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Image posted by Quinno _
Submitted on Saturday, 25th March 2023
With picture contributions to 6143 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (18 more images)
Detail Pages
The Beehive, Swindon
Swindon
SN1 3JS
Served areas
Reviews of The Beehive (Average Rating: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Will Larter left this review about The Beehive
This is a delightful back street pub, still with Greene King signage but operating (as quite a few that I've come across) as a free house. The six hand pumps have mostly local beers, with just H&H Olde Trip and a house beer from the GK stable. I hesitated over my choices, but the helpful and friendly barman (and cellar an) suggested a flight of three thirds. I had Glastonbury Liquid Hoptimism 4.4%, Ramsbury Day Break 3.6% (which I'd also had in Bath the previous evening) and Fine Tuned Squadron 303 5%. These were all in tremendous condition, and I would probably have scored each of them 4.5 on the old NBSS system, so I went for the first two as Very Good and the 303 as Excellent. The Day Break, which had been OK but with a harsh edge to the hops when encountered in Bath was smooth and delightful. It must have been put on too soon there, and the cellarman here was able to describe exactly how long he'd left it at each stage of preparing it to go on the bar. This is a pub worth seeking out.
On 20th October 2026
- rating: 10
[User has posted 4937 recommendations about 4518 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Beehive
An unusual wedge-shaped pub in the residential back streets away from the main drag, it’s not somewhere you’re going to stumble across by accident if you’re a visitor to the town, but is certainly worth making the small detour to check it out.
Internally it consists of three interconnected rooms, all on slightly different levels with three or four steps between each. The central room houses the bar counter and looked to be the cosiest of the three with sanded wooden boards on the floor, and a small fire blazing away at one end which was a nice touch on a cold December afternoon. Some of the décor was a little uninspiring with just a plain whitewashed ceiling for example, but the overall feel was very pleasant. Seating was mostly fitted wooden benches around the perimeter, whilst above the fireplace was a brick chimney breast and some interesting pictures either side which looked to be painted directly on to the wall. A mannequin complete with long platinum blond hair and fishnet stockings was sat in one corner, and I had to do a double take to check she wasn’t real. The lower room was broadly similar in terms of décor with the addition of some wallpaper on much of the walls, and there were multiple Good Beer Guides on the wall suggesting they feature regularly.
Beers on tap were Olde Trip, Two Bees, Rocking Rudolph, Hop Monster Child of the Jago, Kettlesmith Satan Claws and Cotleigh Kiwi. Ciders meanwhile were Pheasant Plucker and Ashton Press. All in all, a lovely little pub with a friendly barmaid and a cosy ambience. I could quite happily have settled in for a few if we’d had more time.
On 23rd December 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2173 recommendations about 2064 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Beehive
A bit better luck in here this time - my Olde Trip was par. But I suspect they carry too many cask.
April 2023
Backstreet wedge-shaped pub. Rainbow assortment flags in the windows, is this a gay pub or merely stating credentials? Inside are three separate areas over a couple of levels, with artwork and other faff on the walls. Live music advertised and there was a pleasing 90’s Indie soundtrack on the go. GBG’23 listed, this is actually a Greene King pub with mainly their beers on the go with a couple of guests; too many I thought and so it proved, my Kettlesmith Plot Line was just on the cusp of turning and was also freezing cold (NBSS 1.5) served in a glass that should have been skipped a while ago. It's not a bad pub but the beer and presentation really let the side down. Rated 6
On 3rd October 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 6368 recommendations about 6346 pubs]
View more reviews of The Beehive (8)
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- Official site of The Beehive - bee-hive.co.uk
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Beehive - whatpub.com
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 24 April 2023 by Quinno _
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 24 April 2023 by Quinno _
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 24 April 2023 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : No last updated 24 April 2023 by Quinno _
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 24 April 2023 by Quinno _
- Car Park : Yes - Is within residents parking zone - last updated 10 January 2016 by ROB Camra
- Child Friendly : No last updated 24 April 2023 by Quinno _
- Darts : Yes last updated 24 April 2023 by Quinno _
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 24 April 2023 by Quinno _
- Function Room : No last updated 24 April 2023 by Quinno _
- Hot Food : No last updated 24 April 2023 by Quinno _
- Jukebox : No last updated 24 April 2023 by Quinno _
- Karaoke : No last updated 24 April 2023 by Quinno _
- Live Music : Yes - Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. - last updated 23 December 2024 by Tris C
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 24 April 2023 by Quinno _
- Micropub : No last updated 24 April 2023 by Quinno _
- Pinball : No last updated 24 April 2023 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 24 April 2023 by Quinno _
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 24 April 2023 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : No last updated 24 April 2023 by Quinno _
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 24 April 2023 by Quinno _
- WiFi : Yes last updated 24 April 2023 by Quinno _
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