New Swan Inn manager knows it’s a ‘belter boozer’

The new manager of Wood Street’s classic heavy metal venue the Swan Inn has spoken of his delight at the success of the pub’s first weekend since being taken over by Small Hands Company.

Francis Harvey, 31, had worked at one of the companies sister venues, The Denbigh Castle, since it’s inception in 2020 before being asked to take the reigns at the Swan.

Francis said:

“ I had my first bevvy in here. So, it’s kind of a weird full circle moment for me.

“Obviously, they know I like the music and they need someone that’s invested in it. I’ve been coming in here all through my University years. It just needs a bit of TLC, but it’s a belter boozer! 

“We had a little soft launch on Thursday with friends and family, and then Friday was the first day. From the get-go, the minute we opened it was full.

“After this weekend I’ve seen it gets rocking and it’s boss and people are lashing music on the jukebox and stuff like that.”

The pub was established in 1898, but since the 1970’s has been a famous venue for fans of heavy metal music. Small Hands Company, who alongside the Denbigh Castle own the Pen Factory and the Bridewell bought the venue at the end of April.

Francis intends to keep the pub’s metal roots as authentic as possible: 

“They’ve been saying that it’s had a license to sell alcohol since as early as 1855, but I can’t find any information on it. There’s a fella called Jimmy who I met for the first time, proper biker as you can imagine, he has lots of information on it so I need to pick his brain about the building.

“The next couple of weeks is just fixing bits, our foreman has been in fixing loads of bits, he was in fixing the hand dryers. We’re getting better speaker systems in. It’s just about getting the ground floor sorted first- speakers, lighting bits of stuff on the walls. We’ve got lots of signed bits from famous bands that need going up.

“The idea is to do maybe bi-weekly or monthly, customers can choose some albums to put on the jukebox. There’s bands I’ve thought about putting on, but we need to figure out the space first of course. There’s a comedy night every Thursday here, so that’s already on.

“Aesthetically it will change, but it’s still going to be for the alternative scene. I’ve got quite an eclectic taste in music, so it will evolve. It’s an alternative pub, its metal, rock and as far as I’m here that’s what it will stay as.”

Francis shared how grateful he is to have a strong team of staff to support him at the Swan.

“I’m still learning everyone, but I think there’s nine staff at the moment. All stayed and pretty much all of them have worked (over the first weekend) they’ve all helped me out.”

The Swan’s longest serving member of staff, Jeanette, is still working at the pub and claims that she comes with the “fixtures and fittings” of the building.

“Jeanette has worked here for a long time and she knows everyone that walks in that door, they’re all made up that she’s here and she’s been a massive help to me, just learning the building because I’m still green with the building itself. They’ve all been massively helpful and everyone has grafted this weekend, putting in a lot of work.

“We’re open every day, 12 till 12. Come see us, put some money in the jukebox, or throughout the week it’ll be on free play. If you’ve got any album requests for me or anything like that, let me know, because I’m more than willing to change it up.”

Find out more about The Swan Inn here.

Find more great pubs and restaurants across Liverpool here.

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