This is a very romantic and beautifully styled place for dinner!!! Located in the Shakespeare Globe the fish stew and chicken pot dishes we had were incredible! I will be craving the fish stew until I can recreate it at home ;) read more

Swan - Chicken Pot - British Near Me - Bankside, XGL

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We had the hotel concierge make reservations after they recommended The Swan for afternoon Tea (when we found out the London Ritz was full). We are glad we went to The Swan instead! I wouldn't even consider PM Tea as a meal if it weren't for my wife, but the Swan has a very well prepared "gentleman's Tea" that includes a BBQ beef slider, scotch egg and a pint of appropriately paired ale. No complaints here, as my wife is happy with her multi level terrace of treats (mine was on a cutting board). Go enjoy an afternoon on the Thames! read more

Swan - Nice tea at the Swan - British Near Me - Bankside, XGL

I came with friends and it was so good that I had to go back with my husband and another couple (dear friends of ours). For starters, the Jerusalem artichoke soup is good, albeit a little bland (maybe it needs pepper, a spicy kick?). But my friend and husband both got the pork crackling with apple sauce. While they thought it was good, it was unexpectedly battered and extremely salty! Because of the salty starter, we must've gone through 8-10 bottles of still water throughout the dinner! For the main, the Beef Wellington is perfection. My friend's lamb was so tender that she could cut it without a knife. And dessert wise, the panna cotta was very mediocre while the apple tart and vanilla ice cream are amazing. Extra points go to uncharacteristically great service. Beautiful views of the Thames (I had requested a nice view and was given a lovely table for my second visit). Two sets of loos on the same floor, at opposite ends of each other) to make going a quick and convenient process, no matter which side you are seated on. Helps a lot when you are 8 months pregnant. All in all, a very lovely dinner and would recommend! read more

If you are looking for the best pancakes on the planet, check out the Swan! We popped in here during a Sunday stroll in London for a quick and tasty brunch. We were seated promptly. The service is a little sluggish, so plan accordingly with your time. I ordered the berry pancakes with whipped cream and could have happily ordered 3 or 4 more rounds - the best pancakes of my life. The pancake batter is similar to that of a victoria sponge and are griddled in butter, resulting in the most perfectly fluffy crunchy cake heaven you'll ever put in your mouth. The pancakes are then topped in a berry compote and scratch-made whip cream. The whip cream has little flecks of vanilla bean and is perfectly sweetened. No maple syrup is needed for pancakes this good. My partner ordered the eggs florentine. I tried some of his hollandaise sauce and it was divine. What a lovely spot overlooking the Thames. We sat at a booth by the window. It felt like a dream. read more

I popped in here solely for a drink, so please bear in mind that this does not reflect the food. Initial impression was that the space was nice, and location superb. However, my initial optimism gave way to disappointment as a string of simple things niggled at me: (1) Having sat at the bar I didn't get eye contact, a hello, or anything else besides for 5 minutes. (2) No drinks menu out on the bar - you had to ask for them especially. This wasted a further 5 minutes. (3) I proceeded to order a margarita. Despite assurances in the menu, I was not asked how I'd like it served - on the rocks, straight, salt rim or not. They also missed out on a chance to upsell me to a better brand of tequila. (4) They failed to double-strain the drink, which is standard procedure with any shaken drink of this nature. (5) The drink was completely devoid of any garnish - no lime wheel, twist or anything. (6) Margarita was overly dilute and somewhat unbalanced. It's terribly disappointing - I pass by on a regular basis, and there's a dearth of cocktail bars nearby, so it would have been ideal if this was a good drinking hole. Perhaps it is, if you stick to beer, but their cocktails are nowhere near as good as they should be. read more

My boyfriend and I ate here for lunch after going on a tour of the theatre. We were famished, it looked nice and was close. I loved the cozy ambiance with lots of natural light. It has a great vibe. Our server was both very friendly and competent. I had a beef sandwich with horseradish spread and chips for my main. It was okay. It looked really pretty, but tasted just okay. My main memory of the restaurant comes from the starter. Before I tell you my feelings on it, I had to clarify two things... 1. My boyfriend enjoyed it. 2. I think it might be an acquired taste. The Pork Cracklins with Applesauce was the worst thing I ever ate. Ever. The taste was so strong and so vile that I can still taste it as I think about it. The cracklins made such a big impression, it's unfortunately my big take-away from the restaurant. read more

