interiors. The rooms often retain a quaint and quirky charm, featuring unique elements such as glass floors and exposed timber beams that add to the historic ambiance of the building.
While some reviews mention that the rooms can feel dimly lit or overly warm, the overall consensus highlights the excellent value for money. The large room sizes and the homely, cosy atmosphere are regularly commended. Guests appreciate the thoughtful refurbishments and modern updates that balance well with the old-world character of the property.
A few minor issues such as small or outdated bathrooms, occasional noise from the bar and slight dustiness were noted, but these do not overshadow the positive aspects significantly. The friendly staff and convenient location near the river make The Swan Taphouse a delightful place to stay for those looking to enjoy comfort with a touch of historic charm.
Beds
Guests who stayed at The Swan Taphouse frequently commented on the comfort of the beds with many describing them as very comfortable and conducive to a good night's sleep. The majority of visitors found the beds to be clean and well-prepared, boasting cozy and supportive mattresses. Additionally, the rooms themselves were noted to be of a good size and generally comfortable, featuring fresh bedding and clean linens.
However, experiences were not universal, as a few guests found some beds to be creaky, lumpy or too short, especially for taller individuals. There were occasional mentions of beds being hard or not particularly comfortable, though these were in the minority compared to the positive feedback. Some reviews did indicate issues such as a noisy bed or bed cushions not staying in place.
Overall, while there were a few discrepancies in comfort levels, most reviews emphasize a stay marked by comfort and cleanliness, particularly when it comes to the sleeping arrangements.
Cleanliness
The Swan Taphouse presents a mixed but generally positive experience in terms of cleanliness. Many guests have praised the establishment for its clean and comfortable rooms with some describing their accommodations as very clean, tidy and well-kept. The beds are frequently noted as clean and comfortable, contributing significantly to guests' overall satisfaction. The housekeeping staff seems diligent, as guests consistently mention well-presented and spotless rooms with clean, fresh towels and bedding.
However, the public areas and specific outside spaces have received some criticism. Places like the side doors, passage from car park to rooms and outside furniture require better maintenance. Some guests pointed out issues like cobwebs in rooms and corridors, dirty staircases and poorly cleaned exterior spaces, which slightly mar the otherwise positive experience. Bathrooms, although generally acceptable, have also had some mentions of requiring a thorough clean-up and occasional updates.
Guests have noted a few inconsistencies, such as slight marks on towels and the need for regular deep cleaning of carpets. Occasionally, rooms appeared clean but displayed signs of wear and tear or outdated decor. Despite these issues, the property’s overall cleanliness impresses many with some rooms reaching the level of being immaculately clean.
To summarize, while The Swan Taphouse maintains an overall reasonable standard of cleanliness with comfortable and tidy rooms, attention to detail, particularly in public areas and exterior maintenance, would enhance the guest experience further.
Staff
At The Swan Taphouse, guests can expect a warm and welcoming atmosphere, significantly enhanced by the hotel's exceptional staff. Visitors consistently praise the team for being friendly, helpful and accommodating. Many reviews highlight their positive interactions with specific staff members, mentioning names like Ross, Jack and Kenzie, who have left memorable impressions through their warm and professional service.
The staff's friendliness is a recurring theme, noted by numerous guests who felt genuinely welcomed and well cared for throughout their stay. The team's helpfulness extends beyond mere politeness; they are described as attentive, efficient and always willing to go the extra mile to ensure guest satisfaction. Whether it's offering local insights, addressing specific needs or simply providing a friendly greeting, the staff consistently demonstrates a commitment to excellent service.
Guests appreciate the staff's professionalism with several pointing out their ability to remain helpful and personable even during busy times. This high level of service creates a friendly atmosphere that enhances the overall experience at The Swan Taphouse, making it a place where visitors feel valued and at home.
Overall, the positive impact of the staff at The Swan Taphouse is unmistakable, contributing to its reputation as a hospitable and inviting destination.
Wi-Fi
The Swan Taphouse offers the convenience of free WiFi, but guest experiences with the service vary significantly. Many guests noted that the WiFi accessibility is poor, especially in certain rooms such as Room 5 and higher floors where the signal is weak or almost nonexistent. Reports indicate that the WiFi tends to be sporadic and slow with some rooms lacking internet coverage entirely. Furthermore, there is a lack of information provided in the rooms about how to access the WiFi, which adds to the frustration for some guests. Despite the shortcomings, the complimentary nature of the WiFi remains a small perk for those considering a stay.
Historic
Nestled in the historical Ironbridge area, The Swan Taphouse offers guests a unique journey back in time. The region's rich history is vividly reflected in the beautiful old building, which has been beautifully renovated and furnished, maintaining its original charm and character. The quirky architecture, including wonky floors, low doors and beams, adds a distinct charm that delights visitors.
Guests appreciate the preservation of historical features, such as the fascinating glass floor over the old grain mill and visible industrial workings, providing a tangible connection to the past. The ambiance at the pub and tavern enhances the overall experience, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the nostalgic olde English style.
The Swan Taphouse's location is another highlight, situated next to a lovely river walk and offering picturesque views of the river. Its proximity to historical sites makes it an ideal spot for history enthusiasts eager to explore the area's heritage. Despite the building's age, it boasts updated facilities, ensuring a comfortable stay amidst its quaint and characterful ambiance.
Overall, the Swan Taphouse stands out as a historical gem, offering an intriguing blend of past and present, making it a highly recommended destination for those seeking an authentic historical experience.
No, The Swan Taphouse doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at The Swan Taphouse.
No, The Swan Taphouse doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at The Swan Taphouse.