HISTORIC SWINTON PUB INVITING COUPLES TO TIE THE KNOT
Joseph Holt has a new reason to celebrate – with the first of its pubs now licensed to host weddings.
Swinton pub, The White Swan, is available for couples to tie the knot following the building of an £800,000 function room and the securing of a wedding licence for the venue.
The pub itself is steeped in history having been standing on the same site for 200 years. It was one of the first pubs to be bought by the then fledging Joseph Holt brewery back in 1868. Already, says landlady Lyndsey Smethills, the White Swan has been inundated with enquiries for the 150-seater function room as couples look for spacious yet cosy, characterful venues to hold their big day.
“I’m an incurable romantic so I love the fact that we are going to be able to have weddings here and so proud to be the first Joseph Holt pub to do so. More significantly our new function room is such a wonderful move for the community and beyond. For example, Swinton Town Hall was once a much-loved venue for weddings and celebrations, but it is no longer available for private functions. Alongside the closure of many local social clubs, there has been a need for somewhere to hold these special events – so the function room at the White Swan can now fulfil this role.
But not just because it’s a beautiful new space, but because it sits at the very heart of the community. There’s a genuine warmth here that has always been the foundation of everything we do.”
Lyndsey, 46 has been landlady at the White Swan for nine years. Last year she was joined by her partner, Mike Carr, 47, who gave up his job in finance to help her run the pub. The couple certainly know how to create a warm environment since between them they have seven sons, ranging in age from 7 to 26.
You can legally get married in a pub in England and Wales if it holds an approved premises licence from the local authority. However the number offering this service in Greater Manchester is small. The White Swan will offer a complete one-stop service for weddings and celebrations – from arranging the music and catering to all the finishing touches. Equally it is simply available as a venue for those who want to organise their big day themselves.
As well as hosting weddings and private celebrations, the new function room – together with the adjacent large beer garden – has already become a popular venue for a wide range of community events. It has welcomed organisations as diverse as the Swinton Lions, veterans’ groups and the Merchant Navy, with many more events planned over the coming year as Salford celebrates its 100th anniversary. The space is also proving invaluable for local community groups, including a chess club and Healthy Hearts, which supports people who have previously experienced cardiovascular events.
Looking ahead, Lyndsey is keen to build on this success and encourage even more groups to make use of the facilities, from mother and toddler sessions to weight-loss groups and other community activities. The aim is to create a welcoming space where people can come together, connect and feel part of the White Swan community.
Mark Norbury, director of pubs at Joseph Holt said:
“Our pubs have always been about far more than simply places to eat and drink. They are places where people come together since they are often at the very heart of their communities. That sense of warmth, character and genuine welcome is something we want to carry through into every wedding and event held at the White Swan, helping to make each occasion feel truly special and memorable.
When it comes to weddings, couples are often searching for a venue with personality, atmosphere, and a real sense of heart. With Lyndsey and her dedicated team on hand, that is exactly what they can expect – a beautiful, welcoming setting where every celebration feels personal and where guests can experience the true spirit of the White Swan.”
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