One of my favorite restaurants in London. It combines a quaint public house with locavore offerings. The decor is rustic modern and so comfortable. We could have stayed for hours. The staff were attentive and lovely. The location is perfect next to The Globe and Tate Modern with views of the Thames and St. Paul's. Great twist in the name honoring on of the old theaters in the area during Shakespeare's day. Cheers. read more

One of my best friends decided to have her birthday dinner here, and I hate to say the food wasn't good. Service was also extremely surly and slow. We arrived at the restaurant a bit early so I slipped away to speak to someone about ordering dessert and having a birthday message piped onto the plate. The "manager" just gave me a blank look and told me to talk to one of the servers who will "deal with it". Not a good start. Food didn't arrive for a good 30-45 minutes. I ordered a rare steak which came medium - so I sent it back. It took another 15 minutes for them to bring me my food. By then nearly everyone at the table had finished eating because they were so hungry! The sides were TINY, onion rings were burnt, and fries were oversalted. My friend ordered the pork belly, which was dry and came with crackling that wasn't even crispy! Dessert wasn't great either. A good sticky toffee pudding should be gooey...this one was dry and very cakey. Even though it could've been an off-day, but I definitely won't be giving Swan at the Globe another go. One of the worst meals of the year for me. read more

Awesome mushy peas!!! We were to meet some friends here on a recent Sunday Funday while in London. We arrived early and the place was packed. We scored 2 seats at the bar and ordered some drinks. We had about 45 minutes to waste. I decided to go ahead and order some mushy pea toast. My husBAND didn't see anything on the menu so he ordered just toast. OMG...that mushy pea toast has me dreaming of visiting London again!!! It was topped with feta and was just so good!!! By the time we were done, the place had cleared out and we were nearly the only ones left. Given my husband's pickiness and the quietness of the place at this point, we decided to move on. However, I would come back Swan at The Globe anyday...if only for the mushy pea toast!!! read more

Maybe this is because i have just returned from living in New York where i'm used to better service, however, this place was appalling!! i went there yesterday and we ordered food and drinks. Further because we live about 2 blocks away we had been there 3 times in the last 2 weeks. Anyhow...about 2/3 into my pint i find a bug floating in my beer. i kindly spoke to the waitress to ask if she could kindly just give me another 1/3 pint to replace the amount left in my glass. She said she would speak to the manager and returned to say they would be happy to sell me another half pint but would not replace my 1/3 pint for free. Whats unbelievable is that where i get a bug in my beer on their premises, their first response is to try and profit on this by selling me more beer..... at this point i refused to argue over £1.30 of beer and asked for the cheque. However, i told the manager that i find it ridiculous that i should be 100% responsible for any bug infestation on their premises. further i told them "does that mean that where i chose to frequent their bar in future that i am responsible to carry a fly squatter with me" anyhow i paid their bill including the 12.5% service charge they slapped me with. the problem with touristy places is they are very happy to put a service charge on your bill without making any effort to earn it.... read more

We had an afternoon aperitif here after visiting Shakespeare's Globe. Lovely views of the Thames and St. Paul's Cathedral on a rainy night. Food was delicious, drinks even better, but service got lackadaisical in the end though they were enthusiastic when we arrived. Good, modern place though. Beautiful dining room upstairs especially. read more

Really with the good reviews, Yelpers?! Did I just have this place on an off day? The decor and location, yes, is lovely, but the food - blegh. My lemon sole was horrible and the appetizer -- baby shrimp in brown butter -- was cold! I didn't know what to expect but I'll tell you this, it wasn't fishing out teeny tiny little salty shrimp from a ramekin of congealed butter and salt. Nope, no thanks. read more

