The Swan Taphouse is a pub in Ironbridge, Shropshire, which Strike and Robin visit after they have spoken to Dilys Powell and Ian Griffiths.
It is “a large, light grey hotel that faced the slow-moving river. Wooden tables were set outside, sheltered by square blue umbrellas” (Chapter 68).
“Strike fixed his eyes on the nearest bench until he reached it. Having dropped onto it with relief, he caught Robin’s eye, and remembered that women tended not to share his indifference to cold” (Chapter 68).
Robin goes into the pub to get drinks. Strike asks for a zero-alcohol beer, and Robin has tomato juice.
Whilst Robin is inside, a barmaid provides Strike with menus.
They discuss the case, and when the barmaid returns, Strike orders beer-battered haddock and Robin the chicken nachos.
However, whilst they are waiting for their food to arrive, their conversation deteriorates into a row. Robin gets up and leaves, just before the barmaid arrives with their order. Strike tells the barmaid “I’ll eat them both” (Chapter 68).
This pub is one of the book locations for which we have direct confirmation that J.K. Rowling visited for research purposes, as she mentions it in the acknowledgements:
“More gratitude than can be expressed on the page to Séan and Nadine Harris, who opened certain doors, gave me lunch at the Swan Taphouse and provided food, comfort and hospitality on a level most people have to visit five-star hotels to experience” (Acknowledgements).
Séan Harris is one of her oldest friends and ‘owner of the original Ford Anglia’.
Ironbridge was one of J.K. Rowling’s X header photos, prior to the release of the book. When we were first there, in summer 2024, J.K. Rowling replied to us on X to say The Swan Taphouse would be a pub to feature in the book.
Find The Swan Taphouse on the map below.
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