Ernie's Adventures

What’s The Swan Taphouse like?

This cosy pub, housed in an 18th century malt house, is located on the banks of the River Severn, opposite the Museum of the Gorge. It is one of the oldest inns in Ironbridge and you can walk to the village’s famous iron bridge within minutes. Telford is approximately a 15-minute drive away. The Swan is operated by Craft & Jam Venues.

How dog-friendly is The Swan Taphouse?

Good. Dogs are allowed throughout the pub and water bowls are provided upon request. There is always a door that’s unlocked too so guests have access to the outside 24/7. Pets are welcome in the majority of the rooms at the taphouse and while there is no extra charge for them to stay, a £50 refundable security deposit will be taken.

Tell me more about The Swan Taphouse

There are several individually decorated rooms at The Swan, many of which have river views. We stayed in Room 5, which was up a couple of flights of stairs at the back of the pub, but tucked away on its own so there was no noise from other guests. While the room was clean and comfortable, I wouldn’t really say it was dog-friendly as there was a large glass panel in the floor showing the mechanics of the old drying kiln – and the boys wouldn’t go near it!

Fortunately, the room was large enough for Ernie and Stan not to be limited to one corner but it wasn’t ideal, and I’m sure a lot of people would be freaked out by a glass floor too! The room was decent enough otherwise though, with a pink feature wall behind the bed, a black iron frame (of course!) and industrial-looking bedside lamps. There were magazines about the local area and tea and coffee-making facilities, too.

Complimentary toiletries were also provided in the bathroom, which was rather dated and had seen better days – and the same could be said for the communal areas, which were definitely in need of an overhaul. For the £65 we paid to stay for one night though, we couldn’t complain. Parking is available at The Swan but there aren’t many spots. It’s free to park in the Museum of the Gorge car park over the road though from 5pm to 10am.

What’s the food like at The Swan Taphouse?

Really tasty. The BBQ smokehouse-inspired menu is packed with hearty dishes such as ribs, burgers and mac and cheese, but there are good veggie and vegan options too. The portions are also huge, as you can see from the snap of our BBQ Sauerkraut Dog, pictured above. All the food is served in the beamed pub restaurant, which is adorned with fairy lights and is very cosy in the evenings.

The Swan doesn’t serve breakfast, but you can add it to your stay and enjoy it at sister pub, The Malthouse – which is just two doors down. We did this, which gave the boys a nice excuse to enjoy an extra stroll, and our vegetarian breakfasts were just as sizeable as the meals we had enjoyed the night before. Ernie and Stan also tucked in to some sausages – although we had to pay extra for these.

Are there resident dogs at The Swan Taphouse?

No, but you may well meet some local dogs who have popped in for a pint with their owners.

Where are the best dog walks near The Swan Taphouse?

The famous iron bridge that gives the village its name is just a six-minute riverside stroll from The Swan. Built by the Coalbrookdale Company in 1779, it was the world’s first structure made entirely from cast iron and is now designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is free to walk across the bridge and it would be a real shame to come here and not do it! You’ll pass several dog-friendly cafes along the way too.

You can also walk the watercourses that were key to the success of Coalbrookdale and the Ironbridge Gorge. There are four marked trails to explore that take in old forges, wildflower meadows, woodland and sites where furnaces were once found. Maps are available from the local museums and tourist information centre. Telford & Wrekin Council also recommend several walks in the area ranging from 1.2km to 6km. Click here for more details.

What Ernie and Stan loved about The Swan Taphouse

Having some great walks on the doorstep, the sausage for breakfast

What I loved about The Swan Taphouse

The great location, the food in the pub

How to book The Swan Taphouse

Rooms start from £65 per night. Breakfast costs extra. For more information or to book, call 01952 433108 or visit The Swan Taphouse website.