I had the most lovely afternoon tea experience here. We sat at a table by the window overlooking the River Thames. We also opted for the love potion cocktail which was wonderful. Our favorite snack on the spread was the smoked tuna wrap, which was wonderful. I also enjoyed the whipped truffle cheesetart (although I'm a truffle fanatic). The desserts were wonderful and the Darjeeling tea was perfect. What a magical afternoon with a lovely interior. Also, our waiter was a pleasure to have. read more

Swan - Afternoon tea - British Near Me - Bankside, XGL

I had such a lovely time here. I came here alone to enjoy high tea and had the A Midsummer's Night Dream afternoon tea and the Sapphire Earl Grey Tea. It's definitely a lot of food for one person but I enjoyed trying everything, it's a great value. I was seated right by the window and enjoyed the view of the Thames and people watched lazily. The presentation of the meal was all star (coming in four tier and with beautifully designed desserts and sandwiches) and served on Anna Westler's custom designed tea seat for Shakespeare's Globe. read more

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Came here for pre-theatre dinner (which you MUST book for, it will fill up!), and we had such a lovely meal upstairs in elegant restaurant, with the windows open and a lovely breeze flowing through - not to mention a view of the river and the city across it. The menu will change seasonally so there is no sense making particular recommendations - there are 2-3 choices for starter and main and dessert. I will say that everything was prepared beautifully and excellently cooked - at £24.50 for 3 courses, it is an excellent deal for such lovely, beautiful, seasonal food. The service was exceptional, the kind where you feel like they are truly happy to see you and wanting to make sure you have the best possible experience. We felt very looked-after, and the meal was really a proper treat before a night of great theatre. Why go anywhere else before the Globe - it's literally adjacent, in fact the Swan even connects to the yard of the theatre. If you don't finish your drink before the meal is over, they'll put it in a plastic cup for you so you can take it outside and into the Globe - what service! I've been here in the past and eaten downstairs at the bar before a show, which is more of a pub food menu but also delicious. I also had a friend rent out the bar for her engagement party, and it was a fabulous venue for it! But I'm biased because that was the party where I met my husband, so I guess the Swan will always hold a special place in our hearts! read more

A walk around the Thames on a sunny afternoon can be a treat. The weather is so unpredictable that when you are blessed with a bit of sunshine and warmth, it can really lift your spirits and make you much more sociable. London Bridge is a meeting point for some of my friends and I, as it is central for us all to make our way home. It's not a bad spot at all with its bars, pubs, market, places of interest and flow of interesting folk. Whilst I have never been to the Shakespeare's Globe, I have always wandered about the idea of seeing a production outdoors, weather permitting. It must be quite the experience and yes, it is on my to-do list. For now, I was close enough having dinner at the Swan which is right next door. The Swan is a bar on the ground floor and restaurant on the first floor. They do not jest when they say they have stunning views, they do, as if you get the right spot you can see all the nearby landmarks such as St Pauls, on the north side of the Thames. Following a drink in nearby Borough Market, we visited for a meal as recommended by my dining partner. She had recently had a birthday dinner here and was well impressed. It was busy and although we did not have a reservation, we literally got the best table in the spot. For dinner it was going to be straight to the main course with me having salt marsh lamb rump, sea vegetables, Cornish potatoes and cockle butter. I also had a size of peas and enjoyed all elements of my food. The lamb in particular was very tender. Eleanor had 400g Galloway rib eye steak, watercress, pickles shallot salad with chops and bearnaise. The food is modern British with a flair for making the simple luxurious. Because of excellent quality of the food and its proximity to the Globe, the crowd are mature and discerning diners. Swan restaurant is not a place for raucous and informal behaviour. It is much more subtle and formal than that. This is not a bad thing if you want the focus to be on enjoying the food as the lead player, which it deserves. The service also stands out too, with a nice pace in service. In terms of pricing, it is not cheap but at £28.50 for a steak, you work out if you feel this is expensive. I see Swan restaurant as a romantic location to celebrate quality time with your loved one or good food for your theatre visit. read more

