John Woodruff (Landlord of The Swan) - RIP

[Brovion]

Popped up The Swan this evening for our usual pint after taking the dogs out round Stanmer Park. There was a sign on the door saying that John had died this morning at 7:20

Now I know most of you just think of him as a miserable old duffer who was opposed to the new ground, and yes, maybe he was. But he was also a first-class landlord of the old school who made you feel welcome - he even opened up the pub just for my wife one evening when we arrived early.

The Swan was a glorious throwback to the 1970s with a multitude of, largely, handwritten, signs plastered all over the walls and a magnificent, old fashioned manual till; the sort where you have to add the round up in your head and then push down the large typewriter-style keys to make it go 'kerching!'. It was also one of the cheapest pubs around, and when it did the Thai food it was all but unbeatable as a boozer.

I'm not sure what will happen to the pub now, but it's the end of an era.

Cheers John.

 

[dougdeep]

Is the pub for sale now then?

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Is the pub for sale now then?

 

[jonny.rainbow]

Another one who won't be around to see our new ground.











Oh wait

 

[Horsham Gull]

RIP even if he was an nimby anti falmer twat

 

[dougdeep]

Well it might be a good investment, and I have a few grand earning very little in the bank.

 

[wigman]

He was very Anti Famer (stadium),that pub could become a gold mine.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Well it might be a good investment, and I have a few grand earning very little in the bank.

Maybe.

But the poor bloke's not even cold yet...

 

[Spun Cuppa]

Went in there once with a g/f and made the mistake of throwing the bottle top for the dog!!!

Ended up playing the fu*king game for about an hour

 

[Gully]

Went in there once with a g/f and made the mistake of throwing the bottle top for the dog!!!

Ended up playing the fu*king game for about an hour

Next time you might try finding a girlfriend who does something more amusing than play fetch for bottletops!

 

[KNC]

Well it might be a good investment, and I have a few grand earning very little in the bank.

Think about it Doug, because I have a horrible feeling the club will not 'satisfy' our needs

 

[Ernest]

Think about it Doug, because I have a horrible feeling the club will not 'satisfy' our needs

A GAY bar

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Sad news. I never wished him ill. I think he always accepted that the stadium would happen.

 

[Spun Cuppa]

It must have a capacity of only about 70 IWHT, and I don't think too many will want to stand outside in January

 

[KNC]

A GAY bar

That may satisfy your NEEDS

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Sad news. I never wished him ill. I think he always accepted that the stadium would happen.

Exactement.

Let it rest, the guy has a family the same as any of us. He wasn't the only opponent.

 

[Spun Cuppa]

Next time you might try finding a girlfriend who does something more amusing than play fetch for bottletops!

Spudulike had led a sheltered life and was glad of the diversion

 

[surrey jim]

It must have a capacity of only about 70 IWHT, and I don't think too many will want to stand outside in January

in june/july however when you can flog bottles for £3 a pop sitting in the garden with a BBQ going - would be a goldmine.

Heard rumour that police would not let football fans in that area (east? of the Woodingdean road?) is this not correct

 

[Southover Street Seagull]

Popped up The Swan this evening for our usual pint after taking the dogs out round Stanmer Park. There was a sign on the door saying that John had died this morning at 7:20

Now I know most of you just think of him as a miserable old duffer who was opposed to the new ground, and yes, maybe he was. But he was also a first-class landlord of the old school who made you feel welcome - he even opened up the pub just for my wife one evening when we arrived early.

The Swan was a glorious throwback to the 1970s with a multitude of, largely, handwritten, signs plastered all over the walls and a magnificent, old fashioned manual till; the sort where you have to add the round up in your head and then push down the large typewriter-style keys to make it go 'kerching!'. It was also one of the cheapest pubs around, and when it did the Thai food it was all but unbeatable as a boozer.

I'm not sure what will happen to the pub now, but it's the end of an era.

Cheers John.

Did he own the pub? I heard that plenty of people have been interested in buying it.
If sold to a football loving publican we all know the pub would do extremely well on match days.

 

[then and now]

I have heard that his son is to takeover the running of the pub, and will be closed on matchdays