News

For the latest edition of Taproom Talks, we caught up with Micky Foden-Andrews of The Swan, a 17th-century pub with a remarkable community story. Since 2019, The Swan has been majority owned by its locals, rebuilt and run with the support of volunteers, and transformed into much more than just a pub.

From hosting a sixth form college that trains students in hospitality, to staging festivals, Christmas in July celebrations and a wide calendar of community clubs, The Swan has become a hub of activity in Windsor. Recognised as a finalist in the BII Licensee of the Year Awards, Micky and his team continue to push forward with ambitious projects while keeping the pub firmly rooted in its community.

Could you start by telling us a little about The Swan and its story so far?

The Swan a 17th century building set with plenty of history. In 2019, The Swan took on its newest form, now majority owned by the community. We are so much more than Just a Pub, we are at the heart of the community, with lots going on and a unique story to tell. We house a 6th form college on site, the Green Room Foundation, where myself and my team train the students in all things hospitality, They run the pub on Thursdays for Epic Thursday. The students will cook your meals, serve them to you and pour you a tremendous drink too! We also have 25 different community clubs and groups to keep the community entertained every day of the month. 

What did it mean for you and your team to be recognised as a finalist in the BII Licensee of the Year Awards?

Being a finalist meant the absolute world! Our pub was rebuilt from the ground up by incredible volunteers, making the finals gave the validation it was all worthwhile! I am incredibly proud of my team and volunteers and over the moon that shone through into the LOYA awards.

What do you see as the key factors that have driven The Swan’s success in recent years?

We are a heavy events pub. Most recently we have just had SWANFEST, a 3 day festival supporting local musicians, kids entertainment and, ofcourse, beer! I made it into the dunk tank far too many times and lots of happy faces all through the weekend. We also offer Christmas in July. A wonderfully weird weekend of Christmas in the sunshine. Father Christmas and The Grinch join us, we have christmas dinner on the bbq and local musicians perform christmas songs around the christmas tree and snow machine! Our biggest success is from our wonderful Guests, Volunteers and community members. Spreading the word of what we do and keeping new Guests flooding in.

Staff recruitment & retention is a challenge across the sector. How have you approached this issue?

As in the entire hospitality industry this year, it's been tough. We are in the lucky position of the college being on site. When I need new staff, the college is my first point of call. We know their strengths, their weaknesses and hire based on this information and offer a full training regime to the students who want full time paid employment.

Community engagement is often highlighted in the LOYAs. How do you connect with your local community and what does it mean to you to be community owned?

Everything we do is for our community. We have 25 clubs and groups and that list is still growing! Anything our community wants to do... we'll do it (within reason!). We hold community Open Forums so all of our guests have an opportunity to sit with me and the board of directors to ask questions, give insights or knowledge of how the business is doing financially. We hold an AGM every year for our investors to fully engage with them also.

How do you approach serving food and sourcing new drinks & snacks for behind the bar?

We operate a kitchen takeover approach at The Swan. We, now, have a 6 day food operation from local businesses or start up catering businesses. Social Grazin' give us fabulous pub Grub on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and an incredible roast menu on Sundays, Ankhana Thai Food offer you the most authentic Thai Cuisine in Windsor, cooking dishes from their hometown of Co-chan and Saturday sees The Jackfruit take on amazing Italian food for lunch service and amazing Sri Lankan in the evening! We travel the world with our food and it gives a great variety to our guests.

What do you love about working in the pub industry? What opportunities do you see in the future of the sector?

The pub industry will now be my industry for life. I have found my 'happy place' and love what I do. The industry is changing day by day with the new demographic of Guests walking through the door. It makes it exciting! Being able to offer a crisp, clear pint while listening to the Windsor Ukulele Band rehearse... where else can you do that! I think they sky's the limit for the industry. We need to retain the tradition of what pubs are, the cornerstone of the British economy, but make it family focused, community focused and never take your foot off the gas. Times are difficult now but they can only get better and when they do, this industry will sore.

Finally, what is next for The Swan and what projects or plans are you excited about?

We are building our upstairs of the site into Guest bedrooms. This is an incredibly exciting time. We have the students from the college working alongside trades people so they also gain new skills but its our students building the future of this pub! Cant get better than that!