The food was delicious and service good. I ordered the Sunday Roast, which came out perfectly, as well as the croquettes. Really appreciated the server making sure all our orders came out speedily since we were going to a show next door. The decor is airy and open, and there is an open kitchen. Also a long table for communal seating. Also - don't miss dessert - there's a strawberry biscuit thing that is to die for. read more

This review is about the bar, NOT the restaurant upstairs. Fantastic river views, ok food, bit pricey but then you are next to the River Thames. Unfortunately the waitress forgot our order, causing a lengthy wait, although the manager did compensate by discounting our bill, which was a nice gesture. Would probably go back again to give it another go. read more

We only had a drink as they were booked out , however the service was really nice and the wine decent. They did make an effort with checking in on us frequently and looking out for tables to sit to get a chance for a meal. The view is very nice as you're directly looking onto the Thames which is lovely by night. Would definitely recommend if you need a break from walking around south bank or looking for a more decent pub than the average english pub. read more

Brilliant experience! Being a groundling is worth doing once, but don't choose a long play and do bring a cushion for the interval! Don't buy restricted view seating, it's just frustrating and not worth it! Book early! Also: cracking gift shop. read more

I had avocado on toast with a poached egg, which was pleasant but not particularly interesting. It was missing something - like chili flakes or feta - which would give it more oomph! However, the decor and location is great and the waitress was very nice. The coffee was pretty reasonable but not mind blowing. read more

Swan - Avocado and eggs on toast - the color of the yolks was a lovely orange! - British Near Me - Bankside, XGL

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I had the theatre menu (2 courses). I went for the pork belly which was tasteless and not really filling. For dessert I had the burnt vanilla cream which was tasty but nothing that special. The service was extremely slow. The food took forever, we needed to ask for water quite a few times...not impressed. The location is really nice and the view is pretty. But I def wouldn't recommend this place. read more

This was an great dining experience. The staff and atmosphere where amazing. The staff was very friendly and attentive. The food was excellent and we will definitely go here again the next time we head across the pond. read more

Swan - Great atmosphere - British Near Me - Bankside, XGL

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Great food, great service and great view - just great! I'd heard good things about the Swan from friends so took my Dad for dinner to mark the last night of his week in London. Dad is in a wheelchair and although the restaurant is on the second floor, fortunately there is a disabled lift around the corner. I ordered the T-Bone and it was cooked to perfection and really tasty, triple cooked chips were a little disappointing........but my expectations may have been a little high! All in all I'd definitely recommend read more

Entering Swan is a really positive experience as the place looks contemporary and spacious. Impressively, it even doesn't give that much of a touristy feeling as I would have expected.. But the service.. Let me tell you, they should reconsider training or maybe providing training for the staff.. Nobody knew what to do.. They weren't sure where to seat us and whether we could sit at certain table. This horror continued with clearly unexperienced girl with visibly bored face and bored performance.. When I asked for fresh mint tea, they responded they don't have any. When I pointed out the bunches of fresh mint on the bar, clearly ready for being used, the waiters responded they cannot be used for the tea as they are for the cocktails.. (I mean, WHAT??!!!) So she goes and asks the barman, who really didn't let her to get few of those mint leaves.. Payment seemed also a difficult task to do.. The waiters sighed loudly when we wanted to split the bill.. Seeing her bored face, we just took out our phones and calculated for her.. Food wise, well... Back to the service.. The waiters didn't know the menu... Taste wise, it was alright.. Nothing I would want to come back for as you can get that kind of food anywhere with waaaaay better experience.. Portions on the smallish side.. In overall, it was a tragedy... I will not be back and recommend avoiding at all costs! Actually, I am exaggerating.. I've seen worse... read more

We were wandering around London all morning and I wanted to do afternoon tea. We arrived around 230pm, the hostess was very nice and welcoming. The staff were also friendly. We had the view of the Thames while enjoying our afternoon. The selection was delicious along with the tea! the price is also very reasonable. Definitely recommend Swan! read more

It was packed, and service was slow. However, the food was amazing, and I enjoyed my glasses of wine very much. Plan to come back in the near future - hopefully I can sneak in and miss the crowd. read more

