The Swan & Three Cygnets, Durham

“Swan?” This was a message that often used to pop up on my phone screen when I was a student at Durham University. After a long stint in the library, I would relish receiving it. I’d make my way over to this quaint, olde-worlde pub, with its creamy facade and welcoming wooden beams, my tiredness quickly dispelled as a cold pint of Taddy lager was thrust into my hand.

What is unusual about this pub is that there is a no-technology rule. Phones, tablets, laptops, music, TV… you name it, it’s banned. It is just one of hundreds of Samuel Smith pubs to have put this into practice to encourage face-to-face interaction. It seems to be working, even in a city dominated by tech-addicted students. People go to the Swan in order to relax, drink, and talk without checking their phones every five minutes.

The pub is nestled at the end of Elvet Bridge beside the Wear river: you can hear its chitter-chatter before you step inside. Here you’ll find ample seating space, including two side rooms with green leather sofas, a fireplace, old pictures in frames and all the traditional trimmings. There is also a downstairs bar that is often hired for student gatherings and parties. The staff are very accommodating, and will laugh along with conversations as they’re working.

In the summer, there is no better place to enjoy a pint in Durham. Outdoors, the Swan provides picnic benches where you can spend hours enjoying the sun – though this far north, sun can be in short supply – and watching rowers glide past on the river. We would push tables together and huddle round in big groups, chatting to strangers and sharing stories until the last call was heard.

The best part? The drinks are cheap, in the best Sam Smith’s style. A pint of Taddy costs only £2.30; ale and cider on draught are only £3. Food – standard pub grub, plus a mean Sunday roast – is available.

If you find yourself in Durham this summer, the cathedral isn’t the only must-see. Take it from me, if you’re looking for a cheap and friendly local pub, then look no further: “Swan!”

Charlotte Whitehead

Elvet Bridge, Durham DH1 3AG 0191 384 0242