About Us

HISTORY

The Swallow opened its doors on 8 December 1989 - it was called Aristocats then - when owner Colin and his partner Peter took over the pub in Bretonside, Plymouth.

Eddie joined the staff as a part-time barman in the mid 1990s when he was still in the Royal Navy. Probably the only gay pub manager who is fully qualified to drive a nuclear submarine, he became full-time manager and joint licensee in 2002.

The Swallow prides itself on providing a friendly and safe place for Plymouth's gay community and visitors from further afield. Our policy is to operate it as a gay space, where it's the straights who have to obey OUR rules.