The worst meal we have had here in London. The leak soup tasted like mop water. When we told the waitress how bad it was she didn't bat an eye or even try to remove it from the bill. The lamb was dry dry dry!! The fresh made ginger beer tasted nothing like ginger beer. I suspect this is just a tourist trap along the Thames adjacent to The Globe... read more

Most people have already covered the main points about the Globe. So I'll just add my tuppence worth. It truly is a wonderful addition to a great city. Kitted out like the original open air theatre, this is the only place to go in summer for a spot of Shakespeare. There are £5 standing tickets for every show, which is awesome value. Some of the the shows are 3 hours long! The down side is that you have to stand for that long, but to be honest, it's the only way to see a show there. For those who chicken out and get cushioned seats, they miss out on the best of it with the groundlings. One of the best shows i ever did see was at the Globe. It was a production of Pericles (which I hadn't seen before), directed by Kathryn Hunter. On the night that I went to see it, Corin Redgrave, who was the principal actor playing old Pericles, had been rushed to hospital, and the then artistic director Mark Rylance stepped into the role. It was wonderful. Really, brilliantly, marvellously, awesomely wonderful. Since Dom Dromgoole has taken over the artistic directorship, the programme has become significantly more edgy and violent. Not necessarily a bad thing. The Globe also puts on new writing that has a basis in Jacobean styles. As with everything creative, sometimes it's good and sometimes it ain't. I walked out at the interval at the press night of a new show last year. As much because it was boring as it was because it was raining. It is great when you find a show that's worth standing in the rain for though. read more

This review speaks of the Globe strictly as an attraction, not as a theatre. I got to visit right after it was built in the late 90s and unfortunately, there were no plays being shown during my short stint in London. This bummed me out hugely, but I hope to go see a play here next time I visit. As an attraction and a tour, the Globe is a must-see in London. The theatre is a real site to behold. It was built based on the exact dimensions of the original which burned down a long time ago. It wasn't built in the same location, but from what I remember, it wasn't built that far away from where the original stood. The workmanship of the building, the artistry of the woodwork was very much felt, as was the sense of history it represented, even though it was a reproduction. I really look forward to seeing a play here next time I'm in London. read more

I haven't been to the Globe in 5 years - so this review is a) as an attraction/learning experience, and b) possibly outdated? I went to the Globe with school when studying Shakespeare, and I found it so fascinating. If you have even the smallest of background knowledge on the original Globe, you can come here and build on that incredibly until you feel like your head will explode. I am a huge fan of Elizabethan London history, so perhaps it captivates me more than the average person, but I found the Globe to be one of the most inspiring, overwhelming and wonderful places in London. read more

Every year on St george's day, which also happens to be shakespeare's birthday, they have an open day here, and you can get on stage and say a couple of lines (or couplet). I did it one year and it was great, but I couldn't help thinking that is seemed a bit big for an Elizabethan building. It probably is, but nobody complains. However, there is no need for the benches to be as bloody uncomfortable as they are. I've not seen any plays here, which was remiss of me, but it must get a bit hard on the bum or the feet, with little chance of refreshment. And of course it is open air when you stand, so you take your chances with the weather. read more

We went down recently for an open day for Shakespeare's 300th birthday, bless 'im. I had visited here previously for a corporate event but this was a chance to have a better look around. The Bard was looking pretty good for his age - Firstly we took a look through the museum. It's a bit dated and naff for a museum. Personally I love all the info detailing the rebuilding of the Globe, the info on London at the time etc, but I think the main space there could be a little bit better in its lighting and ease of access. It's a little bit like being led around a rat run. After we'd seen the museum we went upstairs to view the theatre itself. Much better! We sat in the sun and watched some of the free performances of music and recitals by members of the unsuspecting public. For corporates there is a amll auditorium and various small meeting and dining rooms that can be hired. My favourite is the Swan at the Globe restuarant and the room abouve it that both look over the Thames with views up and down the river. Don't know if I would really pay to see the museum, but definitely worth a performance - especially at the £5.00 standing deals they do all summer. read more

Swan - British Near Me - Bankside, XGL

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Nice restaurant and fun location! We arrived around 2 pm and asked to eat upstairs but I think it's reserved for tea time only. So we ate near the bar, still great atmosphere. I had a hotdog with slaw, my husband had the tarte of the day. Both tastey, but not huge portion sizes. We were still hungry enough to order our own desserts. My husband got banana cake and I got passion fruit tart. I looooved the tart (I love passion fruit anything). The reason I didn't give 5 stars is the portion sizes vs price. Quality was good but medium for the price. read more

Swan - Sorry I already took a bite... Passion fruit tart with raspberry compote - British Near Me - Bankside, XGL

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The guided tour they do round the theatre is brilliant, you can go all round the backstage area, and you get a real feel of how it used to be..as far as plays go, is a bit of a mixed bag! I have seen plays both as a 'groundling' and from a seat. I did not enjoy standing about on the groundpartly because it was really really long, but mostly because I am a bit short, and the stage is really high, so I felt like I was missing loads of stuff as I couldnt really see..also I got spat on by an actor!! From the seats it was better, but if you are too high up, you can loose some of the words, as the lack of roof makes the sound a bit funny. That said it is definately worth the experience, and there is no where else where theatre is quite the same! read more

Wow. Just wow. The structure is worth a visit, if not for a play just to see the place. It is a restored (if slightly relocated) version of the original Shakespeare's theatre that was built in the South Bank in Shakespeare's time! The actors are amazing, and even though the seats are highly uncomfortable (wooden benches) you have great visibility from anywhere at all. All plays have £5 standing tickets for spots in the ground area below the scene. Definitely worth it if you're into theatre but can't find regular tickets (plays are regularly sold out months in advance!) or just can't afford them. read more

Like many other reviewers, I was very impressed with the Globe. I went to see King Lear and enjoyed it thoroughly. I would actually say it's worth heading over just to look at the building, which is a reconstruction of the original Globe theatre, and to mosy round the gift shop, which has some original souvenirs, many of which are at reasonable prices and of good quality. It also has quite a large book and play section. If you have a bit more time, I would definitely recommend seeing a play. Tickets are very good value if you don't mind standing - I only paid a fiver, which is amazing really - less than a cinema ticket! It is a long time to stand, but I think you get the best experience if you do - it's authentic, and the actors really make the most of having groundlings, dancing and playing music amongst the crowd before the play. In terms of the production, I was very impressed. It was well directed and engaging, and the actors were really good - I was very impressed with them working on through a huge downpour of rain (and a word of warning - as a groundling, you will get soaked if it rains!).Overall, I would certainly recommend a trip to this attraction, whether you are a tourist or a Londoner. This is Shakespeare as it was meant to be seen! read more

What a great venue! I've seen two shows here and been standing both times. It only costs £5 to stand and watch but be warned it can be tiresome after 3 hours standing on a concrete flour. I suggest getting in as early as possible and getting a place either near the front where you have more space to sit down at the interval, or right at the back where you can at least lean on the partition to the seating. The plays are well acted and good use of the venue is used. Refreshments are available but are pricey. A shop is inside and there are some good quality souvenirs available at reasonable prices. read more

Fantastic service (top notch), wonderful food.... and the best kids' menu!

Service stinks... wait staff was great, but the rules they fall under are a joke. We got there at 10mins to noon and was told we could not order lunch, so we ordered a small something waiting for 12Noon to roll around. Once lunchtime rolled around, she took our order, but then we saw others ordering off a different lunch menu than we were offered. One thing we ordered were the cracklings (after noon because we were told we could not order before noon). When it came out it was cold, (telling me they were pre-cooked) so the waitress' story that "the chef hasn't arrived" to cook all the food was a crock. Plus, having been in F&B, if you're a chef showing up right at noon to start prep and cooking for lunch, you're about 3-4 hours late. After we left, we walked by the kitchen windows and saw several "chefs" running around making lunch. It's terrible when you KNOW you're being lied to. read more